Real Estate Investing in Tenino, Washington (98589)

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

Thurston County • Population: 7,296 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98589 (Tenino, 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 29.0 — 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 Tenino, WA (98589)?

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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 $520,344
Avg Monthly Rent $1,494
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,198
% Renters 20.4%

Market Analysis: 98589 Tenino

On balance, ZIP 98589 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $520K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 98589 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 98589 and stronger Tenino ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 98589 ZIP's population of 7,296 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 98589 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Tenino:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,494/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
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.1%
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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98589

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$153,817/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $396,782 $1,660 3.0% +5.5% $198,391
3BR $538,737 $2,280 3.0% +6.7% $179,579
4BR $615,268 $2,790 3.3% +6.9% $153,817

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$554K$475K$396K$316K$237K$158KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98589 Compare?

Metric 98589 Tenino Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA Washington
Home Value $520,344 $520,344 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.1% 3.1% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,494 $1,494 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98589? 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 98589 (Tenino, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $520,344
Monthly Rent $1,494
Price-to-Rent 29.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 5.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
6.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98589

Population: 7,296

💰 Median Household Income
$87,198
This area
$87,198
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.6 years
This area
43.6 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.9%
Other/Mixed 9.9%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Asian 1.8%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
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 98589

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
16.3:1 Avg Class Size
$17,055 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Tenino Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
274 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,055 Per Student
A Very Good

Parkside Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
314 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,055 Per Student
A Very Good

Tenino High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,055 Per Student
A Very Good

Tenino Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,055 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

5 Nearby 3,102 Off-Campus Students
D
Centralia Beauty College
88 students · 10.8 mi
C+
Centralia College
2,335 students · 10.9 mi
C
South Puget Sound Community College
4,252 students · 13.6 mi
C
Saint Martin's University
1,505 students · 13.8 mi
C
Fosbre Academy of Hair Design
86 students · 14.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,102 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Tenino, WA?

In Tenino, WA the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $520K prices and $1,494/mo rents suits that approach.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Tenino, WA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Tenino, WA. The rental market absorbs $1,494/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Tenino, WA?

For rental operators, Tenino, WA rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Does Tenino, WA make sense for an investment property?

Tenino, WA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $520K and rents near $1,494/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is house hacking profitable in Tenino, WA?

Tenino, WA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $520K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 98589 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98589 ranks in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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