Real Estate Investing in Sunnyside, Washington (98944)

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

Yakima County • Population: 24,048 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98944 (Sunnyside, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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 Sunnyside, WA (98944)?

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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 $329,953
Avg Monthly Rent $1,287
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,928
% Renters 36.2%

Market Analysis: 98944 Sunnyside

On the rental side, ZIP 98944 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $330K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,287/mo on a $330K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 98944 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Sunnyside have seen price recovery that 98944 has not matched. Yakima County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 98944 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Sunnyside averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 98944 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 Sunnyside:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,287/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
Yakima, WA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
66 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.0%
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 Yakima, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98944

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$83,041/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $245,900 $1,430 4.2% +7.2% $122,950
3BR $325,878 $1,990 4.4% +6.7% $108,626
4BR $373,164 $2,180 4.2% +7.0% $93,291
5BR $415,205 +6.1% $83,041

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$350K$299K$249K$199K$149K$99KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98944 Compare?

Metric 98944 Sunnyside Yakima, WA Washington
Home Value $329,953 $329,953 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,287 $1,287 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98944? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 36% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 98944 (Sunnyside, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Yakima, WA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
2/2
66 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $329,953
Monthly Rent $1,287
Price-to-Rent 21.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
3.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98944

Population: 24,048

💰 Median Household Income
$57,928
This area
$57,928
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
36.2%
This area
36.2%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
27.0 years
This area
27.0 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 54.2%
Other/Mixed 44.1%
Hispanic/Latino 42.2%
Black/African American 0.9%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
36.8%
This area
36.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.6%
This area
10.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
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 98944

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
17.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,380 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Sun Valley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
432 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,380 Per Student
A Very Good

Chief Kamiakin Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
573 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,380 Per Student
A Very Good

Pioneer Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
601 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,380 Per Student
A Very Good

Washington Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
606 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,380 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sierra Vista Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
586 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,380 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Harrison Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
809 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,380 Per Student
C+ Average

Sunnyside High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,167 Students
👨‍🏫
21.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,380 Per Student
C Below Average

SHS Graduation Alliance

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
2 Students
💰
$18,380 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 experienced investors play Sunnyside, WA?

Sunnyside, WA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($330K prices, $1,287/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Sunnyside, WA?

Sunnyside, WA rentals go for roughly $1,287/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $330K acquisition costs.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Sunnyside, WA?

House hacking works a challenging in Sunnyside, WA. Rents of $1,287/mo against $330K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Are landlord laws favorable in Sunnyside, WA?

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

How deep is the rental pool in Sunnyside, WA?

Sunnyside, WA draws a steady base of working renters. Demand at the $1,287/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 98944 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98944 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 98944 ranks in Yakima, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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