Whatcom apartment vacancies remain low, leading to increases in rent
As apartment vacancy rates remain at low levels across Whatcom County, industry experts say renters should continue to expect increases in what they pay each month.
Last fall the apartment vacancy rate in Whatcom County was estimated at 2.2 percent locally, according to a report published by the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at Washington State University. While up from a year earlier, when it was 1.6 percent, the vacancy rate was still well below the state average of 5 percent.
The average rent in Whatcom County last fall for an apartment unit was $782 a month, up $36 a month compared to a year earlier. It's the highest average in the 12 years the research center has studied this area.