Sabino CreekHomes for Sale — Tucson, AZ
Big desert homes a mile from Sabino Canyon — high standards, low HOA.
Median sold
Days On Market
List 2 Sold Ratio
Total lots
12-month sold data · Jul 2025 – Jul 2026 · updated annually
Overview
Canyon country without the resort overhead
Sabino Creek is a small, well-kept desert neighborhood where appearance standards are high and HOA overhead is low. Where Sabino Canyon Road meets Knollwood Drive in Northeast Tucson, it sits less than a mile from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area entrance — canyon lifestyle without paying for a pool you’ll never use.
It attracts outdoor-oriented buyers — hikers, cyclists, desert enthusiasts — plus established families and active retirees who stay for years; turnover in a 98-lot community is low by design. Homes were built in 1997–1998, generously sized at roughly 2,250–2,800 sq ft with 3–5 bedrooms and 3-car garages common. Earth-tone exteriors and native landscaping are required, actively enforced by the Architectural Review Committee.
What sets it apart is intentional restraint: no clubhouse, no pool, no monthly amenity bill — dues stay remarkably low and streets look sharp. Genuine desert living comes with the address, including documented coyote, javelina, and occasional mountain-lion activity near the wash, so small pets and children shouldn’t be left unattended in backyards.
A well-established late-90s community in the 85750 ZIP, ahead of most nearby infill.
Larger than typical Tucson medians, with 4-bedroom plans the norm and 3-car garages common.
A deliberately small subdivision — neighbors know each other and turnover is low.
Among the lowest dues in Northeast Tucson — common-area upkeep, no amenity overhead.
Location
Neighborhood map
Sabino Creek is located along Knollwood Drive, just east of Sabino Canyon Road in Northeast Tucson, 85750.
- From central or south Tucson, take Grant Road east until it transitions into Tanque Verde Road.
- At the Tanque Verde and Sabino Canyon Road intersection, turn left (north) onto Sabino Canyon Road.
- Continue north past Cloud Road and turn right onto Knollwood Drive — Sabino Creek homes begin on both sides.
For reference: the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area visitor entrance is approximately 1 mile north at 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road.
Market data
The Sabino Creek market right now
Over the past 12 months, Sabino Creek recorded 5 sales — small but proportional for a 98-lot community. The median sold price landed at $635,000 across a median 2,343 sq ft (about $275/sq ft), with sellers netting within 1% of list at the median and homes moving in just 11 days (99.33% sell-through to original list).
The range ran $565,000 (3 bed / 2,251 sf) to $735,000 (5 bed / 2,766 sf). With very limited annual turnover and few active listings, this isn’t a neighborhood you wait on — well-priced homes get fast results.
Median sold price
Median days on market
Median price per sq ft
12-month sold data · Jul 2025 – Jul 2026
| Sabino Creek | Bd | Ba | Sq Ft | List price | Sold price | Sold $/SqFt | Sold-to-list | DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2,499 | $687K | $649K | $263 | 95.36% | 40 |
| Median | 4 | 3 | 2,463 | $675K | $635K | $282 | 97.46% | 5 |
| Low | 3 | 2 | 1,893 | $525K | $535K | $225 | 84.82% | — |
| High | 5 | 3 | 3,121 | $850K | $730K | $296 | 101.90% | 131 |
5 closed · $3.25M volume · median $635,000 · Source: MLS of Southern Arizona
Getting there
Northeast side, off Sabino Canyon at Knollwood
Along Knollwood Drive, just east of Sabino Canyon Road in Northeast Tucson (85750). From central Tucson, take Grant Road east as it becomes Tanque Verde Road, turn north on Sabino Canyon Road, then right on Knollwood — the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area entrance is about a mile north.
Schools
Served by Tucson Unified (TUSD)
Elementary
Middle
High
Signature amenity
Sabino Canyon at the doorstep
Sabino Creek sits along Knollwood Drive just east of Sabino Canyon Road in Northeast Tucson's 85750 ZIP code. The neighborhood falls within unincorporated Pima County (CR2 zoning), giving it a quieter, semi-rural character despite its proximity to major amenities. Sabino Canyon Road connects directly north to the canyon and south to the Tanque Verde Road corridor heading into the city.
- Outdoor/Lifestyle: The Sabino Canyon Recreation Area entrance is approximately one mile north. Bear Canyon Trail and Seven Falls are reachable without crossing town, along with the canyon tram system.
- Shopping/Convenience: Colonia Verde Shopping Center (Safeway, Ace Hardware) is a 5-minute drive south. Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, and the full River Road dining and retail corridor are within 15 minutes.
- Employers/Medical: Reasonable commute distance to Banner University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center (TMC), Raytheon's Tucson campus, and the University of Arizona.
FAQ
Sabino Creek questions, answered
Is there an HOA in Sabino Creek?
Yes. The Sabino Creek Homeowners Association manages the neighborhood, with administrative billing handled by HBS Stratford Management (520-867-6100). Dues are paid quarterly — MLS-sourced data indicates approximately $25/quarter, but this should be verified via the resale disclosure package.
Is Sabino Creek a good place to live?
Yes — particularly for buyers who value proximity to nature, low HOA overhead, and a quiet, appearance-conscious neighborhood. You’re less than a mile from Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, homes are spacious, and the community is small enough that neighbors actually know each other.
What is Sabino Creek like?
A small, well-maintained desert neighborhood in Northeast Tucson built in the late 1990s with consistently enforced appearance standards. Earth-tone exteriors and native landscaping are required. Wildlife — coyotes, javelina, and occasional mountain-lion activity near the wash — is part of living this close to the canyon.
What ZIP code is Sabino Creek in?
Sabino Creek is in ZIP code 85750, in the unincorporated northeast area of Pima County — outside city limits with a Tucson mailing address.
Are short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) allowed?
Rental rules were not found in the publicly available CC&Rs, which establish single-family residential use as the standard. Contact us to verify current policy through the resale disclosure package before committing.
What are the HOA dues and what do they cover?
Based on MLS-sourced data, dues are approximately $25/quarter (~$8/month), covering common-area landscaping. Sabino Creek has no pool, clubhouse, or recreation facilities, so there are no amenity fees. Verify the official amount through the resale disclosure.
Are pets allowed? Any restrictions?
Pets are not specifically addressed in the public CC&Rs; Pima County ordinances govern noise and roaming animals. Given documented wildlife activity, the HOA advises keeping small pets supervised in backyards — mountain-lion and coyote sightings have been confirmed near the community.
Are RVs, boats, or trailers permitted?
No. The CC&Rs prohibit storing or parking RVs, boats, campers, trucks, trailers, and motor homes when visible from the street or adjacent lots. Temporary waivers may be issued by the Architectural Committee case-by-case.
What do the CC&Rs and architectural review cover?
Nearly everything visible from the street. ARC approval is required before any exterior repaint (even the same color), front-yard landscaping changes, structural additions, backyard privacy walls, and solar installation. Requests not answered within 30 days are considered disapproved.
What does the HOA manage or maintain?
The HOA maintains common-area landscaping, some court-strip landscaping as a courtesy, and clears the shared wash channel. Pima County maintains the public streets — the HOA has no authority over on-street parking. Owners are responsible for their own lots.
Who manages the HOA?
Administrative billing is handled by HBS Stratford Management at (520) 867-6100, 7400 N Oracle Rd, Suite 311, Tucson. The board is reachable through the homeowner portal at sabinocreekhoa.com.
What is the ARC process like?
Download the ARC Submittal Form from the HOA website, complete it, and email it to the board before starting any exterior project. If no response within 30 days, the request is considered not approved. Fines may be assessed for work done without prior approval.
Is Sabino Creek a gated community?
No. Sabino Creek is not gated. Streets are Pima County-maintained public roads. “No Parking” signs are posted along Knollwood Drive, but the HOA does not control public street parking.
Is Sabino Creek in a flood zone?
Some parcels near the Sabino Creek and Bear Canyon wash corridor may fall within updated FEMA flood zones (Pima County modeling completed Dec 2023, FEMA-approved May 2024). Flood-zone status must be verified parcel-by-parcel during escrow.
HOA & documents
Governed by the Sabino Creek HOA
Managed with billing by HBS Stratford Management. Dues are about $25/quarter, covering common-area landscaping and wash-corridor upkeep — no pool or clubhouse. The ARC must approve any exterior change (even repainting the same color); RVs and boats can’t be stored in view of the street.
- Declaration of CC&Rs
- CC&Rs First Amendment (2/93)
- HOA Bylaws
- Articles of Incorporation
- ARC Guidelines
- ARC Submittal Form (updated 2017)
- Approved Plant List
- Exterior Color Standards (updated 2014)
For questions about HOA documents, governing bylaws, or the resale disclosure package, Contact Blaine Bond.
Keep exploring
Nearby communities
Moving in
Set up utilities
Electricity
Natural gas
Internet
Blaine Bond · REALTOR® · eXp Realty
Thinking about Sabino Creek?
Straight answers, no hard sell. Video walkthroughs for remote buyers and a construction background that helps you read a home’s bones — and know which parcels need a flood-zone check.
Live listings
Current Sabino Creek homes for sale
Register for pro tools — saved favorites, instant alerts, and price-drop tracking. No hard sell: browse on your terms and reach out when you’re ready.
Listings courtesy of MLS of Southern Arizona (MLSSAZ). Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.