Investor-friendly real estate agents in Winston-Salem, NC
We match investors with vetted Winston-Salem-area agents who own rentals, run the numbers, and know the local rules. Free for investors.
Get matched in Winston-Salem3 vetted investor agents across the Winston-Salem metro
Winston-Salem has the best rent-to-price of our North Carolina markets. In the Winston-Salem metro, typical home values are about $280,000 and typical rent about $1,540, roughly 0.55% a month. That's still under the 1% rule, and a median-priced rental with a mortgage won't cash flow, but well-bought properties can. The metro is growing steadily, not fast: about 71,000 more people since 2010, and 5,500 to 6,300 a year moving in from other parts of the US since 2021. Jobs are the soft spot, only about 2% above 2019 and flat last year. North Carolina is landlord-friendly, with no local rent control. Our three vetted agent partners cover Winston-Salem and the Triad, with property management, off-market and investor-acquisition experience.
Long-term rentals with agents who work with investors, have run or worked in property management, and can connect you with a property manager and contractors.
Help finding deals both on and off the MLS.
One partner has bought for two institutional investor clients and closed 300+ transactions, and invests himself.
Help with new-build homes from a partner with a new-home sales background.
Is Winston-Salem worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Winston-Salem metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 641,155 |
| 2011 | 643,874 |
| 2012 | 646,116 |
| 2013 | 648,958 |
| 2014 | 652,015 |
| 2015 | 654,759 |
| 2016 | 659,348 |
| 2017 | 664,608 |
| 2018 | 668,623 |
| 2019 | 673,257 |
| 2020 | 676,371 |
| 2021 | 681,982 |
| 2022 | 688,548 |
| 2023 | 696,653 |
| 2024 | 705,337 |
| 2025 | 712,206 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +946 |
| 2012 | +449 |
| 2013 | +1,594 |
| 2014 | +1,660 |
| 2015 | +1,779 |
| 2016 | +3,308 |
| 2017 | +4,301 |
| 2018 | +3,275 |
| 2019 | +4,012 |
| 2020 | +2,959 |
| 2021 | +6,053 |
| 2022 | +6,262 |
| 2023 | +5,984 |
| 2024 | +5,784 |
| 2025 | +5,477 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 241,900 |
| 2011 | 242,500 |
| 2012 | 247,100 |
| 2013 | 251,200 |
| 2014 | 254,500 |
| 2015 | 259,400 |
| 2016 | 264,100 |
| 2017 | 265,200 |
| 2018 | 268,100 |
| 2019 | 272,700 |
| 2020 | 260,400 |
| 2021 | 267,800 |
| 2022 | 274,900 |
| 2023 | 277,100 |
| 2024 | 277,500 |
| 2025 | 278,100 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $810/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $836/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $872/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $915/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $954/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,034/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,192/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,285/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,342/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,415/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,451/mo |
| Sep 2026 | $1,529/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $139,713 |
| Dec 2011 | $133,734 |
| Dec 2012 | $132,837 |
| Dec 2013 | $132,991 |
| Dec 2014 | $136,202 |
| Dec 2015 | $140,860 |
| Dec 2016 | $145,703 |
| Dec 2017 | $153,242 |
| Dec 2018 | $162,637 |
| Dec 2019 | $174,383 |
| Dec 2020 | $194,900 |
| Dec 2021 | $220,557 |
| Dec 2022 | $251,217 |
| Dec 2023 | $262,548 |
| Dec 2024 | $271,371 |
| Dec 2025 | $276,180 |
| Sep 2026 | $277,512 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 14.5× |
| Dec 2016 | 14.5× |
| Dec 2017 | 14.6× |
| Dec 2018 | 14.8× |
| Dec 2019 | 15.2× |
| Dec 2020 | 15.7× |
| Dec 2021 | 15.4× |
| Dec 2022 | 16.3× |
| Dec 2023 | 16.3× |
| Dec 2024 | 16.0× |
| Dec 2025 | 15.9× |
| Sep 2026 | 15.1× |
Data retrieved October 16, 2026. Figures cover the Winston-Salem metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Winston-Salem
Zillow Home Value Index, Winston-Salem metro, Sep 2026 (+1.7% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Sep 2026 (+4.6% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values +1.7%, rents +4.6%.
North Carolina landlord-tenant basics
North Carolina is one of the more landlord-friendly states. Most of the rules are in Chapter 42 of the General Statutes. The points investors ask about most:
- No rent control: state law bars cities and counties from regulating the rent charged on private residential rental property (G.S. 42-14.1). There's no statewide cap on increases either.
- Nonpayment: if the lease has no clause ending it for nonpayment, the landlord must make a written demand for the rent and wait 10 days before the lease can be ended (G.S. 42-3). Most written leases include such a clause. Evictions (summary ejectment) are heard in small claims court before a magistrate.
- Security deposit cap (G.S. 42-51): 2 weeks' rent for a week-to-week tenancy, 1½ months' rent for month-to-month, and 2 months' rent for longer terms.
- Deposit return (G.S. 42-52): refund the deposit, with an itemized list of any deductions, within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives back possession. If you can't settle the final amount in time, send an interim accounting within 30 days and a final one within 60. Normal wear and tear can't be deducted.
- Late fees (G.S. 42-46): only after rent is 5 days late, and capped at $15 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is greater.
- Squatters: a 2025 law (S.L. 2025-88) created a faster court process to remove unauthorized occupants who were never tenants. It doesn't apply to a tenant holding over after a lease ends; that's still an eviction.
- North Carolina has no statute setting a notice period for landlord entry. Put an entry clause in your lease.
Short-term rental rules in Winston-Salem
We couldn't find a Winston-Salem permit or registration for short-term rentals. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County share one zoning code, the Unified Development Ordinance, and its use tables list bed and breakfasts but no separate whole-home short-term rental use that we could find.
- North Carolina law bars cities from requiring rental registration or a permit just to rent out a home (G.S. 160D-1207). Cities can still regulate short-term rentals through zoning, as the Court of Appeals confirmed in Schroeder v. City of Wilmington (2022), so confirm the property's zoning with the City-County Planning department before you buy.
- Bed and breakfasts are allowed in many districts, but depending on the district they need a zoning permit, a special use permit or Board of Adjustment approval.
- Stays of less than 90 consecutive days owe North Carolina and local sales tax plus Forsyth County room occupancy tax. Platforms like Airbnb collect much of this on their bookings. Confirm which taxes yours collects; on direct bookings you register and remit them yourself.
- HOAs, covenants and your lender can still restrict short-term rentals. Clemmons, Kernersville and other Forsyth towns have their own rules.
Last reviewed October 15, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Winston-Salem metro; N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 42 — Landlord and Tenant; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 — No local rent control; N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 42, Article 6 — Tenant Security Deposit Act; N.C. Session Law 2025-88 — Removal of unauthorized occupants; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-1207 — Rental registration and permits; UNC School of Government — Short-term rental regulations after Schroeder; City of Winston-Salem — Uses allowed in the RS20 district (UDO); City of Winston-Salem — Uses allowed in the RM8 district (UDO); Forsyth County — 2025 tax reappraisals; N.C. Department of Revenue — Rentals of accommodations.
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About 20 miles east: the Triad's furniture capital, covered by the same agents, with slightly lower prices.
About 80 miles southwest: North Carolina's biggest metro, faster growth and lower rent-to-price.
About 110 miles east: a pricier growth market under the same North Carolina landlord law.
About two hours north into Virginia: the Virginia Tech market.
Questions investors ask about Winston-Salem
Which areas do your Winston-Salem agents cover?
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Our three vetted agent partners cover Winston-Salem and the Triad, including Clemmons, Advance, Kernersville, Greensboro and High Point. They work on buy-and-hold rentals on and off the MLS, have property management experience, and one has bought for institutional investors. Tell us your strategy, budget and target area and we'll match you.
Is Winston-Salem a good market for cash-flowing rentals?
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It's the best of our North Carolina markets, but not at median prices with a mortgage. Typical rent-to-price in the Winston-Salem metro is about 0.55% a month, under the 1% rule. Rentals bought below median, or with value-add work, can cash flow. Job growth is slow, so underwrite on today's rents.
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Winston-Salem?
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We couldn't find a city short-term rental permit. North Carolina law bars cities from requiring rental registration, but zoning still applies, so confirm the property's zoning with City-County Planning. You'll owe sales tax and Forsyth County occupancy tax, and HOA rules can ban STRs.
Is North Carolina landlord-friendly?
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Yes, more than most states. Local rent control is banned by state law, there's no cap on rent increases, nonpayment cases go to small claims court, with at most a 10-day written demand first, and deposits are capped at 2 months' rent on leases longer than month-to-month.
Can I invest in Winston-Salem if I live out of state?
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Yes. Pick an agent who will walk properties for you, attend inspections, and connect you with a property manager. Our partners here have property management backgrounds, and one has run a property management business for 8 years.
What does it cost to get matched with a Winston-Salem agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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