Real Estate Investing in Bell, California (90201)

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

Los Angeles County • Population: 93,783 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 90201 (Bell, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Elevated poverty: 21.9% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Bell, CA (90201)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $696,724
Avg Monthly Rent $2,181
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,692
% Renters 79.1%

Market Analysis: 90201 Bell

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Bell's 90201 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $697K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 90201 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $697K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Statewide comparisons place 90201 among CA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 90201 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 90201 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $697K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Bell:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 13× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,181/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 90201

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$172,595/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $529,153 $1,750 2.4% +4.5% $529,153
2BR $616,808 $2,180 2.5% +6.3% $308,404
3BR $687,604 $2,760 2.9% +6.2% $229,201
4BR $744,505 $3,080 3.0% +5.6% $186,126
5BR $862,975 +5.3% $172,595

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$736K$622K$509K$396K$282K$169KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,390$2,323$2,257$2,190$2,123$2,056Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 90201 Compare?

Metric 90201 Bell Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $696,724 $696,724 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,181 $2,181 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 90201? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

79% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 90201 (Bell, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 90201 (Bell, CA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Los Angeles County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

A Better Property Management Company Inc. provides property management services in Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Southern California. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

ACF Property Management leases shopping center spaces nationwide, managing over 37 shopping centers in 11 states from California to Florida. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

summary from their website summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $696,724
Monthly Rent $2,181
Price-to-Rent 26.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
2.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 90201

Population: 93,783

💰 Median Household Income
$53,692
This area
$53,692
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
79.1%
This area
79.1%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
6.9%
This area
6.9%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.8 years
This area
31.8 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 54.0%
Hispanic/Latino 52.4%
White 43.8%
Black/African American 1.7%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
27.2%
This area
27.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.5%
This area
9.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 90201

B+ Avg School Grade
21 Schools
19.2:1 Avg Class Size
$24,226 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Bell Gardens Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
659 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,933 Per Student
A Very Good

Garfield Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,933 Per Student
A Very Good

Russell Westbrook Why Not? High

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
171 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,753 Per Student
A Very Good

Suva Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
595 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,933 Per Student
A Very Good

Cesar E. Chavez Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
747 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,933 Per Student
A Very Good

Corona Avenue Elementary

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
554 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Elizabeth Learning Center

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
1,322 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Orchard Academies 2B

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Orchard Academies 2C

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Suva Intermediate

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
705 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,933 Per Student
A Very Good

Teresa Hughes Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
538 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Woodlawn Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
568 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bell Gardens Intermediate

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
822 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,933 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Park Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ellen Ochoa Learning Center

📚 K – 08 School
👥
1,142 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jaime Escalante Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
492 Students
👨‍🏫
23.4:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Martha Escutia Primary Center

📚 Grade KG Elementary
👥
187 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Nueva Vista Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
641 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B Good

Bell Gardens High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,139 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,933 Per Student
B Good

Bell Senior High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,259 Students
👨‍🏫
21.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 20,244 Off-Campus Students
C
American College of Healthcare and Technology
155 students · 3.2 mi
C
UEI College-Huntington Park
1,036 students · 3.3 mi
C
Downey Adult School
844 students · 4.8 mi
C
East Los Angeles College
30,321 students · 5.0 mi
C
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
763 students · 5.2 mi
D
ZMS The Academy
228 students · 5.7 mi
C
Healthcare Career College
381 students · 5.8 mi
C+
NTMA Training Centers of Southern California
64 students · 5.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 20,244 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bell, CA make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Bell, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $697K and rents of $2,181/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Bell, CA?

Vacancy in Bell, CA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,181/mo.

What investment strategy works best in Bell, CA?

Most investors in Bell, CA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Bell, CA good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Bell, CA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,181/mo rents and $697K home values.

What do landlords charge for rent in Bell, CA?

Rent in Bell, CA is around $2,181/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $697K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 90201 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 90201 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 90201 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 90201 (Bell)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 90201 (Bell, CA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.