Real Estate Investing in Marion, North Carolina (28752)

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

McDowell County • Population: 30,602 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28752 (Marion, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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: 14.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Marion, NC (28752)?

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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 $244,306
Avg Monthly Rent $1,210
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,910
% Renters 28.3%

Market Analysis: 28752 Marion

The 28752 ZIP in Marion, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $244K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $244K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 28752 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 28752 among NC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 28752 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Marion averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The 28752 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 Marion:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,210/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Marion, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.3%
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 Marion, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28752

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$90,631/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $186,224 $950 3.7% +8.4% $93,112
3BR $271,893 $1,190 3.2% +7.1% $90,631
4BR $371,848 $1,430 2.8% +9.0% $92,962
5BR $482,752 +7.2% $96,550

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$256K$228K$199K$171K$142K$114KJan 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,456$1,398$1,339$1,280$1,222$1,163Dec 2025Apr 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28752 Compare?

Metric 28752 Marion Marion, NC North Carolina
Home Value $244,306 $244,306 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,210 $1,210 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28752? 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 28752 (Marion, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Marion, NC metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $244,306
Monthly Rent $1,210
Price-to-Rent 16.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
14.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28752

Population: 30,602

💰 Median Household Income
$53,910
This area
$53,910
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.3%
This area
28.3%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.7 years
This area
41.7 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.9%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 4.8%
Black/African American 4.5%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
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 28752

B Avg School Grade
13 Schools
17.5:1 Avg Class Size
$13,553 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

East McDowell Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Glenwood Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
429 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pleasant Gardens Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Marion Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West McDowell Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Eastfield Global Magnet School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
274 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B+ Above Average

North Cove Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
221 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B Good

Marion Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
356 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B Good

Foothills Community School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
196 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B Good

McDowell Academy for Innovation

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
126 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
B Good

McDowell High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,384 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
C+ Average

McDowell Early College

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
229 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

McDowell Virtual Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
99 Students
👨‍🏫
49.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,553 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

1 Nearby 520 Off-Campus Students
C+
McDowell Technical Community College
1,203 students · 5.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 520 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marion, NC better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Marion, NC, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is NC a landlord-friendly state?

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

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

Our data puts Marion, NC at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $244K and rents around $1,210/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is house hacking profitable in Marion, NC?

House hacking works a challenging in Marion, NC. Rents of $1,210/mo against $244K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Marion, NC?

Vacancy in Marion, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,210/mo.

You know 28752 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28752 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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