Real Estate Investing in Hayesville, North Carolina (28904)

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

Clay County • Population: 10,614 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28904 (Hayesville, 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: 31.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.9 — 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 Hayesville, NC (28904)?

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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 $354,332
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,863
% Renters 20.7%

Market Analysis: 28904 Hayesville

Investors eyeing 28904 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $354K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 28904 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Hayesville have seen price recovery that 28904 has not matched. Clay County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 28904 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 28904 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Hayesville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 28904

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$121,524/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $227,024 $940 3.0% +8.5% $227,024
2BR $309,476 $1,030 2.4% +10.6% $154,738
3BR $364,572 $1,420 2.8% +9.8% $121,524
4BR $589,441 $1,550 1.9% +9.0% $147,360
5BR $765,025 +10.0% $153,005

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$372K$324K$276K$227K$179K$130KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28904 Compare?

Metric 28904 Hayesville North Carolina
Home Value $354,332 $354,332 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% 7.8%
Avg Rent $927 $927 -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 28904? 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 28904 (Hayesville, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $354,332
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 31.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
31.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28904

Population: 10,614

💰 Median Household Income
$59,863
This area
$59,863
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.5%
This area
28.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.8 years
This area
53.8 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
31.2%
This area
31.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.8%
Other/Mixed 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
Asian 1.1%
Black/African American 0.8%
👶 Under 18
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
31.2%
This area
31.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
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 28904

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
14.3:1 Avg Class Size
$15,277 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Hayesville High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,277 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hayesville Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
257 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,277 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hayesville Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
283 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,277 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hayesville Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
387 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,277 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

2 Nearby 415 Off-Campus Students
C
Young Harris College
1,420 students · 11.0 mi
C
Tri-County Community College
969 students · 13.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Hayesville, NC?

Hayesville, NC home values average about $354K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $927/mo in monthly income.

How strong is tenant demand in Hayesville, NC?

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

What kind of market is Hayesville, NC for investors?

Our data puts Hayesville, NC at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $354K and rents around $927/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How landlord-friendly is Hayesville, NC?

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

Are there empty rentals in Hayesville, NC?

Vacancy in Hayesville, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $927/mo.

You know 28904 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28904 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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