Estimated values: The U.S. Census suppresses field-level data for small places. Estimated from constituent census tracts — pop-weighted from real underlying ACS data.
Tenant beats landlord
42.9%
/ 100 outcomes
In court-decided eviction outcomes for Kayak Point, WA, tenants prevail in roughly 42.9% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation — landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
148d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Kayak Point, WA until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 148 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$8.9–22.8k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Kayak Point, WA costs landlords $8,885 to $22,777 all-in — court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$945
19% stretched on rent
Median gross rent in Kayak Point, WA is $945 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 19% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent — the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
7.8%
of households
7.8% of occupied housing units in Kayak Point, WA are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
6.6%
4.3% unemp.
6.6% of Kayak Point, WA residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 4.3%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
Dem margin +19.0% (2024)
6.0
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
6.0
State political climate
Washington legislature & governorship
6.0
Economic stress
6.6% poverty · 4.3% unemp.
4.9
Supply constraint
$945 average · 7.8% renters
2.8
Rent Control risk
18.5% of income on rent
1.9
Eviction process difficulty
148 days filing → judgment
6.2
Tenant organizing strength
7.8% renters
2.8
Housing court bias
County bench composition
2.9
Geographic context
Risk heat across Kayak Point and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Kayak Point compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Snohomish County
Very Low
#61of 61 cities
#61 of 61 cities in Snohomish County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Washington
Very Low
#608of 637 cities
#608 of 637 cities in Washington for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
3.6
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 3.6/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a sharp climb.
50-yr trend+2.4 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steepening since 2010 · COVID inflection visible
148d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $945/mo. A contested eviction takes 148 days and costs $8,885–$22,777 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
7.8%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 1,883 residents, 7.8% rent. 19% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 6.6% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
6.0
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 6.0 and 6.0 (Dem margin +19.0% (2024)). State climate at 6.0 — mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
6.0
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 6.0/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies — and shows up in process. Eviction process difficulty reads 6.2, housing court bias 2.9, rent-control risk 1.9. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +1.2 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
4.9
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 4.9. Supply constraint: 2.8. The numbers behind those: 6.6% poverty, 4.3% unemployment, 19% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Kayak Point sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Kayak Point · 148d · ~$15.8k all-in ($107/day) · score 3.6National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Kayak Point, Washington, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 3.6/10 (LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above — covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Kayak Point is a city of 1,883 residents where 7.8% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 18.5% of income on rent. At an average rent of $945/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing — a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Kayak Point eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 6.2/10 — a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Kayak Point closes 148 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Kayak Point's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 2.9/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Kayak Point runs $8,885 to $22,777 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice — common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 148 days of typical timeline and $945/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 2.8/10 in Kayak Point, and the city has limited rent control exposure (1.9/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5–3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks — but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Washington, deposit cap and refund window are statute — exceed at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Kayak Point: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one — retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Washington's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $22,777 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Kayak Point
Trap · 2.9/10
For landlords, the 3.6/10 score is most actionable when combined with Island County's specific court behavior. Housing-court bias sub-score: 2.9/10. Standard documentation and prompt action typically resolve cases quickly.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What's the absolute fastest I can evict someone in Kayak Point?
Even with a non-payment, the absolute fastest you can realistically complete an eviction in Kayak Point is around 45-60 days if everything goes perfectly and the tenant doesn't fight it. This includes the 14-day notice, court filing, service of summons, default judgment, and sheriff lockout. However, the typical timeline is 148 days. Don't expect "fast" in Washington.
Q2
Can I evict a tenant for breaking lease rules other than non-payment?
Yes, but it's more complex. You'll generally need to serve a 10-day notice to comply or vacate for lease violations. If the violation is curable (e.g., unauthorized pet), they get 10 days to fix it. If it's a serious, non-curable violation (e.g., criminal activity), you might be able to go straight to court after the notice. Always consult an attorney; these cases are harder than non-payment.
Q3
Do I need an attorney for an eviction in Kayak Point?
Legally, no, you can represent yourself. Practically, yes, absolutely. Washington's eviction laws (RCW § 59.18) are very specific and highly technical. One mistake on a notice or in court paperwork can get your case dismissed, forcing you to start over and lose months of rent. The typical cost range of $8,885–$22,777 includes attorney fees for a reason. Don't risk it for a DIY job. You can start with our Washington eviction risk overview for more context.
Q4
What if my tenant claims they can't pay due to a hardship?
Washington state courts often consider tenant hardships. While you are generally entitled to your rent, a judge might grant a payment plan or a short delay in the eviction process, especially if the tenant applies for rental assistance programs. This is another reason the process can be lengthy. It doesn't stop the eviction, but it can slow it down.
Q5
Can I increase rent in Kayak Point?
Yes, but you must provide proper notice. For a month-to-month tenancy, you generally need to give at least 60 days' written notice for a rent increase. There are no statewide rent control laws in Washington, so you're not capped on the amount of increase, but it must be reasonable and not retaliatory. Be mindful of Washington rent control rules as this could change.
Q6
What if my tenant refuses to leave after the eviction is final?
Once the court grants you a Writ of Restitution, you must schedule the sheriff to physically remove the tenant. You cannot do this yourself. The sheriff will post a notice and then return on the scheduled date to oversee the lockout. This is the final step in the legal eviction process.
A 3.6/10 places Kayak Point in the 6th percentile of Washington cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1–10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has risen sharply since 1976 — a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Kayak Point (3.6/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
