Real Estate Investing in Seatac, Washington (98168)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 98168 (Seatac, 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.
What’s happening in Seatac, WA (98168)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 98168 Seatac
ZIP 98168 in Seatac, WA carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $584K and rents of $2,009/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.
If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $584K asset, 98168 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.
Turning to rents, 98168 offers a low basis, the region around Seatac has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.
Put differently, 34,814 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.
trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Seatac:
Property Strategy for 98168
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $371,321 | $1,910 | 3.7% | +4.5% | $371,321 |
| 2BR | $455,190 | $2,230 | 3.5% | +4.8% | $227,595 |
| 3BR | $567,625 | $2,920 | 3.7% | +4.9% | $189,208 |
| 4BR | $653,455 | $3,430 | 3.8% | +5.1% | $163,364 |
| 5BR | $735,794 | — | — | +5.5% | $147,159 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 98168 Compare?
| Metric | 98168 | Seatac | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $584,414 | $588,257 | N/A | $591,536 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 2.5% | 3.1% | N/A | 5.9% |
| Avg Rent | $2,009 | $1,968 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.7% | 2.6% | - | - |
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 98168 (Seatac, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 98168 (Seatac, WA)?
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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 | $584,414 |
| Monthly Rent | $2,009 |
| Price-to-Rent | 24.3:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.1% |
| Cap Rate | 2.7% |
| 5-Year IRR | 5.2% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +2.4% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +2.0% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.5% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +6.9% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -3.7% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +0.9% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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 98168
Population: 34,814
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 98168
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 9,980 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do rentals sit vacant long in Seatac, WA?
Occupancy in Seatac, WA runs reliable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,009/mo lease on reasonable timelines.
What is the median home value in Seatac, WA?
Seatac, WA median home values land near $584K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $2,009/mo-per-month rentals.
Is Seatac, WA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?
Seatac, WA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $584K and rents near $2,009/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.
How strict are landlord regulations in Seatac, WA?
Seatac, WA falls under WA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.
How much do tenants pay in Seatac, WA?
The typical rental in Seatac, WA commands about $2,009/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $584K purchase basis.
You know 98168 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98168 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 98168 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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