Real Estate Investing in Warden, Washington (98857)

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

Grant County • Population: 3,935 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 98857 (Warden, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Warden, WA (98857)?

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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 $290,393
Avg Monthly Rent $1,026
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,063
% Renters 24.4%

Market Analysis: 98857 Warden

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Warden's 98857 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $290K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 98857 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $290K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 98857 sits on the difficult end of the WA spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 98857 ZIP's population of 3,935 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 98857 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Warden:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,026/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
Moses Lake, WA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.9%
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 Moses Lake, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98857

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$96,121/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $197,366 $1,140 4.2% +8.6% $98,683
3BR $288,364 $1,580 3.9% +9.2% $96,121

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$308K$265K$223K$180K$137K$94KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98857 Compare?

Metric 98857 Warden Moses Lake, WA Washington
Home Value $290,393 $290,393 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,026 $1,026 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98857? 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 98857 (Warden, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Moses Lake, WA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
54%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $290,393
Monthly Rent $1,026
Price-to-Rent 23.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
4.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98857

Population: 3,935

💰 Median Household Income
$54,063
This area
$54,063
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.4%
This area
24.4%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.6%
This area
17.6%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.0 years
This area
40.0 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 50.4%
Other/Mixed 47.9%
Hispanic/Latino 43.9%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
26.9%
This area
26.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
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 98857

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
18.5:1 Avg Class Size
$18,031 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Warden Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,031 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Warden Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
408 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,031 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Warden High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
310 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,031 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

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Warden, WA?

Warden, WA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $1,026/mo.

Is Warden, WA a smart market for rental property?

Warden, WA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $290K and rents near $1,026/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How much does a house cost in Warden, WA?

Expect median prices around $290K in Warden, WA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Warden, WA?

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

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

The tenant pool in Warden, WA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,026/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 98857 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98857 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 98857 ranks in Moses Lake, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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