Real Estate Investing in Holly Ridge, North Carolina (28445)

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

Onslow County • Population: 9,784 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28445 (Holly Ridge, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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: 53.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Holly Ridge, NC (28445)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $528,630
Avg Monthly Rent $1,880
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,720
% Renters 22.8%

Market Analysis: 28445 Holly Ridge

The 28445 ZIP covers a section of Holly Ridge that demands careful diligence. Prices near $529K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $1,880/mo on a $529K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 28445 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 28445 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 28445 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.

New investors are better served looking at Holly Ridge's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 28445. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Holly Ridge:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,880/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
Jacksonville, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
47 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.0%
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 Jacksonville, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28445

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$148,186/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $352,570 $1,140 2.3% +11.2% $352,570
2BR $361,060 $1,370 2.7% +10.0% $180,530
3BR $444,559 $1,910 3.1% +9.9% $148,186
4BR $721,514 $2,310 2.3% +10.8% $180,378
5BR $1,012,773 +10.9% $202,555

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$555K$485K$415K$345K$275K$205KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,934$1,880$1,825$1,771$1,717$1,662Jul 2022Jul 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28445 Compare?

Metric 28445 Holly Ridge Jacksonville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $528,630 $528,630 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,880 $1,880 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28445? 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 →
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 28445 (Holly Ridge, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Jacksonville, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
1/2
47 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $528,630
Monthly Rent $1,880
Price-to-Rent 23.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
53.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28445

Population: 9,784

💰 Median Household Income
$79,720
This area
$79,720
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.8%
This area
22.8%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.6%
This area
40.6%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.6 years
This area
35.6 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
53.6%
This area
53.6%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.4%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Black/African American 2.7%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 28445

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
17.0:1 Avg Class Size
$11,578 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Dixon Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
734 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B Good

Coastal Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
832 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B Good

Surf City Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
850 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,071 Per Student
C+ Average

Dixon High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,187 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Holly Ridge, NC?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Holly Ridge, NC. The numbers - $529K homes against $1,880/mo rents - support that play.

How expensive is real estate in Holly Ridge, NC?

Homes in Holly Ridge, NC typically sell near $529K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which predictable long-term demand.

How much do tenants pay in Holly Ridge, NC?

The typical rental in Holly Ridge, NC commands about $1,880/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $529K purchase basis.

Does house hacking work in Holly Ridge, NC?

For house hackers, Holly Ridge, NC is a challenging. The $1,880/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $529K property.

Is Holly Ridge, NC a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Holly Ridge, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $529K and rents near $1,880/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 28445 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28445 ranks in Jacksonville, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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