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RE Intelligence

Rental numbers for ZIP 98555 (Lilliwaup, WA)

Negative cash flow at any interest rate with 25% down: the rent does not cover operating costs and principal.

Rent here is HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom, because Zillow does not publish a rent index for this ZIP. It is the 40th percentile of gross rents, so market rent for a typical home is likely higher and the yield and cash flow below are conservative.
Gross yield
4.4%
rent x 12 / price
Est. cap rate
2.1%
NOI / price
Cash flow
-$1,332/mo
at 7.78%, 25% down
Typical price
$370,000
Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
HUD Fair Market Rent
$1,350/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026

The pro forma

Typical home, default assumptions

Income and expenses, per year
OperatorLineAmountSource
Gross rent$16,200
Vacancy$810
Management$1,231
Property tax$1,061
Insurance$1,478
Maintenance$3,697
Net operating income$7,923
Loan payments$23,904
Cash flow-$15,981
Purchase and loan
OperatorLineAmountSource
Typical price$369,673
Down payment (25%)$92,418
Loan$277,255
Rate7.78%
Monthly payment$1,992
Cash in$103,508
Cash-on-cash return-15.4%
DSCR0.33
Break-even ratenone
Down payment25%
A common minimum for investment-property and DSCR loans.
Interest rate7.78%
Freddie Mac 30-year 7.03% (week of 2026-09-24) + 0.75 point investor premium.
Loan term30 years
Fixed, fully amortising.
Closing costs3% of price
Added to cash invested.
Insurance$1,478 a year
NAIC 2023 average homeowners (HO-3) premium for Washington, $1,232, x 1.2 for a landlord policy.
Maintenance1% of price a year
The 1% rule of thumb; older homes run higher.
Vacancy5% of rent
About 18 days empty a year.
Management8% of collected rent
A typical full-service fee; zero if you self-manage.

Trends

Five years to August 2026

Price, 12 months
+0.6%
Rent, 12 months
n/a
no Zillow rent series here
Rent minus price growth
n/a
positive means yields are improving
Typical value (Zillow ZHVI)Indexed to 100 at Aug 2021
10010511011520222023202420252026
Show the numbers
MonthTypical value
Aug 2021$350,298
Aug 2022$395,353
Aug 2023$365,166
Aug 2024$371,573
Aug 2025$367,533
Aug 2026$369,673

Rent references

Two sources, never blended

SourceStudio1 bed2 bed3 bed4 bed
HUD Small Area FMR, FY2026$1,030$1,030$1,350$1,880$2,090
Zillow observed rent, Aug 2026not published for this ZIP

HUD's Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a standard unit, and it is what Section 8 vouchers pay against. Zillow's index tracks asking rents on listed homes. The two measure different things, so they are shown side by side and never averaged. HUD area: Mason County, WA.

Property tax

Effective rate
0.29%
ZIP area, ACS
At the typical price
$1,061/yr

Median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Mason County: 0.73%. Actual bills depend on the assessment, exemptions and any non-homestead rate.

Supply

Permits per 1,000 households
9.2
Mason County, last 12 months
National percentile
69th
among US counties

239 new housing units permitted in 2025-09 to 2026-08, Census Building Permits Survey. A high figure means more new supply competing for tenants.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPDistanceTypical priceRentGross yieldCash flow /mo
98548Hoodsport5.2 mi$354,000$1,350*4.6%-$1,332
98588Tahuya6.2 mi$438,000$1,490*4.1%-$1,757
98380Seabeck9.8 mi$701,000$2,820*4.8%-$2,454
98528Belfair9.8 mi$487,000$1,860*4.6%-$1,801
98320Brinnon11.3 mi$368,000$1,110*3.6%-$1,622
98592Union13.8 mi$519,000$1,340*3.1%-$2,438
98312Bremerton14.3 mi$497,000$2,0194.9%-$1,782
98524Allyn15.7 mi$537,000$1,320*2.9%-$2,634

* HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom (no Zillow rent index for that ZIP).

Every ZIP in Mason CountyShelton, WA metroWashington

Run the numbers on a real listing

The calculator opens with this ZIP's figures. Swap in a listing's price and rent, your rate and your costs.

Open the calculator for 98555

Questions

Is 98555 good for rental property?
On the typical home here, priced at $370,000 and renting for $1,350 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026), the gross yield is 4.4% and the estimated cap rate is 2.1%. At a 7.78% investor rate with 25% down, estimated cash flow is -$1,332 a month. The median gross yield across the 8,418 ZIP codes with full Zillow data is 5.6%. These are figures for a typical property, not a judgement on any particular one.
What is the typical rent in 98555?
Zillow does not publish a rent index for 98555. HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom here is $1,350, the 40th percentile of gross rents and the basis for Section 8 payment standards.
What is the property tax rate in 98555?
The effective property tax rate is about 0.29% of value (median taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024). On the typical $370,000 home that is about $1,061 a year. Your bill depends on the assessment and local exemptions.
What interest rate makes a rental in 98555 break even?
With the default assumptions, no interest rate brings cash flow to zero: rent does not cover operating costs plus principal on a 30-year loan with 25% down.
How fast are prices and rents changing in 98555?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the typical home value changed +0.6%.

Sources and method

Data: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI), HUD, US Census Bureau, Freddie Mac. Every formula is on the methodology page.

Estimates from public data for a typical property. Not investment, tax or legal advice. Your property, financing and costs will differ.