Silver Lake Multifamily Broker: Apartment Building Sales
Silver Lake is one of LA’s most in-demand Eastside submarkets, known for its hillside streets, walkable retail corridors, and consistently strong renter demand from creative-industry professionals. Highlight has closed value-add multifamily sales in Silver Lake, including properties near Sunset Blvd.
Get a Free Broker Opinion of Value in Silver LakeTransit Access
- Metro local and rapid bus lines along Sunset Blvd and Hyperion Ave
- Short drive/bus connection to Metro B Line (Red) at Vermont/Sunset
Local Retail
- Sunset Junction and Silver Lake Blvd retail corridors
- Independent boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants
- Silver Lake Reservoir and recreation area as a neighborhood amenity
Major Employers
- Creative and media companies clustered along Sunset Blvd
- Proximity to Downtown LA and Hollywood employment centers
Silver Lake Multifamily Sales So Far This Year
Buildings built before 1978 fall under the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and trade differently than newer buildings under AB 1482, so we break them out separately. Confirmed Silver Lake sales through September 2026. Figures are shown only when there are enough sales to be meaningful.
Built Before 1978 (RSO)
- Median Price Per Unit
- $225,000
- 11 Silver Lake sales
- Median Price Per SF
- $270
- 11 Silver Lake sales
- Typical Cap Rate
- 5.44% – 6.30%
- 7 Silver Lake sales
Built 1978 or Later (AB 1482)
- Median Price Per Unit
- Not enough data
- Fewer than 3 Silver Lake sales in this category
- Median Price Per SF
- Not enough data
- Fewer than 3 Silver Lake sales in this category
- Typical Cap Rate
- Not enough data
- Fewer than 5 Silver Lake sales reporting a cap rate
Curious what your own Silver Lake property could be worth? Try our free value calculator →
Silver Lake Apartment Owners: Check Your Rent Control Status, and Know What Your Land Is Worth
“Does Silver Lake have rent control?” is a question Google suggests to people searching about Silver Lake apartment buildings. Rent control does not work by neighborhood. Silver Lake is inside the City of Los Angeles, so what applies depends on when your building was built: buildings first occupied on or before October 1, 1978 are covered by LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), and newer buildings generally fall under the statewide AB 1482 cap.
That one fact changes how a buyer prices your building, so it is the first thing to confirm before you talk about a number.
- Oct 1, 1978the RSO cutoff: older buildings are rent-controlled, newer ones follow AB 1482
- $225,000median price per unit for older Silver Lake buildings in 2026 (11 sales)
- 4 to 9 unitsthe size range of our Silver Lake sales and listings
Look up your building’s RSO status first
Enter your address in ZIMAS and read the Rent Stabilization Ordinance field under Housing: it says Yes or No. The Housing Department notes that Yes means at least one unit is covered, so a building can be partly covered. Print it before you meet a broker. If you are unsure, the Housing Department answers questions at (866) 557-7368.
Find out what your land could be worth
Land can be worth more than the building on it, especially on a larger lot or one zoned for more units. A buyer who plans to build new prices the land, and a buyer who keeps the building prices the income. Print your parcel’s zoning from ZIMAS and ask us to price it both ways, so you know which group of buyers would pay more.
Know your unit count before you pick a buyer pool
Our Silver Lake sales and listings have run from 4 to 9 units. Buildings of one to four units can be bought with residential loans, and five or more need commercial loans, which changes who can buy yours. Our guide to selling a fourplex or small building explains how.
We have sold 1330 Portia St, an 8-unit building, and 1421 Waterloo St, a 4-unit building, in Silver Lake, and have also marketed 1118-1120 Sanborn Ave and 333 N Union Ave.
Sources: LA Housing Department RSO Property Search (housing.lacity.gov); Highlight analysis of CoStar sold multifamily comps, January to September 2026. Checked October 2026.
Rent Control in Silver Lake, in Plain English
Silver Lake is inside the City of Los Angeles, so most older apartment buildings here fall under LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). Rent control is the biggest single factor in what a buyer will pay, because buyers price in how far below market the current rents are. Here is how to tell which rules cover your building.
- Rent can rise once a year by the city’s set percentage: 3% from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
- Tenants can only be evicted for reasons the ordinance allows
- No-fault move-outs require relocation payments
- The building must be registered with the LA Housing Department every year
- LA’s Just Cause Ordinance limits evictions
- Once a building is more than 15 years old, the statewide AB 1482 cap (5% plus inflation, up to 10%) may apply
- Confirm the status of your units with the city or an attorney
Three rent control rules every Silver Lake seller should know
- Market rent comes back only when a tenant leaves on their own. Under the state’s Costa-Hawkins law, you can set a new rent when a tenant moves out voluntarily. That reset is the upside buyers are paying for.
- You can only raise rent if your registration is current. LA requires every RSO building to be registered and its fees paid each year. Buyers check this, and gaps become credits in escrow.
- Relocation payments rise every July. If a buyer plans to renovate or redevelop, the relocation cost for each tenant is part of their math, and it shows up in their offer.
How Many Units Before Measure ULA Hits a Silver Lake Building?
Measure ULA, the City of LA’s “mansion tax,” takes 4% of the entire price once a sale goes over $5.4 million, and 5.5% at $10.9 million or more. At Silver Lake’s median of $225,000 per unit for older buildings, that line arrives at about 24 units. Here is what that looks like.
Illustration only, using the median price per unit for Silver Lake buildings built before 1978 (January-September 2026). Your building’s price depends on its own rents and condition. ULA thresholds for closings after June 30, 2026, from the City of Los Angeles Office of Finance.
Going from 23 to 24 units adds about $225,000 in value but can add roughly $216,000 in tax. If your building is anywhere near the line, price it with the tax in mind and compare offers on what you keep, not the headline number. Our guide to Measure ULA thresholds walks through the “dead zone” above each line.
Three Moves to Make Before You List a Silver Lake Building
Take this year’s rent increase first
Buyers pay for the rent roll they see. If you have skipped the 3% RSO increase, serve the notices before you list (one increase per 12 months, and only with current registration).
Have your soft-story certificate ready
LA requires older wood-frame buildings with weak ground floors (think tuck-under parking) to be retrofitted, and most deadlines have passed. Buyers and lenders expect the city’s certificate of compliance. Find yours, or the permits showing the work is underway, before a buyer asks.
Know your “rent gap”
List each unit’s rent, move-in year, and what a vacant unit would rent for today. The gap between the two is the upside buyers are paying for. Having it ready shows that upside and keeps the price conversation on your terms.
What Silver Lake Apartment Buildings Sell For
Older, rent-controlled buildings in Silver Lake sold for a median of $225,000 per unit in January-September 2026, across 11 sales, with cap rates typically between 5.44% and 6.30%. Here is how that compares with the other neighborhoods we cover.
Source: Highlight Multifamily Group analysis of CoStar sold multifamily comps. Neighborhoods with fewer than 3 sales are left out.
What to Gather Before Selling a Silver Lake Apartment Building
- Current rent roll with each tenant’s move-in date and current rent
- This year’s LA Housing Department registration and proof the fees are paid
- Copies of the last rent increase notices served
- Soft-story certificate of compliance, or permits for work underway
- Your SB 721 balcony and stair inspection report, if the building has elevated wood balconies, decks, or stairs (see our SB 721 guide)
- A zoning printout for your parcel from the city’s ZIMAS site
- Two years of operating expenses and utility bills
- Any buyout agreements, relocation payments, or pending tenant matters
Not sure where to start? We will walk you through it as part of a free Broker Opinion of Value. Request yours here.
Thinking of Selling an Apartment Building in Silver Lake?
Silver Lake Multifamily FAQs
What is the price per unit for an apartment building in Silver Lake?
Among buildings built before 1978 sold in Silver Lake so far in 2026, the median price per unit was $225,000 across 11 sales, and the median price per square foot was $270. Figures are through September 2026 and move with the market.
What cap rate do Silver Lake apartment buildings sell for?
Buildings built before 1978 sold in Silver Lake in 2026 had a typical cap rate range of 5.44% – 6.30%, based on 7 sales that reported one (the middle half of those sales). Cap rates vary with building age, condition, and rent levels, so your building can sit above or below the range.
Does rent control apply to apartment buildings in Silver Lake?
Silver Lake is in the City of Los Angeles. Buildings with a certificate of occupancy issued before October 1, 1978 are generally covered by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, and newer buildings typically fall under the statewide AB 1482 cap. Rent control affects value because buyers price in below-market rents, as we explain in our guides.
2026 AB 1482 rent cap · Selling with rent-controlled tenants
How much can landlords raise rent on rent-controlled apartments in Silver Lake?
Under the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance, the allowable increase is 3% from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Rent can go up once every 12 months, with proper notice, and only if the building's registration with the LA Housing Department is current.
Does Measure ULA apply to Silver Lake apartment buildings?
Yes. Silver Lake is in the City of Los Angeles, so sales above $5.4 million pay a 4% ULA tax on the entire price, and sales at $10.9 million or more pay 5.5%. At Silver Lake's 2026 median of $225,000 per unit for older buildings, a building of about 24 units or more is likely to cross the $5.4 million line.
How do I find out if my Silver Lake apartment building is rent controlled?
Look up your address on the City of Los Angeles’ ZIMAS site. Under the Housing section, the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) field says Yes if at least one unit in the building is covered, so a building can be only partly covered. Buildings first occupied on or before October 1, 1978 are generally covered, and newer buildings typically fall under the statewide AB 1482 cap. The LA Housing Department answers questions at (866) 557-7368.
Could my Silver Lake lot be worth more than my building?
It can be. Land can be worth more than the building on it, especially on a larger lot or one zoned for more units, because a buyer who plans to build new prices the land and a buyer who keeps the building prices the income. Print your parcel’s zoning from the city’s ZIMAS site, then ask us to price it both ways.
What apartment buildings has Highlight sold in Silver Lake?
Highlight has closed sales in Silver Lake, including 1330 Portia St (8 units, $1.75M), and 1421 Waterloo St (4 units, $1.45M). Every closed sale is listed with its details on our closed sales page.
Why do investors buy apartment buildings in Silver Lake?
Silver Lake is in Eastside LA, with a Walk Score of 81 (Very Walkable; 20th most walkable neighborhood in LA) and a Transit Score of 54. Transit includes Metro local and rapid bus lines along Sunset Blvd and Hyperion Ave. Nearby employers and anchors include Creative and media companies clustered along Sunset Blvd, and Proximity to Downtown LA and Hollywood employment centers. Walkable, transit-connected neighborhoods with local jobs tend to keep renter demand steady.
Are there apartment buildings for sale in Silver Lake right now?
Yes. We currently have 1118-1120 Sanborn Ave (5 units, $1.59M), and 333 N Union Ave (9 units, $1.05M) available in Silver Lake.
What is my Silver Lake apartment building worth?
Start with our free property value calculator, which prices your building using Silver Lake's own 2026 sales. Then request a free Broker Opinion of Value for a number based on your actual rent roll, expenses, and condition.
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