7234 W North Ave #707

Elmwood Park, IL 60707

$90,000B

1 bd · 1.0 ba · 750 sqft · Built 1976 · Condo · Active · 39 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,651/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$472
• Tax + insurance: −$280
• HOA: −$370
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$347
• Net cashflow: $182/mo
• Annual: $2,190/yr
• Cap rate: 8.73%
• Cash-on-cash: 8.69%
• DSCR: 1.39
• 1% rule: 1.83%
• Cash to close: $25,200

Investor read

• This is a 1-bed/1.0-bath condo listed at $90k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $182 ($2k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $90k).
• It's been on market 39 days — a 3% lower offer ($87k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $87k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $622 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $3k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 83/100 on livability (#41 in IL, #865 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: commute A+, housing A+, crime A-.
• Elmwood Park CUSD 401 (suburban): math 15% / reading 26% proficiency, ranked #403 of 620 in IL (top 65%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover.
• Zoned schools: Elmwood Elem School (math 14% / reading 22%, grade F, #1,126 of 2,056 statewide, top 55%, 544 students, 0% FRL); Elm Middle School (math 13% / reading 30%, grade F, #402 of 665 statewide, top 61%, 660 students, 0% FRL); Elmwood Park High School (math 24% / reading 26%, grade F, #247 of 693 statewide, top 36%, 989 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 42% district-wide (42 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: property tax is 3.2% of price; HOA is 22% of rent.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+7.2%/yr); 60 active listings in the ZIP; 15 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals leasing fast (median 8d on market — plan ~1-2 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); solid renter incomes; 6,272 units permitted in Cook County in 2024 (4,658 in 5+ unit buildings).
• 2 sale attempts since 5y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $20k (18%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 7.2% rent growth), your $25k cash investment doubles in ~7 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Climate carrying-cost: major flood risk — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 8.7% vs local median 4.4% in Elmwood Park — 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 39 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1976 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• Property tax is high relative to price — has the assessment been appealed recently, and will the sale trigger a re-assessment?
• What does the HOA fee cover, when was the last increase, and are there any pending special assessments or reserve-fund shortfalls?
• Any open or pending special assessments — roof, HVAC, plumbing, elevator, façade? What's the per-unit balance and payoff schedule, and is the seller paying it off at close or rolling it to the buyer?
• 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.