
3753 42nd Street
Atop 10% of multifamilySan Diego, CA 92105
One license per person in San Diego: whether you can hold it depends on you, not only the home.
33 licensed short-term rentals within ½ mile (23 whole home), from the cities' license and permit lists of Nov 13, 2026.
Pass at asking: -$1,730/mo full cashflow at 20% down, 7.36% rate.
Works at $1,023,623 (18% under asking), or at 41% down.
Rent $10,160/mo: 5 units of about 600 sqft, each priced from up to 21 closed leases within 0.5 mi ($9,235–$10,920).
Beds
—
Baths
—
Sqft
3,000
Year Built
1937
Days on Market
149
Property Type
Multi-Family
HOA/mo
N/A
MLS ID
NDP2605803
This property is in San Diego (92105). View neighborhood stats →
About This Property
We're pleased to present Forty Second Street Apartments, a 5-unit multifamily investment opportunity located at 3753-3759 42nd Street in San Diego, California. Situated on an approximately 7,427 square foot lot, the property consists of three separate residential buildings totaling approximately 3,000 square feet and features a diverse unit mix of (1) four-bedroom/two-bath unit, (1) two-bedroom/one-bath unit, (1) one-bedroom/one-bath unit, and (2) studio units. Originally constructed in 1937, the property offers investors a unique blend of stable cash flow, strong rental demand, and significant value-add potential in the highly sought-after City Heights / Colina Del Sol submarket. The property benefits from separate gas and electric metering, helping reduce operating expenses and improve management efficiency. Additional amenities include two gated parking spaces, a secure gated entry, a communal courtyard, and supplemental income generated through parking revenue. The property's diverse unit mix appeals to a broad tenant base, ranging from individual renters to larger households seeking affordable housing options within central San Diego. Ideally located in the heart of City Heights, the property provides convenient access to major employment centers, shopping, dining, schools, and public transportation. Residents benefit from close proximity to Interstate 15, Interstate 805, Downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, North Park, Kensington, and Balboa Park, making the location highly desirable for commuters and long-term tenants alike. The surrounding neighborhood continues to experience reinvestment and revitalization, supporting strong rental demand and long-term appreciation prospects. With three separate buildings, a favorable unit mix, utility efficiencies, gated parking, and demonstrated rental upside, Forty Second Street Apartments presents an attractive opportunity for investors seeking a centrally located San Diego asset with both immediate income and future growth potential. Buyer to verify all property information, including but not limited to square footage, lot size, unit count, unit mix, parking configuration, utility metering, permits, financial information, rental projections, and all other material aspects of the property.
Multifamily · 5 units
Valued on income: each unit priced from closed leases nearby, then added up. County records: 5 units.
| Unit | Units | Rent each | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average unit~600 sqft · 21 leases within 0.5 mi | 5 | $2,032 | $10,160 |
| Gross rent, all units | $10,160/mo | ||
The listing describes 1 × 4-bed, 1 × 2-bed, 1 × 1-bed, 2 × studio. Units of different sizes are priced as the average unit: by bed count alone, unit rents ran 17% off in our backtest.
- Gross rent multiplier
- 10.3
- Price per unit
- $250,000
- NOI (a year)
- $68,094
- Cap rate
- 5.45%
Price ÷ a year's gross rent
Median $331,250 across 31 listed 5+ unit buildings in San Diego County
Default vacancy, management, upkeep, tax, insurance
Its grade compares it with other multifamily listings only: a building valued on income isn't ranked against houses and condos.
Five or more units take a commercial loan, whose terms differ from a home loan's; the cashflow below uses the site's default 20% down, 30-year terms. FHA's owner-occupied 3.5% down covers 2–4 units only.
Compare other buildings on the small multifamily page.
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Est. Monthly Payment
$8,511
Location
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Zoned Schools
Elementary
Cherokee Point Elementary · grades PK-5 · San Diego Unified
Middle
Wilson Middle · grades 6-8 · San Diego Unified
High
Hoover High · grades 9-12 · San Diego Unified
The district's assigned schools for this parcel, from its attendance boundaries and rules. Boundaries change: confirm with the district before you buy.
Renovation math
Flagged Light Value-Add from the listing remarks — “value-add”.
- Asking now
- $1.25M
- Worth finished
- $1.77M
- Budget to renovate
- $515,098
$417/sqft
$588/sqft × 3,000 sqft
$172/sqft to spend
Comparable finished homes nearby suggest this is worth $1.77M once it's brought to par — about $515,098 above the asking price. That spread is your renovation budget before the deal stops working.
Rent once renovated
- Rent at par
- $9,216/mo
- Cashflow at that rent
- −$2,457/mo
$3.07/sqft × 3,000 sqft, median of 5 comps
cap rate 4.70%, DSCR 1.08
Heads up: the rent estimate elsewhere on this page ($10,160/mo) is above what comparable finished homes here support. A home that needs work does not out-rent them, so treat $9,216/mo as the ceiling.
Buying at asking and achieving par rent, excluding the renovation spend itself. We don't publish a current-condition rent: no listing remark says how much work a home needs, and mid-renovation it earns nothing.
Based on 5 comparable homes of the same property type and size currently listed nearby — asking prices and modelled rents, not closed sales. A contractor's scope, not this page, decides what a renovation actually costs.
Comparable Properties
5 comps foundThis Property
$10,160
Comp Average
$6,980
3827 Winona Ave
2,252 sqft · Multi-Family
$1.32M
Est. $7,804/mo
4154 Estrella Avenue
3,011 sqft · Multi-Family
$1.70M
Est. $11,100/mo
3313 38th Street
2,028 sqft · Multi-Family
$1.10M
Est. $5,570/mo
2514 44th Street
1,830 sqft · Multi-Family
$1.20M
Est. $5,622/mo
3587 Marlborough Avenue
1,700 sqft · Multi-Family
$1.20M
Est. $4,802/mo
Comps based on same zip code, similar beds (±1), price range (60-150%).
This is a 5-unit building: on the mid-term and short-term tabs, enter the rent, nightly rate and occupancy for all units combined.
Investment Score
5 units of about 600 sqft, each priced from up to 21 closed leases within 0.5 mi · $9,235–$10,920
Rent − PITIA
Incl. vacancy, PM, maint, capex
What would make this work?
$1,730/mo short at 20% down; 41% down or +$2,247/mo rent closes it.
- Break-even price
- $1,023,623
- Break-even rent
- $12,407/mo
- Cashflow at 35% down
- −$437/mo
- Down payment to break even
- 41%
- Rate to break even
- 4.67%
18% under asking
$2,247/mo above the estimate
$512,500 cash
at 20% down
Need ≥ 1.25 for DSCR loan
Lower = better for investors
* Modelled at 20% down, 7.36% rate, 30yr · vacancy 8% · PM 10% · capex 5% · maintenance 1%/yr.
Estimates only. Not financial advice. Verify all figures independently with a licensed professional before making any investment decision.
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