Real Estate Investing in Inchelium, Washington (99138)

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

Ferry County • Population: 1,173 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 99138 (Inchelium, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (24/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 37.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Elevated poverty: 24.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.4% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in Inchelium, WA (99138)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $267,667
Avg Monthly Rent $1,125
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $40,583
% Renters 39.1%

Market Analysis: 99138 Inchelium

Investors eyeing 99138 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $268K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 99138 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $268K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 99138's metrics run below Ferry County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 99138 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 99138 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Inchelium:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 49/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,125/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$273K$269K$264K$259K$255K$250KDec 2023Apr 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 99138 Compare?

Metric 99138 Inchelium Washington
Home Value $267,667 $267,667 $591,536
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,125 $1,125 -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 99138? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 99138 (Inchelium, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $267,667
Monthly Rent $1,125
Price-to-Rent 19.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 5.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
37.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 99138

Population: 1,173

💰 Median Household Income
$40,583
This area
$40,583
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.1%
This area
39.1%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.1 years
This area
42.1 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
37.4%
This area
37.4%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 70.7%
White 29.0%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
24.3%
This area
24.3%
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 99138

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
9.7:1 Avg Class Size
$24,474 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Inchelium Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
85 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$24,474 Per Student
A Very Good

Inchelium High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
63 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,474 Per Student
A Very Good

Inchelium Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
43 Students
👨‍🏫
7.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,474 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

Is Inchelium, WA a good place for real estate investing?

Inchelium, WA scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $268K and rents near $1,125/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Inchelium, WA?

Vacancy in Inchelium, WA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,125/mo.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Inchelium, WA?

The median home value in Inchelium, WA is roughly $268K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WA statewide average.

Does house hacking work in Inchelium, WA?

House hacking in Inchelium, WA is a challenging. With home values around $268K and rents at $1,125/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Where do rents currently stand in Inchelium, WA?

Rents in Inchelium, WA run near $1,125/mo. Compared with median home prices of $268K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 99138 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 99138 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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