Guide · 6 min read · Updated 2026-06-04
How REC Silicon Changed the Moses Lake Rental Market
When REC Silicon restarted its Moses Lake plant, it didn't just bring jobs. It transformed the local rental market. Here's how.
The before: a sleepy rental market
Before REC Silicon restarted operations in 2023, Moses Lake's rental market was typical for a small central Washington city: modest demand, stable rents, and plenty of older inventory. Vacancy rates hovered around 7–9%. New construction was minimal.
The catalyst: REC Silicon and the manufacturing wave
REC Silicon's restart signaled that Moses Lake was becoming a serious advanced manufacturing hub. Group14 and Sila followed with DOE-backed battery materials plants. Genie expanded. The result: hundreds of engineers, technicians, and support staff needed housing — immediately.
The after: a transformed market
Vacancy rates dropped to 4–5%. Rents on new construction rose 8–12%. Older inventory that once sat vacant now leases quickly. West Marina Drive became the new-construction corridor. And Marina Shore Villas was built specifically to fill the quality housing gap this workforce created.
What it means for future renters
The market isn't going back to its pre-2023 state. Manufacturing growth is a multi-year trend. Quality new-construction rentals will remain competitive. The best strategy: act fast when you find a unit, have your documents ready, and consider new construction for total cost of living value.
Moving to Moses Lake for REC Silicon? Marina Shore Villas is the closest new-construction rental to the plant.
REC Silicon housing guide →