Real Estate Investing in Cary, North Carolina (27518)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 27518 (Cary, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- Elevated vacancy: 11.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 39.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Cary, NC (27518)?
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Market Analysis: 27518 Cary
Not every below-median market is a bargain. Cary's 27518 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $746K pricing implies.
Rent of $1,577/mo on a $746K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 27518 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.
Nearby ZIPs in Cary have seen price recovery that 27518 has not matched. Wake County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.
Who lives in 27518 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.
seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Cary:
Property Strategy for 27518
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3BR | $589,744 | $2,380 | 2.9% | +9.8% | $196,581 |
| 4BR | $742,633 | $3,190 | 3.1% | +10.5% | $185,658 |
| 5BR | $947,061 | — | — | +10.5% | $189,412 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 27518 Compare?
| Metric | 27518 | Cary | Raleigh-Cary, NC | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $745,687 | $630,709 | N/A | $330,565 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 7.7% | 6.6% | N/A | 7.8% |
| Avg Rent | $1,577 | $1,720 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.7% | 2.2% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27518 (Cary, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving Wake County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Fox Rental Management is a licensed Real Estate Broker and Property Management Company serving Clayton & Raleigh, NC, specializing in residential management. summary from their website
RPM Property Pros is a full-service property management company in North Carolina specializing in commercial property and association management. summary from their website
Bottom Line Property Management offers property management services in Charlotte and Raleigh, focusing on maximizing owner investments. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $745,687 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,577 |
| Price-to-Rent | 39.4:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 2.5% |
| Cap Rate | 1.7% |
| 5-Year IRR | 9.3% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +2.7% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.5% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +7.7% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +6.6% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +0.9% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -0.1% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +1.5% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.
Run an IRR Analysis →⚠️ Risk Signals
Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.
Demographics in 27518
Population: 18,995
Crime & Safety
Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon
We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.
Expected: Q1 2025
🎓 Schools in 27518
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Adams Elementary
Briarcliff Elementary
Cary Elementary
East Cary Middle
Farmington Woods Elementary
About Repit School Scores
Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.
We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:
- Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
- School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
- Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
- School Environment — Size, type, and structure
Scores are updated annually using federal education data.
🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities
Investor Insight: With 5,403 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which real estate strategy fits Cary, NC?
Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Cary, NC. With home values at $746K and rents near $1,577/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.
Are rents high in Cary, NC?
Expect rents around $1,577/mo per month in Cary, NC. With home values at $746K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.
How do landlord-tenant laws work in Cary, NC?
Cary, NC falls under NC landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.
Is Cary, NC a good market for FHA house hackers?
House hacking works a challenging in Cary, NC. Rents of $1,577/mo against $746K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.
Is vacancy a concern in Cary, NC?
Vacancy risk in Cary, NC is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.
You know 27518 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27518 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.
How 27518 ranks in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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