Real Estate Investing in Catawba, South Carolina (29704)

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

York County • Population: 3,286 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29704 (Catawba, 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
3 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Higher unemployment: 9.4% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.8 — 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 Catawba, SC (29704)?

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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 $323,600
Avg Monthly Rent $1,008
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,639
% Renters 9.2%

Market Analysis: 29704 Catawba

This part of York County is not an easy win. The 29704 ZIP stands at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 29704 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Looking more closely, 29704 offers a low basis, the region around Catawba has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 29704 ZIP's population of 3,286 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reflects the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. notable returns are possible in 29704, 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 Catawba:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,008/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 29704

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$118,510/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $376,620 $1,400 2.7% +8.4% $125,540
4BR $474,038 $1,740 2.6% +8.5% $118,510

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$348K$299K$250K$201K$152K$103KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29704 Compare?

Metric 29704 Catawba South Carolina
Home Value $323,600 $323,600 $299,690
5-Year CAGR 3.8% 3.8% 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,008 $1,008 -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 29704? 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 29704 (Catawba, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving York County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Rinehart Property Management offers full-service property management for residential, multi-family, and commercial properties in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and the Greater Charlotte Area. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercial
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1 Source Property Management provides property management services. summary from their website

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Revelation Community Management (RCM) provides management services in North and South Carolina. summary from their website

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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
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $323,600
Monthly Rent $1,008
Price-to-Rent 26.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
8.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29704

Population: 3,286

💰 Median Household Income
$67,639
This area
$67,639
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
9.4%
This area
9.4%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.9%
This area
28.9%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.9 years
This area
41.9 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.9%
Black/African American 13.5%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Asian 1.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.1%
This area
12.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 1,686 Off-Campus Students
C
York Technical College
4,731 students · 8.9 mi
D
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
2,328 students · 9.5 mi
D
Clinton College
106 students · 9.6 mi
C+
Winthrop University
4,694 students · 10.5 mi
C
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill
172 students · 11.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,686 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there empty rentals in Catawba, SC?

Catawba, SC carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $1,008/mo.

Is Catawba, SC good for house hacking?

Catawba, SC is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $324K price point reasonable to enter.

Should investors consider Catawba, SC?

Catawba, SC clocks in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $324K and average rents around $1,008/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

What is the median home value in Catawba, SC?

Catawba, SC home values average about $324K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,008/mo in monthly income.

What type of investing works in Catawba, SC?

In Catawba, SC the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $324K prices and $1,008/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 29704 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29704 ranks in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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