Real Estate Investing in Ernul, North Carolina (28527)

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

Craven County • Population: 1,203 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28527 (Ernul, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Ernul, NC (28527)?

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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 $221,958
Avg Monthly Rent $1,071
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,375
% Renters 26.0%

Market Analysis: 28527 Ernul

The 28527 ZIP in Ernul, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $222K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 28527 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $222K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Statewide comparisons place 28527 among NC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A significant renter share of 26% in 28527 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 28527 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Ernul:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
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: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
New Bern, NC Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
57 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.7%
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 New Bern, NC metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$237K$211K$185K$160K$134K$109KJan 2013Oct 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28527 Compare?

Metric 28527 Ernul New Bern, NC North Carolina
Home Value $221,958 $221,958 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,071 $1,071 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28527? 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 28527 (Ernul, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on New Bern, NC metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
61%
Days Pending
1/2
57 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $221,958
Monthly Rent $1,071
Price-to-Rent 17.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28527

Population: 1,203

💰 Median Household Income
$59,375
This area
$59,375
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.0%
This area
26.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.8%
This area
10.8%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.2 years
This area
47.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.0%
Black/African American 6.0%
👶 Under 18
17.3%
This area
17.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.1%
This area
30.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
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 892 Off-Campus Students
C
Craven Community College
2,851 students · 11.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 892 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Ernul, NC?

Median home price in Ernul, NC is near $222K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Does Ernul, NC make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Ernul, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $222K and rents of $1,071/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Ernul, NC?

Rental vacancy in Ernul, NC is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is rental property easy to operate in Ernul, NC?

Landlord-friendliness in Ernul, NC is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What kind of tenants rent in Ernul, NC?

Ernul, NC offers a consistent renter base at the $1,071/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 28527 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28527 ranks in New Bern, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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