502b N Short St

Florence, AL 35630

$135,000D+

2 bd · 1.5 ba · 1,178 sqft · Built 1977 · SingleFamily · Active · 75 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,240/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$708
• Tax + insurance: −$291
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$260
• Net cashflow: $-20/mo
• Annual: $-235/yr
• Cap rate: 6.71%
• Cash-on-cash: 1.49%
• DSCR: 1.07
• 1% rule: 0.92%
• Cash to close: $37,800

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.5-bath single-family listed at $135k. Condition is rated good.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-20 ($-235/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $132k (2.1% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $124k (8.1% below list).
• It's been on market 75 days — a 6% lower offer ($127k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $124k (8.1% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $933 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 82/100 on livability (#4 in AL, #1,140 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: amenities A+, commute A+, cost of living A+; Watch: crime F, employment F.
• Florence City (urban): math 28% / reading 44% proficiency, ranked #44 of 129 in AL (top 34%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Forest Hills School (math 39% / reading 65%, grade C-, #102 of 627 statewide, top 17%, 831 students, 45% FRL); Florence Middle School (math 22% / reading 44%, grade F, #101 of 257 statewide, top 40%, 689 students, 51% FRL); Florence High School (math 28% / reading 34%, grade F, #66 of 305 statewide, top 21%, 1,034 students, 36% FRL).
• Watch-outs: flood insurance adds $66/mo.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+6.2%/yr); 270 active listings in the ZIP; 9 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 46d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 100% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 164 units permitted in Lauderdale County in 2024 (72 in 5+ unit buildings).
• 3 sale attempts since 10y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $15k (10%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $86k; list at $135k implies a 56% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• Climate carrying-cost: major flood risk; moderate wind risk, 23% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→20/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 6.7% vs local median 3.6% in Florence — 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 32% of the median local income ($46k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Questions for listing agent

• What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
• It's been on market 75 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 8% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1977 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• What's the actual annual flood-insurance premium (NFIP or private), and is the property in a SFHA with mandatory coverage?
• 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.
• 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?
• The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?