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 October 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 October 2026.
$225,000DSCR 1.723 bed · 1 bath · 1,136 sqft
- STR revenue
- $38,303/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,487/mo
On the market 164 days · Listed by Intracoastal Realty Corp
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Wilmington
$268,000DSCR 1.252 bed · 1 bath · 962 sqft
- STR revenue
- $32,841/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,748/mo
On the market 92 days · Listed by Keller Williams Realty
Scout this home & market: 2-bed house in Wilmington
$298,000DSCR 1.553 bed · 2 bath · 1,101 sqft
- STR revenue
- $45,312/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,954/mo
On the market 81 days · Listed by Corcoran HM Properties
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Wilmington
As of October 2026, we analyzed 1,003 active for-sale homes in Wilmington, North Carolina. The typical listing is priced at $465,000 and is projected to generate about $43,902 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 53.1% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Wilmington #120 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Wilmington sit a median of 62 days on the market, and 26% 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: 191 of the 825 Wilmington homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $392,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | — | 76%1.39 | 100%1.52 | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | 0%0.85 | 22%1.14 | 69%1.36 | — | — |
| $350k–$500k | 0%0.74 | 0%0.81 | 11%1.02 | 26%1.09 | — |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.58 | 1%0.69 | 1%0.81 | 17%0.84 |
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 | 1,003 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $465,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $43,902 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $212 |
| Median occupancy | 56% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,806 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 47.0% |
| Median days on market | 62 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 25.9% of active |
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Estimates for educational purposes. Final terms subject to credit, property & program approval.
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