Real Estate Investing in Oakland, California (94602)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 94602 (Oakland, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.
Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.
- Declining values: -2.4% 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 30.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Oakland, CA (94602)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 94602 Oakland
The 94602 ZIP covers a section of Oakland that demands careful diligence. Prices near $1.0M look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.
If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $1.0M asset, 94602 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.
Put differently, 94602 offers a low basis, the region around Oakland has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.
From an investor standpoint, 31,450 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.
appears to 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 Oakland:
Property Strategy for 94602
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $489,004 | $1,990 | 2.9% | -5.3% | $489,004 |
| 2BR | $764,902 | $2,420 | 2.3% | -1.8% | $382,451 |
| 3BR | $1,059,028 | $3,090 | 2.1% | -0.3% | $353,009 |
| 4BR | $1,283,125 | $3,670 | 2.1% | +0.6% | $320,781 |
| 5BR | $1,327,565 | — | — | +0.1% | $265,513 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 94602 Compare?
| Metric | 94602 | Oakland | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $1,009,177 | $734,424 | N/A | $761,003 |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5.7% |
| Avg Rent | $2,734 | $2,585 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.1% | 2.9% | - | - |
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 94602 (Oakland, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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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
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
Community Association Management (CAM) provides management services for Common Interest Developments in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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 | $1,009,177 |
| Monthly Rent | $2,734 |
| Price-to-Rent | 30.8:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 3.3% |
| Cap Rate | 2.1% |
| 5-Year IRR | N/A |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +5.6% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -2.0% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | -2.4% ▼ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +2.4% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +11.7% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +4.4% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +3.5% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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 94602
Population: 31,450
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 94602
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
MetWest High
LIFE Academy
Latitude 37.8 High
Havens Elementary
Piedmont High
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 10,004 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong is Oakland, CA for real estate investors?
Oakland, CA scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $1.0M and rents near $2,734/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.
How quickly do rentals get leased in Oakland, CA?
Vacancy risk in Oakland, CA is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.
Is CA a landlord-friendly state?
Landlord-friendliness in Oakland, CA is tenant-protective. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.
Can I live-in-and-rent in Oakland, CA?
The house hack math a tougher in Oakland, CA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,734/mo rents and $1.0M home values.
How do experienced investors play Oakland, CA?
Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Oakland, CA. The numbers - $1.0M homes against $2,734/mo rents - support that play.
You know 94602 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 94602 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 94602 ranks in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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