Metropolitan Area

Santa Rosa, CA

California0
33
/100
Avoid
#883 of 894 metros
Top 99% nationally for investing

Market Snapshot

$796,761
Median Home Price
213% above national median
$2,637/mo
Median Rent
90% above national median
3.97%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 94% nationally
-$2,463
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$796,761
Down Payment (20%)$159,352
Loan Amount$637,409
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,637
Monthly P&I-$4,177
Est. Expenses (35%)-$923
Net Cash Flow-$2,463/mo
2.6%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-16.1%
Cash-on-Cash Return
3.97%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.6% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on metro-wide median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Individual counties and properties vary significantly.

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
33/100
33
Cash Flow(30%)
30/100

Based on 3.97% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
41/100

Based on -2.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Based on 0.0% population growth. Growing areas indicate economic stability.

Affordability(20%)
7/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow metro-level home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. This metro score represents area-wide averages; individual counties may vary significantly.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Low unemployment (0.0%)

Challenges

  • -Below-average rent-to-price ratio (3.97%)
  • -Declining home values (-2.0% YoY)
  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$2,463/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 2.6% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Counties in Santa Rosa, CA

County data is being compiled for this metro area.

Compare to Similar Metros

Metro AreaVerdict
Othello, WA
Othello, WA
53$309,445Est.HoldView
Fernley, NV
Fernley, NV
53$417,886$1,8795.40%HoldView
Frankfort, KY
Frankfort, KY
53$254,217$1,0815.10%HoldView
Fergus Falls, MN
Fergus Falls, MN
53$332,238$9793.54%HoldView
Elko, NV
Elko, NV
53$368,280$1,5735.13%HoldView
Current
Santa Rosa, CA
33$796,761$2,6373.97%Avoid

Rent vs buy in this metro

Rent vs buy in Santa Rosa, CAMedian $769,171 · rent $2,612/mo

The Bottom Line

AvoidSanta Rosa, CA may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult. Look for specific counties with better ratios.

The Santa Rosa, CA metro area scores 33/100, ranking #883 of 894 US metros (top 99%). The 3.97% rent-to-price ratio may require targeting specific counties or creative strategies for positive cash flow. Current metro-wide averages make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or drilling down to specific counties.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-2,463/mo
Cap Rate
2.6%
Cash-on-Cash
-18.5%

Ready to Invest in Santa Rosa, CA?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties, or explore individual counties for more targeted opportunities.

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