| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 80th | Good |
| Demographics | 35th | Poor |
| Amenities | 61st | Good |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 991 N Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92021, US |
| Region / Metro | El Cajon |
| Year of Construction | 1974 |
| Units | 37 |
| Transaction Date | 1995-07-19 |
| Transaction Price | $897,000 |
| Buyer | VILLA MOLLISON LLC |
| Seller | VICTORIA LAURIE ANNE |
991 N Mollison Ave El Cajon Multifamily Investment
Neighborhood occupancy remains tight with a deep renter base, supporting stable leasing and steady tenant demand, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data.
Located in El Cajon within the San Diego metro, the property benefits from neighborhood fundamentals that are competitive among 621 metro neighborhoods for day-to-day convenience. Grocery and pharmacy access trends strong (nationally high percentiles), and restaurants are comparatively dense, while parks and cafes are limited — a mix that supports routine needs but offers fewer leisure greenspace options. These dynamics can help sustain renter appeal for workforce-oriented households.
Renter-occupied housing comprises a large share of neighborhood units (66.8% renter concentration), indicating depth in the tenant pool and helping underpin leasing continuity for multifamily assets. Neighborhood occupancy is elevated at 98.3% (top decile nationally), pointing to stable in-place demand and reduced downtime risk versus many U.S. locations. Median contract rents in the neighborhood trend above national norms, yet a rent-to-income ratio around 0.26 suggests relatively manageable affordability pressure compared with many markets, supporting retention and renewals.
Within a 3-mile radius, demographic statistics indicate modest population growth historically with a clearer increase in households, which expands the addressable renter base and supports occupancy stability. Forecasts within the same radius point to further household growth over the next five years, implying ongoing renter pool expansion that can support absorption and reduce leasing friction for well-positioned assets.
Elevated home values versus national benchmarks and a high value-to-income ratio characterize the area as a high-cost ownership market. For investors, this typically sustains reliance on multifamily housing and can reinforce pricing power and lease-up velocity, particularly for well-managed properties offering functional layouts and dependable operations.
Vintage context: the community stock skews late-1970s on average. With a 1973 construction year, this asset is slightly older than the neighborhood norm, which may warrant targeted capital planning (systems, interiors, or common areas) but can also present value-add upside in a submarket where renter demand is durable.
Safety indicators for the neighborhood track below national averages, with national percentiles indicating comparatively higher rates of both property and violent offenses than many U.S. neighborhoods. Relative to 621 San Diego metro neighborhoods, the area ranks below the metro median for safety, signaling that investors should underwrite prudent security measures and operational oversight.
Recent trend readings show year-over-year increases in violent incidents alongside modest changes in property offenses. For investors, this argues for thoughtful lighting, access control, and resident engagement strategies, and for monitoring local trendlines during hold to manage risk and support resident retention.
The broader employment base includes foodservice distribution, defense & aerospace, utilities, semiconductors/telecom, and biotech offices within commutable distance — a mix that supports workforce housing demand and lease stability for nearby multifamily.
- Sysco — foodservice distribution (10.6 miles)
- L-3 Telemetry & RF Products — defense & aerospace (10.8 miles)
- Sempra Energy — utilities (13.9 miles) — HQ
- Qualcomm — semiconductors & telecom (15.5 miles) — HQ
- Celgene Corporation — biotech/pharma (16.2 miles)
This 37-unit, 1973-vintage asset sits in a neighborhood with strong renter concentration and historically tight occupancy, supporting consistent leasing and in-place revenue durability. Elevated home values and ownership costs relative to incomes bolster reliance on rental housing, while median rents sit above national norms yet remain supported by a comparatively moderate rent-to-income profile. Based on commercial real estate analysis from WDSuite, these conditions point to stable tenant demand with potential pricing resilience for well-managed operations.
The 1973 construction year is slightly older than the neighborhood average, creating a clear value-add pathway through selective renovations and systems upgrades. Within a 3-mile radius, households have been increasing and are projected to grow further, expanding the tenant base and supporting absorption over the hold period. Investors should balance these strengths against safety considerations and amenity gaps (notably limited parks/cafes) by underwriting security, resident experience, and targeted capital plans.
- Tight neighborhood occupancy and deep renter base support leasing stability
- Elevated ownership costs reinforce reliance on multifamily and pricing power
- 1973 vintage offers value-add potential via interiors and building systems
- 3-mile household growth expands the tenant pool and supports absorption
- Risks: below-average safety metrics and limited parks/cafes warrant prudent operations