Real Estate Investing in Toutle, Washington (98649)

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

Cowlitz County • Population: 980 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98649 (Toutle, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 18.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 37.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Toutle, WA (98649)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $512,020
Avg Monthly Rent $1,152
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,821
% Renters 15.2%

Market Analysis: 98649 Toutle

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Toutle's 98649 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $512K pricing implies.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $512K asset, 98649 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 98649 among WA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The 98649 ZIP's population of 980 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that shows the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 98649 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $512K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Toutle:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,152/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Longview, WA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.2%
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 Longview, WA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$541K$460K$379K$298K$218K$137KJun 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98649 Compare?

Metric 98649 Toutle Longview, WA Washington
Home Value $512,020 $512,020 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,152 $1,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98649? 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 98649 (Toutle, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Longview, WA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
36%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $512,020
Monthly Rent $1,152
Price-to-Rent 37.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
18.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98649

Population: 980

💰 Median Household Income
$79,821
This area
$79,821
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.8 years
This area
45.8 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.5%
This area
18.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.0%
Other/Mixed 24.1%
Hispanic/Latino 18.8%
Black/African American 4.0%
👶 Under 18
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.1%
This area
14.1%
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 98649

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
18.2:1 Avg Class Size
$17,234 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Toutle Lake Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
383 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,234 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Toutle Lake High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,234 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

How do home values compare in Toutle, WA?

Median home price in Toutle, WA is near $512K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is WA a landlord-friendly state?

WA law tenant-protective for landlords, and Toutle inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

Which investment style suits Toutle, WA?

In Toutle, WA the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $512K prices and $1,152/mo rents suits that approach.

How viable is house hacking in Toutle, WA?

Toutle, WA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,152/mo rent level.

Is real estate in Toutle, WA a good investment right now?

Our data puts Toutle, WA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $512K and rents around $1,152/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 98649 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98649 ranks in Longview, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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