| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 74th | Fair |
| Demographics | 46th | Poor |
| Amenities | 79th | Best |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 720 Willow St, Oakland, CA, 94607, US |
| Region / Metro | Oakland |
| Year of Construction | 1991 |
| Units | 32 |
| Transaction Date | 2022-12-16 |
| Transaction Price | $1,425,000 |
| Buyer | FIRST REPUBLIC BANK |
| Seller | EBALDC BOND 2012 LLC |
720 Willow St, Oakland CA Multifamily Investment
Renter demand is supported by a high-cost ownership market and proximity to major employers, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data. Neighborhood occupancy is renter-driven, offering income resilience with room for active asset management.
Situated in Oakland’s Urban Core (B+ neighborhood rating), the area around 720 Willow St offers strong daily convenience: parks and grocery options rank among the highest nationally, with notable depth in cafes and restaurants. This amenity mix typically supports leasing velocity and resident retention for multifamily assets.
The neighborhood shows a high share of renter-occupied housing (ranked 30 among 469 metro neighborhoods), indicating a deep tenant base for multifamily. By comparison, the neighborhood’s overall occupancy level trends below the metro median, so investors should emphasize leasing execution and renewals to sustain cash flow. Rents benchmark above national norms (82nd percentile), signaling competitive positioning versus the broader U.S. market.
Home values are elevated and the value-to-income ratio ranks near the top nationally. In investor terms, this high-cost ownership market tends to reinforce reliance on rental housing, which can aid pricing power and lease retention for well-managed communities.
Asset positioning: The property’s 1991 construction is newer than much of the surrounding housing stock, which skews early 20th century. This relative vintage advantage can boost competitive standing versus older product, though targeted modernization (systems, interiors, sustainability features) may still be warranted to meet current renter expectations.
Within a 3-mile radius, population and household counts have risen over the last five years and are projected to continue growing, pointing to a larger tenant base and supporting occupancy stability. Forecasts also indicate smaller average household sizes, which can favor professionally managed multifamily communities.
Safety indicators are mixed. Compared with neighborhoods nationwide, overall conditions sit around the national middle, while violent and property offense benchmarks indicate elevated incident levels. One-year trends are constructive: both violent and property offense rates show notable declines, with improvement pacing in the top quartile nationally. Within the Oakland-Berkeley-Livermore metro, the neighborhood’s crime rank sits below the metro median among 469 neighborhoods, underscoring the importance of active management and resident engagement.
Investors should underwrite conservatively, track trend persistence, and consider measures that support resident safety perception and retention. Continued improvement over multiple periods would be a positive signal.
Nearby corporate offices create a strong white-collar employment base and commute convenience that can support leasing stability and renewals. Key nodes include Clorox, Gap, AIG, Charles Schwab, and Salesforce.
- Clorox — consumer products (1.57 miles) — HQ
- Gap — apparel retail (5.07 miles) — HQ
- AIG — insurance (5.13 miles)
- Charles Schwab — financial services (5.16 miles) — HQ
- Salesforce — enterprise software (5.23 miles) — HQ
This 32-unit property provides exposure to a renter-heavy Oakland submarket where elevated ownership costs sustain reliance on multifamily housing. Per WDSuite’s multifamily property research, neighborhood rents track above national levels and the renter concentration ranks high within the metro, supporting depth of demand. While neighborhood occupancy trends below the metro median, focused leasing, renewals, and turn efficiency can help stabilize performance.
Built in 1991, the asset is newer than much of the local housing stock. That relative vintage can be a competitive advantage versus older product, with potential upside from targeted modernization and operational improvements. Nearby anchor employers add a diverse employment base that can aid retention and reduce vacancy downtime through cycles.
- High renter concentration and elevated ownership costs support durable tenant demand
- 1991 vintage offers relative competitive edge versus older stock; value-add via modernization
- Employer proximity (Clorox, Gap, AIG, Charles Schwab, Salesforce) supports retention
- Neighborhood occupancy below metro median—execution on leasing and renewals is key
- Risks: elevated incident benchmarks and variable occupancy; underwrite conservatively and monitor trends