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RE Intelligence

Rental numbers for ZIP 28657 (Newland, NC)

Negative cash flow at any interest rate with 25% down: the rent does not cover operating costs and principal.

Rent here is HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom, because Zillow does not publish a rent index for this ZIP. It is the 40th percentile of gross rents, so market rent for a typical home is likely higher and the yield and cash flow below are conservative.
Gross yield
3.9%
rent x 12 / price
Est. cap rate
1.3%
NOI / price
Cash flow
-$1,267/mo
at 7.78%, 25% down
Typical price
$293,000
Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
HUD Fair Market Rent
$950/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026

The pro forma

Typical home, default assumptions

Income and expenses, per year
OperatorLineAmountSource
Gross rent$11,400
Vacancy$570
Management$866
Property tax$1,058
Insurance$2,222
Maintenance$2,931
Net operating income$3,752
Loan payments$18,955
Cash flow-$15,203
Purchase and loan
OperatorLineAmountSource
Typical price$293,129
Down payment (25%)$73,282
Loan$219,847
Rate7.78%
Monthly payment$1,580
Cash in$82,076
Cash-on-cash return-18.5%
DSCR0.20
Break-even ratenone
Down payment25%
A common minimum for investment-property and DSCR loans.
Interest rate7.78%
Freddie Mac 30-year 7.03% (week of 2026-09-24) + 0.75 point investor premium.
Loan term30 years
Fixed, fully amortising.
Closing costs3% of price
Added to cash invested.
Insurance$2,222 a year
NAIC 2023 average homeowners (HO-3) premium for North Carolina, $1,852, x 1.2 for a landlord policy.
Maintenance1% of price a year
The 1% rule of thumb; older homes run higher.
Vacancy5% of rent
About 18 days empty a year.
Management8% of collected rent
A typical full-service fee; zero if you self-manage.

Trends

Five years to August 2026

Price, 12 months
+0.8%
Rent, 12 months
n/a
no Zillow rent series here
Rent minus price growth
n/a
positive means yields are improving
Typical value (Zillow ZHVI)Indexed to 100 at Aug 2021
8010012014016020222023202420252026
Show the numbers
MonthTypical value
Aug 2021$209,905
Aug 2022$247,452
Aug 2023$255,314
Aug 2024$292,586
Aug 2025$290,784
Aug 2026$293,129

Rent references

Two sources, never blended

SourceStudio1 bed2 bed3 bed4 bed
HUD Small Area FMR, FY2026$740$770$950$1,210$1,430
Zillow observed rent, Aug 2026not published for this ZIP

HUD's Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a standard unit, and it is what Section 8 vouchers pay against. Zillow's index tracks asking rents on listed homes. The two measure different things, so they are shown side by side and never averaged. HUD area: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA.

Property tax

Effective rate
0.36%
ZIP area, ACS
At the typical price
$1,058/yr

Median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Avery County: 0.38%. Actual bills depend on the assessment, exemptions and any non-homestead rate.

Supply

Permits per 1,000 households
33.9
Avery County, last 12 months
National percentile
97th
among US counties

230 new housing units permitted in 2025-09 to 2026-08, Census Building Permits Survey. A high figure means more new supply competing for tenants.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPDistanceTypical priceRentGross yieldCash flow /mo
28646Linville6.4 mi$1,377,000$1,030*0.9%-$8,271
28777Spruce Pine10.5 mi$255,000$950*4.5%-$1,049
28611Collettsville11.5 mi$169,000$1,030*7.3%-$422
28705Bakersville11.7 mi$229,000$1,050*5.5%-$789
28604Banner Elk11.7 mi$489,000$1,150*2.8%-$2,381
28622Elk Park12.0 mi$306,000$1,150*4.5%-$1,191
37687Roan Mountain13.9 mi$248,000$1,080*5.2%-$859
28605Blowing Rock15.7 mi$771,000$1,200*1.9%-$4,171

* HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom (no Zillow rent index for that ZIP).

Every ZIP in Avery CountyHickory, NC metroNorth Carolina

Run the numbers on a real listing

The calculator opens with this ZIP's figures. Swap in a listing's price and rent, your rate and your costs.

Open the calculator for 28657

Questions

Is 28657 good for rental property?
On the typical home here, priced at $293,000 and renting for $950 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026), the gross yield is 3.9% and the estimated cap rate is 1.3%. At a 7.78% investor rate with 25% down, estimated cash flow is -$1,267 a month. The median gross yield across the 8,418 ZIP codes with full Zillow data is 5.6%. These are figures for a typical property, not a judgement on any particular one.
What is the typical rent in 28657?
Zillow does not publish a rent index for 28657. HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom here is $950, the 40th percentile of gross rents and the basis for Section 8 payment standards.
What is the property tax rate in 28657?
The effective property tax rate is about 0.36% of value (median taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024). On the typical $293,000 home that is about $1,058 a year. Your bill depends on the assessment and local exemptions.
What interest rate makes a rental in 28657 break even?
With the default assumptions, no interest rate brings cash flow to zero: rent does not cover operating costs plus principal on a 30-year loan with 25% down.
How fast are prices and rents changing in 28657?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the typical home value changed +0.8%.

Sources and method

Data: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI), HUD, US Census Bureau, Freddie Mac. Every formula is on the methodology page.

Estimates from public data for a typical property. Not investment, tax or legal advice. Your property, financing and costs will differ.