Real Estate Investing in Vancouver, Washington (98661)

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

Clark County • Population: 52,027 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98661 (Vancouver, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

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
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Vancouver, WA (98661)?

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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 $458,601
Avg Monthly Rent $1,721
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,277
% Renters 56.8%

Market Analysis: 98661 Vancouver

This part of Clark County is not an easy win. The 98661 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,721/mo on a $459K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 98661 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Statewide comparisons place 98661 among WA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 98661 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Vancouver's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 98661. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Vancouver:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,721/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 98661

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$130,598/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $273,057 $1,580 4.2% +3.2% $273,057
2BR $354,780 $1,800 3.7% +4.8% $177,390
3BR $453,500 $2,470 3.9% +5.6% $151,167
4BR $532,825 $2,900 3.9% +6.0% $133,206
5BR $652,989 +6.5% $130,598

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$488K$416K$345K$273K$202K$130KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,827$1,675$1,523$1,370$1,218$1,066Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98661 Compare?

Metric 98661 Vancouver Washington
Home Value $458,601 $509,726 $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.6% 3.0% 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,721 $1,896 -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 98661? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

57% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 98661 (Vancouver, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Clark County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Blue Key Property Management offers expert property management services for single-family home rentals, duplexes, condos, and townhouses in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
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Dove Property Management provides full-service property management in Vancouver, WA, specializing in single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, plexes, and multi-family apartment communities. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Pac1 Realty, LLC is a commercial real estate firm in Southwest Washington offering agency leasing, tenant representation, sales, and property management services. summary from their website

Commercial
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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
+2.6%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $458,601
Monthly Rent $1,721
Price-to-Rent 22.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 5.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
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
4.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98661

Population: 52,027

💰 Median Household Income
$70,277
This area
$70,277
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
56.8%
This area
56.8%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.2%
This area
27.2%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.5 years
This area
35.5 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.3%
Other/Mixed 22.1%
Hispanic/Latino 13.0%
Black/African American 3.0%
Asian 2.6%
👶 Under 18
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.7%
This area
13.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.8%
This area
8.8%
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 98661

B Avg School Grade
21 Schools
18.9:1 Avg Class Size
$22,507 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Harry S Truman Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
487 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Roosevelt Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
519 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A Very Good

George C Marshall Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
378 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A Very Good

Harney Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A Very Good

Lewis and Clark High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
87 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A Very Good

Walnut Grove Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
674 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A Very Good

Mcloughlin Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
865 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A Very Good

Jim Tangeman Center

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
57 Students
👨‍🏫
5.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
A Very Good

Fort Vancouver High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,365 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Gate Work Study Program

📚 Grade 12 High School
👥
44 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Vancouver Home Connection

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Early Childhood Education Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
217 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
351 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
B Good

Vancouver Contracted Programs

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$22,507 Per Student
C+ Average

Vancouver Intensive Communications Center

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
👥
1 Students
💰
$22,507 Per Student
C+ Average

Vancouver Success Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
35.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
C Below Average

Open Doors

📚 11 – 12 High School
👥
246 Students
👨‍🏫
53.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,507 Per Student
C Below Average

Washington State School for the Deaf

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
120 Students
C Below Average

Washington State School for the Blind

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

ESA 112 Special Ed Co-Op

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
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 3,896 Off-Campus Students
C
International Air and Hospitality Academy
132 students · 1.0 mi
C
Aveda Institute Portland-Vancouver Campus
130 students · 1.1 mi
C+
Clark College
7,149 students · 1.2 mi
C
Sumner College
514 students · 5.1 mi
C+
University of Portland
3,457 students · 6.7 mi
D
University of Western States
979 students · 7.4 mi
D
Carrington College-Portland
295 students · 7.5 mi
C
Beau Monde Academy of Barbering and Cosmetology
120 students · 7.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,896 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Vancouver, WA?

The median home value in Vancouver, WA is roughly $459K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WA statewide average.

Are landlord laws favorable in Vancouver, WA?

Vancouver, WA operates under WA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How strong is the working-renter base in Vancouver, WA?

The renter base in Vancouver, WA is reasonable for the $1,721/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields predictable tenants.

What is the investability score for Vancouver, WA?

Vancouver, WA shows an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $459K and average rents around $1,721/mo. That combination puts it in the notable tier for investor interest.

How much rent can I charge in Vancouver, WA?

Vancouver, WA rentals go for roughly $1,721/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $459K acquisition costs.

You know 98661 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98661 ranks in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

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