How is the rental market in Enumclaw? (Kent, Sequim: rentals, violent crime)

[Tac-Sea]

I am looking to buy a house in Enumclaw, but always look at resale and rental ability.

I noticed currently there are only 3 adds for rental houses with 3 bedrooms in Enumclaw on craigslist. Nothing with 2 or 4 bedrooms interestingly enough. In any case, that number seems really low. I'm wondering if that is because rentals get snapped up quickly, or some other reason.

Is it a good thing that there are only a few rentals available? I know the town is not that big, but it seems big enough to have more than 3 rentals available. If that is all that is available even for such a seemingly up and coming town with a fair population, is that not good for a rental? Seems like that would be a good thing for a rental since the demand would be high due to not enough supply.

[Hemlock140]

Housing demand there is low because there are no jobs nearby, so it's a long commute. Also, it's on a plateau formed by a lahar from Mt. Rainier. Great views of the mountain but people are starting to worry that the time for it to blow again is coming and Enumclaw is about the most vulnerable area for lava flow.

[Zima1349]

There's a place called Enumclaw? Seriously?

Somehow the only thing that comes to mind when I hear that is...
public enum Claw{CLAW, claw?, CLAAAAAAWWWW}

(Sorry this wasn't very helpful)

[Tac-Sea]

bump...

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by Tac-Sea

I am looking to buy a house in Enumclaw, but always look at resale and rental ability.

I noticed currently there are only 3 adds for rental houses with 3 bedrooms in Enumclaw on craigslist. Nothing with 2 or 4 bedrooms interestingly enough. In any case, that number seems really low. I'm wondering if that is because rentals get snapped up quickly, or some other reason.

Is it a good thing that there are only a few rentals available? I know the town is not that big, but it seems big enough to have more than 3 rentals available. If that is all that is available even for such a seemingly up and coming town with a fair population, is that not good for a rental? Seems like that would be a good thing for a rental since the demand would be high due to not enough supply.

I would hardly call Enumclaw "up and coming". It's got awhile before it booms. There are other towns closer to the general population that still got plenty of room to grow.

Originally Posted by Zima1349

There's a place called Enumclaw? Seriously?

Somehow the only thing that comes to mind when I hear that is...
public enum Claw{CLAW, claw?, CLAAAAAAWWWW}

(Sorry this wasn't very helpful)

Hmm. Sounds like you're setting yourself up to mispronouncing it. We do have towns with "strange" names. Enumclaw isn't really it. What comes in mind for Sequim?

[PizzaPatti]

I am an Enumclaw resident of 19 years. Not kidding when I say that we are still considered newcomers! We were so desperate to get out of our hell- hole rental in Kent that we took the first rental house we could find which was a small 1.5 bedroom house. Lived there two years before we found something we could qualify for to buy. Yes, it is true that rental houses are few, but I noticed the ones available are just as expensive as if you were buying - no bargains here! The advantages here are; Scenic beauty, being close to Mount Rainier, a low violent crime rate, and residents who mostly mind their own business. The disadvantages are; long commutes for many and the difficulty keeping small businesses open in town.
I disagree with the person who posted we are in danger if the mountain blows. Most studies predict the next big mudflow will take out Orting and the surrounding valley and not affect Enumclaw so much. On a clear day you can see the hollowed out area on Rainier that filled in the Enumclaw Plateau about 500 years ago. It looks to me that leaves little to come our way again, but even if it did, there are 3 Highway routes leading out of town.