Real Estate Investing in Raleigh, North Carolina (27609)

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

Wake County • Population: 35,548 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27609 (Raleigh, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Raleigh, NC (27609)?

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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 $563,051
Avg Monthly Rent $1,463
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,118
% Renters 50.5%

Market Analysis: 27609 Raleigh

The 27609 ZIP in Raleigh, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $563K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $563K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 27609 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader NC picture, 27609 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Resident income in 27609 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Raleigh's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 27609. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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: 65/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,463/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 27609

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$134,004/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $268,008 $1,820 4.9% +7.4% $134,004
3BR $465,262 $2,280 3.5% +8.3% $155,087
4BR $756,168 $3,050 2.9% +8.9% $189,042
5BR $1,530,110 +10.0% $306,022

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$593K$511K$429K$348K$266K$184KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,599$1,474$1,349$1,224$1,099$975Dec 2017Apr 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27609 Compare?

Metric 27609 Raleigh Raleigh-Cary, NC North Carolina
Home Value $563,051 $469,319 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 4.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,463 $1,618 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27609? Click to expand

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

51% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27609 (Raleigh, 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

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
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $563,051
Monthly Rent $1,463
Price-to-Rent 32.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.9% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
14.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27609

Population: 35,548

💰 Median Household Income
$78,118
This area
$78,118
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.5%
This area
50.5%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
58.8%
This area
58.8%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.6 years
This area
37.6 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.0%
Black/African American 16.4%
Other/Mixed 13.4%
Hispanic/Latino 11.3%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.9%
This area
15.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
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 27609

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,074 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Brooks Elementary

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

Douglas Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
513 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Green Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
548 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Millbrook Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Root Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
484 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Carroll Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
863 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
B Good

Sanderson High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,661 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Underwood Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1614 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Joyner Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2300 Lowden St., Raleigh
👥
515 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,074 Per Student
B Good

Oberlin Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2816 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh
👥
1,121 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 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
C
Gwinnett College
117 students · 2.7 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-Raleigh
214 students · 2.7 mi
D
William Peace University
730 students · 3.8 mi
C
Saint Augustine's University
943 students · 4.1 mi
C+
Meredith College
1,576 students · 4.4 mi
D
University of North Carolina System
0 students · 4.6 mi
B+
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
37,323 students · 4.7 mi
C+
Shaw University
962 students · 5.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What approach is best for Raleigh, NC real estate?

The best-fit strategy in Raleigh, NC is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is vacancy a concern in Raleigh, NC?

Expect elevated vacancy in Raleigh, NC. Rents at $1,463/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How strong are rents in Raleigh, NC?

Investors in Raleigh, NC typically see rents near $1,463/mo per month against $563K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Is Raleigh, NC suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Raleigh, NC is a challenging. The $1,463/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $563K property.

How strong is the working-renter base in Raleigh, NC?

Tenant demand in Raleigh, NC is solid. The local workforce $1,463/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 27609 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27609 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.

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How 27609 ranks in Raleigh-Cary, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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