Real Estate Investing in Havelock, North Carolina (28532)

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

Craven County • Population: 19,918 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 28532 (Havelock, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (69/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Havelock, NC (28532)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $237,437
Avg Monthly Rent $1,384
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,389
% Renters 46.7%

Market Analysis: 28532 Havelock

This part of Craven County is not an easy win. The 28532 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 28532 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader NC picture, 28532 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

On the rental side, 19,918 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Havelock's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 28532. 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 Havelock:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,384/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 28532

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$72,134/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $149,040 $1,340 6.5% +11.6% $74,520
3BR $240,947 $1,800 5.4% +9.9% $80,316
4BR $288,537 $2,250 5.6% +9.1% $72,134

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$249K$221K$192K$164K$135K$107KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,542$1,460$1,377$1,294$1,211$1,128Mar 2023Nov 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28532 Compare?

Metric 28532 Havelock New Bern, NC North Carolina
Home Value $237,437 $237,437 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 8.0% 8.0% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,384 $1,384 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28532? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 47% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 28532 (Havelock, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.0%
Strong

📉 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 $237,437
Monthly Rent $1,384
Price-to-Rent 14.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 12.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
13.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28532

Population: 19,918

💰 Median Household Income
$61,389
This area
$61,389
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.7%
This area
46.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.5%
This area
18.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.1 years
This area
29.1 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.2%
This area
13.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.1%
Black/African American 19.5%
Other/Mixed 13.0%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Asian 3.4%
👶 Under 18
26.9%
This area
26.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.2%
This area
9.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
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

🎓 Schools in 28532

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.8:1 Avg Class Size
$12,267 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Havelock Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
288 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Havelock Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
B+ Above Average

W Jesse Gurganus Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Graham A Barden Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
B Good

Arthur W Edwards Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
B Good

Roger Bell New Tech Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
B Good

Tucker Creek Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
C+ Average

Havelock High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,063 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 Per Student
C Below Average

Early College EAST High

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
199 Students
👨‍🏫
23.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,267 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

2 Nearby 899 Off-Campus Students
C
Pamlico Community College
379 students · 13.1 mi
C
Carteret Community College
1,579 students · 14.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 899 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Havelock, NC?

Typical homes in Havelock, NC go for around $237K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% steady price movement.

What are vacancy rates like in Havelock, NC?

Havelock, NC carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $1,384/mo.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Havelock, NC?

Havelock, NC offers a even-keeled renter base at the $1,384/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What is the smart move for investors in Havelock, NC?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Havelock, NC best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $237K price point.

How strict are landlord regulations in Havelock, NC?

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

You know 28532 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28532 ranks in New Bern, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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