Real Estate Investing in Beaufort, South Carolina (29902)

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

Beaufort County • Population: 16,916 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29902 (Beaufort, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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: 15.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Beaufort, SC (29902)?

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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 $424,563
Avg Monthly Rent $1,795
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,228
% Renters 35.4%

Market Analysis: 29902 Beaufort

This part of Beaufort County is not an easy win. The 29902 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $425K asset, 29902 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 29902's metrics run below Beaufort County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A significant renter share of 35% in 29902 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 29902 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Beaufort:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,795/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
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
80 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.0%
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 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 29902

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$132,958/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $347,439 $1,490 3.1% +9.1% $347,439
2BR $299,662 $1,640 3.9% +10.2% $149,831
3BR $398,874 $1,980 3.6% +10.1% $132,958
4BR $556,592 $2,530 3.3% +10.6% $139,148
5BR $749,038 +10.9% $149,808

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$448K$386K$325K$264K$202K$141KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,908$1,858$1,808$1,758$1,708$1,658Oct 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29902 Compare?

Metric 29902 Beaufort Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC South Carolina
Home Value $424,563 $158,534 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 7.3% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,795 $1,902 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29902? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 35% 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 29902 (Beaufort, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $424,563
Monthly Rent $1,795
Price-to-Rent 19.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 11.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
15.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29902

Population: 16,916

💰 Median Household Income
$73,228
This area
$73,228
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.4%
This area
35.4%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.8%
This area
33.8%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.3 years
This area
33.3 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.7%
Black/African American 15.3%
Other/Mixed 11.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.8%
Asian 3.0%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.9%
This area
12.9%
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 29902

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
8.7:1 Avg Class Size
$22,414 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Beaufort Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,414 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Beaufort Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,414 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mossy Oaks Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,414 Per Student

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Port Royal Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1214 Paris Avenue, Port Royal
👥
192 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,414 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

1 Nearby 904 Off-Campus Students
C
Technical College of the Lowcountry
2,349 students · 3.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 904 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Beaufort, SC a good place for real estate investing?

Beaufort, SC clocks in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $425K and average rents around $1,795/mo. That combination puts it in the resilient tier for investor interest.

What type of investing works in Beaufort, SC?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Beaufort, SC best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $425K price point.

What are home prices like in Beaufort, SC?

The median home value in Beaufort, SC is roughly $425K. That puts it reasonable relative to the SC statewide average.

Is rental property easy to operate in Beaufort, SC?

Landlord-friendliness in Beaufort, SC is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Beaufort, SC?

Average rent in Beaufort, SC is approximately $1,795/mo per month. Against $425K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 29902 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29902 ranks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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