Real Estate Investing in Mead, Washington (99021)

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

Spokane County • Population: 9,226 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 99021 (Mead, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Mead, WA (99021)?

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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 $522,276
Avg Monthly Rent $1,467
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,558
% Renters 9.4%

Market Analysis: 99021 Mead

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Mead's 99021 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $522K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 99021 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Mead have seen price recovery that 99021 has not matched. Spokane County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 99021 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 99021 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $522K 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 Mead:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,467/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
55 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.6%
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 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 99021

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$126,852/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $404,993 $1,630 2.9% +6.6% $202,496
3BR $495,215 $2,220 3.2% +7.0% $165,072
4BR $528,203 $2,670 3.6% +6.6% $132,051
5BR $634,260 +6.4% $126,852

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$552K$475K$397K$320K$242K$165KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 99021 Compare?

Metric 99021 Mead Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Washington
Home Value $522,276 $522,276 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,467 $1,467 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 99021? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 99021 (Mead, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $522,276
Monthly Rent $1,467
Price-to-Rent 29.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 5.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
9.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 99021

Population: 9,226

💰 Median Household Income
$78,558
This area
$78,558
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.4%
This area
9.4%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.3%
This area
28.3%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.0 years
This area
43.0 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.7%
Other/Mixed 6.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
Asian 1.2%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
27.6%
This area
27.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
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 99021

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,899 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Creekside Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,899 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Meadow Ridge Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
420 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,899 Per Student
B Good

Mt Spokane High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,457 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,899 Per Student
C Below Average

Mead Open Doors

📚 11 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
11 Students
💰
$16,899 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

6 Nearby 2,237 Off-Campus Students
C
Whitworth University-Adult Degree Programs
170 students · 12.4 mi
C+
Whitworth University
2,345 students · 12.6 mi
D
Carrington College-Spokane
296 students · 12.6 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Spokane
195 students · 13.2 mi
C+
Studio Beauty School
106 students · 13.8 mi
C+
Spokane Community College
6,286 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,237 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Mead, WA?

Rent in Mead, WA is around $1,467/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $522K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How strong is tenant demand in Mead, WA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Mead, WA. The rental market absorbs $1,467/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How should investors approach Mead, WA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Mead, WA. With home values at $522K and rents near $1,467/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.

Is house hacking profitable in Mead, WA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Mead, WA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Should investors consider Mead, WA?

Yes - Mead, WA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $522K home prices against $1,467/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

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How 99021 ranks in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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