Real Estate Investing in Ruby, South Carolina (29741)

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

Chesterfield • Population: 1,473 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29741 (Ruby, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (43/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (38/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 16.5% 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 Ruby, SC (29741)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $158,578
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,208
% Renters 12.4%

Market Analysis: 29741 Ruby

Looking more closely, ZIP 29741 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $159K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $159K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 29741 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 29741 among SC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 29741 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 29741 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Ruby:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$169K$162K$155K$149K$142K$136KJan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29741 Compare?

Metric 29741 Ruby South Carolina
Home Value $158,578 $158,578 $299,690
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $900 $900 -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29741 (Ruby, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $158,578
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 14.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 12.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
16.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29741

Population: 1,473

💰 Median Household Income
$44,208
This area
$44,208
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.7%
This area
12.7%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.9 years
This area
49.9 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.5%
This area
16.5%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.4%
Black/African American 30.4%
Other/Mixed 5.3%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
👶 Under 18
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
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

🎓 Schools in 29741

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.7:1 Avg Class Size
$13,849 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Ruby Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
280 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,849 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

How quickly do rentals get leased in Ruby, SC?

Vacancy risk in Ruby, SC is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are rents high in Ruby, SC?

Ruby, SC rentals go for roughly $900/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $159K acquisition costs.

What is the average home sale price in Ruby, SC?

Typical homes in Ruby, SC go for around $159K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

What is the smart move for investors in Ruby, SC?

Most investors in Ruby, SC run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 2.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What kind of market is Ruby, SC for investors?

Our data puts Ruby, SC at 2.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $159K and rents around $900/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 29741 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29741 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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