| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 56th | Poor |
| Demographics | 30th | Poor |
| Amenities | 81st | Best |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 171 N 1st St, El Cajon, CA, 92021, US |
| Region / Metro | El Cajon |
| Year of Construction | 2000 |
| Units | 34 |
| Transaction Date | --- |
| Transaction Price | --- |
| Buyer | --- |
| Seller | --- |
171 N 1st St El Cajon Multifamily Investment
Neighborhood occupancy remains elevated and renter demand is deep, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data, positioning this 34-unit asset for stable leasing in San Diego County. A newer vintage relative to nearby stock supports competitive positioning with pragmatic capital planning.
Located in El Cajon’s Urban Core within the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad metro, the neighborhood posts strong renter fundamentals: occupancy is in the mid-to-high 90s and the share of housing units that are renter-occupied is very high. That depth of the tenant base supports demand stability for multifamily, per WDSuite’s CRE market data.
Amenity access is a relative strength. Grocery and pharmacy density ranks near the top among 621 metro neighborhoods and sits in the top percentiles nationally, with restaurants and cafes also scoring well. These factors aid day-to-day livability and help with lease retention despite below-median school ratings (national percentile in the 30s).
On a metro basis, the neighborhood’s overall rank is 367 of 621 (C+), placing it above the metro median on occupancy but mixed on demographics and safety. Notably, the average construction year in the area skews older (1970s), so a 2000-built asset can present a competitive edge versus legacy product while still benefiting from value-add upgrades as needed. Median contract rents in the area have risen meaningfully over five years, indicating renter willingness to pay for well-located units; investors should manage rent-to-income affordability pressure through disciplined lease management.
Within a 3-mile radius, demographics indicate modest population growth with faster household growth and a majority-renter housing mix. Forecasts point to additional household gains over the next five years, implying a larger tenant base and supporting occupancy stability. This aligns with multifamily property research that shows household formation outpacing population in many infill locations, reinforcing sustained rental demand.
Safety metrics are a watchpoint. The neighborhood’s crime rank sits near the lower end among 621 San Diego metro neighborhoods, and national percentiles indicate it underperforms the typical U.S. neighborhood on both property and violent incidents. This context suggests closer attention to property-level security measures and tenant screening to support retention and asset protection.
Investors should evaluate recent trend lines and property-specific mitigations (lighting, access control, and management practices). Comparatively weaker safety scores do not preclude performance, but underwriting should reflect the neighborhood’s below-metro-average standing and emphasize operational controls.
Proximity to diversified employers supports workforce housing demand and commute convenience, notably in defense/aerospace, food distribution, energy, telecommunications, and biotech. These anchors can help sustain leasing and reduce turnover risk.
- L-3 Telemetry & RF Products — defense & aerospace (11.3 miles)
- Sysco — food distribution (11.6 miles)
- Sempra Energy — energy (13.8 miles) — HQ
- Qualcomm — telecommunications (16.2 miles) — HQ
- Celgene Corporation — biotech (16.8 miles)
Built in 2000, this 34-unit property benefits from a newer vintage relative to the neighborhood’s older housing stock, offering competitive positioning versus 1970s-era assets. Neighborhood-level occupancy is high and the renter-occupied share is substantial, supporting tenant depth and lease-up stability even as affordability pressure warrants thoughtful rent management. According to CRE market data from WDSuite, amenity access (groceries, pharmacies, restaurants, cafes, parks) ranks competitively in the metro and in high national percentiles, which reinforces renter appeal.
Within a 3-mile radius, recent household growth and a majority-renter mix point to a larger tenant base over the medium term, while income gains and forecast rent growth suggest potential for steady performance with disciplined operations. Investors should underwrite safety and school quality as risk factors and plan targeted upgrades that keep the asset competitive as building systems age.
- High neighborhood occupancy and deep renter-occupied housing share support leasing stability
- 2000 vintage offers competitive positioning versus older local stock with select value-add upside
- Strong amenity density (groceries, pharmacies, restaurants, cafes) aligns with renter convenience and retention
- 3-mile household growth and majority-renter mix indicate a growing tenant base over the next cycle
- Risks: below-metro safety standing, below-median school ratings, and rent-to-income pressure require prudent operations