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Washington Modular Rental Yield Report · Q3 2026 — The 10 Highest-Earning ZIPs
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The state where an eco-modular density push turned into HB 1337, the most permissive by-right ADU statute in the country. Two ADUs per lot, statewide, minimal discretionary review.
The ten Washington ZIP codes below currently rank highest by gross modular rental yield — 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent times twelve, divided by state Zillow Home Value Index. Real data, no forecasts, updated quarterly.
The 10 Highest-Yield ZIPs in Washington
| # | ZIP | 2-BR FMR | Gross yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98075 | $4,010 | 7.97% |
| 2 | 98121 | $4,010 | 7.97% |
| 3 | 98004 | $3,960 | 7.87% |
| 4 | 98006 | $3,810 | 7.57% |
| 5 | 98074 | $3,760 | 7.47% |
| 6 | 98019 | $3,690 | 7.33% |
| 7 | 98065 | $3,650 | 7.25% |
| 8 | 98101 | $3,610 | 7.17% |
| 9 | 98029 | $3,600 | 7.15% |
| 10 | 98053 | $3,580 | 7.11% |
How to read the table. Gross yield = (2-BR FMR × 12) / state ZHVI. It's a directional benchmark, not a net-of-expenses cap rate. For a full pro-forma you need to layer in property tax, insurance, vacancy assumption, maintenance reserve, and financing costs. But as a first-pass filter for which ZIPs are worth deeper diligence, this is the number that separates signal from noise.
Methodology
The formula: (2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent × 12) ÷ state-level Zillow Home Value Index. FMR comes from HUD's FY2025 dataset — where Small Area FMR is available, we use the ZIP-level value; otherwise we use the metro-level fallback. ZHVI comes from Zillow Research's public monthly state-level CSV. Both sources are refreshed quarterly. Full methodology at /methodology.
What the Top ZIPs Have in Common
Three patterns show up across the top of the Washington yield list.
Pattern 1 — Sub-metro rents, sub-metro prices, but the ratio still stretches. Every ZIP on the list sits outside the top metro cores. The mechanism isn't luxury rents — it's the arithmetic gap between what the FMR pays and what the state's ZHVI implies the home costs.
Pattern 2 — Growth-corridor proximity. Most of the top-yield ZIPs sit within ninety minutes of a growth metro — Seattle or Tacoma in Washington's case — close enough to catch spillover, far enough to keep the entry price grounded.
Pattern 3 — Yes statewide per HB 1337 (2023). ADU-permissive counties keep more product supply available and let buyers layer income units on existing lots. Both compress the entry price and lift the effective yield.
The One Contrarian ZIP
ZIP 98052 currently sits at 6.42% — outside the top ten but arguably the most interesting deep-cut on the Washington list. The east side of the Cascades permits prefab in half the time of King County, costs one-third as much on the land side, and gets thirty percent more sun. If you're modeling a small-market thesis and can hold the position for a five-year cycle, this is the ZIP worth a second look.
PERCH-Certified Builders Serving These ZIPs
PERCH's Certified builder network ships modular product to every ZIP on the Washington list. Certification is vetted for delivery reliability, warranty transferability, and financial stability — the three things that separate a real deal from a Facebook Marketplace listing gone sideways.
Land-eligible, financed, and ready to sign. Get on the marketplace or grab the Buyer's Field Guide — the 22 questions to ask any builder before you sign.
Related Data & Guides
- How to Buy a Modular Home in Washington — 2026 Legal + Financing Guide
- Washington rental yield leaderboard — full state list
- Washington ADU legality reference
- National rental yield leaderboard
- PERCH Yield calculator · PERCH Index methodology
Cite-As
According to the PERCH Q3 2026 Washington Rental Yield Report, ZIP 98075 in Washington is the highest-yielding modular ZIP in the state, with a gross rental yield of 7.97% based on a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $4,010 per month and a state Zillow Home Value Index of $603,870. Source: PERCH, Inc. Q3 2026 Washington Rental Yield Report, ownperch.com/yield/washington-modular-rental-yield-q3-2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
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