Real Estate Investing in San Leandro, California (94578)

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

Alameda County • Population: 41,567 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 94578 (San Leandro, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (31/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Declining values: -0.1% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in San Leandro, CA (94578)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $779,735
Avg Monthly Rent $2,493
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,120
% Renters 59.9%

Market Analysis: 94578 San Leandro

ZIP 94578 inside Alameda County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $780K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 94578 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within CA, ZIP 94578 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Alameda County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

On the rental side, 41,567 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.

Strategically, 94578 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 San Leandro:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 41/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,493/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
38 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.6%
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 94578

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+3.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$201,609/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $415,454 $2,220 3.8% +1.6% $415,454
2BR $638,337 $2,710 3.1% +2.5% $319,168
3BR $805,478 $3,470 3.1% +2.9% $268,493
4BR $934,277 $4,110 3.2% +3.1% $233,569
5BR $1,008,045 +3.2% $201,609

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$913K$772K$630K$488K$346K$204KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,568$2,447$2,325$2,204$2,083$1,962Jul 2020Jul 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 94578 Compare?

Metric 94578 San Leandro San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA California
Home Value $779,735 $807,993 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,493 $2,757 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 94578? Click to expand

60% 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 94578 (San Leandro, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 94578 (San Leandro, CA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Alameda County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Accountable Property Management offers residential, commercial, and HOA property management services in Hayward, CA and the Greater Bay Area Rental Market. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Advent Properties, Inc. offers comprehensive, responsive, and professional property management and real estate services in the Bay Area, East Bay, and Sacramento regions. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Community Association Management (CAM) provides management services for Common Interest Developments in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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
Fair
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
-0.1%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $779,735
Monthly Rent $2,493
Price-to-Rent 26.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 2.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
5.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.1%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 94578

Population: 41,567

💰 Median Household Income
$87,120
This area
$87,120
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
59.9%
This area
59.9%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.2%
This area
26.2%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.0 years
This area
38.0 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 30.1%
Asian 28.7%
Hispanic/Latino 25.0%
White 22.9%
Black/African American 18.3%
👶 Under 18
20.1%
This area
20.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.5%
This area
13.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
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 94578

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
19.2:1 Avg Class Size
$58,074 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average
👥
44 Students
👨‍🏫
6.7:1 Class Size
💰
$174,620 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jefferson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
558 Students
👨‍🏫
21.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,660 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Monroe Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,660 Per Student
C+ Average

Hillside Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
26.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,354 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Castro Valley Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 18400 Clifton Way, Castro Valley
👥
47 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,375 Per Student
A Very Good

Creekside Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 19722 Center St., Castro Valley
👥
749 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,375 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Roy A. Johnson High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 18400 Clifton Way, Castro Valley
👥
20 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,375 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bohannon Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 800 Bockman Rd., San Lorenzo
👥
626 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,354 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Edendale Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 16160 Ashland Ave., San Lorenzo
👥
462 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,354 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 9,078 Off-Campus Students
D
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus
401 students · 0.5 mi
C
Unitek College
326 students · 3.2 mi
C+
Chabot College
12,218 students · 4.6 mi
D
Life Chiropractic College West
613 students · 4.8 mi
C+
California State University-East Bay
13,333 students · 5.2 mi
C
Northeastern University Oakland
658 students · 6.0 mi
D
Merritt College
6,716 students · 6.1 mi
C
International College of Cosmetology
125 students · 7.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,078 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in San Leandro, CA?

Vacancy risk in San Leandro, CA is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

Does San Leandro, CA make sense for an investment property?

Our data puts San Leandro, CA at 2.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $780K and rents around $2,493/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Does house hacking work in San Leandro, CA?

The house hack math a challenging in San Leandro, CA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,493/mo rents and $780K home values.

Is CA a landlord-friendly state?

For rental operators, San Leandro, CA rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How expensive is real estate in San Leandro, CA?

Expect median prices around $780K in San Leandro, CA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been predictable.

You know 94578 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 94578 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.

Compare Plans

How 94578 ranks in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 94578 (San Leandro)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 94578 (San Leandro, CA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.