Real Estate Investing in Laguna Hills, California (92653)

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

Orange County • Population: 29,596 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92653 (Laguna Hills, 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 35.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Laguna Hills, CA (92653)?

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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 $1,284,747
Avg Monthly Rent $3,031
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $123,490
% Renters 30.4%

Market Analysis: 92653 Laguna Hills

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Laguna Hills's 92653 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $1.3M pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 92653 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Put differently, 92653 offers a low basis, the region around Laguna Hills has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 92653 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 92653 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $1.3M are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Laguna Hills:

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 10.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,031/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 92653

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+12.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$320,493/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $459,536 $3,030 4.7% +6.5% $459,536
2BR $647,733 $3,570 4.0% +7.3% $323,866
3BR $961,479 $4,850 3.6% +8.0% $320,493
4BR $1,545,836 $5,790 2.7% +10.0% $386,459
5BR $2,433,610 +12.4% $486,722

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.4M$1.2M$963K$766K$569K$372KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,097$3,015$2,932$2,850$2,768$2,685Jan 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 92653 Compare?

Metric 92653 Laguna Hills Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA California
Home Value $1,284,747 $1,284,747 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 7.6% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,031 $3,031 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92653? 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 92653 (Laguna Hills, 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
+7.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,284,747
Monthly Rent $3,031
Price-to-Rent 35.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
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)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92653

Population: 29,596

💰 Median Household Income
$123,490
This area
$123,490
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.4%
This area
30.4%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
52.5%
This area
52.5%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.3 years
This area
43.3 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
White 60.9%
Other/Mixed 21.5%
Asian 16.5%
Hispanic/Latino 15.6%
Black/African American 1.1%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
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 92653

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
22.8:1 Avg Class Size
$14,938 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Lomarena Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
525 Students
👨‍🏫
21.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student
B Good

San Joaquin Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
229 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student
B Good

Laguna Hills High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,401 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student
C+ Average

Valencia Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
524 Students
👨‍🏫
27.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

Glen Yermo Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 26400 Trabuco Rd., Mission Viejo
👥
318 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative)

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 25952 Cordillera Dr., Mission Viejo
👥
161 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student
B Good

Esperanza Education Center

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 25121 Pradera Dr., Mission Viejo
👥
77 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student
B Good

Silverado High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 25632 Peter A. Hartman Way, Mission Viejo
👥
248 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,938 Per Student
B Good

Aliso Viejo Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 111 Park Ave., Aliso Viejo
👥
799 Students
👨‍🏫
20.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,039 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 16,887 Off-Campus Students
C+
Soka University of America
476 students · 3.3 mi
C
Saddleback College
18,370 students · 3.4 mi
D
South Orange County Community College District
0 students · 3.4 mi
C
Laguna College of Art and Design
807 students · 4.7 mi
D
University of Massachusetts Global
9,069 students · 5.9 mi
C
Irvine Valley College
11,994 students · 7.2 mi
C+
Concordia University-Irvine
3,481 students · 7.7 mi
A
University of California-Irvine
36,582 students · 9.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 16,887 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Laguna Hills, CA?

Typical homes in Laguna Hills, CA go for around $1.3M. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

What kind of tenants rent in Laguna Hills, CA?

Tenant quality in Laguna Hills, CA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $3,031/mo.

Is CA a landlord-friendly state?

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

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Laguna Hills, CA?

Laguna Hills, CA offers a tougher house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $3,031/mo rent level.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Laguna Hills, CA?

Rental vacancy in Laguna Hills, CA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

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How 92653 ranks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

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