Guides for buying, financing and selling investment property in Chico, CA, in plain English.
Buying and financing
- Can You Buy a Rental Property in Chico Without W-2 Income? (DSCR Loans Explained)
A DSCR loan qualifies you for a Chico rental based on the property's rent, not your income. Ratios, down payment, rates and how house-hacking works. - Buying a Student Rental Near Chico State: What Investors Should Know
Chico State enrollment, California rent cap and deposit rules, financing and what to check before buying a student rental near campus. - Property Taxes in Chico, CA: What Buyers Should Expect After Closing
Chico buyers pay a 1% base property tax plus voter-approved charges, then a supplemental bill after closing. Due dates, the 2% cap and ways to lower the bill. - Chico, CA Closing Costs: What Buyers and Sellers Actually Pay
Chico buyers typically pay 2% to 5% of the price in closing costs and sellers 6% to 10%. What is included, who pays title and escrow, what to negotiate.
Adding units and selling
- Short-Term Rentals in Chico and Butte County: What Buyers Should Check
Thinking of buying a Chico or Butte County home to use as a short-term rental? What the city's tax code and the county ordinance say, and what to confirm first. - ADUs in Chico, CA: What the City Says Before You Build or Buy
ADU and JADU basics in Chico, CA: what is allowed on a lot, the 500 square foot JADU limit, the City's free pre-approved plans and the permit steps. - 1031 Exchange Basics for Investment Property Sellers in Chico, CA
A 1031 exchange lets a Chico investment property seller defer capital gains tax. The 45-day and 180-day deadlines, intermediaries and what disqualifies it. - Wildfire and Fire Zones in Chico, CA: What Buyers Should Check
How to check a Chico, CA address for fire hazard zones, what California requires sellers to disclose, how insurance works and what to look at on a showing. - Flood Zones in Chico, CA: The FEMA Map Update and What Buyers Should Check
FEMA updated flood maps for north Chico, Rock Creek, Kiefer Slough and Nord. What changed, when it takes effect, and what buyers should check on an address.
Market context
- Chico, CA and Butte County Market Statistics
Current Chico and Butte County single-family data from CRMLS: $497,000 median price, 3.1 months of supply and 28 days active in September 2026. - Renting vs. Buying in Chico, CA: What the Numbers Actually Show Right Now
A 3-bedroom Chico rental runs about $1,750 a month, while a median-priced home with 5% down is about $3,633 with taxes and insurance. What the gap buys.