Real Estate Investing in Santa Barbara, California (93110)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 93110 (Santa Barbara, 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 47.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Santa Barbara, CA (93110)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 93110 Santa Barbara
Not every below-median market is a bargain. Santa Barbara's 93110 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $1.9M pricing implies.
The investment case in 93110 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $1.9M median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.
Meanwhile, 93110 offers a low basis, the region around Santa Barbara has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.
Who lives in 93110 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.
tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Santa Barbara:
Property Strategy for 93110
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $1,031,261 | $3,600 | 2.5% | +7.6% | $515,630 |
| 3BR | $1,788,411 | $4,700 | 1.9% | +9.5% | $596,137 |
| 4BR | $2,417,282 | $5,350 | 1.6% | +10.3% | $604,320 |
| 5BR | $4,389,903 | — | — | +10.7% | $877,981 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 93110 Compare?
| Metric | 93110 | Santa Barbara | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $1,921,762 | $1,596,773 | N/A | $761,003 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 6.1% | 5.7% | N/A | 5.7% |
| Avg Rent | $3,405 | $3,837 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.4% | 1.6% | - | - |
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 93110 (Santa Barbara, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 93110 (Santa Barbara, CA)?
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Property managers serving Santa Barbara County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Plus Property Management offers services for owners and tenants with available rentals in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc, and Arroyo Grande. summary from their website
Sierra Property Management offers residential, student housing, commercial & storage rental property management services in Santa Barbara. 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 | $1,921,762 |
| Monthly Rent | $3,405 |
| Price-to-Rent | 47.0:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 2.1% |
| Cap Rate | 1.4% |
| 5-Year IRR | 7.5% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +4.1% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.1% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +6.1% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +5.9% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -22.3% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -6.2% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (7.0%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.4%). 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 93110
Population: 16,385
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 93110
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (4 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
El Camino Elementary
Hollister Elementary
Mountain View Elementary
Foothill Elementary
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 22,068 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Barbara, CA a good place for real estate investing?
With a 3.0/5 investability score, Santa Barbara, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $1.9M and rents of $3,405/mo drive the underlying numbers.
What investment strategy works best in Santa Barbara, CA?
Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Santa Barbara, CA. With home values at $1.9M and rents near $3,405/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.
How strong are rents in Santa Barbara, CA?
Expect rents around $3,405/mo per month in Santa Barbara, CA. With home values at $1.9M, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.
Is it easy to find good tenants in Santa Barbara, CA?
Santa Barbara, CA offers a steady renter base at the $3,405/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.
How quickly do rentals get leased in Santa Barbara, CA?
Santa Barbara, CA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader CA rental market.
You know 93110 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 93110 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 93110 ranks in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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