Real Estate Investing in Auburn, Washington (98092)

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

King • Population: 50,510 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98092 (Auburn, 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 27.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Auburn, WA (98092)?

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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 $673,504
Avg Monthly Rent $2,061
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $112,735
% Renters 25.7%

Market Analysis: 98092 Auburn

The 98092 ZIP in Auburn, WA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $674K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 98092 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $674K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 98092 sits on the difficult end of the WA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 98092 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 98092 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 Auburn:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,061/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 98092

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$159,778/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $313,772 $1,930 4.4% +7.5% $313,772
2BR $384,456 $2,280 4.3% +6.4% $192,228
3BR $606,861 $3,010 3.6% +6.5% $202,287
4BR $717,563 $3,510 3.5% +6.5% $179,391
5BR $798,888 +6.6% $159,778

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$724K$620K$516K$413K$309K$205KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,154$2,036$1,919$1,801$1,684$1,566Nov 2020Sep 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98092 Compare?

Metric 98092 Auburn Washington
Home Value $673,504 $599,781 $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.7% 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,061 $2,092 -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 98092? 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 98092 (Auburn, 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
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $673,504
Monthly Rent $2,061
Price-to-Rent 27.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 5.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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.

Vacancy
2.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98092

Population: 50,510

💰 Median Household Income
$112,735
This area
$112,735
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.7%
This area
25.7%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.8%
This area
35.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.1 years
This area
36.1 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.4%
Other/Mixed 22.8%
Asian 13.1%
Hispanic/Latino 9.8%
Black/African American 3.8%
👶 Under 18
25.8%
This area
25.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.5%
This area
10.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
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 98092

A Avg School Grade
12 Schools
15.8:1 Avg Class Size
$25,901 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Arthur Jacobsen Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
357 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lea Hill Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
599 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Bowman Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
441 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Hazelwood Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
525 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Ilalko Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
479 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Lake View Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Lakeland Hills Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
542 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Willow Crest Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
607 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
A Very Good

Rainier Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
944 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Muckleshoot Tribal School

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
534 Students
👨‍🏫
7.6:1 Class Size
B Good

Auburn Mountainview High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,611 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 Per Student
B Good

Auburn Riverside High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,884 Students
👨‍🏫
21.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,901 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 10,996 Off-Campus Students
C+
Green River College
7,361 students · 2.7 mi
C
KaiStar
151 students · 8.4 mi
C+
Highline College
5,126 students · 10.6 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Renton
400 students · 13.0 mi
C+
Renton Technical College
3,060 students · 14.0 mi
D
UEI College-Tacoma
557 students · 14.6 mi
D
Northwest College of Art & Design
150 students · 14.6 mi
B
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4,777 students · 14.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 10,996 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which investment style suits Auburn, WA?

Auburn, WA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($674K prices, $2,061/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is house hacking profitable in Auburn, WA?

The house hack math a challenging in Auburn, WA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,061/mo rents and $674K home values.

How does Auburn, WA rate as a rental market?

Auburn, WA sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $674K and average rents around $2,061/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

How expensive is real estate in Auburn, WA?

Expect median prices around $674K in Auburn, WA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Auburn, WA?

Expect rents around $2,061/mo per month in Auburn, WA. With home values at $674K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 98092 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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