161 Elm St

Trion, GA 30753

$131,000B-

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,590 sqft · Built 1927 · Other · Pending · 20 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,350/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$687
• Tax + insurance: −$99
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$284
• Net cashflow: $281/mo
• Annual: $3,368/yr
• Cap rate: 8.86%
• Cash-on-cash: 9.18%
• DSCR: 1.41
• 1% rule: 1.03%
• Cash to close: $36,680

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath other listed at $131k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $281 ($3k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $131k).
• It's been on market 20 days — a 2% lower offer ($129k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $129k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $14k of equity ($906 loan paydown + $13k appreciation (10.0% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 64/100 on livability (#257 in GA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, crime A-; Watch: amenities F, commute F, employment F.
• Trion City (town): math 55% / reading 55% proficiency, ranked #11 of 174 in GA (top 6%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Trion Elementary School (math 51% / reading 49%, grade D+, #255 of 1,228 statewide, top 21%, 661 students, 56% FRL); Trion Middle School (math 69% / reading 62%, grade A-, #27 of 470 statewide, top 6%, 277 students, 53% FRL); Trion High School (math 17% / reading 52%, grade F, #88 of 424 statewide, top 22%, 389 students, 43% FRL).
• Watch-outs: built in 1927 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 36 active listings in the ZIP; 1 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 2 units permitted in Chattooga County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Chattooga County population projected at -19% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 7 sale attempts since 4y 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.
• At projected returns (10.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $37k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 3, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$35k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.
• Climate carrying-cost: moderate wildfire risk; extreme-heat days projected 7→20/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 8.9% vs local median 5.3% in Trion — 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

• Built in 1927 — 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?
• 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.