| Summary | National Percentile | Rank vs Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 81st | Best |
| Demographics | 76th | Good |
| Amenities | 93rd | Best |
Multifamily Valuation
| Property Details | |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 1st St, Petaluma, CA, 94952, US |
| Region / Metro | Petaluma |
| Year of Construction | 2007 |
| Units | 96 |
| Transaction Date | --- |
| Transaction Price | --- |
| Buyer | --- |
| Seller | --- |
301 1st St, Petaluma CA Multifamily Investment
Neighborhood occupancy trends are in the mid-90s and supported by a high-cost ownership market, according to WDSuite’s CRE market data, indicating durable renter demand for a professionally managed asset in central Petaluma.
Located in Petaluma’s Inner Suburb fabric, the neighborhood rates A+ and ranks 2 out of 138 within the Santa Rosa–Petaluma metro, indicating competitive fundamentals for multifamily relative to nearby areas. Restaurant and grocery density sit in the top national percentiles, translating into strong day-to-day convenience that can aid retention and leasing.
Local amenity access is a standout: restaurant density ranks 3 of 138 (top quartile nationally), groceries 5 of 138, and cafes 6 of 138. Parks also score well (11 of 138), giving residents a lifestyle mix that supports asset livability and reduces friction during lease-ups.
For renters, the neighborhood’s renter-occupied share is elevated (rank 14 of 138), placing it in the top quartile locally and signaling a deep tenant base for multifamily operators. Neighborhood occupancy is competitive among Santa Rosa–Petaluma neighborhoods and in the upper national percentiles, helping underpin cash flow stability through typical cycles.
Within a 3-mile radius, household counts have increased over the past five years while average household size has edged down, suggesting smaller households and a gradually diversifying renter pool. Forward-looking estimates indicate further growth in households alongside rising incomes, which supports demand and pricing power for professionally managed units. Median home values in the neighborhood are elevated versus national norms, reinforcing reliance on multifamily housing and aiding lease retention. Median contract rents are high relative to many U.S. markets, but the neighborhood rent-to-income ratio is around the low-20s, which supports ongoing leasing and manageable renewal strategies for operators.
The asset’s vintage is newer than the local housing stock (2007 versus a neighborhood average construction year in the early 1960s). For investors, this positions the property competitively against older inventory, with potential for targeted modernization rather than heavy near-term capital expenditures.
Safety indicators are mixed. Compared with neighborhoods nationwide, this area sits below the national median for safety, and within the Santa Rosa–Petaluma metro it ranks 128 out of 138 on crime—indicating higher reported incidents relative to many nearby neighborhoods. That said, violent offense rates have shown year-over-year improvement, which is a constructive trend to monitor.
For underwriting, consider enhanced on-site security measures, lighting, and resident engagement to support retention, and track municipal and community initiatives that may further improve conditions over time.
Regional employment access is diversified across logistics, banking, wealth management, enterprise software, and pharmaceuticals—supporting renter demand via commute reach to the North Bay and San Francisco job centers.
- FedEx — logistics (21.3 miles)
- Wells Fargo — banking (32.9 miles) — HQ
- Ameriprise Financial — wealth management (32.9 miles)
- Salesforce.com — enterprise software (33.0 miles) — HQ
- Pfizer — pharmaceuticals (33.1 miles)
This 96-unit, 2007-built asset benefits from a renter-oriented neighborhood with competitive occupancy and top-tier amenity access. Elevated home values relative to national norms sustain reliance on multifamily housing, while a low-20s rent-to-income profile supports retention and lease management. According to CRE market data from WDSuite, the neighborhood ranks near the top of the metro for overall performance and offers strong restaurant, grocery, and cafe density—attributes that typically translate into stable leasing and pricing power.
The property’s newer vintage versus the area’s older stock enhances competitive positioning and may limit immediate heavy CapEx, focusing upside on selective upgrades and operational execution. Within a 3-mile radius, household growth and rising incomes point to a larger tenant base over time. Key risks include local crime levels that are higher than many metro peers and school ratings around the national middle, which call for prudent security and tenant-experience strategies.
- Newer 2007 construction versus older neighborhood stock supports competitive positioning and moderated near-term CapEx
- Competitive neighborhood occupancy and elevated renter concentration signal demand depth and cash flow resilience
- High-cost ownership market reinforces multifamily reliance and aids lease retention and pricing
- Amenity-rich location (dining, groceries, parks) supports resident satisfaction and leasing velocity
- Risks: below-median safety metrics locally and average school ratings warrant active management and security planning