Real Estate Investing in Tacoma, Washington (98407)

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

Pierce County • Population: 21,210 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 98407 (Tacoma, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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 Tacoma, WA (98407)?

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 $634,078
Avg Monthly Rent $2,176
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $103,900
% Renters 34.7%

Market Analysis: 98407 Tacoma

ZIP 98407 in Tacoma, WA carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $634K and rents of $2,176/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 98407 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $634K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Statewide comparisons place 98407 among WA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 98407 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Tacoma averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 98407 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 Tacoma:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,176/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 98407

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$176,813/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $461,298 $1,730 2.7% +3.6% $461,298
2BR $518,233 $2,130 3.0% +5.2% $259,116
3BR $595,260 $2,950 3.6% +5.6% $198,420
4BR $740,216 $3,350 3.3% +5.9% $185,054
5BR $884,064 +5.9% $176,813

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$681K$582K$484K$385K$286K$188KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,236$2,064$1,893$1,722$1,551$1,380Feb 2020May 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98407 Compare?

Metric 98407 Tacoma Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $634,078 $233,270 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.4% 2.0% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,176 $1,844 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98407? 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 98407 (Tacoma, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 98407 (Tacoma, WA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

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
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
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $634,078
Monthly Rent $2,176
Price-to-Rent 24.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 5.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
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
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98407

Population: 21,210

💰 Median Household Income
$103,900
This area
$103,900
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.7%
This area
34.7%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
49.2%
This area
49.2%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.3 years
This area
46.3 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.4%
Other/Mixed 12.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.8%
Asian 5.3%
Black/African American 2.7%
👶 Under 18
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
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 98407

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
18.8:1 Avg Class Size
$23,190 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Point Defiance Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Washington Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
359 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Mason Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
608 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Science and Math Institute

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Sherman Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Truman Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
417 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
B Good

Hoyt Early Learning Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
💰
$23,190 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Tacoma Online Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 6501 N.23rd St., Tacoma
👥
159 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Grant Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2510 N 11th St, Tacoma
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Hilltop Heritage Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 602 N Sprague Ave, Tacoma
👥
479 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Jefferson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 4302 North 13th St, Tacoma
👥
323 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A Very Good

Lowell Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 810 Mr. Dahl DR, Tacoma
👥
333 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 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

8 Nearby 5,600 Off-Campus Students
C
Faith International University
370 students · 0.7 mi
C+
University of Puget Sound
1,914 students · 2.3 mi
C
Tacoma Community College
5,771 students · 3.1 mi
C
Bates Technical College
3,817 students · 4.0 mi
D
Northwest College of Art & Design
150 students · 4.2 mi
B
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4,777 students · 4.6 mi
C
Summit Salon Academy
148 students · 4.9 mi
C+
BJ's Beauty & Barber College
26 students · 5.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,600 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Tacoma, WA?

The median home value in Tacoma, WA is roughly $634K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WA statewide average.

What is the typical rental rate in Tacoma, WA?

Investors in Tacoma, WA typically see rents near $2,176/mo per month against $634K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What strategy should investors use in Tacoma, WA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Tacoma, WA best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $634K price point.

Is Tacoma, WA suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Tacoma, WA is a challenging. The $2,176/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $634K property.

Does Tacoma, WA favor landlords or tenants?

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

You know 98407 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98407 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 98407 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 98407 (Tacoma)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 98407 (Tacoma, WA).

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