1601 Forrest Ave

Gadsden, AL 35904

$84,900C

4 bd · 1.5 ba · 1,200 sqft · Built 1966 · SingleFamily · Active · 128 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,129/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$445
• Tax + insurance: −$142
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$237
• Net cashflow: $305/mo
• Annual: $3,663/yr
• Cap rate: 10.61%
• Cash-on-cash: 15.41%
• DSCR: 1.69
• 1% rule: 1.33%
• Cash to close: $23,772

Investor read

• This is a 4-bed/1.5-bath single-family listed at $85k. Condition is rated fair.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $305 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $85k).
• It's been on market 128 days — a 12% lower offer ($75k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $75k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $587 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $3k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 59/100 on livability (#335 in AL) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: crime F, amenities F, commute F.
• Gadsden City (urban): math 15% / reading 39% proficiency, ranked #87 of 129 in AL (top 67%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 66% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: Floyd Elementary School (math 17% / reading 27%, grade F, #442 of 627 statewide, top 72%, 367 students, 85% FRL); Sansom Middle School (math 7% / reading 38%, grade F, #180 of 257 statewide, top 70%, 376 students, 84% FRL); Gadsden City High School (math 17% / reading 24%, grade F, #159 of 305 statewide, top 53%, 1,318 students, 76% FRL) — zoned schools average 82% FRL vs 66% district-wide (15 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Market conditions: 88 active listings in the ZIP; 119 units permitted in Etowah County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Etowah County population projected at -12% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $24k cash investment doubles in ~8 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 10.6% vs local median 5.0% in Gadsden — 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 128 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Have any recent inspections been done? Can we get a copy of the seller's disclosures and any deferred-maintenance estimates?
• Built in 1966 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• 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?
• 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.

Repairs flagged (vision-AI assessment)

• Moderate: kitchen cabinets — dated and worn
• Moderate: bathroom fixtures — dated and worn
• Minor: exterior paint — some discoloration