Real Estate Investing in Imperial Beach, California (91932)

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

San Diego County • Population: 25,897 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 91932 (Imperial Beach, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (39/100)

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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Imperial Beach, CA (91932)?

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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 $844,215
Avg Monthly Rent $2,938
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,731
% Renters 69.0%

Market Analysis: 91932 Imperial Beach

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Imperial Beach's 91932 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $844K pricing implies.

Rent of $2,938/mo on a $844K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 91932 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 91932 sits on the difficult end of the CA spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Looking more closely, 25,897 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The 91932 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Imperial Beach:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 11.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,938/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
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
45 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.9%
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 91932

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$214,923/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $449,569 $2,290 3.7% +4.5% $449,569
2BR $709,239 $2,790 2.8% +4.5% $354,619
3BR $844,158 $3,720 3.2% +4.7% $281,386
4BR $938,525 $4,500 3.5% +5.5% $234,631
5BR $1,074,615 +6.4% $214,923

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$922K$778K$635K$492K$348K$205KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,105$2,764$2,424$2,083$1,743$1,402Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 91932 Compare?

Metric 91932 Imperial Beach San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA California
Home Value $844,215 $844,215 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 2.7% 2.7% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,938 $2,938 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 91932? Click to expand

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

69% 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 91932 (Imperial Beach, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving San Diego County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

33 Property Management offers residential and multi-family property management services in North County San Diego and Riverside, CA. summary from their website

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This domain is for sale. summary from their website

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Advent provides quality property management services throughout Southern California, focusing on customer service and using modern property management tools. 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
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.7%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $844,215
Monthly Rent $2,938
Price-to-Rent 23.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 5.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
9.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 91932

Population: 25,897

💰 Median Household Income
$75,731
This area
$75,731
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
69.0%
This area
69.0%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.5%
This area
22.5%
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
9.9%
This area
9.9%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 54.6%
Other/Mixed 33.7%
Hispanic/Latino 27.8%
Asian 7.1%
Black/African American 4.6%
👶 Under 18
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.4%
This area
11.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
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 91932

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
20.6:1 Avg Class Size
$92,118 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average
👥
28 Students
👨‍🏫
5.6:1 Class Size
💰
$604,552 Per Student
B Good

Bayside STEAM Academy

📚 K – 06 School
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
25.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,374 Per Student
B Good

Central Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
379 Students
👨‍🏫
23.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,374 Per Student
B Good

Oneonta Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
397 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,374 Per Student
B Good

Imperial Beach Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
750 Students
👨‍🏫
23.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,374 Per Student
B Good

SBUSD Virtual Academy

📚 K – 06 School
👥
65 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,374 Per Student
B Good

VIP Village Preschool

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
💰
$19,374 Per Student
C+ Average

Mar Vista Senior High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,266 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,144 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 5,152 Off-Campus Students
C
Bellus Academy-Chula Vista
379 students · 3.7 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista
675 students · 3.8 mi
C
UEI College-Chula Vista
1,344 students · 4.1 mi
C
California Institute of Arts & Technology-National City
1,410 students · 6.4 mi
D
The Nurse Academy
34 students · 8.1 mi
C
Southwestern College
18,469 students · 8.6 mi
D
Concorde Career College-San Diego
178 students · 9.3 mi
C
Riggins Urban Barber College
43 students · 9.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,152 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average monthly rent in Imperial Beach, CA?

Expect rents around $2,938/mo per month in Imperial Beach, CA. With home values at $844K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

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

The tenant pool in Imperial Beach, CA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,938/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Are there empty rentals in Imperial Beach, CA?

Vacancy in Imperial Beach, CA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,938/mo.

Is Imperial Beach, CA good for landlords?

For rental operators, Imperial Beach, CA rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What is the average home sale price in Imperial Beach, CA?

Typical homes in Imperial Beach, CA go for around $844K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

You know 91932 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 91932 ranks in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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