Real Estate Investing in Washington, North Carolina (27889)

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

Beaufort County • Population: 24,568 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27889 (Washington, 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 vacancy: 15.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Washington, NC (27889)?

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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 $245,149
Avg Monthly Rent $1,184
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,382
% Renters 37.1%

Market Analysis: 27889 Washington

Investors eyeing 27889 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $245K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 27889 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Washington have seen price recovery that 27889 has not matched. Beaufort County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 27889 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The 27889 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 Washington:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,184/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Washington, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.2%
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 Washington, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27889

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$79,571/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $159,143 $990 4.5% +11.2% $79,571
3BR $250,474 $1,340 3.9% +10.1% $83,491
4BR $334,941 $1,660 3.6% +9.1% $83,735

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$260K$228K$196K$164K$131K$99KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,228$1,219$1,209$1,200$1,190$1,180May 2026Jun 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27889 Compare?

Metric 27889 Washington Washington, NC North Carolina
Home Value $245,149 $245,149 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,184 $1,184 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27889? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 27889 (Washington, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Washington, NC metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $245,149
Monthly Rent $1,184
Price-to-Rent 17.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
15.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27889

Population: 24,568

💰 Median Household Income
$49,382
This area
$49,382
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.1%
This area
37.1%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.9 years
This area
46.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.0%
This area
15.0%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.4%
Black/African American 27.4%
Other/Mixed 6.8%
Hispanic/Latino 3.3%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.0%
This area
15.0%
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 27889

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
18.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,461 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

John C Tayloe Elementary

📚 02 – 03 Elementary
👥
348 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,013 Per Student
A Very Good

Eastern Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
492 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,013 Per Student
B+ Above Average

John Small Elementary

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,013 Per Student
B+ Above Average

P S Jones Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
690 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,013 Per Student
B Good

Washington High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
859 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,013 Per Student
B Good

Washington Montessori

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
413 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,150 Per Student
C Below Average

Beaufort Co Early College High

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
276 Students
👨‍🏫
32.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,013 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

1 Nearby 1,037 Off-Campus Students
C
Beaufort County Community College
1,785 students · 5.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,037 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Washington, NC?

Washington, NC home values average about $245K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,184/mo in monthly income.

What is the renter demographic in Washington, NC?

Washington, NC offers a even-keeled renter base at the $1,184/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Washington, NC?

Average rent in Washington, NC is approximately $1,184/mo per month. Against $245K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

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

For Washington, NC, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is Washington, NC a friendly market for rental owners?

Washington, NC falls under NC landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 27889 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27889 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 27889 ranks in Washington, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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