Real Estate Investing in Santa Monica, California (90403)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 90403 (Santa Monica, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.
Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.
- Declining values: -0.3% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
- Elevated vacancy: 11.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Santa Monica, CA (90403)?
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Market Analysis: 90403 Santa Monica
The 90403 ZIP covers a section of Santa Monica that demands careful diligence. Prices near $1.4M look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.
Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 90403 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.
Within CA, ZIP 90403 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Los Angeles County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.
The demographic picture in 90403 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Santa Monica averages, and tenant stability requires active management.
looks 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 90403
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $754,244 | $2,940 | 2.8% | 0.0% | $754,244 |
| 2BR | $1,310,866 | $3,670 | 2.0% | +0.3% | $655,433 |
| 3BR | $1,929,032 | $4,650 | 1.7% | +0.9% | $643,011 |
| 4BR | $3,526,723 | $5,180 | 1.1% | +3.1% | $881,681 |
| 5BR | $4,777,196 | — | — | — | $955,439 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 90403 Compare?
| Metric | 90403 | Santa Monica | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $1,446,615 | $2,108,588 | N/A | $761,003 |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A | 0.9% | N/A | 5.7% |
| Avg Rent | $3,553 | $4,049 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.9% | 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 90403 (Santa Monica, 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
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 | $1,446,615 |
| Monthly Rent | $3,553 |
| Price-to-Rent | 33.9:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 3.0% |
| Cap Rate | 1.9% |
| 5-Year IRR | 1.6% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | -0.9% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -0.7% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | -0.3% ▼ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +2.5% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +1.4% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +2.3% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +3.8% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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 90403
Population: 25,087
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 90403
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
John Adams Middle
Broadway Elementary
Edison 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 better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?
A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Santa Monica, CA best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $1.4M price point.
What are vacancy rates like in Santa Monica, CA?
Expect elevated vacancy in Santa Monica, CA. Rents at $3,553/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.
How expensive is real estate in Santa Monica, CA?
Typical homes in Santa Monica, CA go for around $1.4M. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.
Is CA a landlord-friendly state?
Santa Monica, CA falls under CA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.
How much is rent in Santa Monica, CA?
The typical rental in Santa Monica, CA commands about $3,553/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $1.4M purchase basis.
You know 90403 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 90403 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 90403 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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