Real Estate Investing in Ben Lomond, California (95005)

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

Santa Cruz County • Population: 7,150 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95005 (Ben Lomond, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Ben Lomond, CA (95005)?

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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 $921,688
Avg Monthly Rent $2,300
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $105,577
% Renters 34.5%

Market Analysis: 95005 Ben Lomond

Investors eyeing 95005 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $922K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $922K asset, 95005 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 95005 among CA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 95005 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Ben Lomond averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Ben Lomond's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 95005. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Ben Lomond:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 46/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,300/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
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.6%
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 95005

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+4.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$271,452/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $566,920 $3,470 4.4% +2.4% $566,920
2BR $728,221 $4,430 4.4% +3.0% $364,110
3BR $943,914 $5,650 4.3% +4.1% $314,638
4BR $1,085,809 $5,950 3.9% +4.6% $271,452

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$996K$856K$717K$577K$438K$298KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 95005 Compare?

Metric 95005 Ben Lomond Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA California
Home Value $921,688 $884,924 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 1.8% 1.7% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,300 $2,575 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.3% - -
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 95005 (Ben Lomond, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Santa Cruz County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Distinct Property Management is a Santa Cruz Property Management Company. summary from their website

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Pilot Property Management, Inc. provides HOA and Community Association Management, Developer Services, Escrow Services, and Commercial Property Management in various California counties and other stat summary from their website

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PURE Property Management Silicon Valley Office. 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
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.8%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $921,688
Monthly Rent $2,300
Price-to-Rent 33.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 3.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
4.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.8%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95005

Population: 7,150

💰 Median Household Income
$105,577
This area
$105,577
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.5%
This area
34.5%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
42.6%
This area
42.6%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.2 years
This area
43.2 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.1%
Other/Mixed 8.2%
Hispanic/Latino 6.4%
Asian 1.3%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
22.2%
This area
22.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 95005

C+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
23.7:1 Avg Class Size
$16,443 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

C+ Average

SLVUSD Charter

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
23.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,443 Per Student

Nearby Schools (4 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B Good

San Lorenzo Valley High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 7105 Highway 9, Felton
👥
622 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,443 Per Student
B Good

San Lorenzo Valley Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 7179 Hacienda Way, Felton
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,443 Per Student
B Good

San Lorenzo Valley Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 7155 Highway 9, Felton
👥
562 Students
👨‍🏫
22.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,443 Per Student
C+ Average

Ludlow Preschool

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
📍 7101 Highway 9, Felton
💰
$16,443 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

6 Nearby 8,707 Off-Campus Students
B
University of California-Santa Cruz
19,764 students · 7.3 mi
D
Five Branches University
289 students · 10.5 mi
C
Cabrillo College
9,274 students · 11.8 mi
C+
West Valley College
7,272 students · 12.3 mi
D
West Valley Mission Community College District Office
0 students · 12.3 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose
231 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,707 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Ben Lomond, CA?

The median home value in Ben Lomond, CA is roughly $922K. That puts it reasonable relative to the CA statewide average.

What kind of tenants rent in Ben Lomond, CA?

Tenant quality in Ben Lomond, CA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $2,300/mo.

What investment strategy works best in Ben Lomond, CA?

In Ben Lomond, CA the substantial play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $922K prices and $2,300/mo rents suits that approach.

How does Ben Lomond, CA stack up for property investment?

Yes - Ben Lomond, CA a 2.0/5 investability score. With $922K home prices against $2,300/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Is Ben Lomond, CA a friendly market for rental owners?

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

You know 95005 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 95005 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 95005 ranks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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