Real Estate Investing in Summerville, South Carolina (29485)

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

Dorchester County • Population: 58,670 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29485 (Summerville, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Summerville, SC (29485)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $371,301
Avg Monthly Rent $1,731
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,363
% Renters 29.0%

Market Analysis: 29485 Summerville

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 29485 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $371K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $371K asset, 29485 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 29485 among SC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 29485 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Summerville averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 29485 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 Summerville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,731/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 29485

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$96,594/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $243,695 $1,760 5.2% +8.7% $121,847
3BR $331,927 $2,190 4.8% +7.4% $110,642
4BR $412,156 $2,520 4.4% +7.0% $103,039
5BR $482,972 +7.0% $96,594

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$392K$343K$294K$245K$196K$147KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,788$1,625$1,462$1,299$1,136$973Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29485 Compare?

Metric 29485 Summerville Charleston-North Charleston, SC South Carolina
Home Value $371,301 $381,057 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,731 $1,865 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29485? 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 29485 (Summerville, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $371,301
Monthly Rent $1,731
Price-to-Rent 17.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
7.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29485

Population: 58,670

💰 Median Household Income
$78,363
This area
$78,363
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.0%
This area
29.0%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.9%
This area
34.9%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.6 years
This area
36.6 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.1%
Black/African American 22.2%
Other/Mixed 9.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.6%
Asian 2.7%
👶 Under 18
27.2%
This area
27.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.3%
This area
14.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
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 29485

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
17.5:1 Avg Class Size
$13,607 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Newington Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
742 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fort Dorchester Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
860 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
B Good

Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
886 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
B Good

East Edisto Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
942 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
B Good

Flowertown Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
850 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
B Good

Rollings Middle School of the Arts

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
805 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
B Good

Lowcountry Connection Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
697 Students
👨‍🏫
25.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,946 Per Student
B Good

Beech Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
1,209 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
C+ Average

Sand Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
1,241 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 Per Student
C Below Average

Ashley Ridge High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,735 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,014 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 3,983 Off-Campus Students
C
Charleston Cosmetology Institute
89 students · 5.1 mi
C
Charleston Southern University
3,545 students · 7.5 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-Charleston
124 students · 8.7 mi
C
Trident Technical College
14,025 students · 9.5 mi
C
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek
128 students · 9.7 mi
C
Southeastern College-Charleston
232 students · 10.1 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston
266 students · 11.0 mi
C
Vski Cosmetology School
24 students · 13.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,983 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Summerville, SC?

Summerville, SC median home values land near $371K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,731/mo-per-month rentals.

How landlord-friendly is Summerville, SC?

Landlord-friendliness in Summerville, SC is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Is Summerville, SC better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Summerville, SC, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How tight is the rental market in Summerville, SC?

Vacancy risk in Summerville, SC is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is house hacking profitable in Summerville, SC?

House hacking works a challenging in Summerville, SC. Rents of $1,731/mo against $371K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 29485 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29485 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 29485 ranks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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