37207 Ecorse Rd · Romulus, MI 48174

$159,900

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,750 sqft · Land · 237 Days on market

Built 1942 0.69 ac lot $91/sqft · 35% below area Est $247k · 35% under

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Why this score? — see what drove the C+ grade

The composite is a weighted blend of 9 inputs, each scored 0–100. Each bar is that input's sub-score; the figure is the points it added to the 100-point composite (weight × sub-score).

• Cash flow +23.1/30.0
• ARV discount +15.0/15.0
• DSCR +7.4/10.0
• 1% rule +6.0/10.0
• Livability +3.0/5.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +1.3/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Key facts

• 0.69 acre lot
• Garage
• Built 1942

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath land listed at $160k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-139 ($-2k/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $140k (12.5% below list).
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $160k).
• Recommended offer: $140k (12.5% below list) — sets the bar for cash-flow.
• Cap rate 8.5% vs local median 3.8% in Romulus — 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.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 60/100 on livability (#593 in MI) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: commute D+, schools F, crime F.
• Romulus Community Schools (suburban): math 9% / reading 21% proficiency, ranked #498 of 540 in MI (top 92%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 69% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: 218 active listings in the ZIP; 1 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 2,639 units permitted in Wayne County in 2024 (1,216 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 32% of the median local income ($67k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Forward outlook

• 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.
• Wayne County population projected at -17% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 237 days — a 12% lower offer ($141k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 2 sale attempts 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 $30k; list at $160k implies a 433% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: flood insurance adds $427/mo; built in 1942 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: in FEMA flood zone AE (mandatory federal flood insurance) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $139,833 (12.5% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. 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?
2. It's been on market 237 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 13% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
3. Built in 1942 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
4. What's the actual annual flood-insurance premium (NFIP or private), and is the property in a SFHA with mandatory coverage?
5. Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
6. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
7. Schools are F-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
8. 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?
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.

Investment metrics

• 1% rule: 1.10% ✓
• Cap rate: 8.45%
• Cash-on-cash: 7.72%
• DSCR: 1.34
• GRM: 7.6

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $247,340
• List price: $159,900
• Delta: -35.35%
• Verdict: UNDERPRICED
• Comps: 18 within 1.0 mi

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -22.3%
• Equity multiple: 0.23×
• Total profit: $-34,454
• Equity at exit: $23,842

10-year hold

• IRR: -15.8%
• Equity multiple: 0.10×
• Total profit: $-40,203
• Equity at exit: $13,825

Cash invested: $44,772 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 62 Landlord-Friendly
• State Michigan: 62 Landlord-Friendly · EVEN
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

7-day pay-or-quit; mixed climate; Detroit/AA have some protections.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 48174

• Active inventory: 218
• Price-to-rent: 7.6×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,763 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$839
• Tax est. 1.5%: −$200 /mo · $2,398/yr
• Insurance: −$67
• Flood insurance flood zone: −$427 /mo · $5,118/yr
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$370
• Net cashflow: $-139

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,939

Max offer price $139,833

Occupancy floor —

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $-28	-5% $-83	+0% $-139	+5% $-194	+10% $-249
Rent	-10% $-278	-5% $-208	+0% $-139	+5% $-69	+10% $1
Rate	-1.0pp $-58	-0.5pp $-98	base $-139	+0.5pp $-180	+1.0pp $-222

UW: 25.0% down · 7.5% · 30yr · 1.5% tax · 5.0% vac · 8.0% maint · 8.0% mgmt

Financing live

Cash to close

• Down payment: $39,975
• Closing costs: $4,797
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 1 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
5901 Washington St Romulus, MI	4.0	2.5	1584	$2,200	$1.39	45d	1	1.42mi

Listing history 18 events

1. 2026-06-21
   days on market $159,900 Active 237 DOM
2. 2026-06-18
   days on market $159,900 Active 234 DOM
3. 2026-06-17
   days on market $159,900 Active 233 DOM
4. 2026-06-16
   days on market $159,900 Active 232 DOM
5. 2026-06-15
   days on market $159,900 Active 231 DOM
6. 2026-06-13
   days on market $159,900 Active 229 DOM
7. 2026-06-13
   days on market $159,900 Active 228 DOM
8. 2026-06-09
   days on market $159,900 Active 225 DOM
9. 2026-06-08
   days on market $159,900 Active 224 DOM
10. 2026-06-07
    days on market $159,900 Active 223 DOM
11. 2026-06-04
    days on market $159,900 Active 220 DOM
12. 2026-06-03
    days on market $159,900 Active 219 DOM
13. 2026-06-02
    days on market $159,900 Active 218 DOM
14. 2026-06-01
    days on market $159,900 Active 217 DOM
15. 2026-05-31
    days on market $159,900 Active 216 DOM
16. 2025-10-27
    listed $159,900 Active
17. 2025-10-27
    listed $159,900 Active
18. 2017-08-30
    soldstatus $30,000

ⓘ Source: listings_history table (triggers on properties + properties_extension) + one-shot backfill from property_details.listing_events for pre-trigger history.

Climate risk First Street

• 🌊 Flood 1/10 Low FEMA zone AE · 0% chance over 30 yrs
• 🔥 Wildfire 3/10 Moderate
• 🌡 Heat 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥97°F today · 15 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 3 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $21,158
• − Mortgage interest: −$8,957
• − Property taxes: −$2,398
• − Insurance: −$5,918
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,693
• − Management: −$1,693
• − Depreciation: −$4,652
• Taxable loss: −$4,152
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$997
• After-tax cash flow: $-668/yr

For passive investors: Depreciation is non-cash, so a rental often shows a tax loss while cash-flowing — sheltering income. Rental losses are passive: they offset passive income freely, and up to $25,000/yr can offset ordinary (W-2) income if you actively participate and your MAGI is under $100k (phasing out to $0 by $150k); unused losses carry forward. On sale, claimed depreciation is recaptured at up to 25%, and gains may owe capital-gains tax (a 1031 exchange can defer both). Figures are a year-1 estimate at your 24.0% rate — not tax advice; consult a CPA.

Schools (NCES district)

• District: Romulus Community Schools
• NCES district ID: 2630120
• Math proficiency: 9% ▼ -14.00%
• Reading proficiency: 21% ▼ -9.00%
• Median HH income: $44,165
• Composite: 13.17/100
• National rank: #9556
• State rank: #498 of 540 in MI

Livability — Romulus

• Score: 60/100
• State rank: #593
• US rank: #19387

Category grades

Amenities F Commute D+ Cost of living A+ Crime F Employment C Housing A+ Health & safety F User ratings D-

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Romulus, MI
• County: Wayne County · 1,562,939 people
• City population: 32,211
• Metro: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
• Population (ZIP): 32,211
• Household income: $67,056
• Rent vs Own: 25.8% rent · 74.2% own
• Severe rent burden: 755.0

Population outlook (Wayne County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 1,675,273 people
• By 2030: 1,620,300 · -3.3%
• By 2040: 1,502,341 · -10.3%
• By 2050: 1,384,039 · -17.4%
• By 2075: 1,124,592 · -32.9%
• By 2100: 881,193 · -47.4%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Diverse neighborhood (Simpson 0.59)
• Race & ethnicity: White 52% Black 37% Two or more races 8% Hispanic / Latino 2% Asian 1%
• Common ancestry: Romanian 6% Lithuanian 3% Italian 2%
• Foreign-born: 4% · Canada, Vietnam
• Languages at home: 94% English-only · Spanish 2% Other Indo-European 1% Other Asian/Pacific 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Wayne

• 2024 margin: Strong D (+29.0) · D 62.7% · R 33.7% · Other 3.6%
• 2008→2024 swing: -20.5pp toward R · 2008: 49.5pp · 2024: 29.0pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+29.0 2020: D+38.1 2016: D+37.3 2012: D+46.9 2008: D+49.5

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -171.93%
• Current HPI: 207.8345
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.37%
• F500 in state: 28

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in MI)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Automotive Parts	3	$48B
▸Automotive	2	$372B
▸Chemicals	1	$45B
▸Automotive Retail	1	$29B
▸Healthcare / Medical Devices	1	$23B
▸Automotive Technology	1	$20B

Price history

+433.0% since first listed

3 events — show timeline

• 2025-10-27 Listed $159,900 REALCOMP
• 2025-10-27 Listed $159,900 MiRealSource-MiMLS
• 2017-08-30 Sold (Public Records) $30,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+3.4%/yr

Latest (2021): $162 · +3.6% YoY. Source: county tax records.