Real Estate Investing in Graham, Washington (98338)

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

Pierce County • Population: 32,726 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98338 (Graham, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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 Graham, WA (98338)?

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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 $596,621
Avg Monthly Rent $2,691
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $106,587
% Renters 15.5%

Market Analysis: 98338 Graham

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Graham's 98338 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $597K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 98338 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 98338 among WA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 98338 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The 98338 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Graham:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,691/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 98338

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$133,479/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $514,336 $2,140 3.0% +5.5% $257,168
3BR $563,778 $2,970 3.8% +6.0% $187,926
4BR $625,627 $3,370 3.9% +6.2% $156,407
5BR $667,397 +5.3% $133,479

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$635K$546K$456K$366K$277K$187KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,713$2,655$2,597$2,539$2,481$2,424Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98338 Compare?

Metric 98338 Graham Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $596,621 $596,621 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.5% 2.5% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,691 $2,691 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98338? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98338 (Graham, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Pierce County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Harborside Property Management LLC offers commercial and residential property manager services in Tacoma & Gig Harbor, including single-family and multi-family homes. summary from their website

CommercialSingle-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

HOA Community Solutions provides management services for homeowner associations. summary from their website

HOA
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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
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $596,621
Monthly Rent $2,691
Price-to-Rent 18.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 6.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
3.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98338

Population: 32,726

💰 Median Household Income
$106,587
This area
$106,587
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.0 years
This area
39.0 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 74.4%
Other/Mixed 18.2%
Hispanic/Latino 8.5%
Black/African American 3.8%
Asian 3.6%
👶 Under 18
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.2%
This area
13.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 98338

B+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
18.1:1 Avg Class Size
$18,928 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Kapowsin Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
351 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rocky Ridge Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
441 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Centennial Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
565 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Graham Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
596 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Nelson Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
739 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

North Star Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cougar Mountain Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
605 Students
👨‍🏫
20.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
B Good

Frontier Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
624 Students
👨‍🏫
22.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
C+ Average

Graham Kapowsin High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,105 Students
👨‍🏫
25.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 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 1,118 Off-Campus Students
C+
Pacific Lutheran University
2,737 students · 11.4 mi
D
UEI College-Tacoma
557 students · 13.4 mi
C
Clover Park Technical College
3,040 students · 14.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,118 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smart move for investors in Graham, WA?

In Graham, WA the resilient play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $597K prices and $2,691/mo rents suits that approach.

What kind of tenants rent in Graham, WA?

Tenant quality in Graham, WA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $2,691/mo.

Is Graham, WA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Graham, WA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $597K median home values and $2,691/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting steady returns.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Graham, WA?

For house hackers, Graham, WA is a challenging. The $2,691/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $597K property.

What is the typical rental rate in Graham, WA?

Investors in Graham, WA typically see rents near $2,691/mo per month against $597K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 98338 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98338 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 98338 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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