Real Estate Investing in Bluffton, South Carolina (29909)

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

Beaufort County • Population: 23,929 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 29909 (Bluffton, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Bluffton, SC (29909)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $484,614
Avg Monthly Rent $2,620
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,159
% Renters 6.7%

Market Analysis: 29909 Bluffton

ZIP 29909 inside Beaufort County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $485K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $485K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 29909 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 29909 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 29909 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 29909 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 Bluffton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,620/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 29909

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$123,779/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $437,236 $2,340 3.9% +8.7% $437,236
2BR $430,584 $2,570 4.3% +8.6% $215,292
3BR $540,156 $3,080 4.1% +9.2% $180,052
4BR $636,389 $3,830 4.3% +9.9% $159,097
5BR $618,894 +8.2% $123,779

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$530K$466K$402K$338K$275K$211KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,836$2,720$2,605$2,489$2,374$2,258Feb 2023Nov 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29909 Compare?

Metric 29909 Bluffton Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC South Carolina
Home Value $484,614 $561,222 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 6.8% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $2,620 $2,151 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29909? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29909 (Bluffton, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 29909 (Bluffton, SC)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $484,614
Monthly Rent $2,620
Price-to-Rent 15.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
7.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29909

Population: 23,929

💰 Median Household Income
$86,159
This area
$86,159
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
51.2%
This area
51.2%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
69.7 years
This area
69.7 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.1%
Other/Mixed 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 3.4%
Black/African American 2.8%
Asian 2.7%
👶 Under 18
7.1%
This area
7.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
61.9%
This area
61.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
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 29909

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.1:1 Avg Class Size
$22,414 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Okatie Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
599 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 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

2 Nearby 1,005 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of South Carolina Beaufort
2,121 students · 7.4 mi
C
Technical College of the Lowcountry
2,349 students · 11.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,005 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What monthly rent should investors expect in Bluffton, SC?

Average rent in Bluffton, SC is approximately $2,620/mo per month. Against $485K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How deep is the rental pool in Bluffton, SC?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Bluffton, SC. The rental market absorbs $2,620/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Bluffton, SC?

Expect elevated vacancy in Bluffton, SC. Rents at $2,620/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Bluffton, SC?

Bluffton, SC investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($485K prices, $2,620/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How does Bluffton, SC stack up for property investment?

Yes - Bluffton, SC a 3.0/5 investability score. With $485K home prices against $2,620/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 29909 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29909 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.

Compare Plans

How 29909 ranks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 29909 (Bluffton)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 29909 (Bluffton, SC).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.