442 Fenton Ave NE

Canton, OH 44704

$135,000B

4 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,692 sqft · Built 1949 · MultiFamily · Active · 22 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,807/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$708
• Tax + insurance: −$160
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$379
• Net cashflow: $559/mo
• Annual: $6,713/yr
• Cap rate: 11.27%
• Cash-on-cash: 17.76%
• DSCR: 1.79
• 1% rule: 1.34%
• Cash to close: $37,800

Investor read

• This is a 2 × 2-bed/1.0-bath units multifamily listed at $135k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $559 ($7k/yr) — positive. Per door: $280/mo.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $135k).
• It's been on market 22 days — a 2% lower offer ($133k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $133k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $9k of equity ($933 loan paydown + $8k appreciation (6.2% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 71/100 on livability (#441 in OH) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A; Watch: crime F, employment F.
• Canton City (urban): math 17% / reading 26% proficiency, ranked #627 of 656 in OH (top 96%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 76% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Watch-outs: built in 1949 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 20 active listings in the ZIP; 5 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals leasing fast (median 14d on market — plan ~1-2 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); lower-income renter base — watch delinquency; 528 units permitted in Stark County in 2024 (84 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Stark County population projected to shrink 8% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.
• 8 sale attempts since 14y 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 $80k; list at $135k implies a 69% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (6.2% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $38k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 4, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$32k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.
• Cap rate 11.3% vs local median 5.1% in Canton — 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.
• At $1,807/mo this rent would consume 64% of the median local household income ($34k/yr) — very limited rent-growth headroom before tenants either downsize or default.

Questions for listing agent

• Can we see the unit-by-unit rent roll, current vacancy, and any below-market leases? What's the average tenancy length?
• What capital expenditures (roof, boiler, parking lot, exteriors) have been made in the last 5 years, and what's planned in the next 2?
• Built in 1949 — 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.
• 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?
• 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 apartment / multifamily construction is in the pipeline within 1–3 miles? Heavy new supply (>2% of stock underway) typically softens rents 12–24 months out; light construction supports rent growth.