Bakersfield, CA Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 56% of Bakersfield's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.
Homes in Bakersfield that pencil right now
A sample of active Bakersfield listings whose DSCR clears 1.25 using short-term rental income projections we accept as a direct lender. These are spread across the price range, not ranked, and current as of August 2026.
$119,000DSCR 2.853 bed · 2 bath · 1,308 sqft
- STR revenue
- $34,089/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $798/mo
On the market 97 days · Listed by Next Level Realty & Loans Inc.
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Bakersfield
$199,999DSCR 1.412 bed · 1 bath · 672 sqft
- STR revenue
- $26,479/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,255/mo
On the market 159 days · Listed by RE MAX Champions
Scout this home & market: 2-bed house in Bakersfield
$260,000DSCR 1.372 bed · 1 bath · 1,001 sqft
- STR revenue
- $33,475/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,632/mo
On the market 131 days · Listed by Infinity Real Estate Services
Scout this home & market: 2-bed house in Bakersfield
$275,000DSCR 1.524 bed · 2 bath · 1,243 sqft
- STR revenue
- $39,367/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,725/mo
On the market 32 days · Listed by Executive Realty & Investments
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Bakersfield
$294,900DSCR 1.373 bed · 2 bath · 1,406 sqft
- STR revenue
- $37,909/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,851/mo
On the market 24 days · Listed by Executive, REALTORS®
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Bakersfield
$300,000DSCR 1.483 bed · 2 bath · 1,305 sqft
- STR revenue
- $41,922/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,883/mo
On the market 66 days · Listed by CENTURY 21 Jordan-Link & Company
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Bakersfield
$320,000DSCR 1.344 bed · 2 bath · 1,242 sqft
- STR revenue
- $40,313/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,008/mo
On the market 31 days · Listed by D Best Realty, Inc.
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Bakersfield
$335,000DSCR 1.284 bed · 2.5 bath · 517 sqft
- STR revenue
- $40,376/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,102/mo
On the market 31 days · Listed by D Best Realty, Inc.
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Bakersfield
$375,000DSCR 1.434 bed · 2 bath · 1,860 sqft
- STR revenue
- $50,629/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,354/mo
On the market 927 days · Listed by Markendorf and Associates
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Bakersfield
As of August 2026, we analyzed 1,301 active for-sale homes in Bakersfield, California. The typical listing is priced at $454,000 and is projected to generate about $43,160 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 55.6% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — roughly in line with the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Bakersfield #90 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Bakersfield sit a median of 45 days on the market, and 36% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a steadily paced market, which shapes how much room there is to negotiate.
For a DSCR loan — which qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — that's a relatively healthy setup: in Bakersfield, a meaningful share of listings throw off enough short-term-rental income, after costs, to cover an estimated investor mortgage payment.
What actually works in Bakersfield
Bakersfield works for investors, but the window is specific: 213 of the 1,003 Bakersfield homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $465,000.
| Price | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | 70%1.41 | 88%1.50 | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | 16%1.07 | 29%1.16 | 79%1.36 | — |
| $350k–$500k | — | 12%1.04 | 31%1.17 | 65%1.28 |
| $500k+ | — | 3%0.78 | 1%0.88 | 7%1.03 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Bakersfield in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 1,301 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $454,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $43,160 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $199 |
| Median occupancy | 63% |
| Median beds | 4 |
| Median size | 1,905 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 55.6% |
| Median days on market | 45 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 35.7% of active |
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