One of the 'Four Corners' states, Arizona is well known for its desert climate. With its exceptionally hot summers and mild winters, Arizona is experiencing a housing boom that isn't expected to slow down any time soon.

Like most of the southwestern region, Arizona is a state of diverse regions in addition to its more known desert areas. More than half of the state is composed of mountains, including the Grand Canyon. Most of the canyon is largely in one the first national parks, the Grand Canyon National Park. The northern area of the state also includes the largest area of Ponderosa Pine in the United States. The varying elevation is the culprit for its wide variety of climates. While the northern areas have a cooler climate with mild winters and cool summers, the southern desert area of the state boasts temperatures as high as 125 °F in the summer. The dry desert air brings comfort on summer nights, causing temperature swings as large as 50 °F difference between day and night. As a relief from the heat, Arizona has a short monsoon season, from the end of July through August. Monsoon season storms bring lightning, thunderstorms, wind, and torrential, if usually brief, downpours.

The most populated cities include Tucson, Tempe, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale and Phoenix, the capital and most populated city. These areas are enjoying an abundant surge in growth, with Phoenix coming in first with 7.2. More condominiums and single family homes are being built every year and suburbs are growing rapidly as well. The state's school systems are rapidly growing with the insurgence of new families and the caliber of the schools are changing with it. Many of the high school graduates attend one of the largest universities in the country, Arizona State University.

Phoenix is also home to most of the state's professional sports teams, including the Arizona Cardinals (football), Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball) and the Phoenix Suns (men's basketball) and Mercury (women's basketball).