Real Estate Investing in Oak Island, North Carolina (28465)

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

Brunswick County • Population: 8,689 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28465 (Oak Island, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (50/100)

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: 61.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Oak Island, NC (28465)?

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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 $610,522
Avg Monthly Rent $2,250
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,442
% Renters 13.3%

Market Analysis: 28465 Oak Island

ZIP 28465 in Oak Island, NC carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $611K and rents of $2,250/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 28465 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Oak Island have seen price recovery that 28465 has not matched. Brunswick County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 28465 ZIP's population of 8,689 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that records the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 28465 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Oak Island:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,250/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 28465

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+11.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$186,838/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $385,144 $1,410 2.6% +11.2% $192,572
3BR $560,514 $1,960 2.5% +11.2% $186,838
4BR $881,147 $2,370 1.9% +11.8% $220,287
5BR $1,331,445 +11.8% $266,289

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$641K$552K$463K$374K$285K$195KMar 2007Nov 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,457$2,337$2,218$2,098$1,978$1,858Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28465 Compare?

Metric 28465 Oak Island North Carolina
Home Value $610,522 $610,522 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 7.1% 7.1% 7.8%
Avg Rent $2,250 $2,250 -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 28465? 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 28465 (Oak Island, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $610,522
Monthly Rent $2,250
Price-to-Rent 22.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
61.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28465

Population: 8,689

💰 Median Household Income
$86,442
This area
$86,442
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.3%
This area
13.3%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.5%
This area
43.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
60.0 years
This area
60.0 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
61.3%
This area
61.3%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.4%
Other/Mixed 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
Black/African American 0.7%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
9.0%
This area
9.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
36.3%
This area
36.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 767 Off-Campus Students
C
Brunswick Community College
1,845 students · 11.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 767 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Oak Island, NC?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Oak Island, NC best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $611K price point.

Is the tenant base reliable in Oak Island, NC?

The renter base in Oak Island, NC is reasonable for the $2,250/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

How much does a house cost in Oak Island, NC?

Homes in Oak Island, NC typically sell near $611K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which steady long-term demand.

How does Oak Island, NC rate as a rental market?

Oak Island, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $611K and rents near $2,250/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is Oak Island, NC good for landlords?

For rental operators, Oak Island, NC rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

You know 28465 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28465 ranks in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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