3924 Monica Ln

Johnsburg, IL 60051

$296,240D+

2 bd · 2.5 ba · 1,587 sqft · Built 2026 · Townhouse · Active · 172 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,325/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,554
• Tax + insurance: −$494
• HOA: −$219
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$488
• Net cashflow: $-429/mo
• Annual: $-5,154/yr
• Cap rate: 4.55%
• Cash-on-cash: -6.21%
• DSCR: 0.72
• 1% rule: 0.78%
• Cash to close: $82,947

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/2.5-bath townhouse listed at $296k. Condition is rated good.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-429 ($-5k/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $234k (21.0% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $232k (21.5% below list).
• It's been on market 172 days — a 12% lower offer ($261k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $232k (21.5% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• In year one you build about $32k of equity ($2k loan paydown + $30k appreciation (10.0% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 80/100 on livability (#111 in IL, #1,796 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: crime A+, employment A+, housing A+; Watch: cost of living C-, amenities F, commute F.
• Johnsburg CUSD 12 (suburban): math 22% / reading 21% proficiency, ranked #321 of 620 in IL (top 52%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; only 19% free/reduced lunch — higher-income household profile.
• Zoned schools: Ringwood School Primary Ctr (433 students, 0% FRL); Johnsburg Jr High School (math 23% / reading 26%, grade F, #332 of 665 statewide, top 55%, 344 students, 0% FRL); Johnsburg High School (math 27% / reading 32%, grade F, #187 of 693 statewide, top 30%, 560 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 19% district-wide (19 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Market conditions: 194 active listings in the ZIP; 2 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; solid renter incomes; 1,595 units permitted in McHenry County in 2024 (485 in 5+ unit buildings).
• McHenry County population projected at -12% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• By year 2, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$51k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.
• Cap rate 4.6% vs local median 2.8% in Johnsburg — top-decile yield for the area; either an underpriced asset or a hidden risk that comps aren't pricing in. Stress-test before assuming the spread holds.

Questions for listing agent

• What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
• It's been on market 172 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 22% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• What does the HOA fee cover, when was the last increase, and are there any pending special assessments or reserve-fund shortfalls?
• Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• 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?
• 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.
• 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.