Wilmington, NC Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 47% of Wilmington's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.
Homes in Wilmington that pencil right now
A sample of active Wilmington listings whose DSCR clears 1.25 using short-term rental income projections we accept as a direct lender. These are spread across the price range, not ranked, and current as of August 2026.
$169,900DSCR 1.812 bed · 1 bath · 996 sqft
- STR revenue
- $29,979/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,103/mo
On the market 544 days · Listed by Keller Williams Realty
Scout this home & market: 2-bed house in Wilmington
$210,000DSCR 1.302 bed · 2 bath · 1,050 sqft
- STR revenue
- $30,396/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,557/mo
On the market 396 days · Listed by Intracoastal Realty Corp
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Wilmington
$240,000DSCR 1.553 bed · 2 bath · 1,224 sqft
- STR revenue
- $43,420/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,872/mo
On the market 191 days · Listed by Keller Williams Realty
Scout this home & market: 3-bed condo in Wilmington
$259,900DSCR 1.403 bed · 1 bath · 1,080 sqft
- STR revenue
- $35,584/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,690/mo
On the market 64 days · Listed by Keller Williams Realty
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Wilmington
$275,000DSCR 1.382 bed · 1 bath · 668 sqft
- STR revenue
- $34,778/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,675/mo
On the market 150 days · Listed by Salt and Stone Property Group
Scout this home & market: 2-bed house in Wilmington
$280,000DSCR 1.333 bed · 3 bath · 1,476 sqft
- STR revenue
- $43,376/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,181/mo
On the market 118 days · Listed by BlueCoast Realty Corporation
Scout this home & market: 3-bed townhouse in Wilmington
$298,000DSCR 1.573 bed · 2 bath · 1,101 sqft
- STR revenue
- $45,312/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,929/mo
On the market 32 days · Listed by Corcoran HM Properties
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Wilmington
$315,000DSCR 1.303 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,558 sqft
- STR revenue
- $38,621/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,979/mo
On the market 52 days · Listed by Premier Realty Group
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Wilmington
$350,000DSCR 1.333 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,280 sqft
- STR revenue
- $42,610/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,131/mo
On the market 270 days · Listed by Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Wilmington
As of August 2026, we analyzed 934 active for-sale homes in Wilmington, North Carolina. The typical listing is priced at $469,900 and is projected to generate about $43,582 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 47.0% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — roughly in line with the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Wilmington #121 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Wilmington sit a median of 59 days on the market, and 28% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a steadily paced market, which shapes how much room there is to negotiate.
For a DSCR loan — which qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — Wilmington runs tighter once operating costs are accounted for: many listings need a below-median price, a stronger short-term-rental setup, or more money down before the income covers the payment. It's a market where running the numbers property-by-property matters.
What actually works in Wilmington
Wilmington works for investors, but the window is specific: 193 of the 762 Wilmington homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $415,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | — | 77%1.47 | 100%1.57 | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | — | 27%1.14 | 74%1.35 | — | — |
| $350k–$500k | 0%0.74 | 0%0.80 | 16%1.00 | 15%1.02 | — |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.53 | 1%0.68 | 4%0.79 | 21%0.99 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Wilmington in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 934 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $469,900 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $43,582 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $208 |
| Median occupancy | 56% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,829 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 47.0% |
| Median days on market | 59 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 27.8% of active |
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