Real Estate Investing in Castle Hayne, North Carolina (28429)

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

New Hanover County • Population: 9,083 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28429 (Castle Hayne, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

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

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 Castle Hayne, NC (28429)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $371,575
Avg Monthly Rent $1,949
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,227
% Renters 15.7%

Market Analysis: 28429 Castle Hayne

ZIP 28429 in Castle Hayne, NC carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $372K and rents of $1,949/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 28429 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $372K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Put differently, 28429 offers a low basis, the region around Castle Hayne has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 28429 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 28429 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 Castle Hayne:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,949/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
Wilmington, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
60 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.1%
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 Wilmington, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28429

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$106,560/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $262,515 $1,430 3.9% +8.0% $131,257
3BR $342,891 $1,880 3.9% +8.2% $114,297
4BR $426,240 $2,240 3.8% +7.4% $106,560

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$389K$338K$286K$234K$182K$130KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,417$2,312$2,207$2,102$1,996$1,891Feb 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28429 Compare?

Metric 28429 Castle Hayne Wilmington, NC North Carolina
Home Value $371,575 $371,575 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,949 $1,949 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28429? 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 28429 (Castle Hayne, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving New Hanover County

Manage rentals here? List your business →
A1 Property Management Inc.
Carolina Beach, NC

A1 Property Management specializes in professionally managed vacation rentals in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach on Pleasure Island. summary from their website

Short-term rentals
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

CAMS (Community Association Management Services) provides management and financial services for community associations, including onboarding and transition support. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Wilmington, NC property management company offering services for homes and apartment communities, aiming to reduce owner stress and maximize earnings. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Wilmington, NC metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
66%
Days Pending
1/2
60 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $371,575
Monthly Rent $1,949
Price-to-Rent 15.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28429

Population: 9,083

💰 Median Household Income
$63,227
This area
$63,227
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.3%
This area
21.3%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.6 years
This area
45.6 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.5%
Black/African American 13.8%
Other/Mixed 10.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
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 28429

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
17.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,481 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Castle Hayne Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
496 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,481 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Holly Shelter Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
822 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,481 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SEA-Tech

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
265 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,481 Per Student
C+ Average

Wilmington Early College High

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
254 Students
👨‍🏫
23.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,481 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

4 Nearby 8,100 Off-Campus Students
D
Miller-Motte College-Wilmington
152 students · 6.9 mi
C+
Cape Fear Community College
14,119 students · 7.5 mi
B
University of North Carolina Wilmington
17,987 students · 8.2 mi
D
College of Wilmington
154 students · 8.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,100 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is house hacking profitable in Castle Hayne, NC?

For house hackers, Castle Hayne, NC is a challenging. The $1,949/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $372K property.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Castle Hayne, NC?

Castle Hayne, NC draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,949/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What strategy should investors use in Castle Hayne, NC?

Most investors in Castle Hayne, NC run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What kind of market is Castle Hayne, NC for investors?

Castle Hayne, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $372K and rents near $1,949/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What are home prices like in Castle Hayne, NC?

Homes in Castle Hayne, NC typically sell near $372K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

You know 28429 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28429 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.

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How 28429 ranks in Wilmington, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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