Real Estate Investing in Wapato, Washington (98951)

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

Yakima County • Population: 12,935 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98951 (Wapato, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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 Wapato, WA (98951)?

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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 $293,398
Avg Monthly Rent $1,089
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,828
% Renters 46.0%

Market Analysis: 98951 Wapato

ZIP 98951 in Wapato, WA carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $293K and rents of $1,089/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $293K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 98951 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 98951 sits on the difficult end of the WA spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A solid renter share of 46% in 98951 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Wapato:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,089/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 98951

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$88,132/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $226,179 $1,210 3.9% +6.5% $113,089
3BR $308,925 $1,690 3.9% +6.3% $102,975
4BR $352,529 $1,840 3.8% +6.1% $88,132

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$309K$266K$223K$180K$137K$94KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98951 Compare?

Metric 98951 Wapato Yakima, WA Washington
Home Value $293,398 $293,398 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,089 $1,089 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98951? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 46% 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 98951 (Wapato, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
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 $293,398
Monthly Rent $1,089
Price-to-Rent 22.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 6.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
7.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98951

Population: 12,935

💰 Median Household Income
$59,828
This area
$59,828
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.0%
This area
46.0%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.5 years
This area
29.5 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 63.8%
Hispanic/Latino 38.7%
White 34.0%
Asian 2.0%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
31.7%
This area
31.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.5%
This area
11.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.5%
This area
17.5%
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 98951

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
14.5:1 Avg Class Size
$19,035 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Camas Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
413 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,035 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Satus Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,035 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Simcoe Elementary School

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
377 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,035 Per Student
A Very Good

Adams Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
387 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,035 Per Student
A Very Good

Wapato Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
701 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,035 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pace Alternative High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
80 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,035 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Wapato High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
871 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,035 Per Student
C+ Average

Wapato Online Academy 6-8

📚 06 – 08 Middle Limited Data
👥
8 Students
💰
$19,035 Per Student
C+ Average

Wapato Online Academy 9-12

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
47 Students
💰
$19,035 Per Student
C+ Average

Wapato Online Academy K-5

📚 K – 05 Elementary Limited Data
👥
3 Students
💰
$19,035 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 1,916 Off-Campus Students
C
Perry Technical Institute
973 students · 7.7 mi
C
Heritage University
835 students · 8.2 mi
D
Elite Cosmetology, Barber & Spa Academy
55 students · 8.6 mi
C+
Yakima Valley College
3,523 students · 8.7 mi
C
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
649 students · 10.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,916 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wapato, WA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Wapato, WA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($293K prices, $1,089/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is vacancy a concern in Wapato, WA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Wapato, WA. Rents at $1,089/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Where do rents currently stand in Wapato, WA?

Investors in Wapato, WA typically see rents near $1,089/mo per month against $293K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

How deep is the rental pool in Wapato, WA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Wapato, WA. The rental market absorbs $1,089/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What is the median home value in Wapato, WA?

Typical homes in Wapato, WA go for around $293K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

You know 98951 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98951 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 98951 ranks in Yakima, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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