Real Estate Investing in Raleigh, North Carolina (27608)

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

Wake County • Population: 12,522 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 27608 (Raleigh, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 41.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Raleigh, NC (27608)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,047,537
Avg Monthly Rent $2,088
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $148,261
% Renters 24.6%

Market Analysis: 27608 Raleigh

ZIP 27608 inside Wake County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $1.0M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $1.0M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 27608 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 27608 and stronger Raleigh ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 27608 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 27608 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Raleigh:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,088/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
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
59 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.7%
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27608

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$237,497/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $474,995 $1,760 2.7% +7.7% $237,497
3BR $823,504 $2,210 1.9% +8.2% $274,501
4BR $1,314,506 $2,950 1.6% +9.7% $328,626
5BR $1,649,309 +8.9% $329,862

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$955K$812K$668K$525K$381KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,279$2,108$1,937$1,765$1,594$1,423Mar 2020May 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27608 Compare?

Metric 27608 Raleigh Raleigh-Cary, NC North Carolina
Home Value $1,047,537 $469,319 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 4.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $2,088 $1,618 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27608? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27608 (Raleigh, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 27608 (Raleigh, NC)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

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

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

RPM Property Pros is a full-service property management company in North Carolina specializing in commercial property and association management. summary from their website

CommercialHOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Bottom Line Property Management offers property management services in Charlotte and Raleigh, focusing on maximizing owner investments. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,047,537
Monthly Rent $2,088
Price-to-Rent 41.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.4%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
7.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27608

Population: 12,522

💰 Median Household Income
$148,261
This area
$148,261
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
81.0%
This area
81.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.3 years
This area
40.3 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.0%
Other/Mixed 5.0%
Black/African American 2.6%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
26.6%
This area
26.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
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 27608

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$14,074 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Underwood Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Joyner Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
515 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
B Good

Oberlin Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,121 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Brooks Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 700 Northbrook Drive, Raleigh
👥
438 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Moore Square Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 301 South Person Street, Raleigh
👥
590 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Wiley Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 301 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh
👥
389 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Partnership Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 601 Devereux Street, Raleigh
👥
273 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Douglas Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 600 Ortega Rd, Raleigh
👥
513 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 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

8 Nearby 373 Off-Campus Students
D
William Peace University
730 students · 1.6 mi
D
University of North Carolina System
0 students · 2.3 mi
C
Saint Augustine's University
943 students · 2.3 mi
B+
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
37,323 students · 2.3 mi
C+
Meredith College
1,576 students · 2.5 mi
C+
Shaw University
962 students · 2.7 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-Raleigh
214 students · 3.9 mi
C
Gwinnett College
117 students · 4.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How should investors approach Raleigh, NC?

Raleigh, NC investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($1.0M prices, $2,088/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is Raleigh in NC worth investing in?

Yes - Raleigh, NC a 3.0/5 investability score. With $1.0M home prices against $2,088/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What kind of tenants rent in Raleigh, NC?

Raleigh, NC draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $2,088/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is Raleigh, NC a good market for FHA house hackers?

House hacking works a tougher in Raleigh, NC. Rents of $2,088/mo against $1.0M acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Are homes affordable in Raleigh, NC?

The median home value in Raleigh, NC is roughly $1.0M. That puts it reasonable relative to the NC statewide average.

You know 27608 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27608 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.

Compare Plans

How 27608 ranks in Raleigh-Cary, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 27608 (Raleigh)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 27608 (Raleigh, NC).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.