Real Estate Investing in Leland, North Carolina (28451)

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

Brunswick County • Population: 44,262 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 28451 (Leland, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Leland, NC (28451)?

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

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $380,629
Avg Monthly Rent $1,656
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,534
% Renters 18.5%

Market Analysis: 28451 Leland

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 28451 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $381K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $381K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 28451 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 28451 among NC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 28451 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Leland averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Leland:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,656/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 28451

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$115,996/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $259,699 $1,620 4.5% +8.1% $129,849
3BR $347,987 $2,250 4.7% +7.5% $115,996
4BR $507,884 $2,720 3.9% +7.9% $126,971
5BR $580,534 +7.9% $116,107

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$397K$351K$305K$259K$213K$167KMar 2007Nov 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,749$1,726$1,702$1,679$1,656$1,633Oct 2022Sep 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28451 Compare?

Metric 28451 Leland North Carolina
Home Value $380,629 $380,629 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,656 $1,656 -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 28451? 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.
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 28451 (Leland, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 28451 (Leland, NC)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $380,629
Monthly Rent $1,656
Price-to-Rent 19.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
6.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28451

Population: 44,262

💰 Median Household Income
$71,534
This area
$71,534
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.5%
This area
18.5%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.8%
This area
33.8%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.4 years
This area
44.4 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.2%
Black/African American 13.1%
Other/Mixed 11.1%
Hispanic/Latino 5.6%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.7%
This area
23.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
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 28451

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
20.8:1 Avg Class Size
$14,232 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Belville Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
755 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,887 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Leland Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
778 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,887 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lincoln Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
713 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,887 Per Student
C+ Average

North Brunswick High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,560 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,887 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Classical Charter Schools of Leland

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
969 Students
👨‍🏫
38.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,611 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

5 Nearby 8,867 Off-Campus Students
C+
Cape Fear Community College
14,119 students · 9.5 mi
D
College of Wilmington
154 students · 12.0 mi
D
Miller-Motte College-Wilmington
152 students · 13.3 mi
B
University of North Carolina Wilmington
17,987 students · 13.7 mi
C
Brunswick Community College
1,845 students · 14.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,867 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Leland, NC?

Median home price in Leland, NC is near $381K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Leland, NC?

Occupancy in Leland, NC runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,656/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What kind of tenants rent in Leland, NC?

Leland, NC offers a reliable renter base at the $1,656/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Leland, NC?

House hacking in Leland, NC is a challenging. With home values around $381K and rents at $1,656/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is it like being a landlord in Leland, NC?

NC law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Leland inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 28451 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28451 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 28451 ranks in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 28451 (Leland)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 28451 (Leland, NC).

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