Real Estate Investing in Longbranch, Washington (98351)

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

Pierce County • Population: 1,832 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98351 (Longbranch, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 30.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Longbranch, WA (98351)?

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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 $625,758
Avg Monthly Rent $1,674
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $130,000
% Renters 12.4%

Market Analysis: 98351 Longbranch

Put differently, ZIP 98351 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $626K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 98351 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In practical terms, 98351 offers a low basis, the region around Longbranch has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 98351 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.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Longbranch:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,674/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 98351

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$215,207/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $590,817 $1,860 2.3% +5.5% $295,408
3BR $645,621 $2,600 2.9% +5.8% $215,207

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$668K$573K$477K$382K$287K$192KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98351 Compare?

Metric 98351 Longbranch Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $625,758 $625,758 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.0% 2.0% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,674 $1,674 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98351? 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 98351 (Longbranch, 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
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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
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.0%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $625,758
Monthly Rent $1,674
Price-to-Rent 31.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 4.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
30.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98351

Population: 1,832

💰 Median Household Income
$130,000
This area
$130,000
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.7%
This area
24.7%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
62.8 years
This area
62.8 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
30.5%
This area
30.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.8%
Other/Mixed 18.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Black/African American 3.0%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
11.4%
This area
11.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
48.0%
This area
48.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 7,796 Off-Campus Students
C+
Pierce College District
7,427 students · 9.5 mi
C
Saint Martin's University
1,505 students · 11.5 mi
C
Tacoma Community College
5,771 students · 11.7 mi
C
Clover Park Technical College
3,040 students · 12.8 mi
C
Faith International University
370 students · 12.9 mi
C
The Evergreen State College
2,320 students · 13.3 mi
C+
BJ's Beauty & Barber College
26 students · 13.4 mi
C
Fosbre Academy of Hair Design
86 students · 13.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,796 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Longbranch, WA?

Homes in Longbranch, WA typically sell near $626K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

What kind of tenants rent in Longbranch, WA?

Tenant quality in Longbranch, WA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $1,674/mo.

Is Longbranch, WA a good place for real estate investing?

Yes - Longbranch, WA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $626K home prices against $1,674/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How strong are rents in Longbranch, WA?

The typical rental in Longbranch, WA commands about $1,674/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $626K purchase basis.

Is WA a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Longbranch, WA is tenant-protective. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

You know 98351 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98351 ranks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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