Real Estate Investing in Burien, Washington (98146)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 98146 (Burien, 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 29.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Burien, WA (98146)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 98146 Burien
This part of King County is not an easy win. The 98146 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.
If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $681K asset, 98146 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.
Statewide comparisons place 98146 among WA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.
A sturdy renter share of 34% in 98146 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.
New investors are better served looking at Burien's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 98146. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Burien:
Property Strategy for 98146
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $345,067 | $1,870 | 3.9% | +3.0% | $345,067 |
| 2BR | $509,511 | $2,180 | 3.1% | +4.0% | $254,756 |
| 3BR | $655,438 | $2,850 | 3.1% | +4.3% | $218,479 |
| 4BR | $778,054 | $3,350 | 3.1% | +4.5% | $194,514 |
| 5BR | $879,940 | — | — | +4.7% | $175,988 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 98146 Compare?
| Metric | 98146 | Burien | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $681,324 | $707,524 | N/A | $591,536 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 2.2% | 2.5% | N/A | 5.9% |
| Avg Rent | $1,918 | $1,943 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.2% | 2.2% | - | - |
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 98146 (Burien, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 98146 (Burien, 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
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 | $681,324 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,918 |
| Price-to-Rent | 29.6:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 3.4% |
| Cap Rate | 2.2% |
| 5-Year IRR | 4.4% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +2.1% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +1.7% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.2% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +6.3% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -1.6% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +0.7% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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 98146
Population: 28,182
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 98146
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Louisa Boren STEM K-8
Tukwila Elementary
Sanislo Elementary School
Highland Park Elementary School
Beverly Park Elem at Glendale
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 3,198 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do rentals go for in Burien, WA?
Average rent in Burien, WA is approximately $1,918/mo per month. Against $681K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.
Is it easy to find good tenants in Burien, WA?
Tenant demand in Burien, WA is solid. The local workforce $1,918/mo rents across most rental classes.
What is it like being a landlord in Burien, WA?
WA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Burien generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.
What does house hacking look like in Burien, WA?
For house hackers, Burien, WA is a challenging. The $1,918/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $681K property.
How do experienced investors play Burien, WA?
The best-fit strategy in Burien, WA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.
You know 98146 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98146 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 98146 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
AI Market Advisor
Ask questions about investing in 98146 (Burien)
Community Ratings
What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.
Be the first to rate 98146 (Burien, WA).
It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.