Searching for the ideal investment property is not much different from searching for the ideal personal property. Pinpointing locations with a profitable financial future is a good starting point for investors, but narrowing down the search by quality of living – where tenants would love to live – is a smart next step, and well worth the extra effort.
The Pacific Northwest is a great example of a region thriving in popularity, not only due to booming economies, but because it’s an attractive place to live. In fact, the region is experiencing a mass migration – an estimated 86,320 new transplants moved to the Seattle metropolitan area from April 2015 to 2016. People from expensive markets like San Francisco are flocking to the PNW to get away from a steep cost of living without taking a big salary cut.
Aside from strong economic growth, and relative affordability, the diverse collection of personality and lifestyles, unique and family-friendly neighborhoods is attractive to many people. Some Seattle neighborhoods rank in the top 10 for living well, a feature created by Trulia to rank America’s best neighborhoods by street noise levels, places to play and access to amenities.
Researching a neighborhood in a city that you’re unfamiliar with can certainly be a challenge, but looking at the quality of living of neighborhoods in Portland or Seattle with Trulia’s data will aid you along your search. And understanding your best financial standpoint – renting out traditionally or using AirBnb – with Mashvisor’s investor analytics will make the decision even easier.
But where do you look in Portland or Seattle? Consider neighborhoods from either city, which rank remarkably well in Trulia’s Live Well index. With high percentages of quiet streets, a high number of play areas such as parks and playgrounds, easy access to hiking trails and essential care amenities such as hospitals and pharmacies, the neighborhood amenities already check off several requirements tenants look for in a place to live.
Seattle Neighborhood |
National Rank (out of 877 neighborhoods analyzed) |
Live Well Index |
% Quiet Streets |
# Play Amenities Per Square Mile |
Miles of Trails/Footpaths Per Square Mile |
# of Care and Essential Amenities Per Square Mile |
Sunset Hill |
5 |
87.5 |
61.10% |
12 |
1.9 |
0 |
Ravenna |
8 |
85.6 |
52.10% |
3 |
2.4 |
7.5 |
North Delridge |
9 |
84.9 |
47.70% |
8.6 |
10.4 |
1 |
Portland Neighborhood |
National Rank (out of 877 neighborhoods analyzed) |
Live Well Index |
% Quiet Streets |
# Play Amenities Per Square Mile |
Miles of Trails/Footpaths Per Square Mile |
# of Care and Essential Amenities Per Square Mile |
Vancouver Heights |
135 |
68.8 |
46.80 |
2.7 |
0 |
0.9 |
Vose |
152 |
67.3 |
43.90 |
2.5 |
0.5 |
1.7 |
Ashcreek |
168 |
66 |
44.80 |
2.5 |
1.1 |
0 |
Download data on full study including the top 100 largest metros here.
Before you pull the trigger on a home based solely on profit projections, considering the human element of home buying, and asking yourself if you’d want to live there too, is something factor into your search. In addition to a careful look at Mashvisor’s investor data, this strategy might just equate to your most fruitful investment yet.
This article was written by Sam Brannan, our friend at Trulia.
