State report

Real Estate Investing in California

6 California metros covered, ranked by the MDR investor score. Average gross rent yield: 4.46%. Average YoY: -0.1%.

Tenancy
tenant-friendly with rent control in many cities
Foreclosure
non-judicial, ~120 days
Assignment
permitted but heavily disclosed
Income tax
state income tax up to 13.3%
All markets

California ranked by MDR investor score.

# Market Median YoY Yield Score
01 Fresno $391k +0.3% 5.78% 53
02 Modesto $447k -0.6% 5.35% 49
03 Sacramento $481k -2.3% 5.04% 47
04 Los Angeles $956k -1.2% 3.46% 44
05 San Diego $1.0M -2.9% 3.51% 40
06 San Francisco $1.4M +6.0% 3.59% 20
Advertisement
Ad slot: state_mid
FAQ

Investing in California.

Is California a good state for real estate investing in 2026?

Across the 6 California markets we cover, average gross rent yield is 4.46% and average YoY appreciation is -0.1%. Tenant-friendly with rent control in many cities tenancy posture, foreclosure timeline ~120 days, state income tax up to 13.3%. Fresno is our top-scoring California market at 53/100.

What are California's landlord-tenant laws like?

California is tenant-friendly with rent control in many cities. The foreclosure process is non-judicial, ~120 days. state income tax up to 13.3%.

Is wholesaling legal in California?

Wholesale assignment is permitted but heavily disclosed in California. Always confirm current disclosure and licensing requirements with a local attorney before structuring deals.

What is the best city to invest in in California?

Based on our composite investor score, Fresno scores highest among California markets at 53/100. Median home value $391,442 with 5.78% gross rent yield.

The newsletter

The Weekly Deal Memo

One market memo, one off-market playbook, one tool review. Every Friday. Free.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.