Real Estate Investing in Clover Creek, Washington (98446)

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

Pierce County • Population: 14,241 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 98446 (Clover Creek, 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 Clover Creek, WA (98446)?

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 $563,028
Avg Monthly Rent $2,054
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $95,926
% Renters 28.3%

Market Analysis: 98446 Clover Creek

ZIP 98446 inside Pierce County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $563K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 98446 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $563K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 98446's metrics run below Pierce County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 98446 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.

appears 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 Clover Creek:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,054/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 98446

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$134,736/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $428,633 $2,200 3.7% +4.7% $214,317
3BR $536,218 $3,050 4.1% +5.9% $178,739
4BR $602,886 $3,460 4.1% +5.6% $150,721
5BR $673,681 +4.8% $134,736

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$599K$510K$421K$332K$243K$155KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,264$2,166$2,069$1,971$1,874$1,776Aug 2021Feb 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98446 Compare?

Metric 98446 Clover Creek Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Washington
Home Value $563,028 $530,865 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.8% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $2,054 $2,052 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98446? 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 98446 (Clover Creek, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 98446 (Clover Creek, 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
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $563,028
Monthly Rent $2,054
Price-to-Rent 22.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 5.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -7.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98446

Population: 14,241

💰 Median Household Income
$95,926
This area
$95,926
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.3%
This area
28.3%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.0%
This area
25.0%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.1 years
This area
36.1 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.0%
Other/Mixed 19.2%
Hispanic/Latino 7.7%
Asian 5.3%
Black/African American 3.5%
👶 Under 18
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
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 98446

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
14.7:1 Avg Class Size
$19,358 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Central Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,076 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Naches Trail Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Clover Creek Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
635 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Katherine G. Johnson Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
600 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,928 Per Student
B Good

Naches Trail Preschool

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
123 Students
💰
$18,928 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Elmhurst Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 420 133rd ST E, TACOMA
👥
327 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,076 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Harvard Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1709 85th Street E, Tacoma
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,076 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Midland Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2300 105th St E, Tacoma
👥
412 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,076 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Larchmont Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 8601 E B St, Tacoma
👥
296 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,190 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Chester H Thompson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 303 159TH ST E, TACOMA
👥
648 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 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

8 Nearby 4,093 Off-Campus Students
C+
Pacific Lutheran University
2,737 students · 3.3 mi
D
UEI College-Tacoma
557 students · 4.7 mi
C
Clover Park Technical College
3,040 students · 6.6 mi
C+
BJ's Beauty & Barber College
26 students · 7.5 mi
C
Summit Salon Academy
148 students · 8.0 mi
B
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4,777 students · 8.5 mi
D
Northwest College of Art & Design
150 students · 9.0 mi
C
Bates Technical College
3,817 students · 9.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,093 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Clover Creek, WA?

Expect median prices around $563K in Clover Creek, WA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

What is the tenant pool like in Clover Creek, WA?

The tenant pool in Clover Creek, WA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,054/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Clover Creek, WA?

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

What does house hacking look like in Clover Creek, WA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Clover Creek, WA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What is it like being a landlord in Clover Creek, WA?

WA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Clover Creek generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 98446 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98446 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 98446 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 98446 (Clover Creek)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 98446 (Clover Creek, WA).

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