159 Pine Cone Dr #159

Cheswold, DE 19901

$82,900B

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,344 sqft · Built 2001 · SingleFamily · Pending · 62 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,067/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$435
• Tax + insurance: −$138
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$434
• Net cashflow: $1,060/mo
• Annual: $12,724/yr
• Cap rate: 21.64%
• Cash-on-cash: 54.82%
• DSCR: 3.44
• 1% rule: 2.49%
• Cash to close: $23,212

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath single-family listed at $83k. Condition is rated fair.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $1k ($13k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $83k).
• It's been on market 62 days — a 6% lower offer ($78k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $78k (6.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $573 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $2k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 62/100 on livability (#62 in DE) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, crime B; Watch: employment D, amenities F, commute F.
• Capital School District (urban): math 14% / reading 31% proficiency, ranked #24 of 26 in DE (top 92%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover.
• Zoned schools: North Dover Elementary School (math 12% / reading 27%, grade F, #78 of 105 statewide, top 78%, 315 students, 0% FRL); Central Middle School (math 12% / reading 31%, grade F, #27 of 36 statewide, top 77%, 860 students, 0% FRL); Dover High School (math 21% / reading 45%, grade F, #22 of 40 statewide, top 56%, 1,771 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 56% district-wide (56 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Market conditions: Rents rising (+2.0%/yr); 190 active listings in the ZIP; 1,201 units permitted in Kent County in 2024 (116 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Kent County population projected at +22% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• 2 sale attempts; this cycle's ask has dropped $7k (8%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 2.0% rent growth), your $23k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 74% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→16/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 21.6% vs local median 3.1% in Cheswold — 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.
• This rent runs 37% of the median local income ($66k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 62 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 6% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Have any recent inspections been done? Can we get a copy of the seller's disclosures and any deferred-maintenance estimates?
• 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.
• Schools are F-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
• 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.
• 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.

Repairs flagged (vision-AI assessment)

• Major: Exterior siding — Significant wear and tear
• Major: Carpeted flooring — Worn and in need of replacement
• Major: Kitchen cabinets and appliances — Dated and in need of replacement
• Major: Bathroom fixtures and tile — Dated and in need of replacement
• Major: Paint — Faded and chipped, needs repainting