Real Estate Investing in McCleary, Washington (98557)

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

Grays Harbor County • Population: 3,949 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98557 (McCleary, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.2 — 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 McCleary, WA (98557)?

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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 $396,420
Avg Monthly Rent $1,026
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,859
% Renters 14.7%

Market Analysis: 98557 McCleary

ZIP 98557 inside Grays Harbor County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $396K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $396K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 98557 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 98557 and stronger McCleary ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A impressive renter share of 15% in 98557 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 98557 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 McCleary:

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
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,026/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
Aberdeen, WA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
77 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.7%
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 Aberdeen, WA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$420K$362K$304K$246K$188K$130KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98557 Compare?

Metric 98557 McCleary Aberdeen, WA Washington
Home Value $396,420 $396,420 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.0% 2.0% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,026 $1,026 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98557? 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 98557 (McCleary, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.0%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Aberdeen, WA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
47%
Days Pending
2/2
77 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $396,420
Monthly Rent $1,026
Price-to-Rent 32.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 4.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
7.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98557

Population: 3,949

💰 Median Household Income
$75,859
This area
$75,859
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.4%
This area
16.4%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.8 years
This area
39.8 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.8%
Other/Mixed 8.8%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Black/African American 2.5%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
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 98557

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
17.6:1 Avg Class Size
$17,239 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Mccleary Elem

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,239 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

1 Nearby 570 Off-Campus Students
C
The Evergreen State College
2,320 students · 13.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 570 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price in McCleary, WA?

McCleary, WA home values average about $396K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,026/mo in monthly income.

What is the tenant pool like in McCleary, WA?

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

Is vacancy a concern in McCleary, WA?

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

What real estate strategy is ideal for McCleary, WA?

The best-fit strategy in McCleary, WA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is McCleary, WA a smart market for rental property?

McCleary, WA records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $396K and average rents around $1,026/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

You know 98557 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98557 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 98557 ranks in Aberdeen, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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