Alameda County · Berkeley
Sell Your Commercial Property In Berkeley, CA
From Southside to Elmwood, we buy Berkeley multifamily and commercial apartment properties of 5+ units in every condition. Owners and agents get a straight answer on fit, usually within two business days.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Neighborhoods & Nearby Towns: Southside · Downtown Berkeley · Elmwood · North Berkeley — Alameda County, CA
The Berkeley Market
What Drives Rentals In Berkeley
Berkeley is an Alameda County city of 120,257 residents where renters hold 55.8% of the 47,135 occupied homes, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Median gross rent is $2,133 a month, above the $2,036 California median, and 38.1% of Berkeley's housing sits in buildings of five or more units. Owners who want to sell commercial property in Berkeley, CA face a combined 1.060% property tax rate and a city transfer tax that reaches 2.5% on higher-value sales. Demand rests on the University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.
University of California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley enrolled 46,151 students in fall 2025, including 33,122 undergraduates and 13,029 graduate students, per the university's Office of Planning and Analysis.Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley Lab supports more than 10,000 jobs in the Bay Area and reported 3,525 direct Lab jobs, per the lab's own economic-impact analysis.Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
The Alta Bates campus at 2450 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley has 339 beds, per California's Department of Health Care Access and Information.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Berkeley
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
Local Market Data
Berkeley Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Berkeley
Renters hold 55.8% of Berkeley's 47,135 occupied homes, or 26,306 households, under the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Multifamily supply concentrates in larger buildings: 38.1% of Berkeley's 53,145 housing units, 20,249 units, sit in structures of five or more units. Berkeley's stock is old, with 81.0% of units built before 1980 and a median year built of 1944.
Rents and affordability in Berkeley
Median gross rent in Berkeley was $2,133 a month in ACS 2020-2024, above the $2,036 California median. More than half of Berkeley renters are cost-burdened: 52.3% pay 30% or more of income toward rent, and 31.8% pay 50% or more. Owners who plan to sell commercial property in Berkeley, CA price against HUD's FY2027 fair market rents for the Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area, shown below.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $2,088 |
| One-bedroom | $2,290 |
| Two-bedroom | $2,805 |
| Three-bedroom | $3,592 |
| Four-bedroom | $4,250 |
Property taxes in Alameda County
Alameda County taxes real property under Proposition 13 at 1.00% of assessed value, plus Berkeley's own voter-approved debt service of 0.060%, for a combined 1.060% ad valorem rate. On a $2,000,000 Berkeley apartment building, that rate works out to $21,200 a year before any flat per-parcel special taxes the city bills separately. A sale resets assessed value to the price paid.
Selling commercial property in Berkeley also triggers transfer tax at closing. The city charges 1.5% on value up to $1,700,000 and 2.5% above that threshold, while Alameda County adds $1.10 per $1,000. On a $2,000,000 sale, that is $50,000 in city tax plus $2,200 in county tax, or $52,200 combined.
Landlord rules in Berkeley
Most Berkeley rental units must register with the Rent Stabilization Board and carry a lawful rent ceiling under Berkeley Municipal Code 13.76. The Board set the 2026 Annual General Adjustment at 1.0%, effective January 1, 2026, for units in compliance. Units with a first certificate of occupancy after June 30, 1980 are exempt from the rent ceiling but still need registration.
Statewide, California Civil Code 1950.5 caps most security deposits at one month's rent, or two months for owners of two or fewer rental properties totaling four or fewer units. Owners who sell commercial real estate in Berkeley, CA should confirm registration status and rent ceilings before marketing a building.
What it means for an owner
Owners ready to sell commercial property in Berkeley, CA should assemble a trailing twelve-month rent roll, the Rent Board registration record and the latest Alameda County tax bill before pricing a sale.
Owners who sell multifamily property in Berkeley should model taxes at the post-sale 1.060% rate and compare rents with HUD's FY2027 table above.
Skyline Capital Investments buys 5+ unit apartment buildings in Berkeley. Use the cap rate calculator to check returns, or visit our apartment-sale page to start a conversation.
Before You Sell
Selling In Berkeley
More about selling in California →Investing in Berkeley? See apartment syndications in Berkeley →
- Owners who sell your apartment building in Berkeley should confirm the 2026 Annual General Adjustment of 1.0% before pricing rent growth.
- Buyers who sell commercial real estate in Berkeley, CA compare the $2,133 median rent with HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom rent of $2,805.
- Berkeley's transfer tax reaches 2.5% above $1,700,000 in value, on top of Alameda County's $1.10 per $1,000 documentary transfer tax.
Seller Guides
Your Situation, Handled — Berkeley
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Berkeley Property
The California rules that shape any deal in Berkeley: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Berkeley Seller FAQ
What should I know before I sell commercial property in Berkeley, CA?
Berkeley charges a transfer tax of 1.5% on value up to $1,700,000 and 2.5% above that, on top of Alameda County's $1.10 per $1,000. A $2,000,000 sale carries $52,200 in combined transfer tax, and the deed resets assessed value for the new owner's property tax bill.
What do buyers check when I sell commercial real estate in Berkeley, CA?
Buyers review Berkeley's renter share of 55.8%, median gross rent of $2,133 a month and HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom fair market rent of $2,805. They also confirm whether units are registered with the Rent Stabilization Board and current on the 2026 Annual General Adjustment of 1.0%.
Does Berkeley have rent control?
Yes. Berkeley's Rent Stabilization Ordinance covers most rental units, setting a rent ceiling and an Annual General Adjustment the Rent Board sets yearly; it was 1.0% for 2026. Units with a first certificate of occupancy after June 30, 1980 are exempt from the ceiling but still must register.
How much are property taxes on a Berkeley apartment building?
Alameda County applies the 1.00% Proposition 13 base rate plus Berkeley's 0.060% voter-approved debt service, for a combined 1.060% ad valorem rate. A $2,000,000 building owes about $21,200 a year in ad valorem tax before any flat per-parcel special assessments the city separately bills.
Is new construction in Berkeley exempt from rent control?
Partly. Units with a first certificate of occupancy after June 30, 1980 are exempt from Berkeley's rent ceiling under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, though they must still register. Many remain subject to the statewide Tenant Protection Act's cap on rent increases and just-cause eviction rules.
Do I need to fix up my Berkeley building before selling?
No. We price in deferred maintenance, vacancy, and below-market rents ourselves, so you can sell the property as it stands.
How does a sale to you work in Alameda County?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We give feedback, then a written letter of intent if it fits, followed by diligence and a closing date that works for you.
Can I sell rental property in Berkeley with tenants in place?
Yes. We buy apartment buildings with tenants in place and keep existing leases intact. As a commercial real estate buyer focused on 5+ unit properties, we underwrite the current rent roll as it stands.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Berkeley?
Most owners get clear feedback within 48 hours of sending the address, unit count, and a rent roll. Closing is typically set around your timeline, including extra time for a 1031 exchange.
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