209 W C St

Alpha, IL 61413

$72,500B+

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 716 sqft · Built 1910 · SingleFamily · Pending · 4 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,151/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$380
• Tax + insurance: −$166
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$242
• Net cashflow: $363/mo
• Annual: $4,356/yr
• Cap rate: 12.30%
• Cash-on-cash: 21.46%
• DSCR: 1.95
• 1% rule: 1.59%
• Cash to close: $20,300

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $72k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $363 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $72k).
• Only 4 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• In year one you build about $3k of equity ($501 loan paydown + $3k appreciation (3.6% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 63/100 on livability (#815 in IL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, employment B+; Watch: crime D+, amenities F, commute F.
• Alwood CUSD 225 (rural): math 20% / reading 45% proficiency, ranked #428 of 919 in IL (top 47%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Alwood Middle/High School (math 17% / reading 27%, grade F, #319 of 693 statewide, top 50%, 175 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 27% district-wide (27 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: built in 1910 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 12 active listings in the ZIP; 32 units permitted in Henry County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Henry County population projected at -16% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 6 sale attempts since 17y ago with the ask held roughly flat each time — persistent listings suggest the price (not the market) is what's stuck; bring a comps-based counter.
• Current owner paid $56k; 29% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
• At projected returns (3.6% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $20k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 10, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$30k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.

Questions for listing agent

• Built in 1910 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• 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?
• Crime grade is D 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?
• 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.