Real Estate Investing in Folly Beach, South Carolina (29439)

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

Charleston County • Population: 869 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29439 (Folly Beach, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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: 73.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 41.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Folly Beach, SC (29439)?

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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 $1,129,227
Avg Monthly Rent $2,277
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,554
% Renters 23.9%

Market Analysis: 29439 Folly Beach

ZIP 29439 in Folly Beach, SC carries a impressive set of headwinds. Home values near $1.1M and rents of $2,277/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $2,277/mo on a $1.1M basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 29439 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 29439's metrics run below Charleston County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 29439 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 29439 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Folly Beach:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 54/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 12.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,277/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 29439

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+13.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$336,942/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $702,641 $2,530 2.6% +10.4% $351,321
3BR $1,010,825 $3,150 2.2% +11.9% $336,942
4BR $1,550,872 $3,630 1.7% +11.8% $387,718
5BR $2,069,547 +13.4% $413,909

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.3M$1.1M$878K$690K$503K$315KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29439 Compare?

Metric 29439 Folly Beach Charleston-North Charleston, SC South Carolina
Home Value $1,129,227 $1,129,227 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $2,277 $2,277 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29439? 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 29439 (Folly 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
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,129,227
Monthly Rent $2,277
Price-to-Rent 41.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.4%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 7.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.8% ▼
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
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: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
73.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29439

Population: 869

💰 Median Household Income
$87,554
This area
$87,554
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.9%
This area
23.9%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
44.1%
This area
44.1%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
63.6 years
This area
63.6 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
73.7%
This area
73.7%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
3.9%
This area
3.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
42.9%
This area
42.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

7 Nearby 527 Off-Campus Students
B
College of Charleston
11,729 students · 8.2 mi
C
Medical University of South Carolina
3,117 students · 8.2 mi
C
Charleston School of Law
675 students · 8.6 mi
D
Top of the Line Barber College
60 students · 9.0 mi
C+
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
3,727 students · 9.2 mi
C+
American College of the Building Arts
140 students · 9.6 mi
C
Vski Cosmetology School
24 students · 10.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Folly Beach, SC?

Typical homes in Folly Beach, SC go for around $1.1M. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% steady price movement.

What is the average monthly rent in Folly Beach, SC?

Rental rates in Folly Beach, SC average $2,277/mo. Tenant demand and $1.1M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How landlord-friendly is Folly Beach, SC?

For rental operators, Folly Beach, SC rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is Folly Beach, SC a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Folly Beach, SC reflects its $1.1M prices and $2,277/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within SC.

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

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

You know 29439 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29439 ranks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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