Real Estate Investing in Kenmore, Washington (98028)

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

King County • Population: 23,594 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 98028 (Kenmore, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Kenmore, WA (98028)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $1,009,674
Avg Monthly Rent $2,600
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $132,191
% Renters 31.3%

Market Analysis: 98028 Kenmore

Investors eyeing 98028 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $1.0M come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 98028 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 98028 among WA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 98028 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 98028 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 Kenmore:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,600/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
45 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.2%
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98028

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$274,743/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $308,499 $2,130 5.0% +2.2% $308,499
2BR $614,069 $2,480 2.9% +6.8% $307,035
3BR $926,175 $3,240 2.5% +7.7% $308,725
4BR $1,172,328 $3,810 2.3% +9.1% $293,082
5BR $1,373,715 +9.3% $274,743

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$956K$778K$600K$422K$244KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,668$2,469$2,270$2,071$1,872$1,673Jan 2020May 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98028 Compare?

Metric 98028 Kenmore Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $1,009,674 $1,009,674 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,600 $2,600 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98028? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98028 (Kenmore, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 98028 (Kenmore, WA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving King County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Alki Property Management LLC specializes in apartment rentals. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Brink Property Management offers residential property management and vacant home management services in Bellevue, providing marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Full Service Property Management offers compassionate property management across Metro Seattle, including multi-family management, property marketing, and maintenance services. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,009,674
Monthly Rent $2,600
Price-to-Rent 32.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +12.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
3.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98028

Population: 23,594

💰 Median Household Income
$132,191
This area
$132,191
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.3%
This area
31.3%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
57.9%
This area
57.9%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.8%
Asian 14.3%
Other/Mixed 12.5%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Black/African American 2.3%
👶 Under 18
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
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 98028

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
17.9:1 Avg Class Size
$20,532 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Arrowhead Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
284 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,532 Per Student
A Very Good

Kenmore Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,532 Per Student
A Very Good

Moorlands Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
611 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,532 Per Student
A Very Good

Kenmore Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
734 Students
👨‍🏫
21.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,532 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Inglemoor HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,475 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,532 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Maywood Hills Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 19510 104 AV NE, Bothell
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,532 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Westhill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 19515 88 AV NE, Bothell
👥
412 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,532 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Helen Keller Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 13820 - 108th NE, Kirkland
👥
306 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John Muir Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 14012 132nd AVE NE, Kirkland
👥
357 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Robert Frost Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 11801 NE 140th, Kirkland
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 9,695 Off-Campus Students
C
Bastyr University
760 students · 1.5 mi
B
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
5,809 students · 2.7 mi
C
Cascadia College
2,013 students · 2.7 mi
C
Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Shoreline
127 students · 4.5 mi
C
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
3,357 students · 5.0 mi
C
Shoreline Community College
4,460 students · 5.1 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Seattle
450 students · 5.1 mi
C
North Seattle College
5,017 students · 5.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,695 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Kenmore, WA?

Kenmore, WA offers a tougher house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $2,600/mo rent level.

How landlord-friendly is Kenmore, WA?

Landlord-friendliness in Kenmore, WA is tenant-protective. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How deep is the rental pool in Kenmore, WA?

The tenant pool in Kenmore, WA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,600/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What is the average monthly rent in Kenmore, WA?

Expect rents around $2,600/mo per month in Kenmore, WA. With home values at $1.0M, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What are vacancy rates like in Kenmore, WA?

Kenmore, WA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader WA rental market.

You know 98028 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98028 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 98028 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 98028 (Kenmore)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 98028 (Kenmore, WA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.