Investor-friendly real estate agents in Moses Lake, WA
We match investors with vetted Moses Lake-area agents who own rentals, run the numbers, and know the local rules. Free for investors.
Get matched in Moses LakeVetted investor agents across the Moses Lake metro
Moses Lake is a small market in the Columbia Basin of Central Washington, about 105 miles west of Spokane. The metro is all of Grant County, roughly 106,000 people. Cheap hydropower has drawn data centers to the county, mostly around Quincy, and battery-materials and industrial plants to Moses Lake itself, along with farm and food-processing work. That base is real but uneven: REC Silicon shut its Moses Lake polysilicon plant in 2025 and laid off 224 workers. Homes cost less than in Spokane or the Puget Sound, but rents are lower too, so a median-priced rental with a mortgage doesn't cash flow. Washington isn't a landlord-friendly state. Our vetted agent partner here is a local agent who works with buyers and sellers.
Help finding and buying investment property in Moses Lake from an agent who knows the local area.
Listing and selling property you already own in Moses Lake, including for investors who live elsewhere.
Is Moses Lake worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Moses Lake 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 99,446 |
| 2021 | 100,439 |
| 2022 | 101,277 |
| 2023 | 103,035 |
| 2024 | 104,834 |
| 2025 | 105,727 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +100 |
| 2012 | -104 |
| 2013 | -596 |
| 2014 | +87 |
| 2015 | -482 |
| 2016 | -439 |
| 2017 | +265 |
| 2018 | +448 |
| 2019 | +250 |
| 2020 | +373 |
| 2021 | +330 |
| 2022 | +205 |
| 2023 | +445 |
| 2024 | +110 |
| 2025 | -263 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $850/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $895/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $957/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $1,002/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $1,075/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,107/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,282/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,379/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,471/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,498/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,491/mo |
| Aug 2026 | $1,492/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $163,664 |
| Dec 2011 | $156,988 |
| Dec 2012 | $160,389 |
| Dec 2013 | $161,854 |
| Dec 2014 | $160,635 |
| Dec 2015 | $171,871 |
| Dec 2016 | $176,171 |
| Dec 2017 | $188,192 |
| Dec 2018 | $208,624 |
| Dec 2019 | $229,613 |
| Dec 2020 | $261,229 |
| Dec 2021 | $321,340 |
| Dec 2022 | $345,530 |
| Dec 2023 | $349,338 |
| Dec 2024 | $360,129 |
| Dec 2025 | $360,872 |
| Aug 2026 | $357,840 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 16.9× |
| Dec 2016 | 16.4× |
| Dec 2017 | 16.4× |
| Dec 2018 | 17.4× |
| Dec 2019 | 17.8× |
| Dec 2020 | 19.7× |
| Dec 2021 | 20.9× |
| Dec 2022 | 20.9× |
| Dec 2023 | 19.8× |
| Dec 2024 | 20.0× |
| Dec 2025 | 20.2× |
| Aug 2026 | 20.0× |
Data retrieved October 15, 2026. Figures cover the Moses Lake metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Moses Lake
Zillow Home Value Index, Moses Lake metro, Aug 2026 (+0.1% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Aug 2026 (−2.0% 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 +0.1%, rents −2.0%.
Washington landlord-tenant basics
Rentals in Moses Lake 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 Moses Lake
The City of Moses Lake regulates rentals of under 30 nights in its development code (MLMC Chapter 15.650). The lake draws summer visitors. Get the endorsement before you list.
- You need a short-term rental endorsement from the city, approved by the Community Development Director, and then a city business license. The business license isn't issued until the endorsement is approved.
- Short-term rentals are only allowed in certain zoning districts, and the city may limit how many are allowed per parcel. Check the zoning before you buy.
- The city's own pages disagree on accessory dwelling units: the STR page lists ADUs as eligible, but the ADU section of the code (MLMC 15.415.010) prohibits short-term rental of an ADU. Get the current answer from the city in writing before you plan a house plus a rentable cottage.
- Short stays owe Washington sales tax and local lodging taxes, and the state's short-term rental law (RCW 64.37) adds requirements such as liability insurance. Confirm which taxes your platform collects for you.
- Lake-area homes outside city limits fall under Grant County, not the city. HOA rules and CC&Rs can ban short-term rentals either way.
Last reviewed October 15, 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) — Moses Lake 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 Moses Lake — Short Term Rental; Moses Lake Municipal Code 15.415.010 — Accessory dwelling units; RCW 64.37 — Short-term rentals (state); GeekWire — REC Silicon shuts down Moses Lake plant, lays off 224 (2025).
Before you make an offer on a rental property, you need more than a gut feeling. Here is the step-by-step framework serious investors use to stress-test a deal on paper first.
Buying a rental out of state comes down to one thing: the quality of your local agent. Here is the five-step process that keeps investors from getting burned.
Selling a rental with tenants in place is doable, and often smarter than waiting for vacancy. Here is exactly how to price it, show it, and close it without blowing up your landlord-tenant relationship or leaving money on the table.
Questions investors ask about Moses Lake
Who will I work with in Moses Lake?
+−
Our vetted agent partner in Moses Lake is a local agent who helps clients buy and sell in the area. Tell us your strategy, budget and timeline, and if the fit isn't right for your deal, we'll tell you upfront.
Is Moses Lake a good market for cash-flowing rentals?
+−
Not at median prices with a mortgage. Typical rent in the Moses Lake metro is about 0.42% of home value per month, far below the 1% rule, and rents have dipped since mid-2024. Investors who make it work buy well below median, buy properties that need work, or put more cash down.
What drives the Moses Lake economy?
+−
Agriculture and food processing, plus industry drawn by cheap hydropower: data centers in Grant County (mostly around Quincy) and battery-materials and industrial plants in Moses Lake. It's a small, concentrated job base. REC Silicon's 2025 plant closure cost 224 jobs, so ask what a new plant or closure would mean for the rentals you're looking at.
Can I run an Airbnb in Moses Lake?
+−
Inside city limits, yes, if you get a city short-term rental endorsement and then a business license, and the property sits in a zone that allows it. The city's pages disagree on whether an ADU can be a short-term rental, so confirm with the city. Lake homes outside city limits fall under Grant County, and HOAs can ban STRs.
Is Washington landlord-friendly?
+−
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. It's workable, but plan for slower rent growth than in landlord-friendly states.
Why is there so little data on this page?
+−
Moses Lake is a small metro (Grant County, about 106,000 people). Census population estimates for it start in 2020 in our data, and no metro jobs series is included. Small markets also swing more on a single employer. Lean on your agent for local rent comps, vacancy and days on market.
What does it cost to get matched with a Moses Lake agent?
+−
Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
Find your Moses Lake investor agent
Tell us what you're buying or selling in the Moses Lake area. We'll match you with up to three vetted agents who fit your strategy. Free for investors.
Get matched with an agent