| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 74th | Fair |
| Demographics | 81st | Best |
| Amenities | 61st | Good |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 1531 University Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94703, US |
| Region / Metro | Berkeley |
| Year of Construction | 2008 |
| Units | 80 |
| Transaction Date | --- |
| Transaction Price | --- |
| Buyer | --- |
| Seller | --- |
1531 University Ave, Berkeley Multifamily Investment
Newer construction relative to the surrounding Berkeley stock positions this asset for durable renter demand, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data. The key investor angle is competitive positioning in a high-cost ownership market with a deep renter base.
Neighborhood dynamics and livability
The property sits in an Urban Core pocket of Berkeley that is competitive among Oakland-Berkeley-Livermore neighborhoods for daily needs and dining access. Restaurant and cafe density ranks in the top tier nationally, and grocery options are abundant, supporting walkable living that typically aids leasing velocity and retention.
Neighborhood schools rate at the top of the metro (ranked 1 out of 469) and are top quartile nationally, which can bolster family-oriented renter demand. Median home values are elevated (99th percentile nationally), indicating a high-cost ownership market that tends to sustain reliance on multifamily rentals and can support pricing power when managed carefully.
WDSuite’s CRE market data indicates the neighborhood’s occupancy is lower than metro norms; this is a neighborhood-level metric, not specific to the property, and it suggests operators should prioritize leasing execution and renewals. Counterbalancing that, renter-occupied share is high (top quartile nationally), pointing to a deep tenant pool and stable multifamily demand over time.
Within a 3-mile radius, demographics show population growth and an increasing number of households, with projections for further household gains and slightly smaller average household size. For investors, this points to a larger and evolving renter base that can support occupancy stability and absorption of renovated units.
Safety context
Relative to the Oakland-Berkeley-Livermore metro, this neighborhood sits toward the higher-crime end of the spectrum (crime rank 438 out of 469), placing it below metro averages for safety. Nationally, the neighborhood falls in lower percentiles for both violent and property offenses, so investors should underwrite security measures and loss assumptions accordingly.
Recent trends are mixed: WDSuite data shows property offense estimates improving year over year, while violent offense estimates have risen. For underwriting, a pragmatic approach is to factor current conditions, monitor trend direction, and align on-site practices with the operating plan rather than relying on block-level assumptions.
Proximity to large Bay Area employers supports a diverse renter base and commute convenience for residents, particularly in consumer products, retail, finance, and cloud software roles.
- Clorox — consumer products (4.7 miles) — HQ
- Gap — apparel retail (8.1 miles) — HQ
- AIG — insurance (8.2 miles)
- Charles Schwab — financial services (8.2 miles) — HQ
- Salesforce — cloud software (8.2 miles) — HQ
Why invest here
Built in 2008, the asset is materially newer than the neighborhood’s older housing stock, offering competitive positioning versus legacy product and potential to drive rent premiums with targeted upgrades as systems age. Neighborhood-level data shows occupancy below metro norms, but a high renter-occupied share and a high-cost ownership environment underpin a deep tenant base and support for lease retention when pricing and renewals are managed carefully.
Within a 3-mile radius, population growth and an increase in households signal renter pool expansion, while projections point to additional household gains and slightly smaller average household size that can aid absorption of renovated units. According to commercial real estate analysis from WDSuite, income levels and amenity access are supportive, and neighborhood NOI per unit trends rank in the top quartile nationally, reinforcing revenue potential with disciplined operations. Key underwriting considerations include safety conditions and the neighborhood’s softer occupancy, which argue for security planning and proactive leasing.
- 2008 vintage offers competitive positioning versus older neighborhood stock, with modernization potential for systems and finishes.
- High renter-occupied share and elevated ownership costs support depth of demand and lease retention.
- 3-mile radius shows population and household growth, supporting occupancy stability and absorption.
- Strong amenity access and top-ranked schools can bolster leasing velocity and pricing power.
- Risks: below-metro neighborhood occupancy and safety conditions warrant focused leasing, security measures, and conservative loss assumptions.