Maricopa County Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Maricopa County, AZ
Maricopa County holds Phoenix and most of the Valley of the Sun, including Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Glendale. Its apartment market ranges from older garden complexes near the urban core to new suburban communities on the East and West Valley edges.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Cities We Cover: Phoenix Metro · Mesa · Chandler · Gilbert · Glendale · Scottsdale — County seat: Phoenix
Maricopa County
Where We Buy In Maricopa County
We evaluate apartment buildings of 5+ units across Maricopa County — in each city below, plus smaller towns and unincorporated areas countywide.
Local Market Data
Maricopa County Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
If you plan to sell commercial property in Maricopa County, AZ, start with the renter base. Maricopa County holds 602,808 renter households, 34.8% of all occupied homes, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Owners still hold the larger share, at 1,127,888 households, but Tempe and Phoenix each run well above the county renter rate. Median gross rent reached $1,708, up 51.6% from the 2015-2019 survey.
Apartment buildings carry a growing slice of that stock. Maricopa County counts 389,130 housing units, 20.7% of the total, in buildings of five or more units, up 11.4% over the same five-year comparison. Rental vacancy sits at 6.0%, and 52.6% of renters pay 30% or more of income on gross rent. Rents, renter share and vacancy all shift from Scottsdale to Surprise, and the comparison table below breaks out ten Maricopa County cities.
4.56 million residents and growing
Maricopa County grew 5.3% to 4,559,748 residents between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 Census surveys, adding 230,938 people.Household income up 38.5%
Median household income in Maricopa County rose from $64,468 to $89,300 across the same five-year comparison, per the Census Bureau.197,068 more jobs held
Employment among Maricopa County residents climbed 9.5%, from 2,068,218 to 2,265,286 workers, outpacing renter household growth.Who rents in Maricopa County
Renters head 602,808 of the 1,730,696 occupied households in Maricopa County, a 34.8% share in the 2020-2024 ACS. Owners hold the remaining 1,127,888 households. Tempe stands out with a 57.7% renter share, the highest of the ten Maricopa County cities in this table, while Phoenix and Glendale both run near 43%.
Smaller shares show up on the valley's edges. Surprise counts a 20.9% renter share and Goodyear 22.3%, both well under the county figure. Gilbert sits close behind at 26.9%. Tempe also leads on density, with 41.8% of its units in buildings of five or more, nearly double the 20.7% Maricopa County rate.
Rents, growth and affordability
Maricopa County's median gross rent climbed 51.6%, from $1,127 to $1,708, between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 surveys. Population grew far more slowly over the same span, up 5.3% to 4,559,748 residents, an increase of 230,938 people. Renter households rose only 2.7%, adding 16,004 households.
Employment outpaced that renter growth. Jobs held by Maricopa County residents rose 9.5%, adding 197,068 workers, while median household income climbed 38.5% to $89,300. Units in 5+ unit buildings grew 11.4%, an increase of 39,697 units, yet rental vacancy still sits at a tight 6.0%.
Rent burden remains heavy. In the 2020-2024 ACS, 52.6% of Maricopa County renters paid 30% or more of income on gross rent. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler area is $1,734, effective October 1, 2026, just $26 above the county's median gross rent.
City-by-city comparison
Scottsdale and Gilbert post the highest rents in the table, at $2,013 and $2,110. Surprise and Goodyear run higher still at $2,033 and $1,956, but pair those rents with renter shares under 23%. Phoenix and Glendale remain the county's largest renter markets by share, each above 42%.
| City | Median gross rent | Renter share | Share of units in 5+ buildings | Rental vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $1,582 | 42.7% | 26.4% | 4.7% |
| Mesa | $1,620 | 35.6% | 19.7% | 5.7% |
| Chandler | $1,902 | 35.0% | 20.1% | 5.6% |
| Gilbert | $2,110 | 26.9% | 12.6% | 6.1% |
| Glendale | $1,528 | 42.8% | 25.1% | 5.9% |
| Scottsdale | $2,013 | 33.0% | 29.4% | 7.4% |
| Tempe | $1,743 | 57.7% | 41.8% | 6.6% |
| Peoria | $1,843 | 24.0% | 13.0% | 10.4% |
| Surprise | $2,033 | 20.9% | 7.0% | 11.7% |
| Goodyear | $1,956 | 22.3% | 11.0% | 15.0% |
Vacancy varies sharply across Maricopa County. Phoenix posts a tight 4.7% and Chandler 5.6%, while Goodyear reaches 15.0% and Surprise 11.7%. Tempe combines a 57.7% renter share with 41.8% of units in 5+ buildings and a 6.6% vacancy rate, a profile distinct from the rest of the county.
Property taxes and assessment in Maricopa County
Arizona classifies rental apartment buildings under Class 4, assessed at 10% of full cash or limited value, per A.R.S. Section 42-12004 and Section 42-15004. Commercial Class 1 property, by contrast, moves to a 15% assessment ratio from December 31, 2026, under A.R.S. Section 42-15001. Maricopa County assesses each parcel locally, so the exact class and ratio depend on how the property is used.
Limited property value, the figure taxes are billed against, cannot rise more than 5% in a single year under A.R.S. Section 42-13301. That cap can leave a parcel's taxable value well below its market value after a fast run-up in Maricopa County rents, which matters once you price a sale against the next bill.
What this means if you sell in Maricopa County
When you sell commercial property in Maricopa County, AZ, you sell into a county where renters hold 34.8% of households and 20.7% of units sit in 5+ unit buildings. The 6.0% rental vacancy rate is tight by national standards, and buyers will weigh that against a 51.6% run-up in median gross rent since the 2015-2019 survey. A Tempe building near campus draws a different buyer than a Surprise property with a 20.9% renter share.
Taxes come next. Maricopa County assesses rental apartment buildings as Class 4 property, and the 5%-a-year cap on limited value under A.R.S. Section 42-13301 shapes how quickly a sale price feeds the next bill. Rent control is not a factor, since A.R.S. Section 33-1329 preempts cities and towns from capping rents.
As a multifamily buyer in Maricopa County, we review 5+ unit buildings from Phoenix to Surprise as they stand today. Send a current rent roll, a T-12 and the latest tax statement, and we will price the building on those numbers.
Local Knowledge
Selling Multifamily In Arizona
What we factor into every Maricopa County offer:
More about Arizona →- Maricopa County assesses rental apartments as Class 4 property at 10% of value under A.R.S. Section 42-12004.
- Limited property value cannot rise more than 5% a year under A.R.S. Section 42-13301, capping the next tax bill.
- Rental vacancy runs a tight 6.0% countywide, so document trailing occupancy for the buyer's underwriting.
- Security deposits in Arizona are capped at 1.5 months' rent and due back within 14 business days under A.R.S. 33-1321.
Property Tax
Property Tax In Maricopa County For Apartment Owners
Homeowners in Maricopa County pay a median of $1,983 a year in property tax on a median home value of $452,800, an effective rate of about 0.44%, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That is about the same as the Arizona statewide average of 0.48%.
How property tax works in Arizona: classes, assessment and appeals →Estimate a building’s tax bill with the property tax calculator →
- Those figures describe owner-occupied homes. An apartment building can be assessed on a different basis or in a different class, so its bill as a share of value may differ.
- A sale can reset the assessed value. Before you price a Maricopa County building, check how Arizona reassesses property after a transfer and model the buyer’s new tax bill.
- Pull the actual tax bill from the Maricopa County assessor or tax collector. City, school and special-district levies stack on top of the county rate.
Seller Guides
Selling A Building In Maricopa County
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Maricopa County Property
The Arizona rules that shape any deal in Maricopa County: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Maricopa County
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
How Selling To Us Works
- 01
Submit The Deal
Send the address, unit count, asking price, and a rent roll or T-12 if you have them.
- 02
Initial Review
We review it against our buy box and give clear feedback — typically within 48 hours.
- 03
Underwriting & LOI
If it fits, we underwrite in detail and submit a written letter of intent.
- 04
Diligence & Close
Inspections and financing on the agreed timeline, then a professional, predictable closing.
Maricopa County Seller FAQ
How are rental apartment buildings taxed in Maricopa County?
Arizona classifies rental apartment buildings as Class 4 property, assessed at 10% of full cash or limited value under A.R.S. Section 42-12004 and Section 42-15004. Commercial Class 1 property moves to a 15% ratio from December 31, 2026. Maricopa County applies the class that matches the property's actual use.
How high is rental vacancy in Maricopa County?
Rental vacancy in Maricopa County was 6.0% in the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Within the county, Phoenix posted 4.7% and Goodyear reached 15.0%. Buyers typically weigh a building's own occupancy history against those local rates before underwriting a purchase.
How much have rents risen in Maricopa County?
Median gross rent in Maricopa County rose from $1,127 in the 2015-2019 survey to $1,708 in 2020-2024, a 51.6% gain. Population grew only 5.3% over the same period. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Phoenix metro area is $1,734.
Is there rent control in Maricopa County?
No. A.R.S. Section 33-1329 bars Arizona cities and towns from adopting rent control, with a narrow exception for state- or city-subsidized housing. Maricopa County owners set rents by lease terms and market conditions. That leaves the decision to sell commercial property in Maricopa County, AZ driven by market rents, not rent caps.
How do I sell commercial property in Maricopa County, AZ?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We review Maricopa County apartment buildings of 5+ units, give feedback typically within 48 hours, and follow with a written letter of intent if it fits.
Do you buy apartment buildings throughout Maricopa County?
Yes. We evaluate multifamily properties across Maricopa County, including Phoenix Metro, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, and El Mirage, as well as smaller towns and unincorporated areas. Every property is reviewed on its own fundamentals.
What size Maricopa County properties do you buy?
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential properties with 5 or more units. Our sweet spot is 15–25 units, and we review larger communities with capital partners.
Will you buy a property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We underwrite value-add, mismanaged, and distressed properties as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Can I sell rental property in Maricopa County with tenants in place?
Yes. We buy apartment buildings with tenants in place and keep existing leases intact. As a commercial real estate buyer focused on 5+ unit properties, we underwrite the current rent roll as it stands.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Maricopa County?
Most owners get clear feedback within 48 hours of sending the address, unit count, and a rent roll. Closing is typically set around your timeline, including extra time for a 1031 exchange.
How do property taxes factor into a Maricopa County offer?
Property is assessed at the county level (the county seat is Phoenix), within Arizona rules. Arizona property taxes are based on the Limited Property Value, which can increase by no more than 5% per year. That cap makes post-sale taxes more predictable, and we model it directly in our offers.
Submit A Deal
Have A Property In Maricopa County?
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
