Real Estate Investing in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina (29576)

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

Horry County • Population: 32,975 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29576 (Murrells Inlet, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 28.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Murrells Inlet, SC (29576)?

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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 $401,110
Avg Monthly Rent $1,943
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,890
% Renters 13.2%

Market Analysis: 29576 Murrells Inlet

The 29576 ZIP covers a section of Murrells Inlet that demands careful diligence. Prices near $401K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $401K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 29576 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 29576 and stronger Murrells Inlet ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 29576 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 29576, 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 Murrells Inlet:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,943/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 29576

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+11.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$130,216/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $210,000 $1,380 4.7% +8.3% $210,000
2BR $263,834 $1,680 4.6% +8.3% $131,917
3BR $390,649 $2,060 3.8% +8.1% $130,216
4BR $573,415 $2,510 3.2% +9.4% $143,354
5BR $956,457 +11.4% $191,291

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$421K$369K$317K$265K$213K$160KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,039$1,980$1,922$1,863$1,804$1,746Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29576 Compare?

Metric 29576 Murrells Inlet South Carolina
Home Value $401,110 $401,110 $299,690
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,943 $1,943 -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 29576? 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 →
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 29576 (Murrells Inlet, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $401,110
Monthly Rent $1,943
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
28.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29576

Population: 32,975

💰 Median Household Income
$65,890
This area
$65,890
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.2%
This area
13.2%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.4%
This area
30.4%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
62.0 years
This area
62.0 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.0%
This area
28.0%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.7%
Other/Mixed 3.9%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
Black/African American 1.7%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
10.0%
This area
10.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
42.1%
This area
42.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
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 29576

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$14,530 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Seaside Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
429 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,530 Per Student
B Good

St. James High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,880 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,530 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

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Murrells Inlet, SC?

Murrells Inlet, SC is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $401K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the investability score for Murrells Inlet, SC?

Murrells Inlet, SC reports an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $401K and average rents around $1,943/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

How much does a house cost in Murrells Inlet, SC?

In Murrells Inlet, SC the median home value sits at $401K. Against the broader SC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Murrells Inlet, SC?

SC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Murrells Inlet generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Are renters plentiful in Murrells Inlet, SC?

Murrells Inlet, SC draws a measured base of working renters. Demand at the $1,943/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 29576 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29576 ranks in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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