Investor-friendly real estate agents in Chelan, WA
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Get matched in ChelanVetted investor agents across the Chelan metro
Chelan is a small resort town at the south end of Lake Chelan in North Central Washington, about 40 miles north of Wenatchee. Its economy runs on summer visitors, wineries and orchards. Our data covers the Wenatchee metro (Chelan and Douglas counties), where typical home values are about $518,000 and typical rent about $1,760, roughly 0.34% a month. Lakefront and lake-view homes typically cost far more than that. A long-term rental doesn't cash flow at those prices, and short-term rentals are regulated by both the city and Chelan County, which caps new non-owner-occupied STRs in unincorporated areas. Our vetted agent partner here also works the Seattle area and has an interior-design and remodeling background.
Help finding and buying property in and around Chelan, from an agent who also works the Seattle and Snohomish County markets many Chelan buyers come from.
Remodel-and-rent or remodel-and-sell plans, with a partner whose background is interior design and remodeling.
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Is Chelan worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Wenatchee metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 111,286 |
| 2011 | 111,996 |
| 2012 | 112,883 |
| 2013 | 113,418 |
| 2014 | 114,285 |
| 2015 | 116,063 |
| 2016 | 117,731 |
| 2017 | 118,884 |
| 2018 | 119,934 |
| 2019 | 121,206 |
| 2020 | 122,335 |
| 2021 | 123,706 |
| 2022 | 124,127 |
| 2023 | 125,184 |
| 2024 | 126,899 |
| 2025 | 128,414 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +74 |
| 2012 | +309 |
| 2013 | -87 |
| 2014 | +268 |
| 2015 | +1,042 |
| 2016 | +1,042 |
| 2017 | +595 |
| 2018 | +626 |
| 2019 | +680 |
| 2020 | +495 |
| 2021 | +1,131 |
| 2022 | +228 |
| 2023 | +273 |
| 2024 | +385 |
| 2025 | +762 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 38,100 |
| 2011 | 38,400 |
| 2012 | 38,700 |
| 2013 | 39,300 |
| 2014 | 40,600 |
| 2015 | 42,900 |
| 2016 | 44,200 |
| 2017 | 44,900 |
| 2018 | 46,200 |
| 2019 | 46,300 |
| 2020 | 43,400 |
| 2021 | 45,800 |
| 2022 | 47,700 |
| 2023 | 48,900 |
| 2024 | 48,600 |
| 2025 | 48,500 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2021 | $1,571/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,648/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,664/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,725/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,722/mo |
| Sep 2026 | $1,756/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $224,497 |
| Dec 2011 | $214,391 |
| Dec 2012 | $219,574 |
| Dec 2013 | $233,054 |
| Dec 2014 | $245,194 |
| Dec 2015 | $269,573 |
| Dec 2016 | $286,000 |
| Dec 2017 | $308,559 |
| Dec 2018 | $338,234 |
| Dec 2019 | $371,558 |
| Dec 2020 | $413,722 |
| Dec 2021 | $481,784 |
| Dec 2022 | $503,071 |
| Dec 2023 | $502,926 |
| Dec 2024 | $515,700 |
| Dec 2025 | $519,264 |
| Sep 2026 | $517,598 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2021 | 25.6× |
| Dec 2022 | 25.4× |
| Dec 2023 | 25.2× |
| Dec 2024 | 24.9× |
| Dec 2025 | 25.1× |
| Sep 2026 | 24.6× |
Data retrieved October 16, 2026. Figures cover the Wenatchee metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Chelan
Zillow Home Value Index, Wenatchee metro, Sep 2026 (+0.8% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Sep 2026 (+0.5% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values +0.8%, rents +0.5%.
Washington landlord-tenant basics
Long-term rentals in Chelan fall under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18). It leans toward tenants, and since 2025 it caps rent increases statewide. What investors ask about most:
- Rent increase cap (HB 1217): at most 7% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is lower, in any 12 months. The cap is 9.683% for 2026 and 10% for 2027. You can't raise rent in the first 12 months of a tenancy, and you need 90 days' written notice for any increase. Buildings under 12 years old and some 2–4 unit properties where the owner lives in one unit are exempt. The Department of Commerce publishes each year's cap.
- Unpaid rent: serve a 14-day notice to pay or vacate, in the form the statute sets out, before you file an eviction. Lockouts and shutting off utilities to force a tenant out are illegal.
- Deposits: within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant moves out, refund the deposit or send a full, specific written statement of why you kept any of it. Miss the deadline and you can lose the right to keep any of it.
- Entry: at least 2 days' written notice for repairs or inspections, and 1 day's notice to show the unit to buyers or renters. Emergencies are the exception.
Short-term rental rules in Chelan and Chelan County
Who regulates an STR around Lake Chelan depends on where the property is. Inside Chelan city limits, the city licenses it. Outside city limits, including Manson, Chelan County's code (CCC 11.88.290) applies.
- City of Chelan: a short-term rental license has been required since January 1, 2020. The city lists a $600 initial fee per unit and $300 annual renewal, health and safety inspections, parking and occupancy limits, good-neighbor rules and excise tax reporting.
- Chelan County: STRs are permitted in three tiers. Tier 1 (owner-occupied) has no cap. Tiers 2 and 3 (not owner-occupied, or larger occupancy) are capped at a share of the housing in residential zones in each zip code, 6% in most of the county.
- County applications for new Tier 2 and 3 permits open once a year (June 1 to July 31) for the following year, and the window closes early once the cap is reached. Buying a lake house to Airbnb in the county without a permit in hand is a real risk.
- County occupancy limits run from 8 guests in Tier 1 to 16 in Tier 3, based on two people per bedroom.
- Short stays owe Washington sales tax and local lodging taxes, and the state's short-term rental law (RCW 64.37) requires liability insurance, which the city lists at $1,000,000. HOA rules and CC&Rs can ban STRs either way.
Last reviewed October 16, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Wenatchee metro; U.S. Census Bureau — Metro population estimates, 2020–2025; RCW 59.18 — Residential Landlord-Tenant Act; RCW 59.12.030 — Unlawful detainer (14-day notice); RCW 59.18.150 — Landlord's right of entry; RCW 59.18.280 — Return of deposit; WA Department of Commerce — HB 1217 Landlord Resource Center; WA Department of Commerce — 9.683% rent cap for 2026; City of Chelan — Short-term rental license; Chelan County Code 11.88 — Supplementary provisions (short-term rentals, 11.88.290); Chelan County — STR code change reference chart (2025); Chelan County Community Development — STR renewals and new applicants; RCW 64.37 — Short-term rentals (state).
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Another Central Washington lake market in the Columbia Basin, with lower prices.
Central Washington's agricultural hub, a few hours south: cheaper homes and long-term rentals.
Eastern Washington's biggest metro, under the same state landlord law.
Our Chelan partner also works Snohomish County, where many Lake Chelan buyers live.
Questions investors ask about Chelan
Who will I work with in Chelan?
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Our vetted agent partner covers Chelan and also works the Seattle and Snohomish County markets, where many Lake Chelan buyers live. Her background is interior design and remodeling. Tell us your strategy, budget and timeline, and if the fit isn't right for your deal, we'll tell you upfront.
Is Chelan a good market for cash-flowing rentals?
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Not as a long-term rental at today's prices. Across the Wenatchee metro, typical rent is about 0.34% of home value per month, and lakefront homes typically cost more than the metro median. Many investors here look at seasonal short-term rentals, which only work if the property can get a permit and the numbers hold up outside peak summer.
Can I run an Airbnb on Lake Chelan?
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It depends on where the house is. In the City of Chelan you need a city STR license with inspections and annual renewal. In unincorporated Chelan County, including Manson, non-owner-occupied STRs are capped by zip code and new permits are only taken June 1 to July 31 each year. Confirm a property can be permitted before you buy.
Why do the charts show the Wenatchee metro?
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Chelan doesn't have its own metro area in Census, BLS or Zillow data. It's in Chelan County, part of the Wenatchee metro (Chelan and Douglas counties), so the trends on this page cover that region. Lake Chelan prices run well above the metro figures; ask your agent for lake-area comps.
Is Washington landlord-friendly?
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Not especially. Rent increases are capped statewide (the lower of 7% plus CPI or 10% a year; 10% for 2027), unpaid-rent evictions start with a 14-day notice, and deposits must be accounted for within 30 days.
What does it cost to get matched with a Chelan agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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