Real Estate Investing in Kent, Washington (98030)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 98030 (Kent, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Kent, WA (98030)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 98030 Kent
This part of King County is not an easy win. The 98030 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.
Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 98030 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.
Nearby ZIPs in Kent have seen price recovery that 98030 has not matched. King County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.
Employment concentration in 98030 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.
Strategy in 98030 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $632K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Kent:
Property Strategy for 98030
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $217,157 | $1,960 | 6.5% | +6.0% | $217,157 |
| 2BR | $302,760 | $2,280 | 5.4% | +5.0% | $151,380 |
| 3BR | $589,280 | $2,980 | 3.6% | +6.6% | $196,427 |
| 4BR | $711,993 | $3,510 | 3.5% | +6.8% | $177,998 |
| 5BR | $793,687 | — | — | +6.8% | $158,737 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 98030 Compare?
| Metric | 98030 | Kent | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $632,217 | $613,706 | N/A | $591,536 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 3.0% | 3.0% | N/A | 5.9% |
| Avg Rent | $1,968 | $1,963 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.4% | 2.5% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98030 (Kent, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving King County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Alki Property Management LLC specializes in apartment rentals. summary from their website
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
Full Service Property Management offers compassionate property management across Metro Seattle, including multi-family management, property marketing, and maintenance services. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $632,217 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,968 |
| Price-to-Rent | 26.8:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 3.7% |
| Cap Rate | 2.4% |
| 5-Year IRR | 5.5% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +1.3% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +1.9% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +3.0% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +7.1% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +2.1% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +2.6% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +4.3% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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.
Demographics in 98030
Population: 38,492
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 98030
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 10,996 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
What investment strategy works best in Kent, WA?
In Kent, WA the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $632K prices and $1,968/mo rents suits that approach.
What monthly rent should investors expect in Kent, WA?
Average rent in Kent, WA is approximately $1,968/mo per month. Against $632K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.
What is the average home sale price in Kent, WA?
Expect median prices around $632K in Kent, WA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.
Are eviction rules reasonable in Kent, WA?
Kent, WA falls under WA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.
Is Kent, WA a smart market for rental property?
The 3.0/5 investability rating in Kent, WA reflects its $632K prices and $1,968/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within WA.
You know 98030 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98030 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.
How 98030 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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