Is Riverside County, CA good for real estate investing?

Riverside County has an investment score of 42/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #933 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Riverside?

The rent-to-price ratio in Riverside County is 5.12% annually, which ranks in the 28th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Riverside?

The median home price in Riverside County is $598,126. This ranks #945 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Riverside?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Riverside County would generate negative cash flow of $1,476/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Riverside County

CaliforniaPopulation: 2,429,487

/100

Avoid

#933 of 1,000 counties

#33 in California (58 counties)

Market Snapshot

$598,126

Median Home Price

119% above national median

$2,554/mo

Median Rent

71% above national median

5.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 72% nationally

-$1,476

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

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

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$598,126

Down Payment (20%)$119,625

Loan Amount$478,501

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,554

Monthly P&I-$3,135

Est. Expenses (35%)-$894

Net Cash Flow-$1,476/mo

3.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.9%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

42/100

Cash Flow(30%)

47/100

Based on 5.12% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

37/100

Based on -2.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

29/100

Price-to-income ratio of 7.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.12%)
-Declining home values (-2.6% YoY)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,476/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

2,429,487

Median Income

$84,505

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

7.1x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
San BernardinoCA	43	$541,638	$2,440	5.41%	Avoid	View
San JoaquinCA	43	$523,017	$2,356	5.41%	Avoid	View
PlacerCA	43	$670,919	$2,593	4.64%	Avoid	View
CurrentRiversideCA	42	$598,126	$2,554	5.12%	Avoid
SacramentoCA	42	$518,553	$2,149	4.97%	Avoid	View
El DoradoCA	42	$636,684	$2,389	4.50%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidRiverside may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Riverside County in California scores 42/100, ranking #933 of 1,000 US counties (top 93%). The 5.12% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,476/mo

Cap Rate

3.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.9%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Riverside?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$598,126

Down Payment (20%)$119,625

Loan Amount$478,501

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,554

Monthly P&I-$3,135

Est. Expenses (35%)-$894

Net Cash Flow-$1,476/mo

3.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.9%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

42/100

Cash Flow(30%)

47/100

Based on 5.12% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

37/100

Based on -2.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

29/100

Price-to-income ratio of 7.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
San BernardinoCA	43	$541,638	$2,440	5.41%	Avoid	View
San JoaquinCA	43	$523,017	$2,356	5.41%	Avoid	View
PlacerCA	43	$670,919	$2,593	4.64%	Avoid	View
CurrentRiversideCA	42	$598,126	$2,554	5.12%	Avoid
SacramentoCA	42	$518,553	$2,149	4.97%	Avoid	View
El DoradoCA	42	$636,684	$2,389	4.50%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidRiverside may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,476/mo

Cap Rate

3.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.9%