Real Estate Investing in Hot Springs, North Carolina (28743)

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

Madison County • Population: 2,374 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28743 (Hot Springs, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (38/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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: 30.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Hot Springs, NC (28743)?

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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 $329,334
Avg Monthly Rent $1,233
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,625
% Renters 25.5%

Market Analysis: 28743 Hot Springs

This part of Madison County is not an easy win. The 28743 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 28743 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 28743 and stronger Hot Springs ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Looking more closely, 2,374 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 28743 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 Hot Springs:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 51/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,233/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
Asheville, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.0%
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 Asheville, NC metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$348K$305K$262K$219K$176K$133KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28743 Compare?

Metric 28743 Hot Springs Asheville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $329,334 $329,334 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,233 $1,233 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28743? 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 28743 (Hot Springs, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Asheville, NC metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
72%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $329,334
Monthly Rent $1,233
Price-to-Rent 22.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
30.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28743

Population: 2,374

💰 Median Household Income
$52,625
This area
$52,625
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.5%
This area
25.5%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.0%
This area
19.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.7 years
This area
49.7 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
30.1%
This area
30.1%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.2%
Black/African American 1.8%
Other/Mixed 1.0%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
14.8%
This area
14.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.7%
This area
25.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
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 28743

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,807 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Hot Springs Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
138 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,807 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical rental rate in Hot Springs, NC?

Rental rates in Hot Springs, NC average $1,233/mo. Tenant demand and $329K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Where do home prices stand in Hot Springs, NC?

Median home price in Hot Springs, NC is near $329K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Hot Springs, NC a smart market for rental property?

Hot Springs, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $329K and rents near $1,233/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How do experienced investors play Hot Springs, NC?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Hot Springs, NC. With home values at $329K and rents near $1,233/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Hot Springs, NC?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Hot Springs, NC reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 28743 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28743 ranks in Asheville, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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