525 Selma Rd · Bessemer, AL 35020

$119,900

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,481 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 155 Days on market

Built 1950 0.30 ac lot $81/sqft · 86% above area

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Why this score? — see what drove the D grade

The composite is a weighted blend of 9 inputs, each scored 0–100. Each bar is that input's sub-score; the figure is the points it added to the 100-point composite (weight × sub-score).

• Cash flow +17.7/30.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• DSCR +5.5/10.0
• 1% rule +4.5/10.0
• Livability +3.0/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Rent growth +1.7/5.0
• Schools +0.8/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Property is being sold as-is and offers strong potential for investors or buyers looking to add value. Convenient location with easy access to shopping, schools, and major roadways. Proof of funds or pre-approval required with all offers. Schedule your showing today.

Key facts

• 0.3 acre lot
• Built 1950
• Listed 155 days

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $120k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $96 ($1k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $114k (4.6% below list).
• Recommended offer: $106k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Cap rate 7.3% vs local median 5.9% in Bessemer — meaningfully above typical; check what's discounted (condition, days-on-market, listing class) to confirm the premium yield is real.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 59/100 on livability (#331 in AL) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A; Watch: schools D-, crime F, amenities F.
• Bessemer City (suburban): math 3% / reading 19% proficiency, ranked #120 of 129 in AL (top 93%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 87% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: Rents falling (-3.1%/yr); 115 active listings in the ZIP; 21 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 44d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 67% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; lower-income renter base — watch delinquency; 2,114 units permitted in Jefferson County in 2024 (556 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 39% of the median local income ($35k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $829 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Jefferson County population projected to shrink 4% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 155 days — a 12% lower offer ($106k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 5 sale attempts since 6y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $9k (7%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $90k; 33% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1950 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 27% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→19/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $105,512 (12.0% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 155 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1950 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
4. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
5. Schools are D-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
6. Crime grade is F in this area — have there been break-ins, vandalism, or insurance claims at this property in the last 3 years? What carrier currently insures it and at what premium?
7. The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?
8. What's the average days-on-market for RENTAL listings here right now (not sales)? A rising rental-DOM trend means longer vacancies and softer asking-rent achievability than the comps imply.
9. What's the recent tenant-quality profile in this submarket — average credit score on applications, eviction rate, late-payment / NSF rate, and stable-employment percentage? A property-management company in the area should have these aggregated.
10. How much new for-sale + rental construction is in the pipeline within 1–3 miles? Heavy new supply typically softens prices + rents 12–24 months out; constrained supply supports both.

Investment metrics

• 1% rule: 0.95% ✗
• Cap rate: 7.26%
• Cash-on-cash: 3.44%
• DSCR: 1.15
• GRM: 8.7

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $64,597
• List price: $119,900
• Delta: 85.61%
• Verdict: OVERPRICED
• Comps: 20 within 1.0 mi

Show comp detail 6 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
527 Selma Rd	0.01mi	3/1.0	1,290 (-13%)	10mo	$124,999	$97	70
6112 Blocton Ave	0.66mi	3/1.0	1,460 (-1%)	3mo	$64,900	$44	64
5604 5th St S	0.67mi	2/1.0 (-1)	1,391 (-6%)	2mo	$99,900	$72	51
4005 Main St	0.66mi	3/2.0	1,368 (-8%)	3mo	$60,000	$44	50
1106 Ontario St	0.56mi	3/1.0	1,384 (-6%)	22mo	$33,000	$24	44
4317 Main St	0.63mi	2/1.0 (-1)	1,582 (+7%)	18mo	$40,000	$25	40

Match score weights: distance 35% · size 25% · config 20% · recency 20%. Top-matched comps best support the ARV.

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 0.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -14.2%
• Equity multiple: 0.50×
• Total profit: $-16,644
• Equity at exit: $17,877

10-year hold

• IRR: -11.2%
• Equity multiple: 0.42×
• Total profit: $-19,532
• Equity at exit: $10,367

Cash invested: $33,572 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Alabama: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+15
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

Right-to-evict in 7 days for non-payment; no rent control; preempted statewide; courts move quickly.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 35020

• Home prices YoY: -24.2%
• Rents YoY: -3.1%
• Active inventory: 115
• Price-to-rent: 8.7×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,144 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$629
• Tax from tax record: −$128 /mo · $1,542/yr
• Insurance: −$50
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$240
• Net cashflow: $96

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,022

Max offer price $119,900

Occupancy floor 87%

UW: 25.0% down · 7.5% · 30yr · 1.5% tax · 5.0% vac · 8.0% maint · 8.0% mgmt

Financing live

Cash to close

• Down payment: $29,975
• Closing costs: $3,597
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 21 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
546 Selma Rd Bessemer, AL	3.0	1.0	888	$900	$1.01	44d	1	0.10mi
520 Brewer Dr Bessemer, AL	3.0	1.0	1040	$1,100	$1.06	3d	1	0.32mi
5912 Owen St Bessemer, AL	3.0	1.5	1192	$1,300	$1.09	44d	1	0.41mi
6029 Ivy St Birmingham, AL	4.0	2.0	1234	$1,200	$0.97	44d	1	0.43mi
6025 Ivy St Birmingham, AL	4.0	2.0	1232	$1,300	$1.06	44d	1	0.43mi
6001 Ivy St Birmingham, AL	3.0	1.0	906	$950	$1.05	44d	1	0.46mi
1254 Lewis St Brighton, AL	3.0	1.0	1200	$850	$0.71	44d	1	0.80mi
3225 4th Ave N Bessemer, AL	3.0	2.0	1486	$1,300	$0.87	24d	1	0.80mi
5906 5th St S Bessemer, AL	2.0	1.0	916	$900	$0.98	24d	1	0.81mi
3230 Arlington Ave Bessemer, AL	2.0	2.0	1236	$795	$0.64	44d	1	0.92mi
5704 14th St S Bessemer, AL	2.0	2.0	1024	$850	$0.83	16d	1	0.96mi
4506 Letson St Brighton, AL	3.0	2.0	1032	$1,200	$1.16	24d	1	0.98mi
3019 7th Ave N Bessemer, AL	3.0	1.0	1080	$1,050	$0.97	44d	1	0.99mi
5709 13th St S Bessemer, AL	3.0	1.0	1120	$1,200	$1.07	44d	1	1.01mi
5703 Avenue O Unit O Bessemer, AL	2.0	1.0	936	$800	$0.85	44d	1	1.08mi
3216 Avenue B Unit B Bessemer, AL	3.0	2.0	1220	$1,100	$0.90	44d	1	1.24mi
80 Wilkes Cir Birmingham, AL	4.0	2.0	1078	$1,200	$1.11	15d	1	1.26mi
63 Wilkes Cir Unit 1 Birmingham, AL	4.0	1.0	1164	$1,250	$1.07	44d	1	1.27mi
63 Wilkes Cir Birmingham, AL	4.0	1.0	1164	$1,200	$1.03	44d	1	1.27mi
832 Alden Ave Birmingham, AL	4.0	2.0	1231	$1,150	$0.93	24d	1	1.28mi
1315 27th St N Bessemer, AL	4.0	2.0	1439	$1,250	$0.87	44d	1	1.46mi

Listing history 32 events

1. 2026-06-18
   days on market $119,900 Active 155 DOM
2. 2026-06-17
   days on market $119,900 Active 154 DOM
3. 2026-06-16
   days on market $119,900 Active 153 DOM
4. 2026-06-15
   days on market $119,900 Active 152 DOM
5. 2026-06-13
   days on market $119,900 Active 150 DOM
6. 2026-06-10
   days on market $119,900 Active 147 DOM
7. 2026-06-09
   days on market $119,900 Active 146 DOM
8. 2026-06-08
   days on market $119,900 Active 145 DOM
9. 2026-06-07
   days on market $119,900 Active 144 DOM
10. 2026-06-05
    days on market $119,900 Active 141 DOM
11. 2026-06-03
    days on market $119,900 Active 140 DOM
12. 2026-06-02
    days on market $119,900 Active 139 DOM
13. 2026-06-01
    days on market $119,900 Active 138 DOM
14. 2026-05-31
    days on market $119,900 Active 137 DOM
15. 2026-03-25
    price $119,900 267-char remark

    Show marketing remark (267 chars)

    Property is being sold as-is and offers strong potential for investors or buyers looking to add value. Convenient location with easy access to shopping, schools, and major roadways. Proof of funds or pre-approval required with all offers. Schedule your showing today.

16. 2026-02-16
    price $124,900 267-char remark

    Show marketing remark (267 chars)

    Property is being sold as-is and offers strong potential for investors or buyers looking to add value. Convenient location with easy access to shopping, schools, and major roadways. Proof of funds or pre-approval required with all offers. Schedule your showing today.

17. 2026-01-14
    listed $128,500 Active 267-char remark

    Show marketing remark (267 chars)

    Property is being sold as-is and offers strong potential for investors or buyers looking to add value. Convenient location with easy access to shopping, schools, and major roadways. Proof of funds or pre-approval required with all offers. Schedule your showing today.

18. 2026-01-05
    historical $1,295
19. 2025-12-02
    listed $1,295
20. 2025-12-02
    historical $1,295
21. 2025-11-01
    listed $1,295
22. 2025-11-01
    historical $1,295
23. 2025-10-18
    price $1,295
24. 2025-10-09
    price $1,345
25. 2025-06-27
    listed $1,375
26. 2020-12-14
    soldstatus $90,000
27. 2020-06-19
    soldstatus $90,000 Sold 395-char remark

    Show marketing remark (395 chars)

    New on the Market. Welcome Home. This home has 4BRs, 2BA. New paint, refinished hardwood floors, and New Kitchen Make-Over. This house has plenty of room for the family. Cozy living area with firplace- Updated but still has some vintage appeal. Private back yard with plenty of entertaining room, grilling and family fun. This is a lot of house waiting for a new owner. Vacant and Move in ready.

28. 2020-06-09
    status Pending 395-char remark

    Show marketing remark (395 chars)

    New on the Market. Welcome Home. This home has 4BRs, 2BA. New paint, refinished hardwood floors, and New Kitchen Make-Over. This house has plenty of room for the family. Cozy living area with firplace- Updated but still has some vintage appeal. Private back yard with plenty of entertaining room, grilling and family fun. This is a lot of house waiting for a new owner. Vacant and Move in ready.

29. 2020-04-06
    listed $105,000 Active 395-char remark

    Show marketing remark (395 chars)

    New on the Market. Welcome Home. This home has 4BRs, 2BA. New paint, refinished hardwood floors, and New Kitchen Make-Over. This house has plenty of room for the family. Cozy living area with firplace- Updated but still has some vintage appeal. Private back yard with plenty of entertaining room, grilling and family fun. This is a lot of house waiting for a new owner. Vacant and Move in ready.

30. 1997-06-30
    soldstatus $45,900
31. 1997-06-01
    soldstatus $45,900
32. 1993-02-12
    soldstatus $42,100

ⓘ Source: listings_history table (triggers on properties + properties_extension) + one-shot backfill from property_details.listing_events for pre-trigger history.

Tax reassessment forecast AL · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $1,542 · $128/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $1,542 · $128/mo
• Expected delta: $0/yr ($0/mo · 0.0%)

ⓘ Screening estimate from a state-policy table — verify with the county assessor before closing.

Climate risk First Street

• 🌊 Flood 1/10 Low FEMA zone X (unshaded) · 0% chance over 30 yrs
• 🔥 Wildfire 3/10 Moderate
• 🌡 Heat 7/10 Severe 7 d/yr ≥108°F today · 19 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 6/10 Major 27% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 3/10 Moderate 2 unhealthy d/yr today · 5 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $13,724
• − Mortgage interest: −$6,716
• − Property taxes: −$1,542
• − Insurance: −$600
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,098
• − Management: −$1,098
• − Depreciation: −$3,488
• Taxable loss: −$817
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$196
• After-tax cash flow: $1,352/yr

For passive investors: Depreciation is non-cash, so a rental often shows a tax loss while cash-flowing — sheltering income. Rental losses are passive: they offset passive income freely, and up to $25,000/yr can offset ordinary (W-2) income if you actively participate and your MAGI is under $100k (phasing out to $0 by $150k); unused losses carry forward. On sale, claimed depreciation is recaptured at up to 25%, and gains may owe capital-gains tax (a 1031 exchange can defer both). Figures are a year-1 estimate at your 24.0% rate — not tax advice; consult a CPA.

Schools (NCES district)

• District: Bessemer City
• NCES district ID: 0100330
• Math proficiency: 3% ▼ -18.00%
• Reading proficiency: 19% ▼ -3.00%
• Median HH income: $29,721
• Composite: 8.45/100
• National rank: #9905
• State rank: #120 of 129 in AL

Livability — Bessemer

• Score: 59/100
• State rank: #331
• US rank: #20078

Category grades

Amenities F Commute A+ Cost of living A+ Crime F Employment F Housing A Health & safety F User ratings B

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Bessemer, AL
• County: Jefferson County · 527,445 people
• City population: 48,018
• Metro: Birmingham-Hoover, AL
• Population (ZIP): 24,892
• Household income: $35,362
• Rent vs Own: 40.6% rent · 59.4% own
• Severe rent burden: 1001.0

Population outlook (Jefferson County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 669,185 people
• By 2030: 669,694 · +0.1%
• By 2040: 661,388 · -1.2%
• By 2050: 643,086 · -3.9%
• By 2075: 577,267 · -13.7%
• By 2100: 474,758 · -29.1%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly Black (74%)
• Race & ethnicity: Black 74% Hispanic / Latino 13% White 11% Two or more races 6%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 10%
• Foreign-born: 5% · Canada
• Languages at home: 89% English-only · Spanish 11%

Political lean MEDSL · Jefferson

• 2024 margin: D (+10.4) · D 54.6% · R 44.2% · Other 1.2%
• 2008→2024 swing: +5.4pp toward D · 2008: 5.1pp · 2024: 10.4pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+10.4 2020: D+13.2 2016: D+7.2 2012: D+6.0 2008: D+5.1

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -57.54%
• Current HPI: 179.7702
• Rent YoY: ▼ -3.12%
• Metro: Birmingham-Hoover, AL
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.94%
• F500 in state: 4

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in AL)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Financial Services	1	$8B
▸Healthcare	1	$5B

Price history

+184.8% since first listed

18 events — show timeline

• 2026-03-25 Price Changed $119,900 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2026-02-16 Price Changed $124,900 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2026-01-14 Listed $128,500 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2026-01-05 Rental Removed $1,295 RENTLY
• 2025-12-02 Listed for Rent $1,295 RENTLY
• 2025-12-02 Rental Removed $1,295 ZUMPER1
• 2025-11-01 Listed for Rent $1,295 ZUMPER1
• 2025-11-01 Rental Removed $1,295 RENTLY
• 2025-10-18 Price Changed $1,295 RENTLY
• 2025-10-09 Price Changed $1,345 RENTLY
• 2025-06-27 Listed for Rent $1,375 RENTLY
• 2020-12-14 Sold (Public Records) $90,000 Public Records
• 2020-06-19 Sold (MLS) $90,000 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2020-06-09 Pending — Greater Alabama MLS
• 2020-04-06 Listed $105,000 Greater Alabama MLS
• 1997-06-30 Sold (Public Records) $45,900 Public Records
• 1997-06-01 Sold (Public Records) $45,900 Public Records
• 1993-02-12 Sold (Public Records) $42,100 Public Records

Property tax history

+12.6%/yr

Latest (2025): $1,542 · +0.0% YoY. Source: county tax records.