Real Estate Investing in Charleston, South Carolina (29403)

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

Charleston County • Population: 22,319 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29403 (Charleston, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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: 20.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Charleston, SC (29403)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $866,442
Avg Monthly Rent $2,685
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,281
% Renters 63.1%

Market Analysis: 29403 Charleston

Investors eyeing 29403 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $866K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 29403 is notable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $866K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

In the broader SC picture, 29403 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 29403 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 29403 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 Charleston:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 13.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,685/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
84 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.3%
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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 29403

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$264,068/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $427,642 $2,000 3.4% +7.2% $427,642
2BR $610,749 $2,190 2.6% +9.5% $305,374
3BR $853,937 $2,720 2.3% +10.2% $284,646
4BR $1,056,273 $3,140 2.1% +11.2% $264,068
5BR $1,414,720 +11.2% $282,944

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$918K$769K$619K$470K$320K$171KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,818$2,520$2,223$1,926$1,628$1,331Dec 2016Oct 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29403 Compare?

Metric 29403 Charleston Charleston-North Charleston, SC South Carolina
Home Value $866,442 $572,308 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 8.7% 8.2% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $2,685 $2,423 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29403? Click to expand

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

63% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 29403 (Charleston, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Charleston County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Above and Beyond Property Services is a boutique residential property management company serving Kiawah and Seabrook Island. summary from their website

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Charleston Global Property Services acts as a concierge for real estate, opening doors others can't. summary from their website

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CREC Property Management offers expert property management services in Charleston. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $866,442
Monthly Rent $2,685
Price-to-Rent 26.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 11.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
20.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29403

Population: 22,319

💰 Median Household Income
$62,281
This area
$62,281
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
63.1%
This area
63.1%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
56.2%
This area
56.2%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.6 years
This area
30.6 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.6%
This area
20.6%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.3%
Black/African American 36.1%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
14.0%
This area
14.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.9%
This area
14.9%
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 29403

A+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
9.9:1 Avg Class Size
$21,253 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Burke High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
359 Students
👨‍🏫
6.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sanders-Clyde Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
8.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charleston Charter School for Math and Science

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
559 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charleston Progressive

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
203 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mitchell Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
200 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Simmons Pinckney Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
199 Students
👨‍🏫
7.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A Very Good

Charleston Development Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
168 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A Very Good

Compass Collegiate Academy

📚 K – 03 Elementary Charter
👥
114 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,770 Per Student
A Very Good

James Simons Montessori

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student

Nearby Schools (2 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Memminger Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 20 Beaufain Street, Charleston
👥
415 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A Very Good

Buist Academy

📚 03 – 08 School
📍 103 Calhoun Street, Charleston
👥
537 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 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

8 Nearby 527 Off-Campus Students
C+
American College of the Building Arts
140 students · 0.1 mi
D
Top of the Line Barber College
60 students · 0.7 mi
C+
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
3,727 students · 0.9 mi
C
Charleston School of Law
675 students · 1.0 mi
C
Medical University of South Carolina
3,117 students · 1.3 mi
B
College of Charleston
11,729 students · 1.4 mi
C
Vski Cosmetology School
24 students · 5.0 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston
266 students · 6.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 527 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical home price in Charleston, SC?

Homes in Charleston, SC typically sell near $866K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which predictable long-term demand.

How deep is the rental pool in Charleston, SC?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Charleston, SC. The rental market absorbs $2,685/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How strong are rents in Charleston, SC?

Investors in Charleston, SC typically see rents near $2,685/mo per month against $866K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What type of investing works in Charleston, SC?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Charleston, SC. With home values at $866K and rents near $2,685/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

Does house hacking make sense in Charleston, SC?

House hacking works a challenging in Charleston, SC. Rents of $2,685/mo against $866K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 29403 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29403 ranks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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