Real Estate Investing in Lake Park, North Carolina (28079)

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

Union County • Population: 40,820 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 28079 (Lake Park, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Lake Park, NC (28079)?

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 $435,988
Avg Monthly Rent $2,055
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,991
% Renters 16.7%

Market Analysis: 28079 Lake Park

Investors eyeing 28079 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $436K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $436K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 28079 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 28079's metrics run below Union County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A robust renter share of 17% in 28079 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The right play in 28079 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Lake Park:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,055/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 28079

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$114,174/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $289,970 $2,220 5.5% +8.3% $144,985
3BR $380,028 $2,730 5.2% +8.2% $126,676
4BR $482,421 $3,470 5.2% +8.7% $120,605
5BR $570,870 +8.8% $114,174

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$465K$400K$336K$271K$207K$142KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,217$2,036$1,855$1,674$1,493$1,312Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28079 Compare?

Metric 28079 Lake Park North Carolina
Home Value $435,988 $435,988 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% 7.8%
Avg Rent $2,055 $2,055 -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 28079? 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 28079 (Lake Park, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 28079 (Lake Park, NC)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $435,988
Monthly Rent $2,055
Price-to-Rent 17.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
3.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28079

Population: 40,820

💰 Median Household Income
$94,991
This area
$94,991
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.7%
This area
16.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.3%
This area
40.3%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.4 years
This area
37.4 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.8%
Other/Mixed 9.5%
Black/African American 8.4%
Hispanic/Latino 6.1%
Asian 3.3%
👶 Under 18
26.5%
This area
26.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.6%
This area
11.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
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

🎓 Schools in 28079

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
17.7:1 Avg Class Size
$11,638 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Hemby Bridge Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
493 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

Indian Trail Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
620 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

Poplin Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
759 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

Porter Ridge Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
724 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

Sun Valley Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
929 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C+ Average

Porter Ridge Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,385 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C+ Average

Porter Ridge High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,766 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C Below Average

Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail

📚 K – 10 High School Charter
👥
1,181 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,574 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 1,346 Off-Campus Students
D
Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary
82 students · 8.3 mi
C
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte
212 students · 8.3 mi
C
No Grease Barber School
15 students · 11.1 mi
C
Wingate University
3,322 students · 12.6 mi
C+
Queens University of Charlotte
1,846 students · 14.1 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Charlotte
81 students · 14.4 mi
C+
Central Piedmont Community College
18,446 students · 14.8 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Pineville
81 students · 15.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,346 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Park, NC a smart market for rental property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Lake Park, NC reflects its $436K prices and $2,055/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within NC.

Are renters plentiful in Lake Park, NC?

Working renters make up the core of the Lake Park, NC tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

How do experienced investors play Lake Park, NC?

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

Can I live-in-and-rent in Lake Park, NC?

House hacking in Lake Park, NC is a challenging. With home values around $436K and rents at $2,055/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is the average monthly rent in Lake Park, NC?

Expect rents around $2,055/mo per month in Lake Park, NC. With home values at $436K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 28079 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28079 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 28079 ranks in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 28079 (Lake Park)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 28079 (Lake Park, NC).

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