Real Estate Investing in Charleston, South Carolina (29492)

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

Berkeley County • Population: 19,753 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29492 (Charleston, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 36.5 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Charleston, SC (29492)?

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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 $957,660
Avg Monthly Rent $2,188
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $104,289
% Renters 39.0%

Market Analysis: 29492 Charleston

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Charleston's 29492 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $958K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 29492 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 29492 among SC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A healthy renter share of 39% in 29492 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 29492 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Charleston:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,188/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 29492

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+15.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$230,673/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $326,895 $2,050 4.5% +12.1% $326,895
2BR $478,923 $2,250 3.4% +12.9% $239,462
3BR $692,019 $2,800 2.9% +12.3% $230,673
4BR $1,196,374 $3,230 1.9% +14.5% $299,093
5BR $2,157,894 +15.0% $431,579

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.0M$872K$723K$573K$423K$273KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,266$2,038$1,809$1,580$1,352$1,123Oct 2016Sep 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29492 Compare?

Metric 29492 Charleston Charleston-North Charleston, SC South Carolina
Home Value $957,660 $572,308 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 9.6% 8.2% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $2,188 $2,423 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29492? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29492 (Charleston, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $957,660
Monthly Rent $2,188
Price-to-Rent 36.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
9.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29492

Population: 19,753

💰 Median Household Income
$104,289
This area
$104,289
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.0%
This area
39.0%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
66.0%
This area
66.0%
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
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.4%
Other/Mixed 6.4%
Black/African American 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Asian 2.4%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
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 29492

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,148 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Philip Simmons High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
809 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B Good

Philip Simmons Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
545 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B Good

Philip Simmons Middle

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B Good

Daniel Island School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
1,146 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 4,510 Off-Campus Students
C+
American College of the Building Arts
140 students · 8.7 mi
C
Southeastern College-Charleston
232 students · 8.7 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston
266 students · 8.9 mi
C
Trident Technical College
14,025 students · 8.9 mi
D
Top of the Line Barber College
60 students · 9.0 mi
C
Charleston School of Law
675 students · 9.3 mi
C+
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
3,727 students · 9.5 mi
B
College of Charleston
11,729 students · 9.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,510 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Charleston, SC rate as a rental market?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Charleston, SC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $958K and rents of $2,188/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Charleston, SC?

In Charleston, SC the median home value sits at $958K. Against the broader SC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How much do tenants pay in Charleston, SC?

Rents in Charleston, SC run near $2,188/mo. Compared with median home prices of $958K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What kind of tenants rent in Charleston, SC?

Charleston, SC draws a measured base of working renters. Demand at the $2,188/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What type of investing works in Charleston, SC?

The best-fit strategy in Charleston, SC is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

You know 29492 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29492 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 29492 ranks in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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