Real Estate Investing in Fayetteville, North Carolina (28305)

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

Cumberland County • Population: 5,993 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 28305 (Fayetteville, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Fayetteville, NC (28305)?

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

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $255,902
Avg Monthly Rent $1,425
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,778
% Renters 42.0%

Market Analysis: 28305 Fayetteville

Investors eyeing 28305 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $256K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $1,425/mo on a $256K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 28305 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Put differently, 28305 offers a low basis, the region around Fayetteville has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

From an investor standpoint, 5,993 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.

Strategy in 28305 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $256K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,425/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 28305

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$80,896/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $171,479 $1,150 4.8% +7.1% $85,740
3BR $242,688 $1,530 4.5% +6.7% $80,896
4BR $403,704 $1,900 3.4% +4.6% $100,926

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$271K$243K$215K$187K$160K$132KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,465$1,362$1,259$1,157$1,054$951Nov 2022Sep 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28305 Compare?

Metric 28305 Fayetteville Fayetteville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $255,902 $196,250 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.4% 6.9% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,425 $1,327 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28305? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% 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.
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 28305 (Fayetteville, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 28305 (Fayetteville, NC)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.4%
Moderate

📉 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 $255,902
Monthly Rent $1,425
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +11.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
15.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28305

Population: 5,993

💰 Median Household Income
$66,778
This area
$66,778
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.0%
This area
42.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
49.8%
This area
49.8%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.3 years
This area
42.3 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.1%
Black/African American 20.7%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
Hispanic/Latino 6.2%
Asian 2.2%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.7%
This area
11.7%
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 28305

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.2:1 Avg Class Size
$12,982 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Margaret Willis Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
323 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Alma O Easom Elementary

📚 K – 01 Elementary
👥
267 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

R Max Abbott Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
726 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Cumberland Academy 6-12 Virtual School

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

Cumberland Academy K-5 Virtual School

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

Reid Ross Classical High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3200 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville
👥
216 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ferguson-Easley Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1857 Seabrook Road, Fayetteville
👥
379 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lucile Souders Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 128 Hillview Avenue, Fayetteville
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 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 Technical Community College
10,877 students · 1.6 mi
C+
Fayetteville State University
6,847 students · 1.7 mi
D
Carolina College of Biblical Studies
173 students · 1.9 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville
179 students · 3.1 mi
C
Manna University
230 students · 3.1 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville
169 students · 4.2 mi
D
One Stop Academy
19 students · 5.2 mi
C
Methodist University
1,768 students · 5.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Fayetteville, NC?

Fayetteville, NC median home values land near $256K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,425/mo-per-month rentals.

Are tenants stable in Fayetteville, NC?

Fayetteville, NC draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,425/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How strict are landlord regulations in Fayetteville, NC?

Fayetteville, NC operates under NC law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is Fayetteville, NC suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Fayetteville, NC is a challenging. The $1,425/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $256K property.

What are vacancy rates like in Fayetteville, NC?

Vacancy in Fayetteville, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,425/mo.

You know 28305 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28305 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 28305 ranks in Fayetteville, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 28305 (Fayetteville)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 28305 (Fayetteville, NC).

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