Real Estate Investing in Monterey County, California

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

24 ZIP codes • Population: 419,365

Should you buy in Monterey County, CA? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (32/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
WEAK
2.8 / 5 (44/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 β€” slower evictions, more regulations.

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2.8/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

3.1% 5yr CAGR

1.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $1,028,629
Avg Monthly Rent $2,884
ZIP Codes 24

Investing in Monterey County Real Estate

This is a distressed-leaning county in California: Monterey has 18 cities, 24 ZIPs, and investment math that only works for investors with genuine local understanding.

Investors considering Monterey, California should understand what the β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† rating represents β€” a region with material challenges, not a temporary rough patch.

Monterey County's population trends and income levels suggest a region where affordability is strained, constraining how aggressively rents can rise without hurting collections.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Monterey County, CA. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Monterey County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

36 North Property Management is a leader in Monterey County, providing property management services. summary from their website

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A. G. Davi Property Management is a full-service property management company in Monterey, California, offering commercial, long-term residential, and vacation rental management services. summary from their website

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Creative Property Management is a premier property manager on the Monterey Peninsula, offering residential and commercial income property management services with over 40 years of experience. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience β€” Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Avg Home Value
$1,028,629
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,884
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (CA)
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†

πŸ“‰ Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Salinas, CA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
50%
Days Pending
1/2
50 days

View all metro crash risk rankings β†’

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in Monterey County

9 Colleges 26,651 Students 5,826 Off-Campus Renters
B
California State University-Monterey Bay
4-Year Public Β· 6,742 students
πŸ“ ~364 students rent off-campus
C
Waynes College of Beauty
Vocational For-Profit Β· 46 students
C
Hartnell College
2-Year Public Β· 8,478 students
πŸ“ ~2,331 students rent off-campus
C
Central Coast College
2-Year For-Profit Β· 565 students
C
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
4-Year Private Β· 503 students
C
Monterey Peninsula College
2-Year Public Β· 7,351 students
πŸ“ ~3,131 students rent off-campus
C
Naval Postgraduate School
4-Year Public Β· 2,600 students
C
CET-Salinas
Vocational Private Β· 187 students
C
CET-Soledad
Vocational Private Β· 179 students

Investor Insight: With 5,826 students living off-campus, Monterey County has substantial rental demand from the college population β€” typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in Monterey County

ZIP Codes in Monterey County, CA

93905 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Salinas
Population 64,596
Avg Home $672,428
Avg Rent $2,600/mo
93906 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Salinas
Population 64,592
Avg Home $716,731
Avg Rent $2,363/mo
93955 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Seaside
Population 32,253
Avg Home $799,863
Avg Rent $3,041/mo
93940 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Monterey
Population 30,951
Avg Home $1,144,695
Avg Rent $2,748/mo
93901 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Salinas
Population 29,480
Avg Home $776,880
Avg Rent $2,247/mo
93933 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Marina
Population 27,617
Avg Home $871,178
Avg Rent $3,451/mo
93960 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Soledad
Population 25,736
Avg Home $646,010
Avg Rent $2,750/mo
93907 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Salinas
Population 24,922
Avg Home $833,992
Avg Rent $2,690/mo
93927 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Greenfield
Population 21,131
Avg Home $555,404
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93930 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
King City
Population 17,124
Avg Home $528,782
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93950 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Pacific Grove
Population 15,003
Avg Home $1,396,213
Avg Rent $3,038/mo
93908 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Salinas
Population 12,517
Avg Home $1,187,303
Avg Rent $4,533/mo
93923 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Population 12,377
Avg Home $2,363,535
Avg Rent $5,142/mo
95012 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Moss Landing
Population 11,147
Avg Home $688,351
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93926 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Gonzales
Population 8,998
Avg Home $642,782
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93924 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Carmel Valley
Population 6,046
Avg Home $1,456,692
Avg Rent $4,650/mo
93451 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
San Miguel
Population 5,007
Avg Home $631,053
Avg Rent $1,850/mo
93953 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Del Monte Forest
Population 3,576
Avg Home $2,855,508
Avg Rent $3,159/mo
93920 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Big Sur
Population 1,564
Avg Home $1,763,204
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93426 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Bradley
Population 1,509
Avg Home $654,534
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93925 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Chualar
Population 1,320
Avg Home $725,190
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
95039 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Moss Landing
Population 1,279
Avg Home $1,088,648
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93932 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Lockwood
Population 431
Avg Home $836,298
Avg Rent $2,421/mo
93962 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Salinas
Population 189
Avg Home $851,819
Avg Rent $3,159/mo

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Frequently Asked Questions About Monterey County

Should investors consider, CA?

, CA reports an investability rating of 2.8/5, with median home values near $1.0M and average rents around $2,884/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

What are home prices like in, CA?

Homes in, CA typically sell near $1.0M. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in, CA?

Occupancy in, CA runs stable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,884/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is, CA above average for CA?

Compared with CA overall, is broadly in line with on price and yield. $1.0M homes against $2,884/mo rents drive the comparison.

Community Ratings

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