Real Estate Investing in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina (28469)

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

Brunswick County • Population: 9,364 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28469 (Ocean Isle 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: 52.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 41.7 — 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 Ocean Isle Beach, NC (28469)?

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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 $536,270
Avg Monthly Rent $1,071
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,071
% Renters 13.9%

Market Analysis: 28469 Ocean Isle Beach

The 28469 ZIP covers a section of Ocean Isle Beach that demands careful diligence. Prices near $536K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $536K asset, 28469 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Ocean Isle Beach have seen price recovery that 28469 has not matched. Brunswick County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 28469 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 28469 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 Ocean Isle Beach:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,071/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 28469

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+13.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$146,936/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $271,437 $1,090 2.9% +11.3% $271,437
2BR $321,477 $1,190 2.7% +9.8% $160,739
3BR $440,808 $1,660 2.7% +8.8% $146,936
4BR $774,015 $2,000 1.9% +11.1% $193,504
5BR $1,303,313 +13.5% $260,663

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$559K$493K$428K$362K$296K$230KMar 2007Nov 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28469 Compare?

Metric 28469 Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina
Home Value $536,270 $536,270 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,071 $1,071 -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 28469? 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 28469 (Ocean Isle Beach, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $536,270
Monthly Rent $1,071
Price-to-Rent 41.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.4%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
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: 1.6%  |  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
52.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28469

Population: 9,364

💰 Median Household Income
$83,071
This area
$83,071
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.7%
This area
40.7%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
61.0 years
This area
61.0 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
52.2%
This area
52.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.4%
Other/Mixed 5.0%
Hispanic/Latino 3.9%
Black/African American 2.8%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
10.5%
This area
10.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
39.8%
This area
39.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Ocean Isle Beach, NC for investors?

Our data puts Ocean Isle Beach, NC at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $536K and rents around $1,071/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is Ocean Isle Beach, NC better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Ocean Isle Beach, NC investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($536K prices, $1,071/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Are tenants stable in Ocean Isle Beach, NC?

Working renters make up the core of the Ocean Isle Beach, NC tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Ocean Isle Beach, NC?

Vacancy in Ocean Isle Beach, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,071/mo.

Does house hacking make sense in Ocean Isle Beach, NC?

House hacking works a challenging in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Rents of $1,071/mo against $536K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 28469 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28469 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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