Real Estate Investing in Echo, Oregon (97826)

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

Umatilla County • Population: 1,154 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97826 (Echo, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 16.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Echo, OR (97826)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $309,261
Avg Monthly Rent $1,080
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,346
% Renters 37.9%

Market Analysis: 97826 Echo

Investors eyeing 97826 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $309K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Turning to rents, the numbers look inviting — $309K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 97826 is substantial and deserves full respect.

From a cash-flow lens, 97826 offers a low basis, the region around Echo has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 97826 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 97826 is an operator game, not a passive one. From a cash-flow lens, entry prices of $309K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Echo:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,080/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Hermiston-Pendleton, OR Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.1%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Hermiston-Pendleton, OR metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$324K$281K$238K$195K$152K$109KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97826 Compare?

Metric 97826 Echo Hermiston-Pendleton, OR Oregon
Home Value $309,261 $309,261 N/A $493,884
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.2% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,080 $1,080 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 97826? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 38% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97826 (Echo, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $309,261
Monthly Rent $1,080
Price-to-Rent 23.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
16.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97826

Population: 1,154

💰 Median Household Income
$56,346
This area
$56,346
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.9%
This area
37.9%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.3 years
This area
31.3 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 62.5%
Other/Mixed 37.5%
Hispanic/Latino 35.3%
👶 Under 18
39.2%
This area
39.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.0%
This area
13.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
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

🎓 Schools in 97826

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.3:1 Avg Class Size
$16,256 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Echo School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,256 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Echo, OR?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Echo, OR reflects its $309K prices and $1,080/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within OR.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Echo, OR?

Rental vacancy in Echo, OR is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Are rents high in Echo, OR?

Rental rates in Echo, OR average $1,080/mo. Tenant demand and $309K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Does Echo, OR favor landlords or tenants?

Echo, OR falls under OR landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Are homes affordable in Echo, OR?

Expect median prices around $309K in Echo, OR. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

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How 97826 ranks in Hermiston-Pendleton, OR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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