Real Estate Investing in San Diego, California (92173)

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

San Diego County • Population: 26,507 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92173 (San Diego, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in San Diego, CA (92173)?

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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 $698,609
Avg Monthly Rent $2,661
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,209
% Renters 70.8%

Market Analysis: 92173 San Diego

ZIP 92173 inside San Diego County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $699K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 92173 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 92173 sits on the difficult end of the CA spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 92173 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 12× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,661/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 92173

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$157,276/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $319,278 $1,990 4.5% +8.2% $319,278
2BR $419,651 $2,430 4.2% +6.3% $209,826
3BR $640,238 $3,240 3.6% +7.7% $213,413
4BR $729,761 $3,920 3.9% +7.6% $182,440
5BR $786,380 +8.4% $157,276

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$740K$620K$500K$379K$259K$139KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,741$2,637$2,533$2,429$2,325$2,221Jun 2024Jul 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92173 Compare?

Metric 92173 San Diego San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA California
Home Value $698,609 $867,955 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 4.8% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,661 $3,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92173? Click to expand

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

71% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 92173 (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
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $698,609
Monthly Rent $2,661
Price-to-Rent 21.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
3.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92173

Population: 26,507

💰 Median Household Income
$58,209
This area
$58,209
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
70.8%
This area
70.8%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.2 years
This area
34.2 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 50.6%
Hispanic/Latino 48.8%
White 46.4%
Asian 1.6%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
25.1%
This area
25.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.3%
This area
12.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.7%
This area
13.7%
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 92173

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
21.4:1 Avg Class Size
$17,979 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

George Nicoloff Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
606 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,374 Per Student
B+ Above Average

La Mirada Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
368 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,700 Per Student
B+ Above Average

San Ysidro Middle

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
548 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,700 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Smythe Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
561 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,700 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Willow Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
686 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,700 Per Student
B Good

Sunset Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
522 Students
👨‍🏫
23.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,700 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
UEI College-Chula Vista
1,344 students · 3.8 mi
C
Bellus Academy-Chula Vista
379 students · 4.5 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista
675 students · 5.1 mi
C
Southwestern College
18,469 students · 6.7 mi
C
California Institute of Arts & Technology-National City
1,410 students · 8.0 mi
D
The Nurse Academy
34 students · 9.0 mi
C
Riggins Urban Barber College
43 students · 10.6 mi
D
Concorde Career College-San Diego
178 students · 10.6 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is vacancy risk in San Diego, CA?

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

Where do rents currently stand in San Diego, CA?

Investors in San Diego, CA typically see rents near $2,661/mo per month against $699K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Are renters plentiful in San Diego, CA?

Working renters make up the core of the San Diego, CA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

How viable is house hacking in San Diego, CA?

House hacking in San Diego, CA is a challenging. With home values around $699K and rents at $2,661/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is the best play in San Diego, CA?

For San Diego, CA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 92173 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 92173 ranks in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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