Real Estate Investing in Stacy, North Carolina (28581)

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

Carteret County • Population: 132 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28581 (Stacy, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

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: 59.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Stacy, NC (28581)?

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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 $254,070
Avg Monthly Rent $1,062
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income N/A
% Renters 10.0%

Market Analysis: 28581 Stacy

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Stacy's 28581 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $254K pricing implies.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $254K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 28581 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 28581's metrics run below Carteret County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 28581 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Stacy's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 28581. 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 Stacy:

Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost × the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,062/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Morehead City, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
76 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.0%
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 Morehead City, NC metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$268K$236K$205K$174K$142K$111KApr 2007Dec 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28581 Compare?

Metric 28581 Stacy Morehead City, NC North Carolina
Home Value $254,070 $254,070 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.1% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,062 $1,062 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28581? 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 28581 (Stacy, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Morehead City, NC metro

5/10
Elevated Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
76%
Days Pending
2/2
76 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $254,070
Monthly Rent $1,062
Price-to-Rent 19.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
59.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28581

Population: 132

💰 Median Household Income
N/A
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.3%
This area
33.3%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.9 years
This area
51.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
59.7%
This area
59.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
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 is the investability score for Stacy, NC?

Yes - Stacy, NC a 3.0/5 investability score. With $254K home prices against $1,062/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How much rent can I charge in Stacy, NC?

Rents in Stacy, NC run near $1,062/mo. Compared with median home prices of $254K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Stacy, NC?

Stacy, NC investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($254K prices, $1,062/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What is the tenant pool like in Stacy, NC?

The tenant pool in Stacy, NC is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,062/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Are there empty rentals in Stacy, NC?

Vacancy in Stacy, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,062/mo.

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How 28581 ranks in Morehead City, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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