| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 81st | Best |
| Demographics | 78th | Best |
| Amenities | 82nd | Best |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 533 Ashland Ave, Santa Monica, CA, 90405, US |
| Region / Metro | Santa Monica |
| Year of Construction | 1973 |
| Units | 22 |
| Transaction Date | --- |
| Transaction Price | --- |
| Buyer | --- |
| Seller | --- |
533 Ashland Ave Santa Monica Multifamily Investment
High renter concentration and a high-cost ownership market support durable rental demand even as neighborhood occupancy has moderated, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data.
Situated in Santa Monica’s Urban Core, the property benefits from a neighborhood rated A and ranked 96 among 1,441 Los Angeles metro neighborhoods — competitive within the metro and supported by dense amenities. Cafes, restaurants, and parks place in the top quartile locally, with parks particularly strong, helping sustain lifestyle appeal for renters and aiding retention.
Amenity access is a clear strength: cafe and restaurant densities rank in the top quartile among 1,441 metro neighborhoods, and park access ranks near the very top. Grocery access is also strong by national standards, while pharmacy options are limited within the immediate area. This mix supports day-to-day convenience and aligns with renter preferences for walkable, service-rich locations.
On housing fundamentals, the neighborhood’s renter-occupied share is high (top decile nationally), signaling depth in the tenant base and steady multifamily demand. Neighborhood occupancy is near national midrange and has softened modestly over the past five years, suggesting investors should prioritize leasing execution and renewals to support stability. Median contract rents are elevated by national standards, reflecting location quality and positioning.
Within a 3-mile radius, recent years show a slight population dip alongside small household size, while forecasts point to growth in population and a meaningful increase in households, indicating a larger tenant base ahead and potential support for occupancy. High median incomes and elevated home values in the area create a high-cost ownership market that tends to sustain reliance on rentals, though rent-to-income levels warrant disciplined lease management to mitigate affordability pressure. The average neighborhood construction year skews mid-1960s; at 1973, this asset is somewhat newer than local vintage, offering competitive positioning versus older stock while leaving room for modernization to drive value-add potential. These dynamics are based on CRE market data from WDSuite.
Safety outcomes in the immediate neighborhood are weaker relative to the Los Angeles metro and below national norms. The area ranks 1,357 out of 1,441 metro neighborhoods for crime (lower rank indicates more crime), placing it well below the metro average and outside top quartile nationally for safety. National percentiles indicate the neighborhood sits in a lower safety tier compared with neighborhoods across the country.
Recent year-over-year indicators show increases in both property and violent offense rates, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data. Conditions can vary block to block, and institutional investors typically underwrite with prudent measures (lighting, access control, monitoring) and consider partnership with local public-safety initiatives to support tenant experience and retention.
Proximity to major corporate offices provides a diversified employment base and short commutes that help support leasing velocity and retention, including Abbott Laboratories, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft offices, Occidental Petroleum, and Symantec.
- Abbott Laboratories — healthcare & life sciences (0.47 miles) — HQ
- Activision Blizzard — interactive entertainment (1.84 miles) — HQ
- Microsoft Offices The Reserves — software & cloud (3.47 miles)
- Occidental Petroleum — energy corporate offices (4.36 miles) — HQ
- Symantec — cybersecurity (5.16 miles)
533 Ashland Ave offers exposure to a Santa Monica Urban Core location with top-quartile amenity access in the Los Angeles metro and a renter-driven housing landscape. Elevated home values and incomes reinforce reliance on multifamily, supporting demand depth and pricing power, while neighborhood occupancy trends near the national midrange suggest active asset management will be important. The 1973 vintage is somewhat newer than the area’s mid-1960s average, creating value-add opportunity through targeted modernization while remaining competitive against older stock. These insights are grounded in commercial real estate analysis from WDSuite.
Within a 3-mile radius, forecasts indicate population growth and a meaningful increase in households, pointing to a larger tenant base ahead. Strong proximity to premier employers underpins commute convenience and leasing durability, though affordability pressure and local safety trends warrant underwriting for retention and on-site security measures.
- High renter concentration and high-cost ownership environment support durable multifamily demand
- Amenity-rich Urban Core location with top-quartile access to parks, cafes, and restaurants
- 1973 vintage offers modernization and value-add potential versus older neighborhood stock
- Nearby corporate employers bolster leasing velocity and retention
- Risks: mid-cycle occupancy softness, affordability pressure, and below-average safety metrics require disciplined operations