Real Estate Investing in Oakland, California (94618)

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

Alameda County • Population: 16,845 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 94618 (Oakland, 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: -1.3% 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 50.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Oakland, CA (94618)?

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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 $1,650,028
Avg Monthly Rent $2,749
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $202,297
% Renters 35.4%

Market Analysis: 94618 Oakland

ZIP 94618 inside Alameda County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $1.7M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 94618 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Stepping back, 94618 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.

Who lives in 94618 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 94618 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 Oakland:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 39/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,749/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 94618

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+1.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
1BR
$435,870/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $435,870 $2,810 4.6% -6.0% $435,870
2BR $1,102,492 $3,430 2.2% -1.6% $551,246
3BR $1,568,044 $4,390 2.0% -0.2% $522,681
4BR $2,024,187 $5,200 1.8% +0.8% $506,047
5BR $2,335,065 +1.0% $467,013

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$2.1M$1.8M$1.5M$1.3M$983K$713KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,751$3,497$3,244$2,990$2,736$2,482Nov 2020Sep 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 94618 Compare?

Metric 94618 Oakland San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA California
Home Value $1,650,028 $734,424 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,749 $2,585 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.3% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 94618? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 35% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 94618 (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

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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

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Community Association Management (CAM) provides management services for Common Interest Developments in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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
Fair
Cap Rate
1.3%
Low
5yr Growth
-1.3%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,650,028
Monthly Rent $2,749
Price-to-Rent 50.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.0%
Cap Rate 1.3%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.3% ▼
10-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -23.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -8.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR -2.9% ▼
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.3%). 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
5.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 94618

Population: 16,845

💰 Median Household Income
$202,297
This area
$202,297
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.4%
This area
35.4%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
85.8%
This area
85.8%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.4 years
This area
43.4 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.5%
Other/Mixed 14.7%
Asian 12.1%
Hispanic/Latino 6.9%
Black/African American 3.7%
👶 Under 18
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
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 94618

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
16.9:1 Avg Class Size
$24,180 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Kaiser Early Childhood Center

📚 Grade KG Elementary
👥
129 Students
👨‍🏫
5.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,180 Per Student
A Very Good

Claremont Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
488 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,180 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Chabot Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
579 Students
👨‍🏫
24.1:1 Class Size
💰
$24,180 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hillcrest

📚 K – 08 School
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
22.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,180 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1500 Derby St., Berkeley
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$28,034 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Westlake Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2629 Harrison St., Oakland
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,180 Per Student
A Very Good

Havens Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 323 Highland Ave., Piedmont
👥
415 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$28,165 Per Student
A Very Good

Piedmont High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 800 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont
👥
730 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$28,165 Per Student
A Very Good

Piedmont Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 740 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont
👥
532 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$28,165 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 4,636 Off-Campus Students
C
Berkeley School of Theology
126 students · 1.7 mi
C
The Wright Institute
511 students · 1.8 mi
D
Moler Barber College
335 students · 1.9 mi
D
Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley
119 students · 2.0 mi
D
Institute of Buddhist Studies
50 students · 2.2 mi
C
Samuel Merritt University
1,894 students · 2.2 mi
A
University of California-Berkeley
45,699 students · 2.3 mi
C
Berkeley City College
6,547 students · 2.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,636 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Oakland, CA?

The median home value in Oakland, CA is roughly $1.7M. That puts it reasonable relative to the CA statewide average.

How strong is tenant demand in Oakland, CA?

Working renters make up the core of the Oakland, CA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is vacancy a concern in Oakland, CA?

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

What do rentals go for in Oakland, CA?

Rental rates in Oakland, CA average $2,749/mo. Tenant demand and $1.7M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is rental property easy to operate in Oakland, CA?

The landlord environment in Oakland, CA is tenant-protective. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

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How 94618 ranks in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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