Real Estate Investing in Early Branch, South Carolina (29916)

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

Hampton County • Population: 1,595 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29916 (Early Branch, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (50/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.6% 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 Early Branch, SC (29916)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $236,848
Avg Monthly Rent $1,026
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,065
% Renters 20.0%

Market Analysis: 29916 Early Branch

This part of Hampton County is not an easy win. The 29916 ZIP reflects softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 29916 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 29916 and stronger Early Branch ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 29916 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Early Branch's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 29916. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Early Branch:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,026/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$252K$227K$202K$177K$152K$127KFeb 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29916 Compare?

Metric 29916 Early Branch Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC South Carolina
Home Value $236,848 $236,848 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 1.9% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,026 $1,026 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% - -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29916 (Early Branch, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $236,848
Monthly Rent $1,026
Price-to-Rent 19.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 5.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
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: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
15.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29916

Population: 1,595

💰 Median Household Income
$75,065
This area
$75,065
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.0%
This area
20.0%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.2 years
This area
38.2 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.3%
Black/African American 22.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Other/Mixed 5.0%
👶 Under 18
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.5%
This area
12.5%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Early Branch, SC landlord-friendly?

SC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Early Branch generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the renter demographic in Early Branch, SC?

Tenant quality in Early Branch, SC ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $1,026/mo.

What is the average home sale price in Early Branch, SC?

Expect median prices around $237K in Early Branch, SC. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been stable.

Is house hacking profitable in Early Branch, SC?

House hacking in Early Branch, SC is reasonable to execute. Prices around $237K and rents of $1,026/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What kind of market is Early Branch, SC for investors?

Our data puts Early Branch, SC at 2.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $237K and rents around $1,026/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 29916 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29916 ranks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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