Real Estate Investing in Fleetwood, North Carolina (28626)

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

Ashe County • Population: 3,058 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28626 (Fleetwood, 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: 34.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.1 — 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 Fleetwood, NC (28626)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $421,627
Avg Monthly Rent $1,206
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,891
% Renters 7.1%

Market Analysis: 28626 Fleetwood

The 28626 ZIP in Fleetwood, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $422K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 28626 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $422K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 28626 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 28626 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 28626 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Fleetwood:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,206/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 28626

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+10.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$161,413/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $370,558 $1,340 2.6% +9.5% $185,279
3BR $484,239 $1,770 2.6% +10.1% $161,413

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$440K$389K$338K$288K$237K$186KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28626 Compare?

Metric 28626 Fleetwood North Carolina
Home Value $421,627 $421,627 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.3% 4.3% 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,206 $1,206 -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 28626? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 28626 (Fleetwood, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $421,627
Monthly Rent $1,206
Price-to-Rent 29.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
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: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
34.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28626

Population: 3,058

💰 Median Household Income
$62,891
This area
$62,891
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.0%
This area
39.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.4 years
This area
48.4 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
34.7%
This area
34.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.5%
Other/Mixed 0.5%
👶 Under 18
13.0%
This area
13.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
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 318 Off-Campus Students
B
Appalachian State University
21,253 students · 11.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Fleetwood, NC?

Rent in Fleetwood, NC is around $1,206/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $422K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the tenant pool like in Fleetwood, NC?

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

How much does a house cost in Fleetwood, NC?

Median home price in Fleetwood, NC is near $422K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Fleetwood, NC a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Fleetwood, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $422K and rents near $1,206/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is Fleetwood, NC landlord-friendly?

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

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