Buying In Santa Rosa, CA
Sell Your Commercial Property In Santa Rosa, CA
From Downtown Santa Rosa to Bennett Valley, we buy Santa Rosa 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
Areas We Target: Downtown Santa Rosa · Rincon Valley · Bennett Valley · Rohnert Park — Sonoma County, CA
Market Snapshot
Renter Demand In Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is the largest city in Sonoma County, with 177,090 residents and 68,321 occupied homes in ACS 2020-2024. Renters hold 43.3% of those homes, and 12,824 homes sit in buildings of five or more units.
Owners who sell commercial property in Santa Rosa, CA face a 1.1375% FY2025-26 property tax bill rate and $3.10 per $1,000 in combined county and city transfer tax on a sale. This profile covers renter demand, HUD fair market rents, Sonoma County tax rates and the California landlord rules that buyers underwrite.
Sonoma County government
Sonoma County's FY2025-26 recommended budget includes 4,480.63 full-time-equivalent positions across county departments.Providence Santa Rosa Memorial
Providence reports more than 2,000 employees; with two affiliated hospitals it holds half of Sonoma County's hospital beds.Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior College serves an average 22,000 students each semester and has 1,955 faculty and staff (FY2023-24 study).Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Santa Rosa
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
Santa Rosa Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Santa Rosa
Renters occupy 43.3% of Santa Rosa's occupied homes, or 29,562 of 68,321 households, in ACS 2020-2024 tenure data. Buildings with five or more units make up 18.0% of Santa Rosa's housing, or 12,824 of 71,382 homes, per ACS units-in-structure data.
Half of Santa Rosa's housing, 50.0%, predates 1980 (ACS year-built data).
Rents and affordability in Santa Rosa
Median gross rent in Santa Rosa is $2,152 a month, against $2,158 in Sonoma County and $2,036 statewide (ACS 2020-2024).
Renter households paying 30% or more of income on rent total 52.8%, and 25.4% pay 50% or more (ACS rent burden data). Owners who sell commercial real estate in Santa Rosa, CA are selling into that tenant base.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA MSA |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,980 |
| One-bedroom | $2,155 |
| Two-bedroom | $2,819 |
| Three-bedroom | $3,903 |
| Four-bedroom | $4,295 |
Source: HUD fair market rents, effective October 1, 2026.
Property taxes in Sonoma County
A $2,000,000 Santa Rosa apartment building carries about $22,750 a year at the 1.1375% FY2025-26 bill rate. That is the 1% Prop 13 base ($20,000) plus $2,750 of voter-approved debt, per Sonoma County's FY2025-26 multi-year tax rates. The rate table shows 1.1375% in all 34 tax rate areas carrying Santa Rosa Elementary bonds.
A sale of that building costs $6,200 in transfer tax: $2,200 for the county at $0.55 per $500 and $4,000 for Santa Rosa at $2.00 per $1,000 (Sonoma County Recorder). California reassesses property to market value only upon a change in ownership (State Board of Equalization). Owners who sell commercial property in Santa Rosa, CA should price both lines into net proceeds.
Landlord rules in California
- Annual rent increases are capped at 5% plus CPI, or 10%, whichever is lower, and the cap excludes housing built in the last 15 years (Attorney General guidance).
- Just cause protections start after 12 months in a unit, and a no-fault eviction requires one month of rent as relocation assistance (same guidance).
- Security deposits are limited to one month's rent since July 1, 2024, and landlords must send an itemized statement within 21 days of move-out (Attorney General deposit rules).
Anyone who plans to sell multifamily property in Santa Rosa should expect buyers to underwrite the 5% plus CPI cap.
What it means for an owner in Santa Rosa
An owner weighing whether to sell commercial property in Santa Rosa, CA should start with a cap rate calculation using the rents above.
Skyline Capital Investments buys 5+ unit apartment buildings. Owners ready to sell your apartment building in Santa Rosa can begin at our sell my apartment building page.
Good To Know
Selling In Santa Rosa
More about selling in California →Investing in Santa Rosa? See apartment syndications in Santa Rosa →
- Owners ready to sell commercial real estate in Santa Rosa, CA should price both transfer taxes into net proceeds.
- Sonoma County's FY2025-26 rate table lists 1.1375% for all 34 tax rate areas with Santa Rosa Elementary bonds.
- Median year built in Santa Rosa is 1980, and 50.0% of homes predate 1980 (ACS 2020-2024).
Seller Guides
Selling In Santa Rosa? Common Situations We Handle
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Santa Rosa Property
The California rules that shape any deal in Santa Rosa: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Santa Rosa Seller FAQ
What does it cost to sell commercial property in Santa Rosa, CA in transfer tax?
On a $2,000,000 sale, transfer tax totals $6,200: $2,200 in Sonoma County documentary tax at $0.55 per $500 and $4,000 in Santa Rosa city tax at $2.00 per $1,000. Sonoma County's Recorder says the city tax is collected in addition to the county tax.
What do buyers look at when I sell commercial real estate in Santa Rosa, CA?
Buyers weigh rent levels and tenant demand. Santa Rosa's median gross rent is $2,152, renters hold 43.3% of homes, and HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom fair market rent is $2,819 for the Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA. Property tax and transfer cost then reduce net proceeds.
What is the property tax rate on a Santa Rosa apartment building?
Sonoma County's FY2025-26 rate table shows a 1.1375% bill rate in all 34 tax rate areas carrying Santa Rosa Elementary bonds: the 1% Prop 13 base plus 0.1375% of voter-approved debt. On $2,000,000 of assessed value, that is $22,750 a year.
Does a sale change the property tax bill?
Yes. California reassesses property to current market value upon a change in ownership, per the State Board of Equalization. For anyone selling commercial property in Santa Rosa, a buyer's bill starts from the sale price, so a $2,000,000 price at 1.1375% implies about $22,750.
What rent limits apply to Santa Rosa apartments?
California's Tenant Protection Act caps annual increases at 5% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is lower, on housing older than 15 years. Just cause protections begin after 12 months of tenancy. Median gross rent in Santa Rosa is $2,152 (ACS 2020-2024).
Will you buy a Santa Rosa property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We regularly evaluate value-add, mismanaged, and distressed multifamily properties and underwrite them as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Do you work with Santa Rosa brokers and agents?
We do. Agents can bring us listed or pocket-listing deals in Santa Rosa, and we keep every conversation confidential.
Who buys occupied rental property in Santa Rosa?
We do. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit multifamily, and we buy apartment buildings with tenants in place, including properties with below-market rents.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Santa Rosa?
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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