Real Estate Investing in San Jose, California (95117)

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

Santa Clara County • Population: 27,798 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95117 (San Jose, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

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
3 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 47.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in San Jose, CA (95117)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,712,571
Avg Monthly Rent $3,011
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $112,003
% Renters 62.3%

Market Analysis: 95117 San Jose

ZIP 95117 inside Santa Clara 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 95117 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Looking more closely, 95117 offers a low basis, the region around San Jose has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 95117 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 95117 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 San Jose:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 15.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,011/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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
37 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.9%
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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 95117

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$447,398/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $599,923 $2,670 3.2% +1.2% $599,923
2BR $915,234 $3,120 2.5% +2.6% $457,617
3BR $1,770,184 $4,120 1.7% +7.6% $590,061
4BR $2,030,587 $4,490 1.6% +7.2% $507,647
5BR $2,236,991 +7.0% $447,398

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$2.0M$1.6M$1.3M$967K$635K$303KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,068$2,903$2,737$2,571$2,406$2,240Jan 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95117 Compare?

Metric 95117 San Jose San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA California
Home Value $1,712,571 $1,409,049 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 3.5% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,011 $3,714 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.4% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 95117? Click to expand

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

62% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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 95117 (San Jose, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Santa Clara County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Aborn Properties are leading experts in property management in the San Jose area. summary from their website

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Investment Property Management in San Jose and Santa Clara County since 1969. summary from their website

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San Jose Property Managers offering residential property management services including marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, accounting, and eviction. 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
1.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,712,571
Monthly Rent $3,011
Price-to-Rent 47.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.1%
Cap Rate 1.4%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.4%). 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
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95117

Population: 27,798

💰 Median Household Income
$112,003
This area
$112,003
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
62.3%
This area
62.3%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
44.4%
This area
44.4%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.9 years
This area
35.9 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 42.2%
Asian 26.1%
Other/Mixed 25.0%
Hispanic/Latino 20.8%
Black/African American 6.8%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.4%
This area
10.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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 95117

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
18.6:1 Avg Class Size
$19,492 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Boynton High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
160 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,391 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lynhaven Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
502 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,347 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Leroy Anderson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
358 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,773 Per Student
C+ Average

Discovery Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
563 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,458 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Moreland Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 4600 Student Ln., San Jose
👥
712 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,773 Per Student
A Very Good

New Valley Continuation High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1875 Lawrence Rd., Santa Clara
👥
157 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$37,917 Per Student
A Very Good

Wilson Alternative

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 1840 Benton St., Santa Clara
👥
158 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$37,917 Per Student
A Very Good

Buchser Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1111 Bellomy St., Santa Clara
👥
691 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$37,917 Per Student
A Very Good

C. W. Haman Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 865 Los Padres Blvd., Santa Clara
👥
325 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$37,917 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 6,917 Off-Campus Students
C
The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose
231 students · 1.9 mi
C
San Jose City College
8,400 students · 2.0 mi
B+
Santa Clara University
9,340 students · 3.0 mi
C
Institute for Business and Technology
609 students · 4.1 mi
C+
West Valley College
7,272 students · 4.1 mi
D
West Valley Mission Community College District Office
0 students · 4.1 mi
C
CET-San Jose
175 students · 4.2 mi
D
San Jose-Evergreen Community College District
0 students · 4.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,917 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in San Jose, CA a good investment right now?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, San Jose, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $1.7M and rents of $3,011/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How strong are rents in San Jose, CA?

Rental rates in San Jose, CA average $3,011/mo. Tenant demand and $1.7M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How landlord-friendly is San Jose, CA?

Rental owners in San Jose, CA deal with a tenant-protective legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking work in San Jose, CA?

San Jose, CA is a a tougher market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $1.7M price point reasonable to enter.

How high is vacancy risk in San Jose, CA?

Expect elevated vacancy in San Jose, CA. Rents at $3,011/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 95117 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 95117 ranks in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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