| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 81st | Best |
| Demographics | 78th | Best |
| Amenities | 45th | Good |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 1900 Sestri Ln, Petaluma, CA, 94954, US |
| Region / Metro | Petaluma |
| Year of Construction | 2000 |
| Units | 100 |
| Transaction Date | 1998-11-06 |
| Transaction Price | $1,040,000 |
| Buyer | CAPRI CREEK ASSOCIATES LLC |
| Seller | GATTI NURSERY INC |
1900 Sestri Ln, Petaluma Multifamily Investment Outlook
Neighborhood occupancy is strong and compares favorably within the Santa Rosa–Petaluma metro, supporting stable cash flow potential, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data. This setting suggests steady renter demand for a professionally managed 100-unit asset in a high-cost ownership market.
The property sits in a suburban Petaluma neighborhood rated A and ranked 21 out of 138 within the Santa Rosa–Petaluma metro, signaling competitive location fundamentals for investors. Occupancy performance is top quartile among 138 metro neighborhoods, a favorable backdrop for maintaining leased-up operations.
Livability indicators are mixed but generally supportive: park access ranks 22 of 138 (top quartile locally), schools score near the top of the metro and land in the top quartile nationally, while grocery access is mid-pack and cafe/pharmacy density is thinner. For residents, this translates to day-to-day convenience anchored by parks and quality schools, with fewer boutique amenities immediately nearby.
Renter concentration in the neighborhood is modest, indicating a stable but measured pool of renter-occupied housing units. Within a 3-mile radius, households have grown while average household size has edged lower, expanding the household base and broadening the renter pool. Incomes within this 3-mile area have trended higher, which, paired with elevated home values (high national percentile for pricing), tends to reinforce reliance on multifamily rentals and can support pricing power and retention.
Vintage matters for competitive positioning: built in 2000 versus a neighborhood average around 1980, the asset is newer than much of the surrounding stock. That typically supports leasing competitiveness relative to older properties, though selective modernization or systems updates may still be warranted to meet current renter expectations. Median asking rents in the neighborhood rank near the top of the metro and sit high nationally; with a rent-to-income profile that is not overly stretched, lease management can focus on retention and renewal optimization rather than aggressive concessions.
Safety indicators are mixed and should be considered in underwriting. Relative to the 138 neighborhoods in the Santa Rosa–Petaluma metro, the area’s crime rank is lower-performing, placing it below the metro average. Nationally, the neighborhood sits below the midpoint for overall safety, though violent offense levels are closer to the national middle.
Recent data indicate an uptick in property offenses year over year. Investors may want to account for routine security measures and resident communication to support retention and protect operating performance while monitoring whether these trends normalize alongside broader regional patterns.
The employment base includes regional logistics and San Francisco financial and technology headquarters within commuting distance, supporting a steady renter pipeline and lease retention for workforce and professional tenants. Featured employers include FedEx, Wells Fargo, Salesforce, PG&E, and McKesson.
- FedEx Headquarters — logistics (18.9 miles)
- Wells Fargo — banking (35.3 miles) — HQ
- Salesforce.com — enterprise software (35.5 miles) — HQ
- PG&E Corp. — utilities (35.6 miles) — HQ
- McKesson — healthcare distribution (35.6 miles) — HQ
This 100-unit, 2000-vintage asset benefits from strong neighborhood occupancy and a high-cost ownership backdrop that sustains multifamily demand. Based on CRE market data from WDSuite, occupancy stands in the top tier of the metro while surrounding home values rank high nationally, a combination that supports leasing stability and measured pricing power. Newer construction relative to the neighborhood average enhances competitive positioning versus older stock, with selective upgrades offering value-add potential.
Within a 3-mile radius, households have increased even as average household size has declined, widening the tenant base. Income trends are favorable and neighborhood schools rate well, reinforcing depth of demand for professionally managed rentals. Counterbalancing factors include thinner boutique amenities nearby and recent increases in property offenses, both of which can be managed through operations and targeted capital plans.
- High neighborhood occupancy and elevated home values support steady renter demand and renewal pricing.
- 2000 construction is competitive versus older local stock, with modernization potential for value-add.
- 3-mile household growth and rising incomes expand the tenant base and support lease stability.
- Proximity to major Bay Area employers underpins demand across professional cohorts.
- Risks: thinner nearby amenities and a recent property-crime uptick warrant proactive asset management.