Real Estate Investing in Richmond, California (94801)

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

Contra Costa County • Population: 33,564 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 94801 (Richmond, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (35/100)

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
2 flags
  • Declining values: -1.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Richmond, CA (94801)?

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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 $516,446
Avg Monthly Rent $2,295
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,268
% Renters 54.0%

Market Analysis: 94801 Richmond

Investors eyeing 94801 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $516K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 94801 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Turning to rents, 94801 offers a low basis, the region around Richmond has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 94801 ZIP's population of 33,564 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reflects the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 94801 is an operator game, not a passive one. From a cash-flow lens, entry prices of $516K 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 Richmond:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 46/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,295/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 94801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+2.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$129,176/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $381,849 $1,990 3.8% +1.3% $381,849
2BR $447,352 $2,420 3.9% +0.9% $223,676
3BR $525,540 $3,090 4.2% +1.7% $175,180
4BR $608,945 $3,670 4.3% +1.8% $152,236
5BR $645,881 +2.4% $129,176

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$630K$520K$411K$301K$192K$82KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,500$2,395$2,290$2,185$2,079$1,974Jun 2023Jan 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 94801 Compare?

Metric 94801 Richmond San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA California
Home Value $516,446 $622,431 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,295 $2,683 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 94801? Click to expand

54% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 94801 (Richmond, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Contra Costa County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Advantage Property Management Services offers Pleasanton property management, including marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, accounting, and eviction. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Main Street Property Services is a full-service retail real estate company specializing in value-added leasing of shopping centers and downtown shopping districts. summary from their website

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Maisel Property Management Inc's homepage text is minimal, but the domain name strongly suggests property management services. 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
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
-1.0%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $516,446
Monthly Rent $2,295
Price-to-Rent 18.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.3%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 2.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.0% ▼
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
6.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 94801

Population: 33,564

💰 Median Household Income
$72,268
This area
$72,268
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
54.0%
This area
54.0%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.5 years
This area
34.5 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 64.2%
Hispanic/Latino 57.0%
White 16.8%
Black/African American 13.5%
Asian 5.5%
👶 Under 18
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.1%
This area
12.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.8%
This area
15.8%
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 94801

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
22.1:1 Avg Class Size
$19,880 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lincoln Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
A Very Good

Peres Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
513 Students
👨‍🏫
21.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Greenwood Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
260 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cesar E. Chavez Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
25.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Verde Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
344 Students
👨‍🏫
24.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Washington Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
C+ Average

Leadership Public Schools: Richmond

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
525 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,830 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 2625 Barnard Rd., San Pablo
👥
531 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
A Very Good

Highland Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 2829 Moyers Rd., Richmond
👥
407 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
A Very Good

Lake Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 2700 Eleventh St., San Pablo
👥
346 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
A Very Good

Riverside Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 1300 Amador St., Richmond
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 Per Student
A Very Good

Tara Hills Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 2300 Dolan Way, San Pablo
👥
343 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,722 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 4,530 Off-Campus Students
C
Contra Costa College
5,997 students · 2.6 mi
C+
Dominican University of California
2,026 students · 7.5 mi
C
Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology
66 students · 8.0 mi
D
Pacific School of Religion
128 students · 8.2 mi
C
California Jazz Conservatory
20 students · 8.3 mi
C
Berkeley City College
6,547 students · 8.3 mi
D
Graduate Theological Union
178 students · 8.3 mi
C
Church Divinity School of the Pacific
54 students · 8.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,530 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 Richmond, CA?

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

Is Richmond, CA a good market for FHA house hackers?

House hacking in Richmond, CA is a challenging. With home values around $516K and rents at $2,295/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is Richmond, CA landlord-friendly?

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

What monthly rent should investors expect in Richmond, CA?

Rents in Richmond, CA run near $2,295/mo. Compared with median home prices of $516K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What price range are homes in Richmond, CA?

Homes in Richmond, CA typically sell near $516K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which measured long-term demand.

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How 94801 ranks in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

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