Real Estate Investing in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (29928)

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

Beaufort County • Population: 15,178 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29928 (Hilton Head Island, 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
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: 60.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Hilton Head Island, SC (29928)?

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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 $771,543
Avg Monthly Rent $3,079
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $95,070
% Renters 14.5%

Market Analysis: 29928 Hilton Head Island

The 29928 ZIP covers a section of Hilton Head Island that demands careful diligence. Prices near $772K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 29928 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $772K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 29928'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.

The demographic picture in 29928 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Hilton Head Island averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Hilton Head Island's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 29928. 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 Hilton Head Island:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,079/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 29928

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+14.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$267,160/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $389,946 $1,730 3.2% +8.7% $389,946
2BR $534,319 $1,900 2.6% +11.5% $267,160
3BR $1,042,979 $2,280 1.6% +12.9% $347,660
4BR $1,848,427 $2,850 1.1% +13.7% $462,107
5BR $3,051,608 +14.1% $610,322

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$807K$706K$606K$505K$404K$304KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,935$3,721$3,507$3,293$3,079$2,866Mar 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29928 Compare?

Metric 29928 Hilton Head Island Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC South Carolina
Home Value $771,543 $762,556 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $3,079 $3,001 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29928? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29928 (Hilton Head Island, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $771,543
Monthly Rent $3,079
Price-to-Rent 20.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -11.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
60.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29928

Population: 15,178

💰 Median Household Income
$95,070
This area
$95,070
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
63.3%
This area
63.3%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
64.0 years
This area
64.0 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
60.4%
This area
60.4%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.1%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Black/African American 1.3%
Asian 1.3%
👶 Under 18
6.4%
This area
6.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
48.2%
This area
48.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 vacancy a concern in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Hilton Head Island, SC carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect steady absorption at market rents of $3,079/mo.

How should investors approach Hilton Head Island, SC?

For Hilton Head Island, SC, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is Hilton Head Island, SC a smart market for rental property?

Hilton Head Island, SC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $772K and rents near $3,079/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Can I house hack in Hilton Head Island, SC?

House hacking in Hilton Head Island, SC is reasonable to execute. Prices around $772K and rents of $3,079/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How much rent can I charge in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Rent in Hilton Head Island, SC is around $3,079/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $772K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

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How 29928 ranks in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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