Real Estate Investing in Desert Hot Springs, California (92241)

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

Riverside County • Population: 8,624 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92241 (Desert Hot Springs, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (33/100)

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: 38.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Desert Hot Springs, CA (92241)?

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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 $403,163
Avg Monthly Rent $1,872
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $42,771
% Renters 15.7%

Market Analysis: 92241 Desert Hot Springs

The 92241 ZIP in Desert Hot Springs, CA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $403K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $1,872/mo on a $403K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 92241 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

On balance, 92241 offers a low basis, the region around Desert Hot Springs has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 92241 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.

The right play in 92241 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Desert Hot Springs:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 52/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,872/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 92241

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$134,596/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $232,874 $1,670 5.2% +7.2% $232,874
2BR $336,041 $2,080 4.5% +8.5% $168,021
3BR $450,188 $2,780 4.4% +8.4% $150,063
4BR $538,385 $3,380 4.5% +7.5% $134,596

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$437K$365K$292K$220K$148K$75KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92241 Compare?

Metric 92241 Desert Hot Springs Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA California
Home Value $403,163 $344,768 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 3.8% 2.1% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,872 $1,930 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92241? Click to expand

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

📊 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 92241 (Desert Hot Springs, 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
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $403,163
Monthly Rent $1,872
Price-to-Rent 18.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
38.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92241

Population: 8,624

💰 Median Household Income
$42,771
This area
$42,771
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.5 years
This area
52.5 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
38.4%
This area
38.4%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 68.4%
Other/Mixed 28.9%
Hispanic/Latino 27.0%
Black/African American 1.4%
Asian 1.3%
👶 Under 18
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
35.0%
This area
35.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 7,803 Off-Campus Students
C
Milan Institute-Palm Desert
290 students · 5.9 mi
C
California Indian Nations College
128 students · 6.4 mi
C
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage
260 students · 7.0 mi
C
Coachella Valley Beauty College
88 students · 9.6 mi
C
College of the Desert
10,764 students · 9.9 mi
C
Elite Cosmetology School
123 students · 10.6 mi
C
International School of Beauty Inc
173 students · 10.6 mi
C
Mayfield College
316 students · 10.8 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Desert Hot Springs, CA stack up for property investment?

Yes - Desert Hot Springs, CA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $403K home prices against $1,872/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Desert Hot Springs, CA?

Rental rates in Desert Hot Springs, CA average $1,872/mo. Tenant demand and $403K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What is the average home sale price in Desert Hot Springs, CA?

Typical homes in Desert Hot Springs, CA go for around $403K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Desert Hot Springs, CA?

Desert Hot Springs, CA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,872/mo rent level.

What type of investing works in Desert Hot Springs, CA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Desert Hot Springs, CA best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $403K price point.

You know 92241 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 92241 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.

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How 92241 ranks in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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