Contra Costa County Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Contra Costa County, CA
Contra Costa County stretches from the refinery towns along the Carquinez Strait to Concord, Walnut Creek, and the San Ramon Valley. Commuters to Oakland and San Francisco, along with local health care and office jobs, fill a rental stock of suburban garden complexes and newer BART-adjacent buildings.
- 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
Cities We Cover: San Francisco Bay Area · Concord · Antioch · Richmond · Danville · El Cerrito — County seat: Martinez
Contra Costa County
Where We Buy In Contra Costa County
We evaluate apartment buildings of 5+ units across Contra Costa County — in each city below, plus smaller towns and unincorporated areas countywide.
Local Market Data
Contra Costa County Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
If you plan to sell commercial property in Contra Costa County, CA, start with the renter base driving demand. Contra Costa County counts 132,598 renter households, a 32.0% share of 414,417 occupied homes, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Median gross rent reached $2,375, up 30.6% from the 2015-2019 survey, far outpacing the county's 2.0% population gain to 1,165,012 residents over the same span.
Apartment supply has not kept pace. Just 16.5% of Contra Costa County's housing sits in buildings of five or more units, and rental vacancy runs a tight 2.8%. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area is $2,805, a full $430 above the county's median gross rent. Rents and apartment density shift sharply from Richmond to San Ramon across Contra Costa County cities.
A 1.17 million-person county
Contra Costa County grew 2.0% to 1,165,012 residents between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 Census surveys, adding 22,761 people.Rent up 30.6% in five years
Median gross rent in Contra Costa County rose from $1,819 to $2,375 between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 ACS surveys.A tight 2.8% rental vacancy rate
Contra Costa County's rental vacancy rate sits at 2.8% in the 2020-2024 ACS, signaling thin apartment supply countywide.Who rents in Contra Costa County
Renters head 132,598 of the 414,417 occupied households in Contra Costa County, a 32.0% share in the 2020-2024 ACS. Owners hold the larger piece, at 281,819 households, leaving Contra Costa County a majority-owner market overall.
Renter concentration still varies widely by city. Richmond counts 18,485 renter households, a 45.3% share of its own households, the highest renter share among the eight Contra Costa County cities compared here. Concord holds the largest renter pool in raw numbers, at 17,763 households, while Brentwood's renter share falls to just 17.8%, the lowest in the table.
Rents, growth and affordability
Contra Costa County's median gross rent climbed 30.6%, from $1,819 to $2,375, between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 surveys. Population grew far more slowly over the same span, up 2.0% to 1,165,012 residents, an increase of 22,761 people.
Apartment supply barely moved. Units in buildings of five or more rose just 1.0%, adding only 675 units countywide. Renter households actually fell 1.4%, down 1,927 households, even as rent kept climbing.
Rent burden runs heavy. In the 2020-2024 ACS, 56.1% of Contra Costa County renters paid 30% or more of income on gross rent. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area is $2,805, effective October 1, 2026, which is $430 above the county's own median gross rent. Rental vacancy sits at 2.8%, a tight market for any buyer underwriting lease-up risk in Contra Costa County.
City-by-city comparison
San Ramon posts the highest median gross rent among Contra Costa County's covered cities, at $2,968, while Richmond's $1,960 median is the lowest. Walnut Creek carries the densest apartment stock, with 36.9% of its units in buildings of five or more, more than double the county's 16.5% share.
| City | Median gross rent | Renter share | Share of units in 5+ buildings | Rental vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | $2,274 | 38.4% | 26.0% | 2.4% |
| Antioch | $2,278 | 36.4% | 11.2% | 3.6% |
| Richmond | $1,960 | 45.3% | 19.1% | 2.0% |
| Walnut Creek | $2,680 | 35.6% | 36.9% | 3.3% |
| San Ramon | $2,968 | 29.1% | 19.2% | 2.4% |
| Pittsburg | $2,264 | 37.7% | 15.9% | 2.2% |
| Martinez | $2,353 | 29.2% | 13.8% | 3.5% |
| Brentwood | $2,758 | 17.8% | 4.1% | 2.4% |
Vacancy stays tight across the board. Richmond posts the lowest rate at 2.0%, while Antioch's 3.6% is the highest among these eight cities, still thin by national standards. Richmond also carries the highest renter share, at 45.3%, versus Brentwood's 17.8% low.
Property taxes and assessment in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County apartment buildings are assessed under California's Prop 13 framework: full cash value at the time of sale, then capped at 2% annual growth, or the CPI if lower, until the next change of ownership triggers reassessment. The base levy is 1% of assessed value, per the Contra Costa County Assessor's office; voter-approved school and district bonds add to that floor and vary by Tax Rate Area.
The county's documentary transfer tax runs the statewide standard of $0.55 per $500 of consideration under Revenue and Taxation Code Section 11911. Two Contra Costa County cities layer on their own added city transfer tax, El Cerrito and Richmond, so a sale inside either city carries a higher combined rate than one in Concord, Pittsburg or most other county cities. Pull the exact Tax Rate Area figure for your parcel from the Assessor before you set a price.
What this means if you sell in Contra Costa County
When you sell commercial property in Contra Costa County, CA, you sell into a market where demand outruns supply. Renters hold 32.0% of households, apartment vacancy sits at 2.8%, and only 16.5% of the housing stock sits in buildings of five or more units. Expect buyers to underwrite that scarcity as much as your current rent roll.
Location inside Contra Costa County matters for taxes too. A sale in El Cerrito or Richmond carries a higher documentary transfer tax than one in Concord or Pittsburg, and every sale resets the Prop 13 assessment at the new price. Rent control is not a blanket county rule; California's statewide just-cause framework under Civil Code Section 1946.2 applies unless a specific city ordinance is more protective.
As a multifamily buyer active in Contra Costa County, we look at 5+ unit buildings from Richmond to San Ramon as they stand today. Send a current rent roll, a T-12 and your latest tax bill, and we will price the building on those numbers.
Local Knowledge
Selling Multifamily In California
What we factor into every Contra Costa County offer:
More about California →- Richmond and El Cerrito add their own city transfer tax on top of the county's $0.55-per-$500 rate.
- Expect reassessment at sale price under Prop 13, then a 2% annual cap until the next ownership change.
- Rental vacancy runs 2.8% countywide; show trailing occupancy history alongside your current rent roll.
- California's statewide just-cause rules apply under Civil Code Section 1946.2 unless a city ordinance is stricter.
Property Tax
Property Tax In Contra Costa County For Apartment Owners
Homeowners in Contra Costa County pay a median of $7,156 a year in property tax on a median home value of $866,800, an effective rate of about 0.83%, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That is above the California statewide average of 0.7%.
How property tax works in California: classes, assessment and appeals →Estimate a building’s tax bill with the property tax calculator →
- Those figures describe owner-occupied homes. An apartment building can be assessed on a different basis or in a different class, so its bill as a share of value may differ.
- A sale can reset the assessed value. Before you price a Contra Costa County building, check how California reassesses property after a transfer and model the buyer’s new tax bill.
- Pull the actual tax bill from the Contra Costa County assessor or tax collector. City, school and special-district levies stack on top of the county rate.
Seller Guides
Selling In Contra Costa County? Common Situations We Handle
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Contra Costa County Property
The California rules that shape any deal in Contra Costa County: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Contra Costa County
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.
How Selling To Us Works
- 01
Submit The Deal
Send the address, unit count, asking price, and a rent roll or T-12 if you have them.
- 02
Initial Review
We review it against our buy box and give clear feedback — typically within 48 hours.
- 03
Underwriting & LOI
If it fits, we underwrite in detail and submit a written letter of intent.
- 04
Diligence & Close
Inspections and financing on the agreed timeline, then a professional, predictable closing.
Contra Costa County Seller FAQ
What should I check on property taxes before I sell in Contra Costa County?
Contra Costa County assesses apartment buildings at full cash value when sold, then caps growth at 2% a year under Prop 13 until the next sale. The base rate is 1% of assessed value, per the Contra Costa County Assessor, with voter-approved bonds added by Tax Rate Area.
How high is rental vacancy in Contra Costa County?
Rental vacancy in Contra Costa County was 2.8% in the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Among the cities compared here, Richmond ran the lowest at 2.0% and Antioch the highest at 3.6%, both still tight by national standards.
How much have rents risen in Contra Costa County?
Median gross rent in Contra Costa County rose from $1,819 in the 2015-2019 survey to $2,375 in 2020-2024, a 30.6% gain. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area is $2,805, well above the county median.
Does Contra Costa County have rent control for apartment buildings?
No single county ordinance applies. California's statewide just-cause and rent-cap framework under Civil Code Section 1946.2 sets the baseline for anyone who wants to sell commercial property in Contra Costa County, CA, though certain cities, like Richmond, layer on stricter local rules.
How do I sell commercial property in Contra Costa County, CA?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We review Contra Costa County apartment buildings of 5+ units, give feedback typically within 48 hours, and follow with a written letter of intent if it fits.
Do you buy apartment buildings throughout Contra Costa County?
Yes. We evaluate multifamily properties across Contra Costa County, including San Francisco Bay Area, Concord, Antioch, Richmond, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Oakley, Pleasant Hill, San Pablo, San Ramon, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek, and Brentwood, as well as smaller towns and unincorporated areas. Every property is reviewed on its own fundamentals.
What size Contra Costa County properties do you buy?
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential properties with 5 or more units. Our sweet spot is 15–25 units, and we review larger communities with capital partners.
Will you buy a property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We underwrite value-add, mismanaged, and distressed properties as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Can I sell rental property in Contra Costa County 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 Contra Costa County?
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.
How do property taxes factor into a Contra Costa County offer?
Property is assessed at the county level (the county seat is Martinez), within California rules. Under Proposition 13, a sale resets the assessed value to the purchase price, with a base rate of about 1% plus local assessments, and annual increases capped at 2% afterward. We model the reassessed tax bill in every offer.
Submit A Deal
Have A Property In Contra Costa County?
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
Tell Us About
Your Property
More California Counties
Investing in Contra Costa County? See apartment syndications in Contra Costa County →