Real Estate Investing in Stevenson, Washington (98648)

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

Skamania County • Population: 3,353 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98648 (Stevenson, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • 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 Stevenson, WA (98648)?

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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 $564,379
Avg Monthly Rent $1,620
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,808
% Renters 20.8%

Market Analysis: 98648 Stevenson

Turning to rents, ZIP 98648 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $564K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $564K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 98648 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 98648 sits on the difficult end of the WA spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 98648 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 98648 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 Stevenson:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,620/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 98648

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$157,418/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $442,494 $1,800 2.9% +5.9% $221,247
3BR $582,498 $2,470 3.1% +6.9% $194,166
4BR $629,672 $2,900 3.3% +7.0% $157,418

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$599K$515K$432K$349K$265K$182KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98648 Compare?

Metric 98648 Stevenson Washington
Home Value $564,379 $564,379 $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.7% 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,620 $1,620 -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 98648? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98648 (Stevenson, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $564,379
Monthly Rent $1,620
Price-to-Rent 29.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 5.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 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
10.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98648

Population: 3,353

💰 Median Household Income
$94,808
This area
$94,808
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.8%
This area
20.8%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.7 years
This area
46.7 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.9%
This area
10.9%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.0%
Other/Mixed 11.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
Asian 1.8%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
17.9%
This area
17.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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 98648

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.1:1 Avg Class Size
$28,430 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Stevenson Elementary

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
174 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,177 Per Student
A Very Good

Skamania Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
83 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$53,443 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stevenson High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,177 Per Student
C+ Average

Open Doors for Stevenson High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$22,177 Per Student
C+ Average

Preschool

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
👥
5 Students
💰
$22,177 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Stevenson, WA?

Median home price in Stevenson, WA is near $564K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Stevenson, WA?

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

What is the average monthly rent in Stevenson, WA?

Stevenson, WA rentals go for roughly $1,620/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $564K acquisition costs.

How should investors approach Stevenson, WA?

Stevenson, WA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($564K prices, $1,620/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How strong is tenant demand in Stevenson, WA?

Tenant quality in Stevenson, WA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $1,620/mo.

You know 98648 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98648 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 98648 ranks in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

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