Real Estate Investing in Lillington, North Carolina (27546)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Harnett County • Population: 20,802 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27546 (Lillington, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Lillington, NC (27546)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $293,723
Avg Monthly Rent $1,713
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,043
% Renters 32.8%

Market Analysis: 27546 Lillington

The 27546 ZIP in Lillington, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $294K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 27546 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 27546 among NC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 27546 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Lillington averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategy in 27546 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $294K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lillington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,713/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Fayetteville, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
53 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Fayetteville, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27546

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$84,820/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $184,760 $940 3.7% +11.0% $92,380
3BR $279,312 $1,320 3.4% +9.3% $93,104
4BR $374,437 $1,580 3.0% +7.8% $93,609
5BR $424,100 +7.1% $84,820

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$312K$273K$234K$195K$156K$118KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,779$1,708$1,637$1,566$1,495$1,425Apr 2024Jun 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27546 Compare?

Metric 27546 Lillington Fayetteville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $293,723 $293,723 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,713 $1,713 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27546? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27546 (Lillington, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fayetteville, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
1/2
53 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $293,723
Monthly Rent $1,713
Price-to-Rent 14.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 11.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +9.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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.

Vacancy
10.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27546

Population: 20,802

💰 Median Household Income
$57,043
This area
$57,043
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.8%
This area
32.8%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.9 years
This area
35.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 67.4%
Black/African American 19.4%
Other/Mixed 11.1%
Hispanic/Latino 6.4%
Asian 2.2%
👶 Under 18
21.2%
This area
21.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
11.5%

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 27546

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$11,473 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Boone Trail Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
533 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,473 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lillington-Shawtown Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
678 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,473 Per Student
B Good

Western Harnett Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
766 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,473 Per Student
C+ Average

STAR Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
23 Students
👨‍🏫
2.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,473 Per Student
C+ Average

Western Harnett High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,343 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,473 Per Student
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

2 Nearby
C
Campbell University
5,115 students · 7.4 mi
C
Heritage Bible College
33 students · 12.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is vacancy risk in Lillington, NC?

Lillington, NC vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Are renters plentiful in Lillington, NC?

The renter base in Lillington, NC is reasonable for the $1,713/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

Is Lillington, NC a good place for real estate investing?

Lillington, NC rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $294K and rents near $1,713/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Are landlord laws favorable in Lillington, NC?

NC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Lillington generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What do rentals go for in Lillington, NC?

Expect rents around $1,713/mo per month in Lillington, NC. With home values at $294K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 27546 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 27546 ranks in Fayetteville, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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