.jpg?width=1920)
Investor-friendly real estate agents in Spokane, WA
We match investors with vetted Spokane-area agents who own rentals, run the numbers, and know the local rules. Free for investors.
Get matched in SpokaneVetted investor agents across the Spokane metro
Spokane is cheaper than Seattle, but it isn't a cash-flow market at median prices, and Washington isn't a landlord-friendly state. What Spokane does have is room to add units: since HB 1337, Washington cities have to allow two accessory dwelling units on lots zoned for single-family homes, and a backyard cottage (a DADU) is one of the few ways to push the rent on a lot up without buying another one. Our vetted agent here is an investor herself, does house hacks and buy-and-hold purchases, and walks properties for out-of-area buyers.
First investment properties where you live in one unit and rent the rest, including a house-hack purchase in the review below.
Long-term rentals in Spokane from an agent who moved here from Seattle to invest herself.
Video walkthroughs and introductions to property managers, contractors and inspectors when you can't be there in person.
What investors say about our Spokane agents
“Emily is an amazing investor friendly agent! She helped us find a great house hack and investment property. She is honest, trustworthy, and works hard to advocate for her clients through every step of the transaction. Emily was also great at doing video walk throughs for us when we were out of the area.”
Is Spokane worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Spokane 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 | 515,888 |
| 2011 | 518,547 |
| 2012 | 521,938 |
| 2013 | 525,938 |
| 2014 | 532,006 |
| 2015 | 539,167 |
| 2016 | 549,234 |
| 2017 | 559,531 |
| 2018 | 569,212 |
| 2019 | 579,712 |
| 2020 | 587,729 |
| 2021 | 593,137 |
| 2022 | 597,884 |
| 2023 | 601,370 |
| 2024 | 604,663 |
| 2025 | 608,012 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | -1,028 |
| 2012 | -486 |
| 2013 | +456 |
| 2014 | +2,087 |
| 2015 | +3,581 |
| 2016 | +6,813 |
| 2017 | +6,984 |
| 2018 | +7,135 |
| 2019 | +8,047 |
| 2020 | +5,735 |
| 2021 | +4,712 |
| 2022 | +4,411 |
| 2023 | +2,095 |
| 2024 | +1,347 |
| 2025 | +1,908 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 218,400 |
| 2011 | 218,700 |
| 2012 | 220,700 |
| 2013 | 224,000 |
| 2014 | 226,800 |
| 2015 | 231,100 |
| 2016 | 237,900 |
| 2017 | 241,900 |
| 2018 | 247,600 |
| 2019 | 252,400 |
| 2020 | 240,900 |
| 2021 | 251,600 |
| 2022 | 260,900 |
| 2023 | 264,000 |
| 2024 | 265,600 |
| 2025 | 266,400 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $772/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $831/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $889/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $967/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $1,020/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,114/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,334/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,406/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,423/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,448/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,487/mo |
| Aug 2026 | $1,540/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $173,564 |
| Dec 2011 | $163,466 |
| Dec 2012 | $161,851 |
| Dec 2013 | $168,069 |
| Dec 2014 | $172,688 |
| Dec 2015 | $186,029 |
| Dec 2016 | $201,265 |
| Dec 2017 | $221,383 |
| Dec 2018 | $248,194 |
| Dec 2019 | $275,796 |
| Dec 2020 | $320,905 |
| Dec 2021 | $391,770 |
| Dec 2022 | $417,791 |
| Dec 2023 | $414,390 |
| Dec 2024 | $421,079 |
| Dec 2025 | $422,407 |
| Aug 2026 | $418,163 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 20.1× |
| Dec 2016 | 20.2× |
| Dec 2017 | 20.8× |
| Dec 2018 | 21.4× |
| Dec 2019 | 22.5× |
| Dec 2020 | 24.0× |
| Dec 2021 | 24.5× |
| Dec 2022 | 24.8× |
| Dec 2023 | 24.3× |
| Dec 2024 | 24.2× |
| Dec 2025 | 23.7× |
| Aug 2026 | 22.6× |
Data retrieved October 13, 2026. Figures cover the Spokane metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Spokane
Zillow Home Value Index, Spokane metro, Aug 2026 (+0.2% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Aug 2026 (+3.4% 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 +0.2%, rents +3.4%.
Add a DADU: more doors on a lot you already own
Washington's HB 1337 (2023, RCW 36.70A.680–.681) requires cities like Spokane to allow at least two accessory dwelling units on every lot in the urban growth area where a single-family home is allowed. They can be attached, detached, or one of each, and converting an existing garage or outbuilding counts. Spokane's deadline to bring its code in line was June 30, 2025.
The state law also strips out the rules that used to kill ADU deals: the city can't require you to live on the property, can't charge impact fees above 50% of what the main house would pay, and can't cap ADU size below 1,000 square feet. That means a non-owner-occupied rental lot can carry a house plus a detached backyard unit (a DADU) rented long-term.
Why it matters here: in a market where rents don't cover a median mortgage, a DADU adds rent without adding another purchase price, closing costs or a second roof to insure. Investors look for lots with alley access, room in the backyard and sewer and water close by, or a detached garage worth converting. A house hack works too: live in one unit and rent the other.
- Building is the expensive part. A new detached unit typically runs well into six figures, and construction loans are harder to get than a mortgage. Get a builder's bid and run the rent math before you count on it.
- Using an ADU as an Airbnb is a different story: Spokane ties short-term rental use on a lot with an ADU to owner occupancy (SMC 17C.300.110). Underwrite a DADU as a long-term rental.
- Confirm the lot's zoning, setbacks, utility connections and any recorded covenants with Spokane Planning & Development before you're under contract. Spokane Valley and unincorporated Spokane County have their own codes.
Washington landlord-tenant basics
Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18) is one of the more tenant-friendly in the country, and since 2025 it includes a statewide cap on rent increases. The points investors ask about most:
- Rent increases are capped: no more than 7% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is lower, in any 12 months (9.683% for 2026). No increase at all in the first 12 months of a tenancy, and 90 days' written notice before any increase. Buildings newer than 12 years and some owner-occupied 2–4 unit properties are exempt. Check the current-year cap with the Department of Commerce.
- Nonpayment: a 14-day notice to pay or vacate is required before filing an eviction, and it can only demand rent, not late fees or damages. Self-help evictions (lockouts, shutting off utilities) are illegal.
- Security deposit: return it, or a written itemized statement of deductions, within 30 days after the tenancy ends. Miss the deadline and you can lose the right to keep any of it.
- Entry: give at least 2 days' written notice before entering for repairs or inspections, except in an emergency.
Short-term rental rules in Spokane
The City of Spokane requires a permit for any rental of a home or part of one for fewer than 30 nights. Rules were amended in 2023, and the city has monitored listings for unpermitted rentals since January 2024.
- STRs are allowed in zones that permit residential uses. In residential zones, the permit covers one STR in a single-family home, an ADU, or one unit of a duplex; multifamily and mixed-use buildings are capped at a share of their units.
- The application goes through the city's online permit portal and needs a city business license, an annual life-safety compliance form, proof of liability insurance, a site and floor plan, and, in residential zones, a notification letter to nearby property owners and neighborhood organizations.
- If the lot also has an ADU, owner-occupancy rules apply (SMC 17C.300.110). Don't plan on a house plus an Airbnb cottage without living there.
- Short stays owe Washington sales tax and local lodging taxes, and the state's own STR law (RCW 64.37) adds requirements such as liability insurance. Confirm which taxes your platform collects for you.
- A city permit doesn't override HOA rules, CC&Rs or your lease. Spokane Valley and unincorporated Spokane County have separate rules.
Last reviewed October 13, 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) — Spokane metro; RCW 36.70A.681 — Accessory dwelling units (HB 1337); WA Department of Commerce — ADUs; City of Spokane — Short Term Rentals; Spokane Municipal Code 17C.316 — Short-term rentals; RCW 59.18 — Residential Landlord-Tenant Act; WA Attorney General — Rent stabilization.
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.
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.
Choosing the wrong real estate agent on an investment deal costs more than the commission. Here is the exact checklist investors use to vet an agent before trusting them with the deal.
Questions investors ask about Spokane
Who will I work with in Spokane?
+−
Our vetted agent partner in Spokane is based on the South Hill. She's an investor herself and works with house hackers, buy-and-hold investors and out-of-area buyers. If she isn't the right fit for your deal, we'll tell you upfront.
Is Spokane a good market for cash-flowing rentals?
+−
Not at median prices with a mortgage. Typical rent-to-price in Spokane is well under 0.5% per month, far from the 1% rule, and Washington caps rent increases. Investors here make the numbers work by buying below median, house hacking, or adding a unit to the lot.
Can I build a DADU (backyard cottage) on a Spokane rental?
+−
In most cases, yes. Washington's HB 1337 requires cities like Spokane to allow two accessory dwelling units, attached or detached, on lots where single-family homes are allowed, and bars owner-occupancy requirements, so it works on a rental you don't live in. Impact fees are capped at half of the main house's. Confirm setbacks, utilities and any covenants with the city before you buy, and plan on renting it long-term: Spokane ties STR use on ADU lots to owner occupancy.
Can I run an Airbnb in Spokane?
+−
Yes, with a city short-term rental permit, in zones that allow residential uses. You'll need a business license, liability insurance, a life-safety form and, in residential zones, a neighbor notification letter. If the lot also has an ADU, owner-occupancy rules apply. HOAs can still prohibit STRs.
Is Washington landlord-friendly?
+−
Not especially. Since 2025 rent increases are capped statewide (the lower of 7% plus CPI or 10% a year), nonpayment evictions start with a 14-day notice, and deposits must be accounted for within 30 days. It's workable, but underwrite for slower rent growth than in landlord-friendly states.
Can I invest in Spokane if I live out of state?
+−
Yes. The key is an agent who will walk properties for you, attend inspections, and bring in contractors and property managers. Our Spokane partner does video walkthroughs for out-of-area clients.
What does it cost to get matched with a Spokane 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 Spokane investor agent
Tell us what you're buying or selling in the Spokane area. We'll match you with up to three vetted agents who fit your strategy. Free for investors.
Get matched with an agent