Real Estate Investing in Rocky Point, North Carolina (28457)

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

Pender County • Population: 11,131 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28457 (Rocky Point, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 35.2 — 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 Rocky Point, NC (28457)?

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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 $376,736
Avg Monthly Rent $891
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,474
% Renters 17.0%

Market Analysis: 28457 Rocky Point

This part of Pender County is not an easy win. The 28457 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 28457 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 28457 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 28457 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Rocky Point averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Rocky Point's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 28457. 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 Rocky Point:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $891/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 28457

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$111,095/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $355,571 $1,380 2.8% +8.1% $118,524
4BR $444,379 $1,660 2.7% +7.9% $111,095

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$395K$343K$291K$240K$188K$136KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28457 Compare?

Metric 28457 Rocky Point Wilmington, NC North Carolina
Home Value $376,736 $376,736 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $891 $891 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28457? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 28457 (Rocky Point, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
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 $376,736
Monthly Rent $891
Price-to-Rent 35.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 7.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
11.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28457

Population: 11,131

💰 Median Household Income
$65,474
This area
$65,474
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.0%
This area
17.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.1%
This area
18.1%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.8 years
This area
37.8 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.5%
Other/Mixed 18.3%
Hispanic/Latino 16.9%
Black/African American 14.9%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
22.2%
This area
22.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
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 28457

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$12,071 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Rocky Point Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,071 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cape Fear Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
543 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,071 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cape Fear Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,071 Per Student
B Good

Heide Trask High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
734 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,071 Per Student
C+ Average
👥
48 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,071 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

1 Nearby
D
Miller-Motte College-Wilmington
152 students · 14.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Rocky Point, NC?

Vacancy risk in Rocky Point, NC is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are renters plentiful in Rocky Point, NC?

Rocky Point, NC draws a steady base of working renters. Demand at the $891/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is Rocky Point in NC worth investing in?

Investors tracking Rocky Point, NC will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $377K median home values and $891/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting measured returns.

What are home prices like in Rocky Point, NC?

The median home value in Rocky Point, NC is roughly $377K. That puts it reasonable relative to the NC statewide average.

What type of investing works in Rocky Point, NC?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Rocky Point, NC best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $377K price point.

You know 28457 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28457 ranks in Wilmington, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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