Real Estate Investing in Fort Bragg, California (95437)

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

Mendocino County • Population: 15,106 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 95437 (Fort Bragg, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (15/100)

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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -2.8% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 30.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Fort Bragg, CA (95437)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $561,458
Avg Monthly Rent $1,530
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,320
% Renters 42.6%

Market Analysis: 95437 Fort Bragg

Looking more closely, ZIP 95437 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $561K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 95437 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $561K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

On the rental side, 95437 offers a low basis, the region around Fort Bragg has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 95437 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Fort Bragg's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 95437. 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 Fort Bragg:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 32/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,530/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Ukiah, CA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.3%
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 Ukiah, CA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$707K$621K$536K$450K$365K$279KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95437 Compare?

Metric 95437 Fort Bragg Ukiah, CA California
Home Value $561,458 $561,458 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,530 $1,530 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 95437? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 43% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 95437 (Fort Bragg, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 95437 (Fort Bragg, CA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
-2.8%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ukiah, CA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
62%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $561,458
Monthly Rent $1,530
Price-to-Rent 30.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR -2.9% ▼
5-Year CAGR -2.8% ▼
10-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
17.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-2.8%
Declining
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95437

Population: 15,106

💰 Median Household Income
$53,320
This area
$53,320
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.6%
This area
42.6%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.4%
This area
24.4%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.1 years
This area
50.1 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.5%
Other/Mixed 19.4%
Hispanic/Latino 11.3%
Asian 1.9%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.4%
This area
28.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
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 95437

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$18,357 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Fort Bragg High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
521 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,353 Per Student
A Very Good

Fort Bragg Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
408 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,353 Per Student
A Very Good

Redwood Elementary

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,353 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dana Gray Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,353 Per Student
B Good

Lighthouse Community Day

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
13 Students
👨‍🏫
7.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,353 Per Student
B Good

Shelter Cove

📚 04 – 08 School
👥
7 Students
👨‍🏫
7.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,353 Per Student
C+ Average

Noyo High (Continuation)

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
29 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,353 Per Student
C Below Average

Three Rivers Charter

📚 01 – 08 School Charter
👥
80 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,384 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of tenants rent in Fort Bragg, CA?

The tenant pool in Fort Bragg, CA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,530/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is real estate in Fort Bragg, CA a good investment right now?

Fort Bragg, CA stands at an investability rating of 2.0/5, with median home values near $561K and average rents around $1,530/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

Are landlord laws favorable in Fort Bragg, CA?

CA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Fort Bragg generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Fort Bragg, CA?

House hacking in Fort Bragg, CA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $561K and rents of $1,530/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What price range are homes in Fort Bragg, CA?

Typical homes in Fort Bragg, CA go for around $561K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

You know 95437 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 95437 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.

Compare Plans

How 95437 ranks in Ukiah, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 95437 (Fort Bragg)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 95437 (Fort Bragg, CA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.