Real Estate Investing in Taft, California (93268)

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

Kern County • Population: 16,956 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 93268 (Taft, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Taft, CA (93268)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $209,086
Avg Monthly Rent $1,240
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,204
% Renters 53.9%

Market Analysis: 93268 Taft

ZIP 93268 inside Kern County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $209K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $209K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 93268 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader CA picture, 93268 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The demographic picture in 93268 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Taft averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategy in 93268 is an operator game, not a passive one. In practical terms, entry prices of $209K 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 Taft:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,240/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
Bakersfield, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
54 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.5%
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 Bakersfield, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 93268

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$70,257/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $140,513 $1,250 6.4% +6.2% $70,257
3BR $231,922 $1,750 5.4% +8.0% $77,307
4BR $299,726 $2,090 5.0% +7.3% $74,931

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$225K$190K$156K$121K$86K$52KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,397$1,323$1,250$1,176$1,102$1,029Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 93268 Compare?

Metric 93268 Taft Bakersfield, CA California
Home Value $209,086 $209,086 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,240 $1,240 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 93268? Click to expand

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

54% 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 93268 (Taft, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Kern County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Aipmbakersfield.com is a premium expired .com domain for sale on GoDaddy. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Mashcole Property Management, Inc. is a full-service property management company serving Los Angeles, Long Beach, Calabasas, Torrance, San Fernando Valley, Orange County, Downey, Anaheim, Riverside Co summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Coming Soon re-synergy.com We're under construction. Please check back for an update soon. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Bakersfield, CA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
1/2
54 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $209,086
Monthly Rent $1,240
Price-to-Rent 14.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -7.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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.

Vacancy
9.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 93268

Population: 16,956

💰 Median Household Income
$50,204
This area
$50,204
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
53.9%
This area
53.9%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.2%
This area
8.2%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.7 years
This area
30.7 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 74.0%
Other/Mixed 24.5%
Hispanic/Latino 19.6%
Black/African American 0.7%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
27.3%
This area
27.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.3%
This area
11.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.0%
This area
23.0%
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 93268

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
20.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,333 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Taft Union High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,045 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,939 Per Student
B Good

Lincoln Junior High

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
752 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,798 Per Student
B Good

Parkview Elementary

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
317 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,798 Per Student
B Good

Buena Vista High (Continuation)

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
93 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,939 Per Student
B Good

Taft Primary

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
238 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,798 Per Student
B Good

Roosevelt Elementary

📚 02 – 05 Elementary
👥
523 Students
👨‍🏫
25.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,798 Per Student
C+ Average

Conley Elementary

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
298 Students
👨‍🏫
23.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,798 Per Student
C+ Average

Jefferson Elementary

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
255 Students
👨‍🏫
23.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,798 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

1 Nearby 1,124 Off-Campus Students
C+
Taft College
4,135 students · 3.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,124 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Taft, CA?

Rent in Taft, CA is around $1,240/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $209K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is vacancy a concern in Taft, CA?

Taft, CA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Taft, CA?

Taft, CA home values average about $209K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,240/mo in monthly income.

Does Taft, CA favor landlords or tenants?

Taft, CA falls under CA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What is the smart move for investors in Taft, CA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Taft, CA best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $209K price point.

You know 93268 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 93268 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.

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How 93268 ranks in Bakersfield, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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