Real Estate Investing in Kure Beach, North Carolina (28449)

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

New Hanover County • Population: 2,017 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28449 (Kure Beach, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 56.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 39.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Kure Beach, NC (28449)?

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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 $753,563
Avg Monthly Rent $1,584
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $101,471
% Renters 26.8%

Market Analysis: 28449 Kure Beach

The 28449 ZIP covers a section of Kure Beach that demands careful diligence. Prices near $754K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 28449 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 28449 and stronger Kure Beach ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 28449 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Kure Beach averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 28449, 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 Kure Beach:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,584/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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 28449

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$223,244/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $467,796 $1,760 2.7% +9.3% $233,898
3BR $669,731 $2,310 2.5% +8.9% $223,244
4BR $910,684 $2,520 2.0% +8.4% $227,671
5BR $1,142,638 +8.4% $228,528

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$807K$704K$601K$498K$395K$292KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28449 Compare?

Metric 28449 Kure Beach Wilmington, NC North Carolina
Home Value $753,563 $753,563 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,584 $1,584 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28449? 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 28449 (Kure Beach, 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
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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
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
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 $753,563
Monthly Rent $1,584
Price-to-Rent 39.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.5%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
56.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28449

Population: 2,017

💰 Median Household Income
$101,471
This area
$101,471
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
49.2%
This area
49.2%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
56.9 years
This area
56.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
56.4%
This area
56.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.7%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
10.8%
This area
10.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.1%
This area
25.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Kure Beach, NC?

Kure Beach, NC home values average about $754K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,584/mo in monthly income.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Kure Beach, NC?

NC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Kure Beach generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What are rental rates like in Kure Beach, NC?

Average rent in Kure Beach, NC is approximately $1,584/mo per month. Against $754K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Kure Beach, NC?

House hacking in Kure Beach, NC is a challenging. With home values around $754K and rents at $1,584/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Which real estate strategy fits Kure Beach, NC?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Kure Beach, NC. The numbers - $754K homes against $1,584/mo rents - support that play.

You know 28449 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28449 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 28449 ranks in Wilmington, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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