Real Estate Investing in Saint Stephen, South Carolina (29479)

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

Berkeley County • Population: 6,287 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29479 (Saint Stephen, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 26.5% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $39,839 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Saint Stephen, SC (29479)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $213,998
Avg Monthly Rent $1,170
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $39,839
% Renters 28.6%

Market Analysis: 29479 Saint Stephen

ZIP 29479 in Saint Stephen, SC carries a durable set of headwinds. Home values near $214K and rents of $1,170/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $1,170/mo on a $214K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 29479 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Statewide comparisons place 29479 among SC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 29479 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. significant returns are possible in 29479, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Saint Stephen:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,170/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$241K$207K$174K$140K$106K$72KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29479 Compare?

Metric 29479 Saint Stephen Charleston-North Charleston, SC South Carolina
Home Value $213,998 $213,998 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 1.9% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,170 $1,170 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29479? 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 29479 (Saint Stephen, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $213,998
Monthly Rent $1,170
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
17.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29479

Population: 6,287

💰 Median Household Income
$39,839
This area
$39,839
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.6%
This area
28.6%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.6 years
This area
38.6 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.7%
This area
17.7%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 51.6%
White 44.2%
Other/Mixed 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
👶 Under 18
25.6%
This area
25.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
26.5%
This area
26.5%
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 29479

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,148 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

St. Stephen Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Timberland High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
724 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B+ Above Average

St. Stephen Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
182 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 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 type of investing works in Saint Stephen, SC?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Saint Stephen, SC best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $214K price point.

Are landlord laws favorable in Saint Stephen, SC?

Saint Stephen, SC operates under SC law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How do home values compare in Saint Stephen, SC?

In Saint Stephen, SC the median home value sits at $214K. Against the broader SC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Saint Stephen, SC?

House hacking in Saint Stephen, SC is a challenging. With home values around $214K and rents at $1,170/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Saint Stephen, SC?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Saint Stephen, SC. The rental market absorbs $1,170/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 29479 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29479 ranks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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