Real Estate Investing in Union Mills, North Carolina (28167)

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

Rutherford County • Population: 2,217 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28167 (Union Mills, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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: 27.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Union Mills, NC (28167)?

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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 $241,394
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,387
% Renters 4.0%

Market Analysis: 28167 Union Mills

ZIP 28167 in Union Mills, NC carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $241K and rents of $927/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $927/mo on a $241K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 28167 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

On the rental side, 28167 offers a low basis, the region around Union Mills has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The demographic picture in 28167 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Union Mills averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 28167 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Union Mills:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/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
Forest City, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.8%
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 Forest City, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28167

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$91,349/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $267,925 $1,030 2.8% +9.9% $133,962
3BR $274,047 $1,380 3.6% +8.1% $91,349
4BR $434,365 $1,450 2.4% $108,591

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$265K$230K$194K$159K$124K$89KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28167 Compare?

Metric 28167 Union Mills Forest City, NC North Carolina
Home Value $241,394 $241,394 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $927 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28167? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 28167 (Union Mills, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Forest City, 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 $241,394
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 21.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
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: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
27.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28167

Population: 2,217

💰 Median Household Income
$55,387
This area
$55,387
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.6%
This area
22.6%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.2 years
This area
57.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.8%
This area
27.8%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.3%
Black/African American 12.3%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
13.0%
This area
13.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.1%
This area
30.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.9%
This area
11.9%
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 1,251 Off-Campus Students
C+
McDowell Technical Community College
1,203 students · 10.4 mi
C
Isothermal Community College
1,810 students · 12.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,251 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tenant pool like in Union Mills, NC?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Union Mills, NC. The rental market absorbs $927/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is Union Mills, NC a good market for FHA house hackers?

Union Mills, NC is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $241K price point reasonable to enter.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Union Mills, NC?

Vacancy in Union Mills, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $927/mo.

What is it like being a landlord in Union Mills, NC?

NC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Union Mills generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the typical home price in Union Mills, NC?

In Union Mills, NC the median home value sits at $241K. Against the broader NC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 28167 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28167 ranks in Forest City, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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