Real Estate Investing in Fayetteville, North Carolina (28301)

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

Cumberland County • Population: 16,221 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28301 (Fayetteville, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 18.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.3% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $34,748 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Fayetteville, NC (28301)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $146,945
Avg Monthly Rent $1,411
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $34,748
% Renters 63.7%

Market Analysis: 28301 Fayetteville

ZIP 28301 in Fayetteville, NC carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $147K and rents of $1,411/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $1,411/mo on a $147K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 28301 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Fayetteville have seen price recovery that 28301 has not matched. Cumberland County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A healthy renter share of 64% in 28301 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 28301, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Fayetteville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,411/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Fayetteville, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
53 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.8%
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 Fayetteville, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28301

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
7.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+14.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$46,581/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $110,848 $1,120 7.3% +14.6% $55,424
3BR $139,743 $1,520 7.8% +12.3% $46,581
4BR $219,034 $1,880 6.2% +9.1% $54,758

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$159K$137K$115K$93K$71K$49KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,448$1,373$1,299$1,225$1,151$1,077Apr 2022Jun 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28301 Compare?

Metric 28301 Fayetteville Fayetteville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $146,945 $196,250 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.9% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,411 $1,327 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.5% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28301? Click to expand

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

64% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 28301 (Fayetteville, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.5%
Good
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fayetteville, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
1/2
53 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $146,945
Monthly Rent $1,411
Price-to-Rent 8.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.5%
Cap Rate 7.5%
5-Year IRR 13.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.5%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
18.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28301

Population: 16,221

💰 Median Household Income
$34,748
This area
$34,748
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
63.7%
This area
63.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.3%
This area
7.3%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.4 years
This area
34.4 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.2%
This area
18.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 70.3%
White 17.9%
Other/Mixed 10.7%
Hispanic/Latino 4.8%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.1%
This area
23.1%
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 28301

B Avg School Grade
15 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,752 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cumberland Academy 6-12 Virtual School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
445 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cumberland Academy K-5 Virtual School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
222 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Reid Ross Classical High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
216 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ferguson-Easley Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
379 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lucile Souders Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Walker-Spivey Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

J W Seabrook Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
280 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Reid Ross Classical Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
223 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

Luther Nick Jeralds Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
602 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

Westarea Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
583 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

E E Smith High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,000 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
C+ Average

Cross Creek Early College

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
252 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
C+ Average

Cumberland International Early College

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
250 Students
👨‍🏫
21.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
C+ Average

Ramsey Street High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
24 Students
👨‍🏫
1.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
C+ Average

The Capitol Encore Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
832 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$9,528 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 3,650 Off-Campus Students
C+
Fayetteville State University
6,847 students · 0.5 mi
C
Fayetteville Technical Community College
10,877 students · 2.5 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville
169 students · 2.5 mi
D
Carolina College of Biblical Studies
173 students · 3.5 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville
179 students · 4.2 mi
C
Methodist University
1,768 students · 4.2 mi
C
Manna University
230 students · 4.5 mi
D
One Stop Academy
19 students · 7.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,650 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical home price in Fayetteville, NC?

Homes in Fayetteville, NC typically sell near $147K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

Is the tenant base reliable in Fayetteville, NC?

Tenant demand in Fayetteville, NC is solid. The local workforce $1,411/mo rents across most rental classes.

How much is rent in Fayetteville, NC?

Rents in Fayetteville, NC run near $1,411/mo. Compared with median home prices of $147K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Is Fayetteville, NC a friendly market for rental owners?

For rental operators, Fayetteville, NC rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is Fayetteville, NC good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Fayetteville, NC. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,411/mo rents and $147K home values.

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How 28301 ranks in Fayetteville, NC

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