| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 81st | Good |
| Demographics | 14th | Poor |
| Amenities | 32nd | Fair |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 822 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, US |
| Region / Metro | El Cajon |
| Year of Construction | 1976 |
| Units | 40 |
| Transaction Date | 1995-02-23 |
| Transaction Price | $1,210,000 |
| Buyer | KUSTER GUSTAVO G R |
| Seller | BANK OF AMERICA NATL TR & SVGS ASSN |
822 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon Multifamily Investment
Neighborhood fundamentals point to durable renter demand and steady occupancy, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data, with a deep renter-occupied housing base supporting leasing stability in this El Cajon location.
Situated in El Cajon within the San Diego metro, the neighborhood shows renter-driven dynamics that support multifamily performance. Neighborhood occupancy is strong and competitive nationally, and the share of renter-occupied housing units is high, indicating a broad tenant base that can underpin leasing and retention for a 40-unit asset.
Livability signals are mixed. Cafes are relatively dense by national comparison, but within the neighborhood boundary many daily services like grocery, parks, and pharmacies are limited, so residents may rely on nearby corridors for errands. School rating data is limited at the neighborhood level; investors should underwrite using property-specific comps rather than block-level assumptions.
For investors, ownership costs in the area are elevated relative to incomes at the neighborhood level, which tends to reinforce reliance on rental housing and can support pricing power when managed carefully. At the same time, WDSuite indicates the neighborhood’s contract rents benchmark higher than many areas nationally, so asset strategies should balance rent growth with affordability and renewal risk management.
Within a 3-mile radius, demographics show modest population growth alongside a rising household count, expanding the local renter pool. Median and mean household incomes have trended higher and are projected to continue growing, which supports demand for well-managed units; however, the increase in asking rents in the same radius suggests proactive lease management will be important to sustain occupancy.
Vintage context: the property was built in 1976, slightly older than the neighborhood’s average construction year. That typically points to near- and medium-term capital planning and potential value-add through unit and common-area upgrades to remain competitive against newer stock.
Safety indicators rank below the metro median and are weaker than national averages for comparable neighborhoods, based on WDSuite’s neighborhood benchmarks. This suggests investors should underwrite with prudent assumptions on security, lighting, and tenant screening, and consider the role of property-level measures to support resident retention.
Recent trend data points to an uptick in both property and violent offense rates year over year at the neighborhood level. While block-level conditions can vary, comparative underwriting and active management plans are advisable when evaluating leasing velocity and operating expenses.
The employment base within commuting distance spans defense and aerospace, food distribution, energy utilities, telecommunications, and biotech, supporting a diverse renter pool and commute convenience for residents.
- L-3 Telemetry & RF Products — defense & aerospace (11.0 miles)
- Sysco — food distribution (12.0 miles)
- Sempra Energy — energy utilities (13.2 miles) — HQ
- Qualcomm — telecommunications (16.2 miles) — HQ
- Celgene Corporation — biotech (16.7 miles)
This 40-unit asset at 822 S Mollison Ave sits in a renter-heavy El Cajon neighborhood where occupancy is solid and the tenant base is deep. Elevated ownership costs at the neighborhood level tend to sustain rental demand, while 3-mile demographics show household growth and income gains that support absorption and renewal prospects. According to CRE market data from WDSuite, neighborhood rents benchmark high nationally, so thoughtful pricing and renewal strategy will be key to maintaining occupancy.
Built in 1976, the property is slightly older than neighborhood averages, creating a clear value-add path through targeted unit, system, and curb-appeal improvements to enhance competitiveness against newer stock. Proximity to diverse employment nodes across defense, utilities, telecom, and biotech provides a broad source of demand, while investors should account for affordability pressure and below-metro safety benchmarks in their underwriting.
- Renter-heavy neighborhood and solid occupancy support stable leasing
- Elevated ownership costs reinforce multifamily demand and pricing power
- 1976 vintage offers actionable value-add and capex-driven upside
- Diverse nearby employers broaden the potential tenant base
- Risks: affordability pressure and safety metrics below metro averages warrant conservative underwriting