Real Estate Investing in Nooksack, Washington (98276)

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

Whatcom County • Population: 1,547 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98276 (Nooksack, 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.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Nooksack, WA (98276)?

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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 $519,626
Avg Monthly Rent $1,782
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $76,125
% Renters 13.4%

Market Analysis: 98276 Nooksack

This part of Whatcom County is not an easy win. The 98276 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,782/mo on a $520K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 98276 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

From a cash-flow lens, 98276 offers a low basis, the region around Nooksack has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 98276 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Nooksack's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 98276. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Nooksack:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,782/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Bellingham, WA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
48 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.2%
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 Bellingham, WA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$548K$472K$396K$319K$243K$167KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98276 Compare?

Metric 98276 Nooksack Bellingham, WA Washington
Home Value $519,626 $519,626 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.7% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,782 $1,782 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98276? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98276 (Nooksack, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Bellingham, WA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
50%
Days Pending
1/2
48 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $519,626
Monthly Rent $1,782
Price-to-Rent 24.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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.

Vacancy
4.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98276

Population: 1,547

💰 Median Household Income
$76,125
This area
$76,125
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.4%
This area
13.4%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.8%
This area
21.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.5 years
This area
32.5 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.5%
Other/Mixed 15.5%
Hispanic/Latino 12.0%
👶 Under 18
27.5%
This area
27.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.8%
This area
13.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.8%
This area
9.8%
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 98276

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Everson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 216 Everson Goshen Rd., Everson
👥
295 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$28,080 Per Student
A Very Good

Nooksack Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3333 Breckenridge Rd., Everson
👥
378 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$28,080 Per Student
A Very Good

Nooksack Valley High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 3326 East Badger Road, Everson
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$28,080 Per Student
A Very Good

Nooksack Valley Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 404 W. Columbia St., Everson
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$28,080 Per Student
C+ Average

Nooksack Valley Special Services

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 3326 E. Badger Road, Everson
👥
28 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$28,080 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 2,122 Off-Campus Students
C+
Whatcom Community College
3,490 students · 12.1 mi
C+
Zorganics Institute of Beauty and Wellness
11 students · 12.3 mi
C
Bellingham Technical College
1,850 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,122 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nooksack in WA worth investing in?

Nooksack, WA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $520K and rents near $1,782/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is Nooksack, WA a friendly market for rental owners?

Nooksack, WA operates under WA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect reliable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What type of investing works in Nooksack, WA?

In Nooksack, WA the resilient play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $520K prices and $1,782/mo rents suits that approach.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Nooksack, WA?

Nooksack, WA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How deep is the rental pool in Nooksack, WA?

Working renters make up the core of the Nooksack, WA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 98276 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98276 ranks in Bellingham, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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