Real Estate Investing in Donalds, South Carolina (29638)

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

Abbeville County • Population: 3,669 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29638 (Donalds, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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: 14.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Donalds, SC (29638)?

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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 $197,807
Avg Monthly Rent $819
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,872
% Renters 20.7%

Market Analysis: 29638 Donalds

The 29638 ZIP covers a section of Donalds that demands careful diligence. Prices near $198K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 29638 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $198K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

The gap between 29638 and stronger Donalds ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A durable renter share of 21% in 29638 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. impressive returns are possible in 29638, 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 Donalds:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $819/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Greenwood, SC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.5%
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 Greenwood, SC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 29638

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$69,612/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $150,860 $910 4.3% $75,430
3BR $208,835 $1,200 4.1% +8.5% $69,612

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$212K$183K$154K$125K$95K$66KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29638 Compare?

Metric 29638 Donalds Greenwood, SC South Carolina
Home Value $197,807 $197,807 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $819 $819 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29638? 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 29638 (Donalds, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Greenwood, SC metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
67%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $197,807
Monthly Rent $819
Price-to-Rent 20.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
14.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29638

Population: 3,669

💰 Median Household Income
$62,872
This area
$62,872
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.0 years
This area
45.0 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.1%
Black/African American 21.4%
Other/Mixed 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
👶 Under 18
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 29638

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$20,782 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Cherokee Trail Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 07 School
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,782 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

2 Nearby 104 Off-Campus Students
C
Erskine College
984 students · 3.8 mi
C+
Lander University
4,363 students · 14.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is the working-renter base in Donalds, SC?

Tenant demand in Donalds, SC is solid. The local workforce $819/mo rents across most rental classes.

Should investors consider Donalds, SC?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Donalds, SC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $198K and rents of $819/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Where do home prices stand in Donalds, SC?

Donalds, SC median home values land near $198K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $819/mo-per-month rentals.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Donalds, SC?

For rental operators, Donalds, SC rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How should investors approach Donalds, SC?

Most investors in Donalds, SC run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 29638 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29638 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 29638 ranks in Greenwood, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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