Real Estate Investing in Huntington Beach, California (92646)

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

Orange County • Population: 55,814 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92646 (Huntington Beach, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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 35.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Huntington Beach, CA (92646)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,403,079
Avg Monthly Rent $3,254
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $123,899
% Renters 24.2%

Market Analysis: 92646 Huntington Beach

This part of Orange County is not an easy win. The 92646 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 92646 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $1.4M reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Huntington Beach have seen price recovery that 92646 has not matched. Orange County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 92646 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.

Strategy in 92646 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $1.4M are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.95% as of Sep 17 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Huntington Beach:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 11.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,254/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 92646

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$331,327/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $560,306 $2,920 3.8% +5.3% $560,306
2BR $738,716 $3,440 3.4% +6.6% $369,358
3BR $1,226,529 $4,670 2.7% +9.0% $408,843
4BR $1,498,946 $5,580 2.7% +9.4% $374,736
5BR $1,656,633 +9.3% $331,327

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.5M$1.3M$1.0M$827K$610K$393KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,436$3,142$2,847$2,552$2,257$1,962Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92646 Compare?

Metric 92646 Huntington Beach Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $1,403,079 $1,554,128 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 8.0% 6.6% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,254 $3,075 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92646? 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 92646 (Huntington Beach, 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
+8.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,403,079
Monthly Rent $3,254
Price-to-Rent 35.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 7.0%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (7.0%) 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
3.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92646

Population: 55,814

💰 Median Household Income
$123,899
This area
$123,899
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
48.8%
This area
48.8%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.7 years
This area
46.7 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 68.7%
Other/Mixed 17.3%
Asian 12.8%
Hispanic/Latino 10.8%
Black/African American 1.1%
👶 Under 18
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
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 92646

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
23.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,668 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
731 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,803 Per Student
B Good

Isaac L. Sowers Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
776 Students
👨‍🏫
24.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,887 Per Student
B Good

John R. Peterson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,887 Per Student
B Good

Ralph E. Hawes Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
464 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,887 Per Student
B Good

S. A. Moffett Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
22.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,887 Per Student
B Good

Newland (William T.) Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
501 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,803 Per Student
B Good

Oka (Isojiro) Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
507 Students
👨‍🏫
25.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,803 Per Student
C+ Average

Edison High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,011 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,171 Per Student
C+ Average

John H. Eader Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
26.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,887 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Everett A. Rea Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa
👥
346 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,699 Per Student
A Very Good

Whittier Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 1800 Whittier Ave., Costa Mesa
👥
457 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,699 Per Student
A Very Good

Victoria Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 1025 Victoria St., Costa Mesa
👥
293 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,699 Per Student
A Very Good

Back Bay High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 390 Monte Vista Ave., Costa Mesa
👥
150 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,699 Per Student
A Very Good

Heinz Kaiser Elementary

📚 03 – 06 School
📍 2130 Santa Ana Ave., Costa Mesa
👥
520 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,699 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 7,979 Off-Campus Students
C
CalCopa Massage School
19 students · 2.2 mi
D
Coast Community College District Office
0 students · 3.0 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa
347 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Orange Coast College
17,085 students · 3.4 mi
C
Vanguard University of Southern California
2,219 students · 3.8 mi
D
Coastline Community College
8,576 students · 4.2 mi
C+
Modern Technology School
99 students · 4.9 mi
D
Homestead Schools-Costa Mesa
24 students · 5.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,979 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Huntington Beach, CA?

Vacancy in Huntington Beach, CA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $3,254/mo.

How much does a house cost in Huntington Beach, CA?

Huntington Beach, CA home values average about $1.4M. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $3,254/mo in monthly income.

Is Huntington Beach, CA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Huntington Beach, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $1.4M and rents of $3,254/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Huntington Beach, CA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Huntington Beach, CA. With home values at $1.4M and rents near $3,254/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Huntington Beach, CA?

Expect rents around $3,254/mo per month in Huntington Beach, CA. With home values at $1.4M, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

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How 92646 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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