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Whatcom County/Blaine/98230

98230

ZIPSAFMR
Whatcom County, WA
Zillow

ZIP Investment Score

55Below average

095130300
BRFMR
Eff. Rent
0 BR$1,430$1,400
1 BR$1,470$1,620
2 BR$1,800$1,980
3 BR$2,450$2,510
4 BR$3,010$3,160
5 BR$3,461Not available
6 BR$3,981Not available
7 BR$4,578Not available
8 BR$5,265Not available

Purchase Price Calculator

Maximum purchase price
$232,311

Cost breakdown

+Likely effective rent$1,980
HUD FMR$1,800
Market rent$2,110
Est. payment standard (110%)Used$1,980
-Principal and interest-$1,175
Loan amount$185,849
Down payment$46,462
Rate6.50%
Term30 years
-Operating costs-$605
Property taxes-$232
Insurance-$175
Utilities$0
HOA$0
Management-$198
=Target cash flow+$200
Calculation mode

Hold period projections

Annual appreciation rate
3-year hold
+$31,721(68.3% ROI)
Projected value
$250,173
Return breakdown
Property appreciation+$17,863
Loan principal paid down+$6,659
Rental cash flow+$7,200
5-year hold
+$54,401(117.1% ROI)
Projected value
$262,838
Return breakdown
Property appreciation+$30,528
Loan principal paid down+$11,874
Rental cash flow+$12,000
10-year hold
+$117,360(252.6% ROI)
Projected value
$297,377
Return breakdown
Property appreciation+$65,067
Loan principal paid down+$28,293
Rental cash flow+$24,000

Public Housing Authority

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Rolodex

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Market Alignment

Studio
1.02
1 BR
0.84
2 BR
0.85
3 BR
0.96
4 BR
0.93
0.701.001.30aligned range
Historical
FY 2023-2027
FMR
FY2027
Market rent
last ~365 days
Property value
--
Tax rate
--
Mortgage rate
--

ZIP 98230 fair market rent, FY 2027

For FY 2027, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in ZIP 98230 (Blaine, WA) is $1,800 a month. That is up 5.3% from $1,710 in FY 2026. Blaine is in the Bellingham, WA MSA. HUD also publishes the ZIP-level Small Area FMRs shown here, but unless the local housing authority has adopted them, vouchers are based on the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,872. Among 21 ZIP codes in Whatcom County, 98230 has the 12th-highest two-bedroom rent (county range $1,620–$2,030). The median county two-bedroom FMR in Washington is $1,467, so ZIP 98230 is 23% above it.

FY 2027 rent by bedroom

FY 2027 fair market rent by bedroom for 98230
BedroomsFY 2027Change90–110% range
Studio$1,430+2.9%$1,287–$1,573
1BR$1,470+3.5%$1,323–$1,617
2BR$1,800+5.3%$1,620–$1,980
3BR$2,450+2.9%$2,205–$2,695
4BR$3,010+4.9%$2,709–$3,311

Fair market rent history, FY 2023–2027

Fair market rent by fiscal year for 98230
Fiscal yearStudio1BR2BR3BR4BR
FY 2027$1,430$1,470$1,800$2,450$3,010
FY 2026$1,390$1,420$1,710$2,380$2,870
FY 2025$1,310$1,340$1,590$2,230$2,670
FY 2024$1,230$1,280$1,540$2,170$2,610
FY 2023$1,060$1,120$1,380$1,960$2,350

Two-bedroom rent in nearby Whatcom County ZIP codes

FY 2027 two-bedroom Small Area FMR by ZIP code
ZIP code2 bedroomvs. 98230
98220$1,620−10.0%
98225$1,920+6.7%
98226$1,850+2.8%
98227$1,870+3.9%
98228$1,870+3.9%
98229$1,960+8.9%
98230Current$1,800—
98231$1,870+3.9%
98237$1,620−10.0%
98240$1,810+0.6%
98244$1,620−10.0%
98247$1,890+5.0%

Questions about ZIP 98230 rents

How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in ZIP 98230?

Housing authorities set voucher payment standards, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR. With the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,872, which applies unless the housing authority uses Small Area FMRs, that basic range is $1,685 to $2,059 a month; under the ZIP-level Small Area FMR of $1,800 it would be $1,620 to $1,980. The voucher pays the lower of the payment standard or the gross rent, minus the tenant's share, which is usually about 30% of adjusted monthly income. Confirm the local housing authority's current schedule before underwriting.

Which HUD fair market rent area is ZIP 98230 in?

ZIP 98230 is in the Bellingham, WA MSA. Small Area FMRs are optional here; the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR is $1,872.

How much did fair market rent change in ZIP 98230 for FY 2027?

The two-bedroom FMR rose 5.3%, from $1,710 in FY 2026 to $1,800 in FY 2027. Since FY 2023 it has risen 30.4%.

When do FY 2027 fair market rents take effect?

HUD's FY 2027 fair market rents took effect on October 1, 2026. When FMRs change, housing authorities generally have up to three months to bring payment standards back within 90% to 110% of the new FMR.

Source: HUD FY 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents and area FMRs. Payment-standard ranges are 90% to 110% of FMR, HUD's basic range, not a housing authority's published schedule. How payment standards are set

County fair market rentBlaine, WA fair market rentWA statewide rentsWhat is SAFMR?Data sources