Real Estate Investing in Gales Creek, Oregon (97117)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Washington County • Population: 787 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97117 (Gales Creek, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (43/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Gales Creek, OR (97117)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $616,458
Avg Monthly Rent $1,620
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $107,143
% Renters 15.5%

Market Analysis: 97117 Gales Creek

Investors eyeing 97117 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $616K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 97117 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $616K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within OR, ZIP 97117 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Washington County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

The 97117 ZIP's population of 787 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 97117 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Gales Creek:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 54/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,620/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$631K$619K$607K$595K$584K$572KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97117 Compare?

Metric 97117 Gales Creek Oregon
Home Value $616,458 $616,458 $493,884
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,620 $1,620 -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97117 (Gales Creek, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Washington County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Shamrock Community & Property Management offers Community Association Management services. summary from their website

HOA
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PreciseRentals.com is a domain name for sale. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $616,458
Monthly Rent $1,620
Price-to-Rent 31.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 3.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
0.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97117

Population: 787

💰 Median Household Income
$107,143
This area
$107,143
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.1%
This area
37.1%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.7 years
This area
36.7 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.6%
Asian 2.7%
Other/Mixed 1.7%
👶 Under 18
39.4%
This area
39.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
C
Pacific University
3,479 students · 12.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Gales Creek, OR?

Rents in Gales Creek, OR run near $1,620/mo. Compared with median home prices of $616K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How viable is house hacking in Gales Creek, OR?

House hacking in Gales Creek, OR is a challenging. With home values around $616K and rents at $1,620/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is real estate in Gales Creek, OR a good investment right now?

Gales Creek, OR scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $616K and rents near $1,620/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is housing expensive in Gales Creek, OR?

Gales Creek, OR home values average about $616K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,620/mo in monthly income.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Gales Creek, OR?

Occupancy in Gales Creek, OR runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,620/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

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How 97117 ranks in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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