Tacoma, WA Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 38% of Tacoma's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of October 2026.
Homes in Tacoma that pencil right now
A sample of active Tacoma 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 October 2026.
$307,000DSCR 1.372 bed · 1 bath · 864 sqft
- STR revenue
- $45,261/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,203/mo
On the market 59 days · Listed by Windermere Abode
Scout this home & market: 2-bed townhouse in Tacoma
$345,000DSCR 1.322 bed · 1 bath · 1,030 sqft
- STR revenue
- $39,087/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,978/mo
On the market 46 days · Listed by Every Door Real Estate
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Tacoma
$345,000DSCR 1.322 bed · 1 bath · 1,030 sqft
- STR revenue
- $39,087/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,978/mo
On the market 46 days · Listed by Every Door Real Estate
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Tacoma
As of October 2026, we analyzed 874 active for-sale homes in Tacoma, Washington. The typical listing is priced at $539,975 and is projected to generate about $45,423 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 37.6% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — below the 53.1% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Tacoma #152 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Tacoma sit a median of 55 days on the market, and 28% 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 — Tacoma 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 Tacoma
Cash-flow is the exception rather than the rule in Tacoma right now: 56 of the 749 Tacoma homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $552,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250k–$350k | 0%0.85 | 24%1.13 | 80%1.42 | — | — |
| $350k–$500k | 0%0.69 | 0%0.87 | 8%1.04 | 21%1.10 | — |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.58 | 0%0.81 | 8%0.92 | 7%0.95 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Tacoma in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 874 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $539,975 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $45,423 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $199 |
| Median occupancy | 62% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,776 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 37.6% |
| Median days on market | 55 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 27.8% of active |
As a user of this system, you agree to all Scout Terms & Conditions and Home & Mortgage Conditions.
Would a Tacoma rental qualify for a DSCR loan?
Pre-filled with Tacoma's median price and projected short-term-rental income — change any field to match a specific property.
Advanced
On a 5-minute call with you, we can use Scout to run real numbers on real properties.
Estimates for educational purposes. Final terms subject to credit, property & program approval.
5 senior bankers · 47 statesPressure-test the market before you trust the median.
We’ll help you compare the market-level signal with the exact property, local costs, rental rules, and financing structure.
Thinking about an investment property in Tacoma?
Send the address or your target buy box. We’ll run the property with today’s assumptions.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text Chad: 858-353-8331.