Real Estate Investing in Gold Bar, Washington (98224)

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

King County • Population: 192 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 98224 (Gold Bar, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (38/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 58.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Gold Bar, WA (98224)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $493,332
Avg Monthly Rent $1,944
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $74,432
% Renters 9.9%

Market Analysis: 98224 Gold Bar

Investors eyeing 98224 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $493K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 98224 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $493K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in Gold Bar have seen price recovery that 98224 has not matched. King County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 98224 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 98224 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 Gold Bar:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,944/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$524K$456K$389K$321K$254K$187KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98224 Compare?

Metric 98224 Gold Bar Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $493,332 $485,475 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.9% 3.9% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,944 $1,944 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98224? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98224 (Gold Bar, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 98224 (Gold Bar, 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

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
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $493,332
Monthly Rent $1,944
Price-to-Rent 21.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
58.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98224

Population: 192

💰 Median Household Income
$74,432
This area
$74,432
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.9%
This area
9.9%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.6%
This area
22.6%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.0 years
This area
57.0 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
58.3%
This area
58.3%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.9%
Asian 5.0%
Other/Mixed 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
👶 Under 18
5.5%
This area
5.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Gold Bar, WA?

Yes - Gold Bar, WA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $493K home prices against $1,944/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Gold Bar, WA?

Rental owners in Gold Bar, WA deal with a tenant-protective legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Gold Bar, WA?

Rental vacancy in Gold Bar, WA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Does house hacking make sense in Gold Bar, WA?

For house hackers, Gold Bar, WA is a challenging. The $1,944/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $493K property.

Are rents high in Gold Bar, WA?

Rental rates in Gold Bar, WA average $1,944/mo. Tenant demand and $493K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 98224 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98224 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.

Compare Plans

How 98224 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 98224 (Gold Bar)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 98224 (Gold Bar, WA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.