1053 14th Ave

Columbus, NE 68601

$179,900B

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,050 sqft · Built 1950 · SingleFamily · Pending · 38 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,135/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$943
• Tax + insurance: −$196
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$448
• Net cashflow: $547/mo
• Annual: $6,563/yr
• Cap rate: 9.94%
• Cash-on-cash: 13.03%
• DSCR: 1.58
• 1% rule: 1.19%
• Cash to close: $50,372

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $180k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $547 ($7k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $180k).
• It's been on market 38 days — a 3% lower offer ($175k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $175k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $5k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 80/100 on livability (#20 in NE, #1,633 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: crime A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities D-, commute F.
• Columbus Public Schools (town): math 39% / reading 43% proficiency, ranked #93 of 111 in NE (top 84%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Centennial Elementary School (math 52% / reading 47%, grade D, #233 of 502 statewide, top 52%, 413 students, 53% FRL); Columbus Middle School (math 39% / reading 42%, grade F, #82 of 128 statewide, top 65%, 1,174 students, 55% FRL); Columbus High School (math 38% / reading 39%, grade F, #199 of 261 statewide, top 77%, 1,273 students, 46% FRL).
• Watch-outs: built in 1950 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 300 active listings in the ZIP; 1 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 98 units permitted in Platte County in 2024 (17 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Platte County population projected at +13% by 2050 — modest demand growth; plan on rents tracking national, not racing it.
• 2 sale attempts since 6y 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 (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $50k cash investment doubles in ~9 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 9.9% vs local median 3.3% in Columbus — 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

• It's been on market 38 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1950 — 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.
• 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.