Seattle, WA Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 17% of Seattle's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.
Homes in Seattle that pencil right now
A sample of active Seattle listings whose DSCR clears 1.25 using short-term rental income projections we accept as a direct lender. These are spread across the price range, not ranked, and current as of August 2026.
$275,000DSCR 1.511 bed · 1 bath · 504 sqft
- STR revenue
- $47,372/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,087/mo
On the market 31 days · Listed by eXp Realty- Main Office
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Seattle
$329,000DSCR 1.271 bed · 1 bath · 583 sqft
- STR revenue
- $45,193/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,381/mo
On the market 16 days · Listed by eXp Realty- Main Office
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Seattle
$379,999DSCR 1.281 bed · 1 bath · 645 sqft
- STR revenue
- $56,612/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,950/mo
On the market 41 days · Listed by Best Choice Realty
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Seattle
$399,000DSCR 1.261 bed · 1 bath · 727 sqft
- STR revenue
- $58,687/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,116/mo
On the market 114 days · Listed by Skyline Properties, Inc.
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Seattle
$418,000DSCR 1.262 bed · 1 bath · 783 sqft
- STR revenue
- $59,498/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,145/mo
On the market 66 days · Listed by Windermere - Seattle-Sand Point
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Seattle
$475,000DSCR 1.302 bed · 1 bath · 820 sqft
- STR revenue
- $73,025/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,747/mo
On the market 122 days · Listed by John L. Scott - West Seattle
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Seattle
$498,000DSCR 1.382 bed · 2 bath · 969 sqft
- STR revenue
- $83,757/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $4,038/mo
On the market 10 days · Listed by homecoin.com
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Seattle
$525,000DSCR 1.272 bed · 1 bath · 764 sqft
- STR revenue
- $71,012/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,742/mo
On the market 171 days · Listed by Compass - Seattle WA
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Seattle
$599,000DSCR 1.312 bed · 2 bath · 1,048 sqft
- STR revenue
- $87,566/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $4,463/mo
On the market 355 days · Listed by Keller Williams Greater Seattle
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Seattle
As of August 2026, we analyzed 2,645 active for-sale homes in Seattle, Washington. The typical listing is priced at $765,000 and is projected to generate about $53,523 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 16.7% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — below the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Seattle #188 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Seattle sit a median of 41 days on the market, and 36% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a steadily paced market, which shapes how much room there is to negotiate.
For a DSCR loan — which qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — Seattle runs tighter once operating costs are accounted for: many listings need a below-median price, a stronger short-term-rental setup, or more money down before the income covers the payment. It's a market where running the numbers property-by-property matters.
What actually works in Seattle
Cash-flow is the exception rather than the rule in Seattle right now: 70 of the 2,256 Seattle homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $563,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | 32%1.05 | — | — | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | 15%0.98 | 12%1.07 | — | — | — |
| $350k–$500k | 5%0.87 | 9%0.96 | 9%1.09 | — | — |
| $500k+ | 1%0.63 | 1%0.70 | 1%0.76 | 2%0.66 | 1%0.62 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Seattle in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 2,645 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $765,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $53,523 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $237 |
| Median occupancy | 64% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,390 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 16.7% |
| Median days on market | 41 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 36.4% of active |
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