Rental Investing in Seattle, WA
2026 Market Data & Investment Analysis
Gross Yield
4.1%
Annual rent / price
Median Home Price
$700,000
As of 2026-Q1
Median Monthly Rent
$2,400
Per month
Population
749,256
+0.8% / yr (5y avg)
Calculate Your Return in Seattle
Pre-filled with Seattle's median values. Adjust to match your specific property.
Property Details
Total acquisition cost before taxes
HOA, insurance, property management
% of time the property is empty
% of purchase price (e.g. 2% = 2)
Rule of thumb: 1% of purchase price/yr
Results
Gross Rental Yield
4.11%
Net Rental Yield
2.57%
Cap Rate
2.57%
Monthly Cash Flow
$1,496.67
Annual Cash Flow
$17,960.00
Market Overview
Median Home Price — 5-Year Trend
Median Monthly Rent — 5-Year Trend
While Seattle's rental yields of 4.1% are below average, investors may benefit from strong long-term appreciation potential in this market.
Modest population growth of 0.8% per year indicates a stable but slowly growing rental market.
The vacancy rate of 4.5% is healthy, indicating strong rental demand and limited downtime between tenants.
Investment Profile
Seattle presents challenges with both modest rental yields and limited population growth. Investors need to carefully analyze specific neighborhoods and property types to find opportunities that outperform the market average.
✓ Strengths
- •Lower entry prices may reduce downside risk
- •Select neighborhoods and value-add properties can outperform the average
! Risks
- •Below-average gross yield of 4.1% limits income potential
- •Limited population growth reduces long-term rental demand
- •Higher due diligence required to identify strong-performing assets
Key Metrics
How Seattle Compares
Seattle vs Portland: 0.9 percentage point difference in gross yield.
| City | Median Price | Median Rent | Gross Yield | Pop. Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | $480,000 | $2,000 | 5% | +0.1% |
| San Francisco, CA | $1,200,000 | $3,500 | 3.5% | -1.2% |
| Boise, ID | $390,000 | $1,750 | 5.4% | +2.2% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $450,000 | $1,900 | 5.1% | +1.1% |
| Denver, CO | $540,000 | $1,900 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rental investing profitable in Seattle?▾
What is the average rental yield in Seattle?▾
How does Seattle compare to Portland for investors?▾
Ready to Analyse a Specific Property in Seattle?
Use our free rental yield calculator to model any property — not just the median.
Compare with nearby cities:
Data source: Zillow Research / U.S. Census Bureau. Last updated: 2026-Q1. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.