Nicknamed the “sunniest city on Earth,” Yuma, Arizona is set in the Sonoran Desert, halfway between Phoenix and San Diego, California. Since its late 19th-century founding as a trading hub along the Colorado River, Yuma has steadily grown to a population of about 95,000. Matias Rosales, a Realtor with Realty One Group Gateway and over 15 years of local experience, says part of the growth is because, "The price point is lower than California and Phoenix—you can buy a brand-new house out here for $260,000.” Compared to Phoenix, Yuma is a smaller, less walkable city, but still has big-city conveniences like parks, shopping and dining. Most locals drive or use public transportation to get around, and Route 95 provides a direct route to the U.S./Mexico border in San Luis, 25 miles away. The military and agriculture are major local industries; many residents here are stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (MCAS Yuma), and top exports include lettuce, wheat and dates.
“There’s almost too much to do,” says Patti Bourelle, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Yuma who has over 8 years of experience. “We have golf, camping, parks and fishing. We have everything.” During the winter, the population here nearly doubles due to snowbirds—a regional term for someone who moves to a warmer state during the winter months. “We have multiple events every weekend all winter because it’s a paradise here during that time,” Bourelle says. Seasonal residents typically live outside of the city in eastern Yuma County. “We call it ‘the foothills,’ but it’s east Yuma County,” Rosales says. Many residents hire house sitters to watch their homes during the off-season, while others rent out their properties.
West Wetlands Park has a pond that attracts families who can enjoy fishing and even swimming.
Lively restaurants and breweries in downtown Yuma are only minute from Avenue B and C, AZ.
1/2
What to expect when house-hunting in Yuma
The median home price in Yuma is $330,000, compared to $440,000 in Phoenix and $925,000 in San Diego. “If a home’s priced right, it only stays on the market a day,” Bourelle says. “Our average number of days on the market is now around 30 days—and that’s not time until an offer, that’s time until closing.” According to Bourelle, the market is especially competitive in the summer, when school lets out and military assignments change.
Most housing in Yuma was built between the late 20th century and the 2020s, typically set in planned neighborhoods without homeowners associations. Single-family homes tend to be new traditional with Spanish- or Pueblo-style details, or minimal ranch-style; yards are generally landscaped with low-water desert plantings. Condo communities like Sunset Mesa often feature shared amenities like community pools and tennis courts. A handful of retirement communities, including the 55-plus Desert Palms Mobile Estates, offer late 20th-century manufactured homes with attached carports.
Country Estates is 3 miles southwest of downtown Yuma, AZ.
Spanish style houses with stucco exteriors are typical for Country Estates, AZ.
1/2
Shopping and dining in Yuma
Shopping and dining are found throughout the city, but especially along thoroughfares like West 24th Street, West 16th Street and Avenue B. The Yuma Palms Regional Center, set just off Route 95, is the city's largest outdoor mall, a one-stop-shop for chain retail, dining and family entertainment. Most of the city's small local businesses are found in Downtown Yuma. “It’s where a lot of the residents like to go down and walk," Rosales says. "You have a lot of family-owned restaurants, and some nightclubs that attract the younger generation.”
Clothes, unique gifts and more can be found at Rebel and Rove near Country Estates, AZ.
Most local small businesses and retail can be found in old town Yuma near Country Estates.
1/2
Parks, golf and community
Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert landscape, Yuma offers nearly 50 parks, golf courses and community centers. Set right on the Colorado River, the 110-acre West Wetlands Park offers boat access, enabling activities like kayaking or jet-skiing. The park also features fishing ponds stocked with catfish and trout, a disc golf course, and a sprawling, castle-themed playground built by community volunteers. Golfers may hit the links at the 18-hole Desert Hills Golf Course, popular for its rolling green fairways with distant mountain views. At the Valley Aquatic Center, residents can swim or take water aerobics in the community pool.
Fishing in the Colorado River is a popular activity at West Wetlands Park in Yuma, AZ.
Imperial Sand Dunes is about an hour west from Yuma, AZ.
1/2
Getting around Yuma
Rosales says cars are the most practical way to get around the city. Yuma is crossed by two major highways, Route 95 and Interstate 8. Route 95 leads about 25 miles to the U.S./Mexico border in San Luis, while I-8 travels 170 miles west to San Diego and 185 miles east to Phoenix. Residential neighborhoods and city streets are typically sidewalk-lined. As of 2024, the city is actively expanding its bikeways; in May 2024, the city added bike lanes around the Yuma Palms Regional Center. Locals may also ride Yuma County Area Transit buses to get around town. Yuma Regional Medical Center and Yuma International Airport are located within the city.
Schooling opportunities in Yuma
Yuma is served by several school districts, including the Crane Elementary and Yuma Union High districts, both rated C-plus by Niche. Many of the city’s public high schools offer career and technical education courses in fields ranging from the culinary arts and agriscience to sports medicine. There are also several private schools in the area, including the A-plus-rated Southwestern Christian School and the B-rated Yuma Catholic High. High school graduates may go on to attend the local community college, Arizona Western College, or satellite campuses for Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and University of Arizona.
Residents of Rincon Heights love watching football games at The Arizona Stadium.
Arizona Western College is a public community college in Yuma, Arizona.
1/2
Public art and annual traditions
There are over 100 public art installations around Yuma, including lots of handcrafted sculptures and colorful murals around downtown—the hub for Yuma’s art venues and annual events. At the Yuma Art Center, locals may take classes in painting and pottery or catch a live show at the center’s historic Yuma Theatre, a city staple since 1912. In January, the Yuma Medjool Date Festival is a downtown celebration of the city’s agricultural history and date farmers. “They’ll have live music and different ways of preparing dates, like bacon-wrapped dates,” Rosales says. In April, the Yuma County Fair is held at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, where over 100,000 festivalgoers enjoy a lively 6-day celebration of everything Yuma. “It’s a fair—lots of overpriced fried foods, rides for the kids and a demolition derby,” Rosales says.
The Hot Air Balloon Festival is a must see event near Country Estates, AZ.
The Yuma Art Center has art exhibits and events near Avenue B and C in Arizona.
1/2
Crime and environmental factors
According to FBI data, Yuma's rates of property and violent crime are slightly lower than state and national averages. Between 2013 and 2023, the total number of crimes reported in Yuma decreased by 52%.
Extreme heat and wildfires are ongoing environmental concerns here. Summer temperatures regularly top 100 degrees, and Rosales says locals adapt by limiting their time outside. “For four months out of the year, everything is an evening event—activities start after 7 p.m.” Rosales says. In May 2024, the Refuge Fire burned about 1,000 acres of vegetation near Martinez Lake, about 35 miles away. There are six fire stations in Yuma that respond to local emergencies.
When choosing a Realtor to represent you, you will need to choose wisely. The first thing you will need is a Realtor who is knowledgeable in all aspects of Real Estate transactions. The second thing you will need is a Realtor who is highly ethical and honest. The third thing you will need is a Realtor who stays in close contact with you and is up to date to the minute with all new listings that hit the market. The next thing you will need is a Realtor who is highly skilled in negotiating. The last thing you will need is a Realtor who takes pride in providing the absolute best customer service available. These are just a few of the items that I bring to the table. Over the years I have learned that the only way to find my buyers the exact property that they are looking for is to start off by listening and then utilizing all my Real Estate resources to find that property. It is so very important to know exactly what a buyer likes and dislikes in a property so I can hone in on that perfect property for them. With Yuma being such a small town it is extremely important to keep a hawks eye on all new listings that hit the market as properties are selling fast here and I want to be able to show my clients any property that meets their criteria first before any other buyers might run across that same property.
Decades of Experience I am very well versed in all the required documents that you will need to submit to the seller of a property in order to protect you in every way. Here in Yuma over the years there have been a lot of property sellers that have sold their property themselves without any professional representation and these particular properties often have either chain of title issues or even physical irreversible issues that could even result in structures having to be torn down due to building without permits or in violation of setback issues or in some cases the house was built illegally. You just never know. You should never believe that just because a house is new or newer that there aren't any issues. Even newly constructed homes often times have issues. I have worked for home builders selling new construction as well as selling resale homes over the years and I know what to look for in contracts and protection documents and how to ensure that you are one hundred percent protected even after the close of escrow.
My Professional Commitment Have you ever experienced calling a Realtors phone number only to receive a voice mail and then never receive a call back from them? This at times appears to be common place in smaller communities like Yuma, but I will guarantee you if you call my number I will answer the phone and if I happen to be busy or on the phone at the time of your call I will return your call promptly. You see, I believe in providing "Over the Top" customer service and separating myself from the pack within the Real Estate community.
Contact Me Today If you are thinking about buying a property or selling a property here in Yuma it would definitely be in your best interest to contact me and let me help you navigate through the property buying or selling mine field. I will guarantee that you will be much better off with my representation then without. Contact me today and let’s talk!! Debra McCurry 928-580-2878
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
