Real Estate Investing in Santa Monica, California (90402)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 90402 (Santa Monica, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- High vacancy: 15.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 63.5 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Santa Monica, CA (90402)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 90402 Santa Monica
Turning to rents, ZIP 90402 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $4.8M median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.
The investment case in 90402 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $4.8M median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.
Within CA, ZIP 90402 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Los Angeles County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.
Employment concentration in 90402 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.
seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Santa Monica:
Property Strategy for 90402
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $917,260 | $2,730 | 2.1% | -1.8% | $917,260 |
| 2BR | $2,136,800 | $3,400 | 1.1% | +0.6% | $1,068,400 |
| 3BR | $3,841,977 | $4,310 | 0.8% | +3.4% | $1,280,659 |
| 4BR | $5,239,712 | $4,800 | 0.7% | +3.9% | $1,309,928 |
| 5BR | $6,617,142 | — | — | +3.8% | $1,323,428 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 90402 Compare?
| Metric | 90402 | Santa Monica | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $4,833,497 | $2,108,588 | N/A | $761,003 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 4.2% | 0.9% | N/A | 5.7% |
| Avg Rent | $6,342 | $4,049 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.0% | 1.8% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 90402 (Santa Monica, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 90402 (Santa Monica, CA)?
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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
ACF Property Management leases shopping center spaces nationwide, managing over 37 shopping centers in 11 states from California to Florida. summary from their website
summary from their website summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $4,833,497 |
| Monthly Rent | $6,342 |
| Price-to-Rent | 63.5:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 1.6% |
| Cap Rate | 1.0% |
| 5-Year IRR | 5.2% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +11.4% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.4% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +4.2% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +8.0% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -14.3% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.5% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +5.2% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.0%). 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.
Demographics in 90402
Population: 11,178
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 90402
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
John Adams Middle
Edison Elementary
Franklin Elementary
Grant Elementary
McKinley Elementary
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
Investor Insight: With 9,227 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Monica, CA suited for a house hack?
For house hackers, Santa Monica, CA is a tougher. The $6,342/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $4.8M property.
How strong is the working-renter base in Santa Monica, CA?
Tenant demand in Santa Monica, CA is solid. The local workforce $6,342/mo rents across most rental classes.
How expensive is real estate in Santa Monica, CA?
The median home value in Santa Monica, CA is roughly $4.8M. That puts it reasonable relative to the CA statewide average.
Are landlord laws favorable in Santa Monica, CA?
Santa Monica, CA operates under CA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.
Which real estate strategy fits Santa Monica, CA?
The best-fit strategy in Santa Monica, CA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.
You know 90402 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 90402 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.
How 90402 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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