Real Estate Investing in Edisto Beach, South Carolina (29438)

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

Charleston County • Population: 2,659 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 29438 (Edisto Beach, 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: 61.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 50.0 — 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 Edisto Beach, SC (29438)?

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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 $739,721
Avg Monthly Rent $1,233
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,044
% Renters 13.9%

Market Analysis: 29438 Edisto Beach

This part of Charleston County is not an easy win. The 29438 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 29438 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 29438 sits on the difficult end of the SC spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 29438 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Edisto Beach's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 29438. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Edisto Beach:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,233/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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 29438

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+14.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$223,070/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $267,814 $1,190 3.2% $267,814
2BR $446,139 $1,370 2.2% +10.6% $223,070
3BR $685,319 $1,680 1.8% +12.2% $228,440
4BR $949,845 $2,110 1.6% +12.9% $237,461
5BR $1,447,316 +14.2% $289,463

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$780K$674K$568K$462K$356K$250KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29438 Compare?

Metric 29438 Edisto Beach Charleston-North Charleston, SC South Carolina
Home Value $739,721 $739,721 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 8.5% 8.5% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,233 $1,233 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.3% 1.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29438? 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 29438 (Edisto Beach, 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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
1.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $739,721
Monthly Rent $1,233
Price-to-Rent 50.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.0%
Cap Rate 1.3%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.3%). 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
61.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29438

Population: 2,659

💰 Median Household Income
$69,044
This area
$69,044
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.1%
This area
43.1%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
62.1 years
This area
62.1 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
61.8%
This area
61.8%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.9%
Black/African American 14.8%
Other/Mixed 3.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
8.2%
This area
8.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
42.1%
This area
42.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
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 29438

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
5.2:1 Avg Class Size
$20,688 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Jane Edwards Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
65 Students
👨‍🏫
5.2:1 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Edisto Beach, SC?

The median home value in Edisto Beach, SC is roughly $740K. That puts it reasonable relative to the SC statewide average.

Is Edisto Beach, SC a good place for real estate investing?

Edisto Beach, SC shows an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $740K and average rents around $1,233/mo. That combination puts it in the notable tier for investor interest.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Edisto Beach, SC?

Edisto Beach, SC carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $1,233/mo.

Is SC a landlord-friendly state?

The landlord environment in Edisto Beach, SC is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How strong is the working-renter base in Edisto Beach, SC?

The renter base in Edisto Beach, SC is reasonable for the $1,233/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields predictable tenants.

You know 29438 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29438 ranks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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