Real Estate Investing in Mount Vernon, Washington (98273)

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

Skagit County • Population: 30,078 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98273 (Mount Vernon, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

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 Mount Vernon, WA (98273)?

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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 $571,798
Avg Monthly Rent $2,035
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,498
% Renters 36.8%

Market Analysis: 98273 Mount Vernon

Put differently, ZIP 98273 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $572K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 98273 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within WA, ZIP 98273 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Skagit County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 98273 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 98273 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Mount Vernon:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,035/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
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 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98273

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$141,890/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $369,221 $1,170 2.3% +5.4% $369,221
2BR $435,093 $1,540 2.5% +5.6% $217,547
3BR $558,157 $2,150 2.8% +7.0% $186,052
4BR $626,953 $2,340 2.7% +6.8% $156,738
5BR $709,452 +6.7% $141,890

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$608K$518K$429K$340K$251K$161KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,063$1,981$1,899$1,817$1,735$1,653Apr 2023Dec 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98273 Compare?

Metric 98273 Mount Vernon Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Washington
Home Value $571,798 $600,358 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.9% 3.8% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,035 $2,350 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98273? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 98273 (Mount Vernon, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 98273 (Mount Vernon, WA)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $571,798
Monthly Rent $2,035
Price-to-Rent 23.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
4.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98273

Population: 30,078

💰 Median Household Income
$71,498
This area
$71,498
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
36.8%
This area
36.8%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.4%
This area
24.4%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.4 years
This area
36.4 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.4%
Other/Mixed 24.6%
Hispanic/Latino 18.9%
Asian 2.3%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
24.7%
This area
24.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
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 98273

B+ Avg School Grade
14 Schools
24.3:1 Avg Class Size
$24,260 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Washington Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Harriet Rowley

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
490 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jefferson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Madison Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
498 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Centennial Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
A Very Good
👥
14 Students
👨‍🏫
0.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
A Very Good

La Venture Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
B Good

Mount Vernon High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,958 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
C+ Average

Skagit Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
264 Students
👨‍🏫
24.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
C+ Average

Mount Vernon Open Doors

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
63 Students
💰
$25,085 Per Student
C+ Average

Open Doors

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
11 Students
💰
$20,250 Per Student
C Below Average

Good Beginnings Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
136 Students
👨‍🏫
27.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,195 Per Student
C Below Average

Mount Vernon Special Ed

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
163 Students
👨‍🏫
108.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
C Below Average

Skagit County Detention Center

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
2 Students
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

1 Nearby 1,983 Off-Campus Students
C+
Skagit Valley College
4,098 students · 3.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,983 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which investment style suits Mount Vernon, WA?

Most investors in Mount Vernon, WA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is the tenant base reliable in Mount Vernon, WA?

Mount Vernon, WA offers a consistent renter base at the $2,035/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Mount Vernon, WA?

Vacancy in Mount Vernon, WA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,035/mo.

Is house hacking profitable in Mount Vernon, WA?

For house hackers, Mount Vernon, WA is a challenging. The $2,035/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $572K property.

What is the average monthly rent in Mount Vernon, WA?

The typical rental in Mount Vernon, WA commands about $2,035/mo monthly. That rent profile stable cash flow against the $572K purchase basis.

You know 98273 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98273 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 98273 ranks in Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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