Real Estate Investing in Jacksonville, NC: 2026 Market Guide

Real estate investing in Jacksonville, NC is built around Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. The typical Jacksonville home is worth about $262,000, up 3.5% from a year ago, and houses rent for around $1,650 a month.^1,2 Homes sell quickly and rentals lease fast, but military moves set the rhythm of the market.

Jacksonville has about 72,700 residents, roughly the same as in 2020, while Onslow County as a whole grew about 4% to nearly 213,000 by 2024.^3,4 Much of the new growth is in suburbs just outside the city. Marine families move often and many rent, which makes single-family rental homes a core part of the market.

Why investors are watching Jacksonville in 2026

• Rising prices. Home values are up 3.5% from a year ago, one of the strongest gains among North Carolina's larger cities.¹
• Fast leasing. Rental houses lease in about 37 days on average, faster than most of the state.²
• Billions in base construction. The Marine Corps is renovating and replacing barracks at Camp Lejeune, a program expected to cost well over $1 billion.^5,6
• A growing hospital. Onslow Memorial Hospital is joining UNC Health, which plans to invest $150 million.⁸

Jacksonville housing and rental market in 2026

Jacksonville's home prices are rising. Zillow's typical home value of about $262,000 is up 3.5% from a year ago, and homes go under contract in around 23 days.¹

Rents have eased a little. The average house rents for about $1,650 a month, down about $45 from a year ago, with about 177 houses listed for rent and an average of about 37 days on the market.² Across all rentals, including apartments, the average is about $1,461, down about $89.² Demand moves with military orders, so vacancies can rise around the summer moving season.

• Typical home value: ~$262,000, up 3.5% year over year.¹
• House rent: ~$1,650 a month, down ~$45 year over year.²
• All rentals: ~$1,461 a month, down ~$89 year over year.²
• Days to pending: ~23 days.¹
• Gross rent-to-price: ~7.6% a year. Annual house rent ($1,650 × 12) ÷ typical home value ($261,539), before taxes, insurance, repairs and vacancy.

Gross rent-to-price is only a first screen. Before you invest in rental property, run the net numbers too, such as cap rate and cash-on-cash return, which account for taxes, insurance, repairs and vacancy. Many tenants pay rent with a military housing allowance, so it helps to know local rates.

Jobs, growth and population: what's driving demand

Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River are the economic anchor, home to tens of thousands of Marines and sailors plus civilian workers and contractors. The base is in the middle of a major barracks program: nine barracks have been renovated for about $142 million, 10 more are underway, and replacing older buildings is projected to cost more than $1.1 billion.^5,6 A $66 million maintenance complex for the 10th Marines is also under construction.⁷

The Marine Corps has also been reshaping its forces under its Force Design plan, which deactivated some Camp Lejeune units and cuts about 12,000 Marines Corps-wide by 2030.^10,11 Outside the base, health care is growing: Onslow Memorial Hospital is joining UNC Health with a $150 million investment, and a new medical office building is set to open in 2027.^8,9

Jacksonville neighborhoods and areas to know

Piney Green and the NC 24 corridor

Mostly single-family neighborhoods between the city and Camp Lejeune's main gate, with about 14,000 residents.¹⁶ Short commutes make these homes popular with military families.

Hubert and Swansboro

Communities along NC 24 east of the base toward the coast. Homes near the water draw higher rents but face beach-area insurance rates.¹⁴

Richlands and north Jacksonville

Newer subdivisions north of the city with more space and lower prices, popular with families who don't mind a longer drive to base.

Near MCAS New River

Neighborhoods along Lejeune Boulevard and US 17 near the air station and Camp Johnson, with older homes and steady rental demand.

Comparing North Carolina markets? See our 2026 market guides to Apex, Asheville, Cary, Charlotte, Concord, Durham, Fayetteville, Gastonia, Greensboro, Greenville, High Point, Huntersville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem, or browse all of our real estate market guides by city.

Risks to weigh before investing in Jacksonville

• Dependence on the military. Force Design changes have deactivated some Camp Lejeune units, and the Marine Corps is shrinking overall.^10,11 Understand real estate market cycles before you buy.
• Housing allowances. The 2026 housing allowance for a typical mid-grade Marine with dependents at Camp Lejeune is about $1,584 a month, below the area's average house rent, which can cap what many tenants pay.¹²
• Hurricanes and flooding. Hurricane Florence in 2018 dropped record rain on the area and flooded parts of Jacksonville.¹³ Check flood zones and elevation, and keep reserves for deductibles.
• Insurance and taxes. Coastal Onslow County is in a beach insurance territory where base rates rose about 32% over 2025 and 2026, and the county's 2026 revaluation raised many property values.^14,15 Get quotes before you buy. Our guide to real estate market analysis walks through what else to check.

3 ways to invest in Jacksonville rental property, including fractional real estate investing

There are three common ways to invest in rental properties in a market like Jacksonville. They differ mainly in how much money you need up front and how much work you take on.

Buy a rental home yourself

Investment property loans typically require 20% to 25% down. On a $262,000 home, that's roughly $52,000 to $65,000 before closing costs and repairs. You also find tenants and handle maintenance, or pay a property manager. Our guide to choosing the right rental property covers what to check before you buy.

Buy a REIT or real estate fund

A REIT lets you invest with less money, but you own a slice of a large national portfolio rather than specific Jacksonville homes. See more ways to invest in real estate without buying property.

Invest in fractional real estate online

Fractional real estate lets you buy shares of individual rental homes instead of the whole property. With a real estate investment platform like Tirios, you can invest in real estate online starting at $100 per share, through the website or the Tirios app. Our guide to investing in rental property online explains how it works. The team handles tenants and maintenance, and rent is paid out as quarterly dividends, which makes it a hands-off way to earn passive income from real estate.