Real Estate Investing in Waitsburg, Washington (99361)

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

Walla Walla County • Population: 1,800 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 99361 (Waitsburg, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 13.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 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 Waitsburg, WA (99361)?

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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 $379,403
Avg Monthly Rent $1,296
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,250
% Renters 33.5%

Market Analysis: 99361 Waitsburg

ZIP 99361 inside Walla Walla County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $379K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $379K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 99361 is substantial and deserves full respect.

On the rental side, 99361 offers a low basis, the region around Waitsburg has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A solid renter share of 34% in 99361 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Waitsburg's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 99361. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Waitsburg:

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
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,296/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
Walla Walla, WA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.7%
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 Walla Walla, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 99361

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$129,211/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $274,440 $1,440 3.8% +7.1% $137,220
3BR $387,633 $1,960 3.6% +7.0% $129,211

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$404K$347K$290K$233K$177K$120KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 99361 Compare?

Metric 99361 Waitsburg Walla Walla, WA Washington
Home Value $379,403 $379,403 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,296 $1,296 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 99361? 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 99361 (Waitsburg, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Walla Walla, WA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
63%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $379,403
Monthly Rent $1,296
Price-to-Rent 24.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
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: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
13.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 99361

Population: 1,800

💰 Median Household Income
$81,250
This area
$81,250
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.5%
This area
33.5%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.1 years
This area
43.1 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.8%
Other/Mixed 12.1%
Hispanic/Latino 8.9%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.5%
This area
19.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
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 99361

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
7.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,983 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Preston Hall Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
9 Students
👨‍🏫
1.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,983 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Waitsburg High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
7 Students
👨‍🏫
1.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,983 Per Student
B Good

Waitsburg Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
146 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,983 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

2 Nearby 1,482 Off-Campus Students
C+
Walla Walla Community College
2,982 students · 12.7 mi
B
Whitman College
1,544 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,482 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Waitsburg, WA?

Waitsburg, WA median home values land near $379K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,296/mo-per-month rentals.

Is Waitsburg, WA good for landlords?

WA law tenant-protective for landlords, and Waitsburg inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What kind of tenants rent in Waitsburg, WA?

Waitsburg, WA draws a steady base of working renters. Demand at the $1,296/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is Waitsburg, WA suited for a house hack?

The house hack math a challenging in Waitsburg, WA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,296/mo rents and $379K home values.

How tight is the rental market in Waitsburg, WA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Waitsburg, WA. Rents at $1,296/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 99361 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 99361 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 99361 ranks in Walla Walla, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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