Real Estate Investing in San Diego, California (92106)

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

San Diego County • Population: 20,863 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92106 (San Diego, 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 47.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in San Diego, CA (92106)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,812,949
Avg Monthly Rent $3,158
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $119,782
% Renters 39.2%

Market Analysis: 92106 San Diego

The 92106 ZIP in San Diego, CA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $1.8M entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 92106 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 92106 and stronger San Diego ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 92106 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 92106 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 San Diego:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 15.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,158/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 92106

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$533,037/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $780,214 $2,610 2.4% +4.7% $780,214
2BR $1,199,197 $3,190 1.9% +7.8% $599,599
3BR $1,683,142 $4,250 1.8% +8.2% $561,047
4BR $2,143,252 $5,150 1.7% +8.1% $535,813
5BR $2,665,186 +8.4% $533,037

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.9M$1.6M$1.4M$1.1M$834K$566KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,259$2,964$2,669$2,375$2,080$1,785Nov 2020Sep 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92106 Compare?

Metric 92106 San Diego San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA California
Home Value $1,812,949 $867,955 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 4.8% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,158 $3,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.4% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92106? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 92106 (San Diego, 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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

This domain is for sale. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Advent provides quality property management services throughout Southern California, focusing on customer service and using modern property management tools. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
1.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,812,949
Monthly Rent $3,158
Price-to-Rent 47.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.1%
Cap Rate 1.4%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +19.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.4%). 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
3.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92106

Population: 20,863

💰 Median Household Income
$119,782
This area
$119,782
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.2%
This area
39.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
61.1%
This area
61.1%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.5 years
This area
38.5 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.4%
Other/Mixed 16.2%
Hispanic/Latino 8.9%
Asian 4.0%
Black/African American 2.4%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
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 92106

C+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
22.1:1 Avg Class Size
$17,918 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Cabrillo Elementary

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
192 Students
👨‍🏫
21.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dana

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
648 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Loma Portal Elementary

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
367 Students
👨‍🏫
22.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B Good

Point Loma High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,682 Students
👨‍🏫
24.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
C+ Average

High Tech High

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
487 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,517 Per Student
C+ Average

High Tech Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
334 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,849 Per Student
C+ Average

High Tech Middle Media Arts

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
340 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,812 Per Student
C+ Average

High Tech Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
423 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,233 Per Student
C+ Average

High Tech Elementary Explorer

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
22.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,013 Per Student
C+ Average

High Tech High International

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
22.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,552 Per Student
C+ Average

High Tech High Media Arts

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
384 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,515 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
C+
Point Loma Nazarene University
4,494 students · 0.9 mi
D
High Tech High Graduate School of Education
105 students · 1.7 mi
D
The Chicago School at San Diego
141 students · 4.0 mi
D
California Western School of Law
625 students · 4.3 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego
250 students · 4.4 mi
C
ICOHS College
215 students · 4.4 mi
C
Associated Barber College of San Diego
116 students · 4.5 mi
C
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
244 students · 4.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in San Diego, CA?

Occupancy in San Diego, CA runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $3,158/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Are rents high in San Diego, CA?

Rental rates in San Diego, CA average $3,158/mo. Tenant demand and $1.8M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What approach is best for San Diego, CA real estate?

San Diego, CA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($1.8M prices, $3,158/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in San Diego, CA?

House hacking in San Diego, CA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $1.8M and rents of $3,158/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is San Diego, CA a good place for real estate investing?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, San Diego, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $1.8M and rents of $3,158/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 92106 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 92106 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.

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How 92106 ranks in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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