Buying In Wilkes-Barre, PA
Sell Your Commercial Property In Wilkes-Barre, PA
Own a commercial apartment building of five or more units in Wilkes-Barre? We purchase multifamily properties around Downtown Wilkes-Barre, South Wilkes-Barre, and the rest of Luzerne County, and we review every deal against a clear buy box.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Where We Look: Downtown Wilkes-Barre · South Wilkes-Barre · Parsons · Kingston — Luzerne County, PA
Why Wilkes-Barre
Why We Buy Multifamily In Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre is the seat of Luzerne County and home to 44,423 residents, per ACS 2020-2024 estimates. Renters occupy 48.8% of Wilkes-Barre homes, compared with 32.2% across Luzerne County. Owners who want to sell commercial property in Wilkes-Barre, PA hold old, dense stock. Homes built before 1980 make up 85.8% of the total, and 18.0% sit in buildings of five or more units. Median gross rent is $946 a month. Wilkes University and King's College teach downtown, and Geisinger is adding beds at Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
Wilkes University
Wilkes University, at 84 West South Street downtown, reports 2,300+ undergraduates and 3,000+ graduate students.King's College
King's College, founded in 1946 in Wilkes-Barre, enrolls 2,100 undergraduate and graduate students, per King's at a Glance.Geisinger Wyoming Valley expansion
Geisinger's almost $900 million Wyoming Valley Medical Center expansion adds 58 inpatient and 24 ICU beds, phase one by 2028.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Wilkes-Barre
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
Local Market Data
Wilkes-Barre Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Wilkes-Barre
Renters occupy 48.8% of Wilkes-Barre's 16,644 occupied homes, per ACS 2020-2024 tenure data. That equals 8,129 renter households, well above Luzerne County's 32.2% renter share. Median household income in Wilkes-Barre is $48,515, per ACS 2020-2024 income data.
Buildings with five or more units hold 18.0% of Wilkes-Barre homes, against 8.0% countywide, per ACS units-in-structure data. Homes built before 1980 make up 85.8% of the stock, and the median year built is 1943, per ACS 2020-2024. Anyone selling commercial property in Wilkes-Barre is usually marketing an older building.
Rents and affordability in Wilkes-Barre
Median gross rent in Wilkes-Barre is $946 a month, per ACS 2020-2024. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46.4% of renter households, per ACS table B25070. Rental vacancy is 5.1%, per ACS profile DP04.
HUD's FY2027 fair market rents for the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA took effect October 1, 2026, per HUD's FMR documentation.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $949 |
| One-bedroom | $1,106 |
| Two-bedroom | $1,363 |
| Three-bedroom | $1,786 |
| Four-bedroom | $1,962 |
Property taxes in Luzerne County
Luzerne County levies 6.4494 mills for 2026, under its 2026 budget ordinance. Each assessment equals 100% of appraised value as of the base year, per the Assessment Office FAQ. Annual appeals are due by August 1.
At Luzerne County’s 1.14 common level ratio factor, a $2,000,000 Wilkes-Barre building owes $11,315 in county tax. City taxes are billed separately, per the city's tax notice.
Owners who sell commercial real estate in Wilkes-Barre, PA also face Pennsylvania's 1% realty transfer tax, per the Department of Revenue. On a $2,000,000 sale, the state share is $20,000.
Landlord rules in Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre charges $100 per building for a rental license and $100 per unit for inspection, per the city rental license page. Fees recur every two years or with each new tenant. Current licenses belong in the file when you sell commercial property in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Pennsylvania caps deposits at two months' rent in year one and one month after, with return within 30 days, per 68 P.S. 250.511a-250.512 (FindLaw). Nonpayment requires a 10-day notice to quit, per 68 P.S. 250.501 (FindLaw).
What it means for a Wilkes-Barre owner
Wilkes-Barre pairs an 18.0% share of homes in 5+ unit buildings with a $946 median rent. If you plan to sell your apartment building in Wilkes-Barre, run the numbers through our cap rate calculator first.
Skyline Capital Investments buys apartment buildings with five or more units. Owners ready to sell commercial property in Wilkes-Barre, PA can request an offer on our sell my apartment building page.
Before You Sell
Wilkes-Barre Seller Checklist
More about selling in Pennsylvania →Investing in Wilkes-Barre? See apartment syndications in Wilkes-Barre →
- Luzerne County sets each assessment at 100% of appraised value as of the base year.
- Owners who sell commercial real estate in Wilkes-Barre, PA pay Luzerne County tax at 6.4494 mills in 2026.
- Annual assessment appeals in Luzerne County are due by August 1, per the Assessment Office.
Seller Guides
Selling In Wilkes-Barre? Common Situations We Handle
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Wilkes-Barre Property
The Pennsylvania rules that shape any deal in Wilkes-Barre: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Wilkes-Barre Seller FAQ
What taxes apply when I sell commercial property in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Pennsylvania imposes a 1% realty transfer tax on the value of real estate, often collected with a local transfer tax, per the Department of Revenue. Luzerne County's 2026 rate is 6.4494 mills. At a 1.14 ratio factor, a $2,000,000 Wilkes-Barre building owes $11,315 in county tax.
Is there renter demand if I sell commercial real estate in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Wilkes-Barre has 8,129 renter households, or 48.8% of occupied homes, per ACS 2020-2024. Rental vacancy is 5.1%. Wilkes University, King's College and Geisinger's Wyoming Valley expansion support the tenant base for owners who sell multifamily property in Wilkes-Barre.
What is the average rent in Wilkes-Barre?
Median gross rent in Wilkes-Barre is $946 a month, per ACS 2020-2024. HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a two-bedroom in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA is $1,363. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46.4% of renter households.
Do I need a rental license for a Wilkes-Barre apartment building?
Yes. Wilkes-Barre requires a $100 license for each rental building and a $100 inspection for each rental unit. Fees recur every two years or when a new tenant moves in. Skipping the license or inspection can bring a $1,000 fine.
How fast can a Pennsylvania landlord end a tenancy for unpaid rent?
Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act requires a 10-day notice to quit for nonpayment of rent. Leases of one year or less need 15 days' notice, and longer leases need 30 days, under 68 P.S. 250.501. Wilkes-Barre landlords follow these state rules.
Will you buy a Wilkes-Barre property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We regularly evaluate value-add, mismanaged, and distressed multifamily properties and underwrite them as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Can I sell my Wilkes-Barre apartment building off-market?
Yes. We work directly with owners and through listing agents. Off-market conversations are confidential, and we coordinate tours so tenants and staff are not disrupted.
Is it possible to sell rental property in Wilkes-Barre without evicting tenants?
It is. We buy apartment buildings occupied, and tenants stay on their current leases. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit buildings, so occupied properties are the norm for us.
Do I need a broker to sell my apartment building in Wilkes-Barre?
No. You can work with us directly, or your broker can bring the deal to us. Either way, conversations stay confidential.
Submit A Deal
Have A Property In Wilkes-Barre?
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
