Real Estate Investing in Cathedral City, California (92234)

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

Riverside County • Population: 52,047 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92234 (Cathedral City, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (38/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 19.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Cathedral City, CA (92234)?

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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 $481,046
Avg Monthly Rent $2,321
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,209
% Renters 35.7%

Market Analysis: 92234 Cathedral City

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 92234 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $481K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 92234 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $481K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 92234's metrics run below Riverside County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 92234 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Cathedral City's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 92234. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Cathedral City:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,321/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
60 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.8%
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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 92234

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$125,111/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $231,291 $1,730 5.4% +9.8% $231,291
2BR $345,034 $2,140 4.5% +7.7% $172,517
3BR $490,203 $2,830 4.2% +6.8% $163,401
4BR $557,935 $3,420 4.4% +7.1% $139,484
5BR $625,553 +7.3% $125,111

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$540K$456K$373K$289K$205K$122KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,839$2,681$2,523$2,366$2,208$2,051Sep 2021Feb 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92234 Compare?

Metric 92234 Cathedral City Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA California
Home Value $481,046 $481,046 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.9% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,321 $2,321 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92234? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 36% 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 92234 (Cathedral City, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Riverside 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

Albert Association Management provides HOA and community association management services in Palm Desert. summary from their website

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All County Desert offers full-service residential property management in Palm Desert and Coachella Valley, focusing exclusively on maximizing property investment returns. 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
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $481,046
Monthly Rent $2,321
Price-to-Rent 17.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
19.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92234

Population: 52,047

💰 Median Household Income
$63,209
This area
$63,209
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.7%
This area
35.7%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.0%
This area
26.0%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.2%
This area
19.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 49.5%
Other/Mixed 41.7%
Hispanic/Latino 36.9%
Asian 6.9%
Black/African American 1.9%
👶 Under 18
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
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 92234

B+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
20.1:1 Avg Class Size
$19,325 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Agua Caliente Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
617 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cathedral City Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
641 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Landau Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
578 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Rio Vista Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
674 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sunny Sands Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
684 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mt. San Jacinto High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
357 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Nellie N. Coffman Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
928 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
B Good

Cathedral City High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,370 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 Per Student
C+ Average

James Workman Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,027 Students
👨‍🏫
23.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,325 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 7,803 Off-Campus Students
C
California Nurses Educational Institute
114 students · 1.4 mi
C
Mayfield College
316 students · 1.7 mi
C
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage
260 students · 4.5 mi
C
Milan Institute-Palm Desert
290 students · 6.8 mi
C
International School of Beauty Inc
173 students · 6.8 mi
C
California Indian Nations College
128 students · 7.1 mi
C
College of the Desert
10,764 students · 7.2 mi
C
Elite Cosmetology School
123 students · 7.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,803 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Cathedral City, CA?

Homes in Cathedral City, CA typically sell near $481K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which measured long-term demand.

How should investors approach Cathedral City, CA?

The best-fit strategy in Cathedral City, CA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Are renters plentiful in Cathedral City, CA?

The renter base in Cathedral City, CA is reasonable for the $2,321/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Cathedral City, CA?

Cathedral City, CA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $481K price point reasonable to enter.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Cathedral City, CA?

Cathedral City, CA operates under CA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

You know 92234 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 92234 ranks in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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