Real Estate Investing in Arlington, Washington (98223)

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

Snohomish County • Population: 46,225 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98223 (Arlington, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Arlington, WA (98223)?

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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 $658,332
Avg Monthly Rent $2,209
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $97,344
% Renters 20.2%

Market Analysis: 98223 Arlington

Investors eyeing 98223 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $658K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 98223 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Meanwhile, 98223 offers a low basis, the region around Arlington has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 98223 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 98223 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 Arlington:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,209/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
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 98223

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$155,691/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $408,070 $1,940 3.4% +7.2% $408,070
2BR $524,712 $2,260 3.1% +7.4% $262,356
3BR $619,455 $2,960 3.4% +7.2% $206,485
4BR $772,488 $3,480 3.2% +8.1% $193,122
5BR $778,454 +7.7% $155,691

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$708K$601K$493K$386K$279K$172KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,294$2,133$1,971$1,809$1,647$1,486Jan 2021Oct 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98223 Compare?

Metric 98223 Arlington Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $658,332 $658,332 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,209 $2,209 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98223? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98223 (Arlington, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Snohomish County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

inTrust Property Management offers HOA Management Services in King & Snohomish Counties. summary from their website

HOA
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Haven Property Management is a full-service residential management company based in Federal Way, WA, covering the Greater Puget Sound area. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
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Navigate Community Management provides community management services. summary from their website

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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
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $658,332
Monthly Rent $2,209
Price-to-Rent 24.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +11.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
7.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98223

Population: 46,225

💰 Median Household Income
$97,344
This area
$97,344
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.2%
This area
20.2%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.9 years
This area
40.9 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.5%
Other/Mixed 13.3%
Hispanic/Latino 7.6%
Asian 3.4%
Black/African American 0.9%
👶 Under 18
23.2%
This area
23.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.4%
This area
15.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
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 98223

B Avg School Grade
15 Schools
18.4:1 Avg Class Size
$18,994 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Lakewood Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,779 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pioneer Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
500 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
A Very Good

Cougar Creek Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
434 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,779 Per Student
A Very Good

Eagle Creek Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
677 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
A Very Good

Presidents Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
576 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Weston High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
118 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Haller Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
577 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kent Prairie Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
681 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Post Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
634 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
B Good

Lakewood High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
817 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,779 Per Student
B Good

Arlington Special Educ School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$19,306 Per Student
C+ Average

Arlington High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,622 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 Per Student
C+ Average

Arlington Open Doors

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
66 Students
💰
$19,306 Per Student
C Below Average

NW Learning Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
1 Students
💰
$19,204 Per Student
C Below Average

Stillaguamish Valley Learning Center

📚 K – 11 High School
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
26.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,306 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Arlington, WA?

Arlington, WA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader WA rental market.

What is the typical rental rate in Arlington, WA?

The typical rental in Arlington, WA commands about $2,209/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $658K purchase basis.

What is the renter demographic in Arlington, WA?

Tenant quality in Arlington, WA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $2,209/mo.

How landlord-friendly is Arlington, WA?

The landlord environment in Arlington, WA is tenant-protective. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How do experienced investors play Arlington, WA?

The best-fit strategy in Arlington, WA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

You know 98223 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98223 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 98223 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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