Real Estate Investing in La Quinta, California (92253)

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

Riverside County • Population: 38,281 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92253 (La Quinta, 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: 37.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in La Quinta, CA (92253)?

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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 $741,738
Avg Monthly Rent $3,598
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $92,744
% Renters 25.8%

Market Analysis: 92253 La Quinta

The 92253 ZIP in La Quinta, CA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $742K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $3,598/mo on a $742K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 92253 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 92253 sits on the difficult end of the CA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 92253 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 92253 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 La Quinta:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,598/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
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 92253

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$227,371/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $297,000 $1,840 4.5% +9.5% $297,000
2BR $525,750 $2,280 3.1% +9.0% $262,875
3BR $682,114 $3,020 3.2% +8.0% $227,371
4BR $1,194,231 $3,640 2.2% +9.7% $298,558
5BR $2,064,303 +10.7% $412,861

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$853K$739K$626K$512K$398K$284KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$4,115$3,546$2,977$2,409$1,840$1,272Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92253 Compare?

Metric 92253 La Quinta Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA California
Home Value $741,738 $741,738 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.7% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,598 $3,598 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92253? 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 →
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 92253 (La Quinta, 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
+3.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $741,738
Monthly Rent $3,598
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +16.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
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
37.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92253

Population: 38,281

💰 Median Household Income
$92,744
This area
$92,744
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.8%
This area
25.8%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
38.5%
This area
38.5%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.0 years
This area
51.0 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
37.2%
This area
37.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.2%
Other/Mixed 29.2%
Hispanic/Latino 24.8%
Asian 3.7%
Black/African American 2.0%
👶 Under 18
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.2%
This area
30.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
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 92253

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
21.4:1 Avg Class Size
$18,014 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
397 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,014 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Summit High (Continuation)

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
167 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,014 Per Student
B Good

Benjamin Franklin Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
622 Students
👨‍🏫
22.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,014 Per Student
B Good

Harry S. Truman Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
644 Students
👨‍🏫
25.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,014 Per Student
B Good

La Quinta Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
688 Students
👨‍🏫
22.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,014 Per Student
B Good

Horizon

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
356 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,014 Per Student
B Good

John Adams Early Childhood Learning Center

📚 K – 01 Elementary Limited Data
💰
$18,014 Per Student
C+ Average

La Quinta High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,488 Students
👨‍🏫
25.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,014 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
Coachella Valley Beauty College
88 students · 3.7 mi
C
CET-Coachella
84 students · 6.4 mi
C
Elite Cosmetology School
123 students · 7.7 mi
C
College of the Desert
10,764 students · 7.8 mi
C
International School of Beauty Inc
173 students · 8.4 mi
C
California Indian Nations College
128 students · 9.0 mi
C
Milan Institute-Palm Desert
290 students · 9.6 mi
C
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage
260 students · 11.5 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is La Quinta, CA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking La Quinta, CA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $742K median home values and $3,598/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

How much is rent in La Quinta, CA?

Rents in La Quinta, CA run near $3,598/mo. Compared with median home prices of $742K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What is the typical vacancy rate in La Quinta, CA?

Occupancy in La Quinta, CA runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $3,598/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in La Quinta, CA?

La Quinta, CA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $3,598/mo rent level.

What approach is best for La Quinta, CA real estate?

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

You know 92253 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 92253 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 92253 ranks in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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