Real Estate Investing in Sapphire, North Carolina (28774)

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

Transylvania County • Population: 1,437 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28774 (Sapphire, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

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: 72.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 38.3 — 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 Sapphire, NC (28774)?

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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 $661,069
Avg Monthly Rent $1,440
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $113,798
% Renters 16.6%

Market Analysis: 28774 Sapphire

The 28774 ZIP covers a section of Sapphire that demands careful diligence. Prices near $661K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 28774 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $661K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Looking more closely, 28774 offers a low basis, the region around Sapphire has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 28774 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 28774, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Sapphire:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,440/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
Brevard, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.8%
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 Brevard, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28774

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+13.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$176,119/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $217,219 $1,330 4.4% +11.4% $217,219
2BR $352,238 $1,600 3.3% +13.6% $176,119
3BR $746,166 $2,010 1.9% +12.4% $248,722
4BR $1,405,483 $2,290 1.2% +13.1% $351,371

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$702K$602K$502K$401K$301K$200KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28774 Compare?

Metric 28774 Sapphire Brevard, NC North Carolina
Home Value $661,069 $661,069 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.9% 6.9% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,440 $1,440 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.7% 1.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28774? 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 28774 (Sapphire, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.9%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Brevard, 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 $661,069
Monthly Rent $1,440
Price-to-Rent 38.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.6%
Cap Rate 1.7%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). 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
72.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28774

Population: 1,437

💰 Median Household Income
$113,798
This area
$113,798
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
52.2%
This area
52.2%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
63.7 years
This area
63.7 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
72.7%
This area
72.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.6%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
4.5%
This area
4.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
46.5%
This area
46.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
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

Should investors consider Sapphire, NC?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Sapphire, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $661K and rents of $1,440/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What are vacancy rates like in Sapphire, NC?

Sapphire, NC sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader NC rental market.

How strong is tenant demand in Sapphire, NC?

Sapphire, NC draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,440/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is house hacking profitable in Sapphire, NC?

House hacking in Sapphire, NC is reasonable to execute. Prices around $661K and rents of $1,440/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How much rent can I charge in Sapphire, NC?

Rents in Sapphire, NC run near $1,440/mo. Compared with median home prices of $661K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 28774 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28774 ranks in Brevard, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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