Real Estate Investing in Costa Mesa, California (92626)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 92626 (Costa Mesa, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 39.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Costa Mesa, CA (92626)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 92626 Costa Mesa
ZIP 92626 inside Orange County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $1.5M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.
The investment case in 92626 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $1.5M median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.
Within CA, ZIP 92626 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Orange County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.
On balance, 50,569 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.
Strategy in 92626 is an operator game, not a passive one. In practical terms, entry prices of $1.5M are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Costa Mesa:
Property Strategy for 92626
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $767,867 | $3,610 | 3.4% | +8.4% | $383,934 |
| 3BR | $1,291,142 | $4,900 | 2.7% | +9.6% | $430,381 |
| 4BR | $1,474,348 | $5,850 | 2.9% | +9.5% | $368,587 |
| 5BR | $1,705,582 | — | — | +10.2% | $341,116 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 92626 Compare?
| Metric | 92626 | Costa Mesa | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $1,450,614 | $1,416,853 | N/A | $761,003 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 8.0% | 7.7% | N/A | 5.7% |
| Avg Rent | $3,030 | $3,314 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.6% | 1.8% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 92626 (Costa Mesa, 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
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
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
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $1,450,614 |
| Monthly Rent | $3,030 |
| Price-to-Rent | 39.9:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 2.5% |
| Cap Rate | 1.6% |
| 5-Year IRR | 9.7% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +6.4% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +6.9% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +8.0% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +7.8% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +0.3% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +1.9% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +3.6% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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.
Demographics in 92626
Population: 50,569
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 92626
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 7,979 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tenant base reliable in Costa Mesa, CA?
Expect a solid tenant pool in Costa Mesa, CA. The rental market absorbs $3,030/mo rents without meaningful friction.
Is Costa Mesa in CA worth investing in?
Costa Mesa, CA comes in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $1.5M and average rents around $3,030/mo. That combination puts it in the robust tier for investor interest.
What is the average home sale price in Costa Mesa, CA?
Homes in Costa Mesa, CA typically sell near $1.5M. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which steady long-term demand.
How do landlord-tenant laws work in Costa Mesa, CA?
Costa Mesa, CA falls under CA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.
What is the rental occupancy rate in Costa Mesa, CA?
Costa Mesa, CA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader CA rental market.
You know 92626 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 92626 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.
How 92626 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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