Whether you’re thinking about buying a home or selling your house in Tucson, or are simply interested in the history of any home, there’s never been a better time to do it. Researching your Tucson home should be easy enough, even if all you have is the address.
Our Friend Google
If you have nothing to go on but your address, you can start with Google. Most likely, you will find old real estate listings that can provide additional information. When I type in my address in a Google search, the first result is Zillow. From here, I can figure out square footage, lot size, district, and the year it was built. These are all great starts into researching any Tucson home.
Observing Your Surroundings
Arizona State University has a handy online PDF that goes over the culture and history of Arizona homes. Once the book breaks down the history, it takes a closer look at neighborhoods like the various Barrios we have.
You can also take a closer look at the architectural styles of not only your home but other homes in your area. Note: There are very few “pure” buildings left. People over the years tend to adjust things to their liking. For example, you might take out Saltillo tile in favor of marble if it suits your fancy. Take notes on how your home is constructed and what it’s constructed out of.
A great resource for building up your architectural vocabulary is the Instagram account, What Style is That, run by Karyn Norwood. She helps over 40,000 followers identify architectural styles based on materials or flourishes. She may not specifically focus on the Southwest all the time, but she’s still a valuable resource for learning and researching your Tucson home.
Official Databases
The City of Tucson has a searchable database of property records. This is also a great place to start. Unfortunately, many of the microfiche records prior to 2006 have yet to be digitized. If that’s the case for your home, you can still submit a records request and obtain the information that way.
Another great resource is the Chronicling America website. It’s a giant archive of newspapers and could provide useful information in your search.
Knowing the history of your home brings not only personal satisfaction but can help to better position yourself if you ever decide to sell your home. If you’re looking to buy a home in Tucson, we have over 25 years of experience and multiple certifications.
Let me know if you need any help
Have fun, Tony Ray 😎
Certified Tourism Ambassador for Tucson AZ
Tucson Real Estate Agent Since 1994
