Real Estate Investing in Union, South Carolina (29379)

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

Union County • Population: 17,580 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29379 (Union, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 12.1% 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 Union, SC (29379)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $142,656
Avg Monthly Rent $936
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,200
% Renters 35.5%

Market Analysis: 29379 Union

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Union's 29379 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $143K pricing implies.

The investment case in 29379 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $143K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

The gap between 29379 and stronger Union ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 29379 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Union:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $936/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
Union, SC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.6%
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 Union, SC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 29379

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$56,694/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $113,389 $1,040 6.6% +9.0% $56,694
3BR $190,407 $1,270 4.8% +9.7% $63,469
4BR $243,000 $1,380 4.1% +9.3% $60,750

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$148K$133K$117K$101K$86K$70KFeb 2011Nov 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29379 Compare?

Metric 29379 Union Union, SC South Carolina
Home Value $142,656 $142,656 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $936 $936 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.1% 5.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29379? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 36% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29379 (Union, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Union, SC 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 $142,656
Monthly Rent $936
Price-to-Rent 12.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.9%
Cap Rate 5.1%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.1%). 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
12.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29379

Population: 17,580

💰 Median Household Income
$41,200
This area
$41,200
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.5%
This area
35.5%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.4 years
This area
45.4 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 62.4%
Black/African American 31.7%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.3%
This area
13.3%
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 29379

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
14.7:1 Avg Class Size
$12,593 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Foster Park Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
434 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,593 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Monarch Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,593 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sims Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
635 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,593 Per Student
C+ Average

Union County High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,069 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,593 Per Student
C+ Average

Union County Career and Technology Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$12,593 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 835 Off-Campus Students
C
University of South Carolina-Union
1,392 students · 2.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 835 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tenant base reliable in Union, SC?

Union, SC offers a stable renter base at the $936/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What is the investability score for Union, SC?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Union, SC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $143K and rents of $936/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How viable is house hacking in Union, SC?

Union, SC is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $143K price point reasonable to enter.

Are rents high in Union, SC?

Average rent in Union, SC is approximately $936/mo per month. Against $143K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the average home sale price in Union, SC?

Union, SC home values average about $143K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $936/mo in monthly income.

You know 29379 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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