Real Estate Investing in San Diego, California (92122)

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

San Diego County • Population: 45,437 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92122 (San Diego, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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 27.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in San Diego, CA (92122)?

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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 $1,089,232
Avg Monthly Rent $3,314
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $98,330
% Renters 66.2%

Market Analysis: 92122 San Diego

Stepping back, ZIP 92122 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $1.1M median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $1.1M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 92122 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 92122 sits on the difficult end of the CA spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 92122 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 92122 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $1.1M are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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: 54/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 11.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,314/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 92122

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$348,684/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $507,349 $3,230 4.6% +6.8% $507,349
2BR $716,195 $3,940 4.0% +5.4% $358,098
3BR $1,263,350 $5,250 3.0% +8.7% $421,117
4BR $1,600,567 $6,360 2.9% +8.6% $400,142
5BR $1,743,422 +8.5% $348,684

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.2M$1.0M$849K$681K$513K$345KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,425$3,103$2,780$2,457$2,135$1,812Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92122 Compare?

Metric 92122 San Diego San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA California
Home Value $1,089,232 $867,955 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 4.8% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,314 $3,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92122? Click to expand

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

66% 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 92122 (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

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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

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
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,089,232
Monthly Rent $3,314
Price-to-Rent 27.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 7.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
7.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92122

Population: 45,437

💰 Median Household Income
$98,330
This area
$98,330
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
66.2%
This area
66.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
75.3%
This area
75.3%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.0 years
This area
31.0 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 55.7%
Asian 29.5%
Other/Mixed 13.1%
Hispanic/Latino 8.9%
Black/African American 1.6%
👶 Under 18
13.2%
This area
13.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.0%
This area
13.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
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 92122

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
24.4:1 Avg Class Size
$26,901 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Curie Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
24.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Doyle Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
672 Students
👨‍🏫
24.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Spreckels Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
650 Students
👨‍🏫
26.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B Good

Standley Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
838 Students
👨‍🏫
23.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B Good

University City High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,505 Students
👨‍🏫
24.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Lafayette Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 6125 Printwood Way, San Diego
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Innovation Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 5095 Arvinels Ave., San Diego
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Creative Performing and Media Arts

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 5050 Conrad Ave., San Diego
👥
695 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Sequoia Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 4690 Limerick Ave., San Diego
👥
170 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Whittier K-12

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 3401 Clairemont Dr., San Diego
👥
71 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 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
A
University of California-San Diego
42,376 students · 2.1 mi
D
Design Institute of San Diego
111 students · 3.0 mi
C
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
48 students · 3.5 mi
C+
San Diego Mesa College
19,243 students · 4.4 mi
D
Ashford University
32,604 students · 4.5 mi
C
Northcentral University
10,518 students · 5.2 mi
C
National University
19,924 students · 5.2 mi
B
University of San Diego
9,110 students · 6.0 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego, CA a friendly market for rental owners?

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 strong is the working-renter base in San Diego, CA?

The tenant pool in San Diego, CA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $3,314/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What is the average home sale price 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 measured long-term demand.

Can I live-in-and-rent in San Diego, CA?

For house hackers, San Diego, CA is a tougher. The $3,314/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $1.1M property.

What is the rental occupancy rate in San Diego, CA?

San Diego, CA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader CA rental market.

You know 92122 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 92122 ranks in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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