Real Estate Investing in Kennewick, Washington (99338)

Benton County • Population: 19,235 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 99338 (Kennewick, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Kennewick, WA (99338)?

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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 $559,267
Avg Monthly Rent $1,720
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $120,020
% Renters 14.6%

Market Analysis: 99338 Kennewick

This part of Benton County is not an easy win. The 99338 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 99338 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Kennewick have seen price recovery that 99338 has not matched. Benton County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 99338 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Kennewick's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 99338. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Kennewick:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,720/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Kennewick-Richland, WA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
41 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.8%
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 June 20, 2026 — updated weekly from Kennewick-Richland, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 99338

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$153,935/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $500,927 $2,340 3.4% +5.4% $166,976
4BR $616,117 $2,700 3.2% +6.1% $154,029
5BR $769,677 +6.6% $153,935

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$591K$514K$438K$361K$284K$207KJan 2007Sep 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,798$1,767$1,737$1,706$1,676$1,645Feb 2026Apr 2026May 2026

📊 How Does 99338 Compare?

Metric 99338 Kennewick Kennewick-Richland, WA Washington
Home Value $559,267 $455,750 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.5% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,720 $1,753 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 99338? 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 99338 (Kennewick, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $559,267
Monthly Rent $1,720
Price-to-Rent 27.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
4.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 99338

Population: 19,235

💰 Median Household Income
$120,020
This area
$120,020
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.6%
This area
14.6%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.1%
This area
41.1%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.7 years
This area
38.7 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.2%
Other/Mixed 15.3%
Hispanic/Latino 10.9%
Asian 2.8%
Black/African American 1.7%
👶 Under 18
29.5%
This area
29.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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 99338

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
20.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,581 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
A Very Good

Ridge View Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
317 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cottonwood Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fuerza Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
588 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sage Crest Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
649 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
B Good

Chinook Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
919 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
B Good

Desert Hills Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
897 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
C+ Average

Phoenix High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
56 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
C+ Average

Southridge High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,643 Students
👨‍🏫
23.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
C Below Average

Legacy High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
238 Students
👨‍🏫
29.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
C Below Average

Mid-Columbia Parent Partnership

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
465 Students
👨‍🏫
34.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 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

4 Nearby 3,539 Off-Campus Students
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Richland
288 students · 3.9 mi
D
Pacific Northwest Christian College
129 students · 6.0 mi
C
Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology
28 students · 7.8 mi
C+
Columbia Basin College
6,729 students · 9.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,539 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I house hack in Kennewick, WA?

Kennewick, WA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $559K price point reasonable to enter.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Kennewick, WA?

Tenant demand in Kennewick, WA is solid. The local workforce $1,720/mo rents across most rental classes.

What kind of market is Kennewick, WA for investors?

Our data puts Kennewick, WA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $559K and rents around $1,720/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is Kennewick, WA landlord-friendly?

WA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Kennewick generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the typical home price in Kennewick, WA?

In Kennewick, WA the median home value sits at $559K. Against the broader WA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

See what 99338 really looks like for investors

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