Real Estate Investing in South Gate, California (90280)

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

Los Angeles County • Population: 91,719 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 90280 (South Gate, 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
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in South Gate, CA (90280)?

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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 $702,086
Avg Monthly Rent $2,017
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,287
% Renters 55.2%

Market Analysis: 90280 South Gate

This part of Los Angeles County is not an easy win. The 90280 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $702K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 90280 is substantial and deserves full respect.

From an investor standpoint, 90280 offers a low basis, the region around South Gate has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 90280 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 90280 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 South Gate:

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 10.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,017/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 90280

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
2.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$164,981/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $548,624 $1,680 2.2% +6.8% $548,624
2BR $632,822 $2,090 2.4% +6.0% $316,411
3BR $703,052 $2,650 2.7% +5.9% $234,351
4BR $751,620 $2,950 2.8% +5.9% $187,905
5BR $824,904 +5.5% $164,981

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$742K$632K$522K$412K$302K$192KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,067$2,021$1,976$1,930$1,884$1,839Nov 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 90280 Compare?

Metric 90280 South Gate Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $702,086 $702,086 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 4.3% 4.3% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,017 $2,017 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 90280? Click to expand

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

55% 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 90280 (South Gate, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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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

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

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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
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $702,086
Monthly Rent $2,017
Price-to-Rent 29.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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)
+4.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 90280

Population: 91,719

💰 Median Household Income
$67,287
This area
$67,287
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
55.2%
This area
55.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.5%
This area
11.5%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.7 years
This area
33.7 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 62.9%
Hispanic/Latino 60.8%
White 35.5%
Black/African American 1.0%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.3%
This area
11.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
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 90280

B+ Avg School Grade
27 Schools
20.6:1 Avg Class Size
$24,554 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Tweedy Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Independence Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
440 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Liberty Boulevard Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Madison Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
507 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Montara Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
624 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

San Gabriel Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
473 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

San Miguel Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
672 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good
👥
533 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Stanford Avenue Elementary

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
367 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Stanford Primary Center

📚 Grade KG Elementary
👥
123 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

State Street Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
A Very Good

Willow Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hollydale

📚 K – 08 School
👥
806 Students
👨‍🏫
20.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,911 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
885 Students
👨‍🏫
21.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Victoria Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
283 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Simon Rodia Continuation

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
81 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bryson Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
737 Students
👨‍🏫
23.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

South Gate Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,264 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Southeast Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,219 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 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 3,621 Off-Campus Students
C
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
763 students · 3.2 mi
C
American College of Healthcare and Technology
155 students · 3.2 mi
C
UEI College-Huntington Park
1,036 students · 3.5 mi
C
Healthcare Career College
381 students · 4.5 mi
C
Compton College
4,765 students · 4.7 mi
C
Downey Adult School
844 students · 4.7 mi
C
National Polytechnic College
299 students · 6.4 mi
C
UEI College-Gardena
1,444 students · 6.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,621 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in South Gate, CA?

Rents in South Gate, CA run near $2,017/mo. Compared with median home prices of $702K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How qualified is the tenant pool in South Gate, CA?

Tenant quality in South Gate, CA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $2,017/mo.

What kind of market is South Gate, CA for investors?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, South Gate, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $702K and rents of $2,017/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Should investors worry about vacancy in South Gate, CA?

Rental vacancy in South Gate, CA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

How expensive is real estate in South Gate, CA?

Expect median prices around $702K in South Gate, CA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

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How 90280 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

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