Real Estate Investing in Forest Ranch, California (95942)

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

Butte County • Population: 2,190 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95942 (Forest Ranch, 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 27.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.5% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

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

What’s happening in Forest Ranch, CA (95942)?

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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 $370,191
Avg Monthly Rent $1,440
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $147,009
% Renters 8.3%

Market Analysis: 95942 Forest Ranch

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Forest Ranch's 95942 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $370K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 95942 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Put differently, 95942 offers a low basis, the region around Forest Ranch has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A robust renter share of 8% in 95942 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Forest Ranch:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,440/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Chico, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
47 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 Chico, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 95942

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+0.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$136,465/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $307,312 $1,600 3.7% 0.0% $153,656
3BR $409,396 $2,230 3.9% +0.8% $136,465

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$435K$385K$335K$285K$235K$185KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95942 Compare?

Metric 95942 Forest Ranch Chico, CA California
Home Value $370,191 $370,191 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,440 $1,440 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
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 95942 (Forest Ranch, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Butte County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Blue Oak Property Management is a full-service residential property management company with deep roots in the Chico community, offering high-end and personalized service. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Entwood Property Management is located at 2525 Ceanothus Ave, Chico, CA. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

IPM Property Management offers multi-family and commercial property management services in Chico and Butte County, CA. 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
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
-1.5%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Chico, CA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
43%
Days Pending
1/2
47 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $370,191
Monthly Rent $1,440
Price-to-Rent 21.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 1.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.5% ▼
10-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
27.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.5%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95942

Population: 2,190

💰 Median Household Income
$147,009
This area
$147,009
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.3%
This area
8.3%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.5%
This area
31.5%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.8 years
This area
49.8 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.0%
This area
27.0%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.5%
Other/Mixed 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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 95942

C+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
18.1:1 Avg Class Size
$12,091 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

C+ Average

Forest Ranch Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
108 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,091 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

Where do home prices stand in Forest Ranch, CA?

Typical homes in Forest Ranch, CA go for around $370K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% consistent price movement.

What are vacancy rates like in Forest Ranch, CA?

Forest Ranch, CA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $1,440/mo.

What is the typical renter like in Forest Ranch, CA?

The renter base in Forest Ranch, CA is reasonable for the $1,440/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

Is Forest Ranch, CA a friendly market for rental owners?

Forest Ranch, CA operates under CA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Can I house hack in Forest Ranch, CA?

The house hack math a challenging in Forest Ranch, CA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,440/mo rents and $370K home values.

You know 95942 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 95942 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 95942 ranks in Chico, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation →
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