Real Estate Investing in Irvine, California (92606)

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

Orange County • Population: 24,499 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92606 (Irvine, 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 36.5 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Irvine, CA (92606)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,452,325
Avg Monthly Rent $3,312
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $128,580
% Renters 63.8%

Market Analysis: 92606 Irvine

Investors eyeing 92606 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $1.5M come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $1.5M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 92606 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 92606 among CA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 92606 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 92606 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 Irvine:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 11.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,312/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.0%
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 92606

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+14.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$411,035/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $675,287 $3,300 3.5% +9.0% $675,287
2BR $896,387 $3,890 3.1% +11.4% $448,194
3BR $1,276,811 $5,280 3.0% +12.1% $425,604
4BR $1,644,141 $6,310 2.8% +13.0% $411,035
5BR $2,131,277 +14.2% $426,255

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.6M$1.3M$1.1M$864K$623K$382KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,606$3,332$3,058$2,784$2,511$2,237Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92606 Compare?

Metric 92606 Irvine Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $1,452,325 $1,362,192 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 10.8% 9.5% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,312 $3,400 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92606? Click to expand

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

64% 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 92606 (Irvine, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Orange County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Action Property Management is an HOA management company serving various community types including large scale, high rise, new development, condos, and hotel residential. summary from their website

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Affinity Property Management, Inc. provides world-class service in property management, adapting to client needs and offering solutions for owners and tenants. summary from their website

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Aperto Property Management, Inc. aims to maximize real estate asset value and achieve investment goals through vision, professionalism, and personal service. 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
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+10.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,452,325
Monthly Rent $3,312
Price-to-Rent 36.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 12.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +10.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
5.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+10.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92606

Population: 24,499

💰 Median Household Income
$128,580
This area
$128,580
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
63.8%
This area
63.8%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
67.5%
This area
67.5%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.4 years
This area
33.4 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Asian 46.1%
White 35.2%
Other/Mixed 17.4%
Hispanic/Latino 7.3%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.0%
This area
9.0%
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

🎓 Schools in 92606

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
17.2:1 Avg Class Size
$16,218 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average
👥
111 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,218 Per Student
B Good

Creekside High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
81 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,218 Per Student
B Good

College Park Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
475 Students
👨‍🏫
24.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,218 Per Student
C+ Average

Plaza Vista

📚 K – 08 School
👥
810 Students
👨‍🏫
25.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,218 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B Good

Barbara Benson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 12712 Elizabeth Way, Tustin
👥
324 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,867 Per Student
B Good

C. E. Utt Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 13601 Browning Ave., Tustin
👥
567 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,867 Per Student
B Good

Benjamin F. Beswick Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1362 Mitchell Ave., Tustin
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
25.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,867 Per Student
B Good

Columbus Tustin Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 17952 Beneta Way, Tustin
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
24.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,867 Per Student
B Good

Ladera Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2515 Rawlings Way, Tustin
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
26.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,867 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 2,734 Off-Campus Students
C+
Westcliff University
6,532 students · 2.2 mi
C+
American Institute of Massage Therapy
17 students · 2.3 mi
C
InterCoast Colleges-Santa Ana
2 students · 2.4 mi
C
Irvine Valley College
11,994 students · 2.6 mi
C
Career Networks Institute
971 students · 2.6 mi
B
Stanbridge University
2,642 students · 2.9 mi
C+
Concordia University-Irvine
3,481 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Pacific College
297 students · 3.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,734 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Irvine, CA good for landlords?

Landlord-friendliness in Irvine, CA is tenant-protective. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How strong is tenant demand in Irvine, CA?

Tenant demand in Irvine, CA is solid. The local workforce $3,312/mo rents across most rental classes.

What is the average monthly rent in Irvine, CA?

Rental rates in Irvine, CA average $3,312/mo. Tenant demand and $1.5M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Irvine, CA a good place for real estate investing?

Irvine, CA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $1.5M and rents near $3,312/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is Irvine, CA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Irvine, CA. With home values at $1.5M and rents near $3,312/mo, other strategies can work but produce even-keeled rather than outsized returns.

You know 92606 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 92606 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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