Real Estate Investing in Stumpy Point, North Carolina (27978)

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

Dare County • Population: 221 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27978 (Stumpy Point, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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: 35.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Stumpy Point, NC (27978)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $340,072
Avg Monthly Rent $1,188
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,532
% Renters 49.2%

Market Analysis: 27978 Stumpy Point

Looking more closely, ZIP 27978 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $340K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $340K asset, 27978 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within NC, ZIP 27978 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Dare County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

From a cash-flow lens, 221 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.

New investors are better served looking at Stumpy Point's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 27978. 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 Stumpy Point:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 51/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,188/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Kill Devil Hills, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.0%
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 Kill Devil Hills, NC metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$356K$317K$278K$239K$200K$161KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27978 Compare?

Metric 27978 Stumpy Point Kill Devil Hills, NC North Carolina
Home Value $340,072 $340,072 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.3% 4.3% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,188 $1,188 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27978? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 49% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27978 (Stumpy Point, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kill Devil Hills, NC metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
82%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $340,072
Monthly Rent $1,188
Price-to-Rent 23.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
35.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27978

Population: 221

💰 Median Household Income
$46,532
This area
$46,532
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
49.2%
This area
49.2%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.2 years
This area
45.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
35.4%
This area
35.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.0%
Hispanic/Latino 12.0%
Other/Mixed 12.0%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.2%
This area
25.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.0%
This area
23.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Stumpy Point, NC?

Typical homes in Stumpy Point, NC go for around $340K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

What are vacancy rates like in Stumpy Point, NC?

Expect elevated vacancy in Stumpy Point, NC. Rents at $1,188/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Stumpy Point in NC worth investing in?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Stumpy Point, NC reflects its $340K prices and $1,188/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within NC.

Is Stumpy Point, NC good for house hacking?

House hacking in Stumpy Point, NC is reasonable to execute. Prices around $340K and rents of $1,188/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What is the renter demographic in Stumpy Point, NC?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Stumpy Point, NC. The rental market absorbs $1,188/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 27978 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 27978 ranks in Kill Devil Hills, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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