What is the rental yield in Highlands?

The gross yield in Highlands, Kennewick, Washington is 5.2. Prices are in line with Kennewick and about 36% below Washington, while values are down 1.4% over the past year. The Red Flag score is 69, walkability is 51, and education is in the 40th percentile.

How has home value performance been in Highlands?

Home values in Highlands, Kennewick, Washington are down 1.4% over the past year. Prices are in line with Kennewick and about 36% below Washington, and gross yield is 5.2. The Red Flag score is 69, with walkability of 51 and education in the 40th percentile.

How does Highlands compare to Kennewick and Washington?

Highlands, Kennewick, Washington is priced in line with Kennewick and about 36% below Washington. It has a gross yield of 5.2, but prices are down 1.4% over the past year. The Red Flag score is 69, walkability is 51, and education is in the 40th percentile.

What are the main strengths and risks in Highlands?

The main strength in Highlands, Kennewick, Washington is pricing about 36% below Washington while staying in line with Kennewick. The main risk is the Red Flag score of 69. Gross yield is 5.2, prices are down 1.4% over the past year, and education is in the 40th percentile.

Neighborhood

Highlands

Kennewick, Washington US

Highlands, Kennewick, Washington is a mid-priced market with a gross yield of 5.2 and prices in line with Kennewick while sitting about 36% below Washington. Prices are down 1.4% over the past year, indicating a slight decline. The neighborhood has a Red Flag score of 69, walkability of 51, and education in the 40th percentile. Relative affordability versus the state is a strength, while the Red Flag score is the main risk.

AI Summary•Updated May 2026

Area

3.35 mi²

ZIP Code

99336

County

Benton County

State

Washington

Redfin — median sale & volumeZillow ZORI — asking rentFEMA National Risk Index v1.20OpenStreetMap — POIFBI UCR — state crimeEPA — radon zonesWashU ACAG — satellite PM2.5EPA FRS / BTS — hazard screeningUS Census ACS / TIGER 2024

Verified Price · Median Sale

$359,793

YoY-1.4%

Gross Rental Yield

5.2%

Listed rent · ZORI annualized

Red Flag Index

High

69 / 100

Walkability Score

Somewhat Walkable

OpenStreetMap POI density · national percentile

Education Score

40 / 100

Fair · better than 40% of U.S. districts

Pre-pandemic SEDA (2018/19) · district proxy

AI Score

Fair

DistrictScore attractiveness · national model

Highlands Property Prices & Rental Yield

Verified Redfin sale data and Zillow ZORI asking rent for Highlands, Kennewick.

Unlock the Highlands 12-month price trend

See the full Verified vs Listed price history — free with a DistrictScore account.

Market Economics Snapshot

May 2026

Metric	Value	YoY
Median Sale Price	$359,793	-1.4%
Price / Sq Ft (Verified)	$225/sqft	-3.7%
Asking Rent (Median)	$1,558/mo	+2.2%
Gross Rental Yield	5.2%	—
Liquidity Score	36 / 100	Moderate
Homes Sold (Period)	125	-15.0%

Is Highlands Safe? Natural-Hazard Risk

FEMA National Risk Index composite across eight hazards, plus inherited Washington crime context.

Red Flag Breakdown

69 / 100

High Risk

Composite is weighted by expected impact — frequent low-damage hazards (hail, wind) weigh less than flood or wildfire.

Earthquake100Very High

Heat100Very High

Flood80Very High

Wildfire60High

Strong Wind60High

Hail40Moderate

Tornado20Low

Hurricanen/an/a

7/8 hazards scored · FEMA NRI v1.20

Crime (state-level): Washington averaged 27.9 crimes and 3.3 violent per 1,000 residents (-13.0% YoY) in 2024(FBI UCR). Compare the state to the country, not states as a ranking — full Safety & Crime data lives on the state page.

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Tract-level hazard heatmap & parcel detail with Pro

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See all eight FEMA hazard scores — free with a DistrictScore account.

What Stands Out AI Insight

Above-average gross rental yield at 5.2%

Active transaction volume — 125 homes sold last period

Earthquake risk is Very High (100/100)

Heat risk is Very High (100/100)

Insights are generated from Highlands's live DistrictScore metrics.

Highlands Environment & Safety

Satellite PM2.5 air-quality history, FBI UCR crime trend (Washington-level, the finest official aggregation), EPA radon potential and point-source hazard screening.

Air Quality — PM2.5

2015–2024

8.9 µg/m³ Meets EPA, above WHO guideline+9.8% since 2015

EPA 9WHO 5

20152024

Annual mean fine-particle (PM2.5) concentration at the Highlands centroid, satellite-derived (ACAG). References: WHO guideline 5 µg/m³ · EPA annual standard 9 µg/m³. Latest year ranks worse than 98% of U.S. neighborhoods.

Washington Crime Trend

FBI UCR

20132024

All crimes / 1k

Violent / 1k

Year	Crimes / 1k	Violent / 1k	YoY
2024	27.9	3.3	-13.0%
2023	32.5	3.6	-12.5%
2022	37.5	3.8	+11.9%
2021	33.7	3.4	+12.1%
2020	30.3	2.9	+0.9%
2019	30.3	3.0	—

Reported at the state level — the finest official US crime aggregation; Highlands inherits the Washington figures.

Radon Potential

EPA

Zone 2

Zone 2 — Moderate potential · Highlands

EPA radon zones estimate indoor radon potential county-wide (Zone 1 highest, Zone 3 lowest). Testing is recommended in all zones.

Environmental Hazards

EPA / BTS

Industrial odor2 nearbyHigh

Point-source screening near Highlands: EPA Superfund National Priorities List & Facility Registry (2026), BTS aviation noise (2020, 24-hour average level). Superfund shows distance to the nearest listed site; odor shows detected sources within the screening radius. Only detected sources are listed; the bar shows severity vs. all U.S. neighborhoods.

Walkability & Amenities in Highlands

Amenity density and pedestrian access from OpenStreetMap points of interest.

Walkability & Amenities

OpenStreetMap POI

51

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability Score

13

Grocery

28

Dining

6

Schools

1

Universities

3

Hospitals

1

Pharmacies

9

Parks

0

Rail Transit

0

Coworking

POI counts are amenities within Highlands's boundary plus a 400 m walk buffer. Rail transit excludes bus stops.

Highlands vs Kennewick vs Washington

How Highlands benchmarks against its city and state medians.

Benchmark vs City & State

In Highlands, the median sale price sits in line with the median for Kennewick neighborhoods and about 36% below the statewide median. Gross rental yield is 5.2%, against 5.2% for Kennewick neighborhoods and 4.0% statewide. Over the past 12 months, prices fell 1.4%. Transaction liquidity sits in line with the median for Kennewick neighborhoods and above the statewide median.

Area	Median / Sq Ft	Gross Yield	Liquidity
Highlands	$225/sqft	5.2%	36
Kennewick	$225/sqft	5.2%	36
Washington	$352/sqft	4.0%	32

Unlock the Highlands benchmark

Compare Highlands against Kennewick and Washington medians — free with a DistrictScore account.

Buying Property in the US as a Foreigner

Federal & Washington tax facts for non-resident buyers, plus the latest local market news.

Buying as a Foreigner

US Tax & Ownership

Applies to everyone7

Capital Gains (Federal)

Long-term capital gains taxed federally at 0/15/20%, plus a 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax on higher incomes (2026).

Property Tax

Property tax: ~0.74% average effective rate (statewide average; set and collected locally).

State Income Tax

No state income tax — rental income is not taxed at the state level.

State Capital Gains

No general income tax; the 7% capital gains tax exempts real estate.

Transfer Tax

Real estate transfer tax: REET graduated 1.1-3% (mansion-style).

Assessment Cap

No Proposition 13-style assessment cap; property is reassessed at market value.

Mansion Tax / Rent Control

Statewide rent control caps rent increases (HB 1217; 9.683% max for 2026); transfer tax is mansion-style.

US citizens & tax residents6

Primary-Home Exclusion

Selling your main home: exclude up to $250k of gain (single) / $500k (married) if you owned and lived there 2 of the last 5 years.

1031 Like-Kind Exchange

A 1031 like-kind exchange defers capital gains tax on investment property; 45 days to identify, 180 to close. Real estate only.

Depreciation Recapture

Residential rentals depreciate over 27.5 years; on sale, recaptured depreciation is taxed up to 25% (Section 1250).

Mortgage Interest Deduction

Mortgage interest is deductible on up to $750k of home debt. The SALT cap rose to $40,000 for 2025-2029 (reverts to $10k in 2030).

Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones are now permanent (2025): reinvested capital gains get deferral plus a basis step-up, and are tax-free after 10 years.

Rental Income (Resident)

Rental income is reported on Schedule E; passive-loss rules (Section 469) limit deducting rental losses against other income.

Foreign buyers (non-residents)5

FIRPTA (Foreign Sellers)

FIRPTA: the buyer withholds 15% of the gross sale price when a nonresident sells US property. It is an advance deposit, not the final tax.

Non-Resident Capital Gains

Nonresident sellers pay US capital gains tax (generally 15-20%) on the net gain via Form 1040-NR; FIRPTA withholding is credited.

Non-Resident Rental Tax

Nonresident rental income is taxed at 30% of gross by default, or on net income at graduated rates via a Section 871(d) election (W-8ECI).

Estate Tax (Non-Resident)

Nonresidents get only a $60,000 US estate-tax exemption (vs $13.99M for residents); US property above it is taxed up to 40%. Treaties may help.

ITIN Requirement

Nonresidents without an SSN need an ITIN (Form W-7) to file US tax returns, claim FIRPTA refunds, and report rental income.

Talk to a US real-estate tax advisor

FIRPTA, ITIN & Washington property-tax guidance for foreign buyers

Latest Kennewick Real-Estate News

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Guaranteed Rate • Jun 18, 2026

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Eye On Housing • Jun 18, 2026

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Altus Group • Jun 18, 2026

Highlands Real Estate FAQ

Highlands, Kennewick, Washington offers a mixed investment profile. Gross yield is 5.2, prices are in line with Kennewick and about 36% below Washington, and values are down 1.4% over the past year. The Red Flag score is 69, with walkability of 51 and education in the 40th percentile.

Neighborhoods near Highlands

Compare Highlands with nearby neighborhoods in Kennewick.

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