Real Estate Investing in Huntington Beach, California (90742)

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

Orange County • Population: 385 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 90742 (Huntington Beach, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 39.6% 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 67.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Huntington Beach, CA (90742)?

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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 $2,181,778
Avg Monthly Rent $2,691
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $112,600
% Renters 54.5%

Market Analysis: 90742 Huntington Beach

ZIP 90742 inside Orange County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $2.2M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $2.2M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 90742 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 90742 among CA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 90742 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 90742 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Huntington Beach:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 48/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 19.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,691/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$2.3M$2.0M$1.8M$1.5M$1.3M$998KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 90742 Compare?

Metric 90742 Huntington Beach Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $2,181,778 $1,554,128 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 6.6% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,691 $3,075 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.0% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 90742? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 90742 (Huntington Beach, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Orange County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Action Property Management is an HOA management company serving various community types including large scale, high rise, new development, condos, and hotel residential. summary from their website

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Affinity Property Management, Inc. provides world-class service in property management, adapting to client needs and offering solutions for owners and tenants. summary from their website

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Aperto Property Management, Inc. aims to maximize real estate asset value and achieve investment goals through vision, professionalism, and personal service. 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
1.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $2,181,778
Monthly Rent $2,691
Price-to-Rent 67.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.5%
Cap Rate 1.0%
5-Year IRR 5.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

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.

Vacancy
39.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 90742

Population: 385

💰 Median Household Income
$112,600
This area
$112,600
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
54.5%
This area
54.5%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
61.7%
This area
61.7%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
58.6 years
This area
58.6 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
39.6%
This area
39.6%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.6%
Other/Mixed 18.3%
Hispanic/Latino 10.9%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
5.8%
This area
5.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.8%
This area
25.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 90742

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Village View Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 5361 Sisson Dr., Huntington Beach
👥
336 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,198 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Harbour View Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 4343 Pickwick Cir., Huntington Beach
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,198 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Marine View Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 5682 Tilburg Dr., Huntington Beach
👥
647 Students
👨‍🏫
24.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,198 Per Student
B Good

J. H. McGaugh Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1698 Bolsa Ave., Seal Beach
👥
727 Students
👨‍🏫
22.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,275 Per Student
C+ Average

Marina High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 15871 Springdale St., Huntington Beach
👥
2,007 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,171 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 7,474 Off-Campus Students
C
Golden West College
10,433 students · 4.1 mi
C
Career Academy of Beauty
207 students · 4.9 mi
B+
California State University-Long Beach
40,278 students · 5.0 mi
C
CalCopa Massage School
19 students · 5.2 mi
C
Asian-American International Beauty College
413 students · 5.4 mi
D
CRU Institute of Cosmetology and Barbering
129 students · 5.5 mi
C
Touro University Worldwide
2,357 students · 6.3 mi
D
North-West College-Long Beach
576 students · 7.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,474 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Huntington Beach, CA?

Huntington Beach, CA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Huntington Beach, CA?

Working renters make up the core of the Huntington Beach, CA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

What is the investability score for Huntington Beach, CA?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Huntington Beach, CA reflects its $2.2M prices and $2,691/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within CA.

Is Huntington Beach, CA suited for a house hack?

House hacking works a tougher in Huntington Beach, CA. Rents of $2,691/mo against $2.2M acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the smart move for investors in Huntington Beach, CA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Huntington Beach, CA. With home values at $2.2M and rents near $2,691/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

You know 90742 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 90742 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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