El Cajon
Investment Analysis

El Cajon, CA
Housing Market Screening

City-level home-price and one-bedroom-rent references with transparent methodology and limitations.

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City-level screening

27.4x

Home price / annualized 1BR rent

Gross annual 1BR-rent reference
3.6%
Recorded YoY field
-2.8%

Not cap rate, ROI, valuation or buy-versus-rent advice. City fields may reflect different source years.

Median Home Price
$715,000
Average Rent (1BR)
$2,174/mo
Median Income
$67,773
Population
102,989

Housing Screening Context

El Cajon has a computed screening multiple of 27.4x and a gross annual 1BR-rent reference of 3.6%.

These values compare separate city-level fields, not one matched property. They exclude financing, taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, transaction costs and tenure horizon.

Recorded year-over-year price change: -2.8%. Source period and forecast assumptions should be reviewed before scenario use.

Read the transparent methodology or open the Housing Research Hub.

Rental Cash Flow Analysis

Monthly Income

Gross Rent $2,174
Annual Gross $26,088

Est. Monthly Expenses

Property Tax (~1.5%) -$894
Insurance (~0.5%) -$298
Maintenance (~1%) -$596
Est. Net Cash Flow $387/mo

Price Forecast 2026โ€“2028

๐Ÿ”ฎ El Cajon Price Forecast 2026โ€“2028

Based on 5-year Zillow ZHVI trend analysis ยท Statistical projection
๐Ÿ“ˆ Upward Trend
PROJECTEDNOW$813K2027$883Kโ–ฒ 8.6%2028$912Kโ–ฒ 12.1%20232024Now
$958K$726K
Current
$715K
2026
Projected
$883K
โ†‘ 8.6% by 2027
Projected
$912K
โ†‘ 12.1% by 2028
5yr CAGR:+3.8%
Confidence:Moderate
Rยฒ:0.70
โ–ผ

For anyone asking will El Cajon home prices drop, the current data paints a picture of a cooling adjustment rather than a collapse. With a median home price of $787,828 and a recent YoY price change of -2.4%, the market is absorbing the impact of elevated mortgage rates. However, the 5-year price change of 33.1% shows the significant equity gains homeowners have realized, providing a cushion against steeper declines. The market temperature sits at 67/100, indicating moderate activity, while Days on Market remains relatively low at 26, suggesting that well-priced homes still move quickly despite the broader cooldown.

This El Cajon housing market forecast for 2026-2028 anticipates a period of stabilization. The high price-to-rent ratio of 26.9x compared to the national average of 18x signals that renting remains a financially prudent choice in the short term, aligning with the "RENT" verdict. Local factors, including San Diego County's constrained land availability and steady population growth, will likely prevent significant price erosion. Affordability challenges will cap appreciation, but the area's relative value compared to coastal cities supports demand. As we look toward El Cajon real estate El Cajon 2027, expect modest single-digit appreciation rather than the rapid gains seen in the previous five years. The A- risk grade suggests resilience, but buyers should prioritize long-term holding power over speculative flips in this evolving environment.

Projected Cap Rate (2027)
1.8%
5yr CAGR
+3.8%

Job Market

Unemployment 5.2%
National avg: 3.7%
Job Growth (YoY) +1.5%

Healthcare

78
Score
Good

Risk Factors

Declining Prices

Market Activity

Source: Redfin ยท 2026-05-31
Sale-to-List 100.2%
Months Supply 2.8
Price Drops 29%
Gone in 2 Wks 33%

Market Position

Affordability Average
Safety Average

ROI Projector Model an editable scenario

Adjust the sliders to model different investment scenarios for El Cajon.

Total ROI
-137%
on $143,000 invested
Annual ROI
NaN%
compounded
Total Return
-$195,464
appreciation + cashflow
Mo. Cash Flow
-$3,451
year 1 estimate
Equity Growth Over 5 Years
Y1149kY2155kY3162kY4169kY5177k
Appreciation
$0
Cash Flow
-$195,464
Final Equity
$176,520

* Estimates based on 0.0% annual appreciation, 3% rent growth, 5% vacancy. Does not include closing costs, tax benefits, or capital gains tax. For illustrative purposes only.

Rental Scenario Calculator Estimate your monthly cashflow

Rental Cash-Flow Scenario

Pre-filled for El Cajon

Property

Purchase Price$715,000
Monthly Rent$2,174
Down Payment20%

Financing

Interest Rate6.5%

Expenses

Property Tax1.2%
Insurance (Annual)$1,500
Maintenance Reserve1%
Vacancy Rate5%
Property Management0%
HOA (Monthly)$0
-$2,986
Modeled Monthly Cash Flow
-$35,832/ year
-25.1%
Cash-on-Cash
1.1%
Cap Rate

Monthly Breakdown

+ Rental Income$2,174
โˆ’ Mortgage (P&I)$3,615
โˆ’ Property Tax$715
โˆ’ Insurance$125
โˆ’ Maintenance$596
โˆ’ Vacancy Loss$109
= Net Cash Flow-$2,986

Scenario Summary

Down Payment
$143,000
Loan Amount
$572,000
Total Monthly Expenses
$5,160
Gross Yield
3.6%

Investor Toolkit

Research El Cajon before you invest

Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investment decisions should be made after consulting with qualified professionals. Data sources include Zillow, Census Bureau, and BLS. Cap rates and yields are estimates based on available data.

Last updated: July 2026