Is New Hanover County, NC good for real estate investing?

New Hanover County has an investment score of 43/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #918 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in New Hanover?

The rent-to-price ratio in New Hanover County is 4.63% annually, which ranks in the 17th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in New Hanover?

The median home price in New Hanover County is $435,002. This ranks #855 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in New Hanover?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in New Hanover County would generate negative cash flow of $1,190/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

New Hanover County

North CarolinaPopulation: 228,134

/100

Avoid

#918 of 1,000 counties

#90 in North Carolina (100 counties)

Market Snapshot

$435,002

Median Home Price

59% above national median

$1,677/mo

Median Rent

12% above national median

4.63%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 83% nationally

-$1,190

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$435,002

Down Payment (20%)$87,000

Loan Amount$348,002

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,677

Monthly P&I-$2,280

Est. Expenses (35%)-$587

Net Cash Flow-$1,190/mo

3.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-14.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

4.63%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.0% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

43/100

Cash Flow(30%)

39/100

Based on 4.63% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

46/100

Based on -0.7% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

36/100

Price-to-income ratio of 6.4x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (4.63%)
-Declining home values (-0.7% YoY)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,190/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

228,134

Median Income

$67,515

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

6.4x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
DurhamNC	46	$394,861	$1,628	4.95%	Hold	View
HaywoodNC	45	$339,810	$1,516	5.35%	Hold	View
CurrentNew HanoverNC	43	$435,002	$1,677	4.63%	Avoid
WakeNC	43	$474,088	$1,668	4.22%	Avoid	View
DareNC	41	$590,218	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
BuncombeNC	40	$449,409	$1,786	4.77%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidNew Hanover may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

New Hanover County in North Carolina scores 43/100, ranking #918 of 1,000 US counties (top 92%). The 4.63% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,190/mo

Cap Rate

3.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-14.3%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in New Hanover?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$435,002

Down Payment (20%)$87,000

Loan Amount$348,002

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,677

Monthly P&I-$2,280

Est. Expenses (35%)-$587

Net Cash Flow-$1,190/mo

3.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-14.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

4.63%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.0% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

43/100

Cash Flow(30%)

39/100

Based on 4.63% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

46/100

Based on -0.7% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

36/100

Price-to-income ratio of 6.4x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

DurhamNC

$394,861

$1,628

4.95%

Hold

View

HaywoodNC

$339,810

$1,516

5.35%

Hold

View

CurrentNew HanoverNC

$435,002

$1,677

4.63%

Avoid

WakeNC

$474,088

$1,668

4.22%

Avoid

View

DareNC

$590,218

Est. pending

—

Avoid

View

BuncombeNC

$449,409

$1,786

4.77%

Avoid

View

The Bottom Line

AvoidNew Hanover may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,190/mo

Cap Rate

3.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-14.3%