Real Estate Investing in Freedom, California (95019)

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

Santa Cruz County • Population: 6,235 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95019 (Freedom, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.2% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Freedom, CA (95019)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $757,786
Avg Monthly Rent $3,429
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,294
% Renters 75.8%

Market Analysis: 95019 Freedom

ZIP 95019 inside Santa Cruz County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $758K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $758K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 95019 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 95019 and stronger Freedom ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 95019 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Freedom's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 95019. 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 Freedom:

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 11.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,429/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 95019

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$201,320/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $659,487 $3,810 4.2% +4.7% $329,744
3BR $761,214 $4,740 4.5% +4.8% $253,738
4BR $805,280 $5,050 4.5% +5.2% $201,320

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$819K$692K$565K$438K$311K$184KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95019 Compare?

Metric 95019 Freedom Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA California
Home Value $757,786 $757,786 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 2.4% 2.4% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,429 $3,429 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 95019? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

76% 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 95019 (Freedom, 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
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $757,786
Monthly Rent $3,429
Price-to-Rent 18.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 5.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
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
0.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95019

Population: 6,235

💰 Median Household Income
$65,294
This area
$65,294
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
75.8%
This area
75.8%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.1 years
This area
34.1 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 61.9%
Hispanic/Latino 61.1%
White 28.4%
Black/African American 6.1%
Asian 3.7%
👶 Under 18
31.3%
This area
31.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.9%
This area
11.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
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 95019

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
22.1:1 Avg Class Size
$18,239 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Freedom Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,239 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Amesti Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 25 Amesti Rd., Watsonville
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,239 Per Student
A Very Good

H. A. Hyde Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 125 Alta Vista St., Watsonville
👥
444 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,239 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Renaissance High Continuation

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 11 Spring Valley Rd., La Selva Beach
👥
122 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,239 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ann Soldo Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1140 Menasco Dr., Watsonville
👥
366 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,239 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bradley Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 321 Corralitos Rd., Watsonville
👥
523 Students
👨‍🏫
21.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,239 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

4 Nearby 8,004 Off-Campus Students
C
CET-Watsonville
149 students · 1.0 mi
C
Cabrillo College
9,274 students · 8.6 mi
D
Five Branches University
289 students · 12.0 mi
C
Gavilan College
5,484 students · 12.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,004 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Freedom, CA?

Freedom, CA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Are renters plentiful in Freedom, CA?

Freedom, CA offers a consistent renter base at the $3,429/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What is the typical home price in Freedom, CA?

Expect median prices around $758K in Freedom, CA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

Is house hacking profitable in Freedom, CA?

Freedom, CA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $758K price point reasonable to enter.

Which real estate strategy fits Freedom, CA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Freedom, CA. With home values at $758K and rents near $3,429/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

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How 95019 ranks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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