Real Estate Investing in San Diego, California (92117)

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

San Diego County • Population: 52,645 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92117 (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 31.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in San Diego, CA (92117)?

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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 $1,093,238
Avg Monthly Rent $2,942
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $101,445
% Renters 44.2%

Market Analysis: 92117 San Diego

Not every below-median market is a bargain. San Diego's 92117 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $1.1M pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 92117 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in San Diego have seen price recovery that 92117 has not matched. San Diego County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 92117 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 92117 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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: 55/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.8× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,942/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 92117

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$277,219/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $461,289 $2,460 3.8% +6.2% $461,289
2BR $728,574 $3,000 3.0% +6.1% $364,287
3BR $1,055,945 $4,000 2.7% +7.0% $351,982
4BR $1,216,710 $4,840 2.9% +7.6% $304,178
5BR $1,386,095 +8.2% $277,219

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.2M$1.0M$857K$681K$505K$329KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,052$2,732$2,412$2,092$1,772$1,452Dec 2016Oct 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92117 Compare?

Metric 92117 San Diego San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA California
Home Value $1,093,238 $867,955 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.8% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,942 $3,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92117? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 44% 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 92117 (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

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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
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,093,238
Monthly Rent $2,942
Price-to-Rent 31.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
4.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92117

Population: 52,645

💰 Median Household Income
$101,445
This area
$101,445
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.2%
This area
44.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
50.0%
This area
50.0%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.9 years
This area
37.9 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.9%
Other/Mixed 21.1%
Hispanic/Latino 15.4%
Asian 9.8%
Black/African American 3.1%
👶 Under 18
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
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 92117

B+ Avg School Grade
17 Schools
19.3:1 Avg Class Size
$26,329 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Lafayette Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Innovation Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Creative Performing and Media Arts

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
695 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Sequoia Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
170 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Whittier K-12

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
71 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Clairemont High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
813 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Field Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
263 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

John Muir Language Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
277 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Madison High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
848 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mt. Everest Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cadman Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
196 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Marston Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
674 Students
👨‍🏫
22.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Whitman Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
107 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Learning Choice Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
185 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,174 Per Student
B Good

Alcott Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B Good

Hawthorne Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
256 Students
👨‍🏫
25.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B Good

Toler Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
223 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 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 8,464 Off-Campus Students
C+
San Diego Mesa College
19,243 students · 2.3 mi
D
Ashford University
32,604 students · 3.4 mi
B
University of San Diego
9,110 students · 3.8 mi
D
Franciscan School of Theology
69 students · 3.8 mi
D
Pacific College of Health and Science
885 students · 3.9 mi
A
University of California-San Diego
42,376 students · 4.2 mi
C
Northcentral University
10,518 students · 4.2 mi
C
National University
19,924 students · 4.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,464 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in San Diego, CA?

Homes in San Diego, CA typically sell near $1.1M. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in San Diego, CA?

Vacancy risk in San Diego, CA is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is the tenant base reliable in San Diego, CA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in San Diego, CA. The rental market absorbs $2,942/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is San Diego, CA good for landlords?

CA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. San Diego generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How much rent can I charge in San Diego, CA?

Rent in San Diego, CA is around $2,942/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $1.1M pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

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How 92117 ranks in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

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