Lakewood Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Lakewood, WA
Own a commercial apartment building of five or more units in Lakewood? We purchase multifamily properties around Tillicum, Springbrook, and the rest of Pierce 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: Tillicum · Springbrook · Oakbrook · Steilacoom — Pierce County, WA
Local Demand
Our View On Lakewood
Lakewood, a city of 62,937 residents in Pierce County in the Census Bureau's ACS 2020-2024 estimates, pairs a Joint Base Lewis-McChord-anchored economy with an older, renter-heavy housing stock. Renters hold 52.5% of Lakewood's occupied homes, and median gross rent is $1,525 a month. Owners who sell commercial property in Lakewood, WA bring a pre-1980 stock to market: Lakewood's median year built is 1975, and 32.2% of its 28,591 housing units sit in buildings of five or more units, near JBLM and St. Clare Hospital.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Lakewood borders Joint Base Lewis-McChord as host community; JBLM supports about 55,000 employees, per the City of Lakewood's fact sheet.Pierce College Fort Steilacoom
Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom enrolled 13,749 students in 2024-25, per the state board's official field guide.St. Clare Hospital
St. Clare Hospital employs 598 people in Lakewood; owners selling commercial property in Lakewood should note this healthcare anchor.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Lakewood
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
Lakewood Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Lakewood
Renters hold 52.5% of Lakewood's occupied homes, or 13,910 of 26,500 households, per ACS 2020-2024 tenure data. Lakewood has 9,202 homes in buildings of five or more units, 32.2% of its 28,591 housing units, per ACS structure data. Lakewood's median year built is 1975, and 58.9% of its housing predates 1980, per ACS year-built data.
Rents and affordability
Lakewood's median gross rent is $1,525 a month, per ACS 2020-2024 rent data, $539 below HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom fair market rent for the Tacoma, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Among Lakewood renters, 50.2% spend 30% or more of income on rent and 25.0% spend 50% or more, per ACS table B25070. Owners who sell commercial real estate in Lakewood, WA are pricing into that rent-burdened renter base.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR, Tacoma, WA HUD Metro FMR Area (Pierce County) |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,491 |
| One-bedroom | $1,682 |
| Two-bedroom | $2,064 |
| Three-bedroom | $2,849 |
| Four-bedroom | $3,219 |
Source: HUD fair market rent documentation.
Property taxes in Pierce County
Lakewood's tax code area 760 carries a 2026 combined levy rate of $9.33565347 per $1,000 assessed value, per the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer's average tax rate report. A $2,000,000 building there owes $18,671.31 a year. Washington's real estate excise tax is usually paid by the seller, per the Department of Revenue, and a $2,000,000 sale beginning January 1, 2027 owes $31,208.50 at the state's graduated rates under RCW 82.45.060, plus Lakewood's 0.50% local rate of $10,000, for $41,208.50 total.
Landlord rules in Lakewood
Washington landlords return deposits or itemize deductions within 30 days under RCW 59.18.280, and give 90 days' written notice before a rent increase under RCW 59.18.140; the 2026 statewide cap is 9.683%, and RCW 35.21.830 preempts local rent control. Lakewood's Rental Housing Safety Program requires annual registration, a Rental Business License, and inspection every five years under LMC Chapter 5.60. Owners who sell commercial property in Lakewood, WA should confirm that license status, since it does not transfer with a sale.
What it means for an owner
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which Lakewood borders as its host community, supports about 55,000 employees, per the City of Lakewood's fact sheet. St. Clare Hospital employs 598 people, and Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom enrolls 13,749 students. To sell commercial property in Lakewood, WA, lead with that renter base and the $539 gap to HUD's two-bedroom benchmark. Test pricing with our cap rate calculator; to sell your apartment building in Lakewood, start with our sell my apartment building page.
Seller Notes
Lakewood Seller Checklist
More about selling in Washington →Investing in Lakewood? See apartment syndications in Lakewood →
- Owners who sell commercial real estate in Lakewood, WA face $41,208.50 in excise tax on a $2,000,000 sale.
- Lakewood's tax code 760 carries a $9.33565347 per $1,000 levy rate on commercial buildings in 2026.
- Lakewood's Rental Housing Safety Program license is void on transfer, so confirm status before any sale closes.
Seller Guides
Lakewood Seller Situations
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Lakewood Property
The Washington rules that shape any deal in Lakewood: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Lakewood Seller FAQ
What should I know before I sell commercial property in Lakewood, WA?
Renters hold 52.5% of Lakewood's occupied homes in ACS 2020-2024, and median gross rent is $1,525 a month, per the Census Bureau. Lakewood's tax code 760 levies $9.33565347 per $1,000 assessed value, or $18,671.31 a year on a $2,000,000 building, per the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer.
How does Lakewood's rent compare with HUD's benchmark?
Lakewood's median gross rent is $1,525 in ACS 2020-2024, $539 below HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom rent of $2,064 for the Tacoma, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Owners who sell multifamily property in Lakewood can show buyers that gap when modeling rents and vacancy.
What taxes come due when I sell commercial real estate in Lakewood, WA?
The seller usually pays Washington's real estate excise tax, per the Department of Revenue. On a $2,000,000 sale beginning January 1, 2027, the state graduated portion is $31,208.50, and Lakewood's 0.50% local rate adds $10,000, for $41,208.50 total.
Can Lakewood pass its own rent control?
No. RCW 35.21.830 preempts rent control by Washington cities and towns, with public and low-income exceptions. Statewide, the 2026 maximum annual increase is 9.683%, per the Attorney General, and RCW 59.18.140 requires 90 days' written notice before an increase.
What drives rental demand in Lakewood?
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which Lakewood borders as its host community, supports about 55,000 employees. St. Clare Hospital employs 598 people, and Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom enrolled 13,749 students in 2024-25, per the City of Lakewood and the state board's field guide. Those anchors drive renter households citywide.
What if my Lakewood building has vacancies or deferred maintenance?
That is often where we add the most value. We buy buildings that need renovation, new management, or lease-up, and we account for that in our offer.
Can I sell my Lakewood 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 Lakewood 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 Lakewood?
No. You can work with us directly, or your broker can bring the deal to us. Either way, conversations stay confidential.
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