Real Estate Investing in Santa Rosa, California (95404)

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

Sonoma County • Population: 37,317 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95404 (Santa Rosa, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

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
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.0% CAGR).
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Santa Rosa, CA (95404)?

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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 $817,246
Avg Monthly Rent $2,456
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $96,483
% Renters 42.0%

Market Analysis: 95404 Santa Rosa

The 95404 ZIP in Santa Rosa, CA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $817K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $817K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 95404 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 95404 and stronger Santa Rosa ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 95404 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Santa Rosa averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 95404 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Santa Rosa:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,456/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 Rosa-Petaluma, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
48 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.6%
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 Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 95404

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+4.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$263,539/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $492,224 $2,080 3.0% +2.0% $492,224
2BR $606,860 $2,730 3.2% +2.1% $303,430
3BR $800,455 $3,750 3.4% +3.1% $266,818
4BR $1,054,156 $4,000 2.7% +3.3% $263,539
5BR $1,500,404 +4.0% $300,081

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$869K$761K$653K$545K$436K$328KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,617$2,484$2,350$2,216$2,083$1,949Mar 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95404 Compare?

Metric 95404 Santa Rosa Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA California
Home Value $817,246 $724,131 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 1.0% 1.2% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,456 $2,642 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 95404? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 42% 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 95404 (Santa Rosa, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Sonoma County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

PURE Property Management of California aims to provide simple and satisfying rental experiences for all. summary from their website

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Prestige Real Estate & Property Management offers Santa Rosa Property Management services. summary from their website

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The Professional Property Management Association of San Francisco (PPMA) represents professional management of residential and commercial space in San Francisco. 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
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.0%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $817,246
Monthly Rent $2,456
Price-to-Rent 27.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 3.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
6.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95404

Population: 37,317

💰 Median Household Income
$96,483
This area
$96,483
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.0%
This area
42.0%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
46.0%
This area
46.0%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.6 years
This area
42.6 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.0%
Other/Mixed 22.4%
Hispanic/Latino 16.6%
Asian 6.8%
Black/African American 1.7%
👶 Under 18
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.7%
This area
19.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 95404

C+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
19.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,890 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Kawana Springs Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
317 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,553 Per Student
B Good

John B. Riebli Elementary

📚 K – 06 School Charter
👥
404 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,227 Per Student
B Good

Brook Hill Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
281 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Hidden Valley Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
456 Students
👨‍🏫
20.8:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Proctor Terrace Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Santa Rosa Middle

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
458 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
C Below Average

Lewis Early Learning Academy

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Spring Lake Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
📍 4675 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,022 Per Student
A Very Good

Rincon Valley Partnership

📚 K – 06 School
📍 1000 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa
👥
108 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,022 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Madrone Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 4550 Rinconada Dr., Santa Rosa
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,022 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Manzanita Elementary Charter

📚 K – 06 School Charter
📍 1687 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa
👥
383 Students
👨‍🏫
21.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,022 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Whited Elementary Charter

📚 K – 06 School Charter
📍 4995 Sonoma Hwy., Santa Rosa
👥
336 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,022 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 4,937 Off-Campus Students
C
Santa Rosa Junior College
16,803 students · 3.4 mi
C
Empire College
48 students · 3.9 mi
C
Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College
114 students · 6.2 mi
C+
Sonoma State University
5,990 students · 8.7 mi
C
Bergin University of Canine Studies
18 students · 11.3 mi
C+
Pacific Union College
938 students · 13.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,937 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santa Rosa, CA a friendly market for rental owners?

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

How deep is the rental pool in Santa Rosa, CA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Santa Rosa, CA. The rental market absorbs $2,456/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Where do home prices stand in Santa Rosa, CA?

Santa Rosa, CA home values average about $817K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $2,456/mo in monthly income.

What approach is best for Santa Rosa, CA real estate?

The best-fit strategy in Santa Rosa, CA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is Santa Rosa, CA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Santa Rosa, CA will find a 2.0/5 rating supported by $817K median home values and $2,456/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

You know 95404 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 95404 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 95404 ranks in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

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