Real Estate Investing in Redmond, Washington (98053)

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

King County • Population: 22,838 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 98053 (Redmond, 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 36.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Redmond, WA (98053)?

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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 $1,426,457
Avg Monthly Rent $3,304
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $171,822
% Renters 14.4%

Market Analysis: 98053 Redmond

The 98053 ZIP in Redmond, WA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $1.4M entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 98053 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Redmond have seen price recovery that 98053 has not matched. King County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 98053 ZIP's population of 22,838 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

The 98053 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Redmond:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,304/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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 98053

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$401,625/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $1,038,746 $3,310 2.3% +7.6% $519,373
3BR $1,204,876 $4,330 2.6% +8.7% $401,625
4BR $1,774,497 $5,090 2.1% +10.3% $443,624
5BR $2,137,595 +10.5% $427,519

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.6M$1.4M$1.1M$867K$623K$379KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,375$3,170$2,966$2,761$2,556$2,351Jan 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98053 Compare?

Metric 98053 Redmond Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $1,426,457 $1,370,944 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.7% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $3,304 $2,978 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98053? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98053 (Redmond, 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

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
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,426,457
Monthly Rent $3,304
Price-to-Rent 36.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
3.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98053

Population: 22,838

💰 Median Household Income
$171,822
This area
$171,822
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
71.8%
This area
71.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.1 years
This area
44.1 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.2%
Asian 26.0%
Other/Mixed 8.3%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
25.5%
This area
25.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
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 98053

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
18.8:1 Avg Class Size
$19,952 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Emily Dickinson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
318 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
A Very Good

Ella Baker Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
A Very Good

Louisa May Alcott Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
630 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
A Very Good

Rosa Parks Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Timberline Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
741 Students
👨‍🏫
21.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Evergreen Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
804 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
B Good

Nikola Tesla STEM High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
601 Students
👨‍🏫
20.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,952 Per Student
C Below Average

Explorer Community School

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
71 Students
👨‍🏫
22.7:1 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 10,552 Off-Campus Students
C
DigiPen Institute of Technology
1,100 students · 6.3 mi
C
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
3,357 students · 7.4 mi
C
Northwest University
999 students · 8.0 mi
D
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education
1,343 students · 8.2 mi
C+
Bellevue College
11,472 students · 8.2 mi
B
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
5,809 students · 10.3 mi
C
Cascadia College
2,013 students · 10.3 mi
C
Bastyr University
760 students · 11.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 10,552 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I live-in-and-rent in Redmond, WA?

The house hack math a tougher in Redmond, WA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $3,304/mo rents and $1.4M home values.

Is real estate in Redmond, WA a good investment right now?

Redmond, WA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $1.4M and rents near $3,304/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is housing expensive in Redmond, WA?

Redmond, WA median home values land near $1.4M. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $3,304/mo-per-month rentals.

Are there empty rentals in Redmond, WA?

Vacancy in Redmond, WA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $3,304/mo.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Redmond, WA?

Redmond, WA falls under WA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 98053 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98053 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.

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How 98053 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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