Real Estate Investing in San Diego, California (92124)

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

San Diego County • Population: 31,032 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 92124 (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 29.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in San Diego, CA (92124)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $1,061,764
Avg Monthly Rent $3,012
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $105,885
% Renters 55.8%

Market Analysis: 92124 San Diego

Investors eyeing 92124 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $1.1M come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 92124 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 92124 sits on the difficult end of the CA spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 92124 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 92124 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: 54/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,012/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 92124

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$257,390/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $503,161 $3,520 5.0% +7.0% $503,161
2BR $698,907 $4,300 4.4% +7.0% $349,454
3BR $966,515 $5,730 4.3% +8.1% $322,172
4BR $1,232,611 $6,940 4.1% +9.0% $308,153
5BR $1,286,948 +8.5% $257,390

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$979K$822K$666K$509K$352KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,123$2,938$2,754$2,569$2,385$2,200Apr 2021Dec 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92124 Compare?

Metric 92124 San Diego San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA California
Home Value $1,061,764 $867,955 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 4.8% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,012 $3,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92124? Click to expand

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

56% 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 92124 (San Diego, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 92124 (San Diego, CA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

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
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,061,764
Monthly Rent $3,012
Price-to-Rent 29.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
4.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92124

Population: 31,032

💰 Median Household Income
$105,885
This area
$105,885
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
55.8%
This area
55.8%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
53.8%
This area
53.8%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.7 years
This area
32.7 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.4%
Other/Mixed 16.3%
Asian 10.8%
Hispanic/Latino 9.9%
Black/African American 6.6%
👶 Under 18
27.5%
This area
27.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
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 92124

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
22.2:1 Avg Class Size
$26,901 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Farb Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
446 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
A Very Good

De Portola Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
659 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hancock Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
705 Students
👨‍🏫
24.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kumeyaay Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
406 Students
👨‍🏫
23.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Miller Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
686 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Tierrasanta Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
498 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Vista Grande Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
392 Students
👨‍🏫
24.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B Good

Canyon Hills High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,236 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Foster Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 6550 51st St., San Diego
👥
502 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dailard Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 6425 Cibola Rd., San Diego
👥
542 Students
👨‍🏫
25.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hearst Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 6230 Del Cerro Blvd., San Diego
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Marvin Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 5720 Brunswick Ave., San Diego
👥
549 Students
👨‍🏫
25.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,901 Per Student
B Good

Lewis Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 5170 Greenbrier Ave., San Diego
👥
963 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 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 6,135 Off-Campus Students
C
Northcentral University
10,518 students · 2.4 mi
C
National University
19,924 students · 2.4 mi
D
Ashford University
32,604 students · 3.3 mi
B+
San Diego State University
39,241 students · 3.8 mi
F
California Miramar University
222 students · 3.9 mi
D
San Diego Community College District-District Office
0 students · 4.1 mi
D
North-West College-San Diego
551 students · 4.5 mi
C
Grossmont College
13,591 students · 4.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,135 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in San Diego, CA?

Rental rates in San Diego, CA average $3,012/mo. Tenant demand and $1.1M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What strategy should investors use in San Diego, CA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in San Diego, CA. The numbers - $1.1M homes against $3,012/mo rents - support that play.

Do rentals sit vacant long in San Diego, CA?

San Diego, CA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect reliable absorption at market rents of $3,012/mo.

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

The a tougher house-hack environment in San Diego, CA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What kind of market is San Diego, CA for investors?

Yes - San Diego, CA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $1.1M home prices against $3,012/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 92124 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 92124 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.

Compare Plans

How 92124 ranks in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 92124 (San Diego)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 92124 (San Diego, CA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.