Walla Walla is in the southeastern region of Washington, approximately 4 hours from Portland and 4.5 hours from Seattle. The largest town in the county, Walla Walla is a local and historic town that provides the necessities for growing families and young professionals. The town, “so great they named it twice”, is known for one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the nation. The Walla Walla Valley produces everything from wheat to asparagus, strawberries, and their famous Walla Walla Sweet Onions.
Plus, their exquisite wine, local restaurateurs, drawing tourism and attraction from all nearby markets and visitors. Walla Walla has experienced an expansion in its wine industry in recent decades, culminating in the area being named “Best Wine Region” in USA Today’s Reader Choice Awards in both 2020 and 2021. Lastly, the market features 3 higher education opportunities, both private and public, and Walla Walla’s largest employers include FirstFruits Farms, Tyson Fresh Meats, Providence St. Mary Medical Center, Washington State Penitentiary, and Walla Walla University.
Walla Walla's downtown area exudes historical charm with its well-preserved architecture and a vibrant arts and culture scene. This draws individuals seeking a unique living experience and contributes to the city's overall appeal for investors and developers, who have harnessed the potential of downtown in renovations, new construction, and mixed use potential.
While still a relatively small town, Walla Walla/College Place is home to Whitman College, a highly regarded liberal arts college founded in 1859 and Walla Walla University, a private Seventh-day Adventist institution. Combined there are ~3,000 students at these institutions and many young students graduate and choose to stay in Walla Walla, finding employment, starting businesses, or raising families.
Groups such as Avenue5 and Prodigy (regional property managers), Weidner Apartment Homes, Evergreen Housing Development, Primrose Real Estate, Wilkinson Corporation, and 11 Capital all have a presence in the market, bringing a level of sophistication not often seen in a town the size of Walla Walla. This lifts the tides of all rental housing and provides potential exit opportunities to buyers who have acquired assets at scale.
The market has been built on the backs of generational investors and founders who have shaped the market through the years. For example, Whitman College was founded in 1859, just 4 years after the founding of Walla Walla County, and has an endowment fund of $840M. Because of this, Walla Walla can feel more guarded and less welcoming to outside investors, making an entrance into the market more challenging for new investors, especially at scale.
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