Real Estate Investing in Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina (29487)

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

Charleston County • Population: 2,702 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29487 (Wadmalaw Island, 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: 19.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 39.1 — 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 Wadmalaw Island, SC (29487)?

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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 $713,145
Avg Monthly Rent $1,521
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $74,966
% Renters 8.3%

Market Analysis: 29487 Wadmalaw Island

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 29487 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $713K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $713K asset, 29487 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 29487'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.

A solid renter share of 8% in 29487 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Wadmalaw Island:

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 9.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,521/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 29487

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+12.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$203,985/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $446,271 $1,690 2.7% +10.2% $223,136
3BR $611,956 $2,100 2.5% +10.3% $203,985
4BR $992,795 $2,420 1.8% +12.0% $248,199

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$760K$646K$533K$420K$306K$193KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29487 Compare?

Metric 29487 Wadmalaw Island Charleston-North Charleston, SC South Carolina
Home Value $713,145 $713,145 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 7.4% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,521 $1,521 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.7% 1.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29487? 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 29487 (Wadmalaw Island, 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
1.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $713,145
Monthly Rent $1,521
Price-to-Rent 39.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.6%
Cap Rate 1.7%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). 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
19.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29487

Population: 2,702

💰 Median Household Income
$74,966
This area
$74,966
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.3%
This area
8.3%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.4%
This area
31.4%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
55.3 years
This area
55.3 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 62.0%
Black/African American 33.2%
Other/Mixed 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.7%
This area
26.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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 29487

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.0:1 Avg Class Size
$20,688 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Edith L. Frierson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
149 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 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

1 Nearby
C
Vski Cosmetology School
24 students · 13.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What do rentals go for in Wadmalaw Island, SC?

Average rent in Wadmalaw Island, SC is approximately $1,521/mo per month. Against $713K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is rental property easy to operate in Wadmalaw Island, SC?

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

What is the median home value in Wadmalaw Island, SC?

Typical homes in Wadmalaw Island, SC go for around $713K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

Should investors consider Wadmalaw Island, SC?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Wadmalaw Island, SC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $713K and rents of $1,521/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Wadmalaw Island, SC?

Tenant demand in Wadmalaw Island, SC is solid. The local workforce $1,521/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 29487 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29487 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 29487 ranks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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