Real Estate Investing in Lumberton, North Carolina (28358)

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

Robeson County • Population: 33,745 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 28358 (Lumberton, 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Lumberton, NC (28358)?

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

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $144,722
Avg Monthly Rent $1,198
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,595
% Renters 42.9%

Market Analysis: 28358 Lumberton

ZIP 28358 in Lumberton, NC carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $145K and rents of $1,198/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 28358 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $145K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Lumberton have seen price recovery that 28358 has not matched. Robeson County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 28358 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 28358 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 Lumberton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,198/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
Lumberton, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.9%
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 Lumberton, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28358

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
9.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$43,127/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $54,602 $750 9.9% +5.4% $54,602
2BR $86,255 $930 7.8% +7.7% $43,127
3BR $149,323 $1,190 5.7% +7.9% $49,774
4BR $241,267 $1,390 4.1% +8.1% $60,317
5BR $314,585 +7.8% $62,917

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$151K$136K$121K$106K$91K$76KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,213$1,168$1,123$1,078$1,033$988Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28358 Compare?

Metric 28358 Lumberton Lumberton, NC North Carolina
Home Value $144,722 $110,299 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.7% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,198 $1,017 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.5% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28358? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 43% 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 28358 (Lumberton, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 28358 (Lumberton, NC)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.5%
Good
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lumberton, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $144,722
Monthly Rent $1,198
Price-to-Rent 10.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.9%
Cap Rate 6.5%
5-Year IRR 11.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.5%). 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
15.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28358

Population: 33,745

💰 Median Household Income
$45,595
This area
$45,595
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.9%
This area
42.9%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.2 years
This area
36.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 39.0%
Black/African American 31.9%
Other/Mixed 28.0%
Hispanic/Latino 7.5%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
27.4%
This area
27.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.7%
This area
17.7%
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 28358

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
16.8:1 Avg Class Size
$13,747 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Rowland Norment Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
468 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
A Very Good

W H Knuckles

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
384 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B+ Above Average

East Robeson Primary

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
519 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Littlefield Middle

📚 04 – 08 School
👥
643 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Long Branch Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lumberton Junior

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
640 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Piney Grove Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
473 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Tanglewood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
358 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B Good

L Gilbert Carroll

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
B Good

Lumberton Senior High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,950 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,227 Per Student
C+ Average

Southeastern Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$8,950 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

2 Nearby 1,389 Off-Campus Students
C
Robeson Community College
1,989 students · 6.1 mi
C
Bladen Community College
990 students · 12.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,389 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lumberton, NC a good place for real estate investing?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Lumberton, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $145K and rents of $1,198/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What investment strategy works best in Lumberton, NC?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Lumberton, NC best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $145K price point.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Lumberton, NC?

Lumberton, NC rentals go for roughly $1,198/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $145K acquisition costs.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Lumberton, NC?

Rental vacancy in Lumberton, NC is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Lumberton, NC?

The house hack math a challenging in Lumberton, NC. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,198/mo rents and $145K home values.

You know 28358 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28358 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 28358 ranks in Lumberton, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 28358 (Lumberton)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 28358 (Lumberton, NC).

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