Real Estate Investing in Castalia, North Carolina (27816)

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

Franklin County • Population: 2,964 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27816 (Castalia, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 13.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $31,702 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Castalia, NC (27816)?

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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 $223,912
Avg Monthly Rent $1,215
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $31,702
% Renters 29.2%

Market Analysis: 27816 Castalia

This part of Franklin County is not an easy win. The 27816 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 27816 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 27816 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Stepping back, 2,964 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 27816 is an operator game, not a passive one. In practical terms, entry prices of $224K 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 Castalia:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,215/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$238K$208K$178K$147K$117K$87KDec 2008Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27816 Compare?

Metric 27816 Castalia Raleigh-Cary, NC North Carolina
Home Value $223,912 $223,912 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,215 $1,215 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27816? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27816 (Castalia, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $223,912
Monthly Rent $1,215
Price-to-Rent 15.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
13.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27816

Population: 2,964

💰 Median Household Income
$31,702
This area
$31,702
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.2%
This area
29.2%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.9 years
This area
51.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 47.4%
Black/African American 43.9%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 4.5%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
40.1%
This area
40.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 843 Off-Campus Students
C
Louisburg College
413 students · 12.6 mi
C
Nash Community College
2,425 students · 13.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 843 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Castalia, NC for real estate investors?

Castalia, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $224K and rents near $1,215/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is Castalia, NC better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Castalia, NC investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($224K prices, $1,215/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How much rent can I charge in Castalia, NC?

Rents in Castalia, NC run near $1,215/mo. Compared with median home prices of $224K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Does Castalia, NC favor landlords or tenants?

Castalia, NC operates under NC law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What are vacancy rates like in Castalia, NC?

Castalia, NC sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader NC rental market.

You know 27816 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 27816 ranks in Raleigh-Cary, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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