Real Estate Investing in Sunset Beach, North Carolina (28468)

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

Brunswick County • Population: 4,844 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28468 (Sunset Beach, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

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: 54.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Sunset Beach, NC (28468)?

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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 $432,452
Avg Monthly Rent $1,386
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,143
% Renters 15.3%

Market Analysis: 28468 Sunset Beach

Investors eyeing 28468 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $432K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $432K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 28468 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 28468 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 28468 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Sunset Beach's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 28468. 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 Sunset Beach:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,386/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 28468

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+12.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$130,261/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $260,522 $1,510 4.2% +9.6% $130,261
3BR $418,455 $2,100 3.6% +8.6% $139,485
4BR $711,912 $2,530 2.6% +12.4% $177,978
5BR $986,765 $197,353

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$452K$402K$352K$302K$252K$201KMar 2007Nov 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,468$1,417$1,366$1,315$1,264$1,213Feb 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28468 Compare?

Metric 28468 Sunset Beach North Carolina
Home Value $432,452 $432,452 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.1% 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,386 $1,386 -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 28468? 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 28468 (Sunset Beach, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $432,452
Monthly Rent $1,386
Price-to-Rent 26.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
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: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
54.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28468

Population: 4,844

💰 Median Household Income
$83,143
This area
$83,143
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.3%
This area
15.3%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.0%
This area
41.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
66.2 years
This area
66.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
54.8%
This area
54.8%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.6%
Other/Mixed 4.9%
Black/African American 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
4.0%
This area
4.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
53.3%
This area
53.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Sunset Beach, NC for real estate investors?

Sunset Beach, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $432K and rents near $1,386/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How much do tenants pay in Sunset Beach, NC?

Expect rents around $1,386/mo per month in Sunset Beach, NC. With home values at $432K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Sunset Beach, NC?

Occupancy in Sunset Beach, NC runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,386/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking make sense in Sunset Beach, NC?

House hacking works a challenging in Sunset Beach, NC. Rents of $1,386/mo against $432K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is housing expensive in Sunset Beach, NC?

Sunset Beach, NC median home values land near $432K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,386/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 28468 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28468 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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