Real Estate Investing in Purlear, North Carolina (28665)

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

Wilkes County • Population: 2,708 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28665 (Purlear, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

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: 29.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.6 — 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 Purlear, NC (28665)?

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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 $287,675
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $43,393
% Renters 19.4%

Market Analysis: 28665 Purlear

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Purlear's 28665 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $288K pricing implies.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $288K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 28665 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader NC picture, 28665 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Resident income in 28665 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 28665 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 Purlear:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+15.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
North Wilkesboro, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.7%
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 North Wilkesboro, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28665

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$108,856/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $275,254 $930 2.4% +9.8% $137,627
3BR $326,569 $1,230 2.7% +9.3% $108,856

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$303K$264K$225K$186K$147K$108KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28665 Compare?

Metric 28665 Purlear North Wilkesboro, NC North Carolina
Home Value $287,675 $287,675 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 7.7% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28665? 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 28665 (Purlear, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on North Wilkesboro, NC metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
79%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $287,675
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 28.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 10.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +15.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
29.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28665

Population: 2,708

💰 Median Household Income
$43,393
This area
$43,393
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.8 years
This area
45.8 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
29.2%
This area
29.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.4%
Other/Mixed 1.1%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
14.4%
This area
14.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 331 Off-Campus Students
C+
Wilkes Community College
2,405 students · 11.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Purlear, NC?

Purlear, NC rentals go for roughly $837/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $288K acquisition costs.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Purlear, NC?

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

Is Purlear in NC worth investing in?

Our data puts Purlear, NC at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $288K and rents around $837/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the renter demographic in Purlear, NC?

Purlear, NC offers a stable renter base at the $837/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

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

In Purlear, NC the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $288K prices and $837/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 28665 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28665 ranks in North Wilkesboro, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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