5403 Helen Ave · Jennings, MO 63136

$15,000

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 672 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 56 Days on market

Built 1915 4,094 sqft lot $22/sqft · 63% below area

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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 +15.0/30.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• Appreciation +6.9/10.0
• 1% rule +5.0/10.0
• DSCR +5.0/10.0
• Rent growth +3.7/5.0
• Livability +3.4/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +1.1/10.0

Listing remarks

Please verify details in this listing including sq ftg and school districts. Please use special sale contracts with no inspection contingencies. Seller is open to any and all offers.

Key facts

• 4,094 sq ft lot
• Built 1915
• Listed 56 days

Property features AI

Finance

• Other: Living area reported as 672 (public records); Lot size about 0.094 acres
• Financial info: Lease not considered; No home warranty indicated

Exterior

• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer; Electric service: other
• Home design: Single family residence; Residential property; Two levels; Facing information not provided
• Construction: Built year not provided; Other construction materials
• Exterior features: Lot features: other

Interior

• Bedrooms: 1 bedroom (main level)
• Bathrooms: 1 full bathroom (main level)
• Heating & cooling: Forced air heating; Central air conditioning
• Interior features: Basement (other features)

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $15k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $685 ($8k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $15k).
• Recommended offer: $15k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Cap rate 61.1% vs local median 12.2% in Jennings — 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 67/100 on livability (#208 in MO) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, commute A-, housing A-; Watch: crime F, amenities F, employment F.
• Jennings (suburban): math 8% / reading 20% proficiency, ranked #315 of 324 in MO (top 97%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 86% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: Fairview Primary (math 34% / reading 34%, grade F, #676 of 1,115 statewide, top 66%, 267 students, 100% FRL); Jennings High (math 8% / reading 17%, grade F, #497 of 521 statewide, top 96%, 691 students, 100% FRL).
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+5.0%/yr); 372 active listings in the ZIP; 10 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 18d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); lower-income renter base — watch delinquency; 920 units permitted in St. Louis County in 2024 (250 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 30% of the median local income ($41k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Forward outlook

• In year one you build about $672 of equity ($104 loan paydown + $568 appreciation (3.8% local appreciation)).
• At projected returns (3.8% appreciation + 5.0% rent growth), your $4k cash investment doubles in ~1 year — after that, you're playing with house money.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 56 days — a 3% lower offer ($15k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 3 sale attempts since 3y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $10k (40%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $9k; list at $15k implies a 67% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: property tax is 3.6% of price; built in 1915 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: extreme-heat days projected 7→20/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $14,550 (3.0% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 56 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1915 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Property tax is high relative to price — has the assessment been appealed recently, and will the sale trigger a re-assessment?
4. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
5. 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?
6. 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?
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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: 6.87% ✓
• Cap rate: 61.08%
• Cash-on-cash: 195.65%
• DSCR: 9.71
• GRM: 1.2

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $40,478
• List price: $15,000
• Delta: -62.94%
• Verdict: UNDERPRICED
• Comps: 20 within 1.0 mi

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
6342 Lena Ave	0.40mi	2/1.0	678 (+1%)	2mo	$40,000	$59	79
5471 Janet Ave	0.17mi	2/1.0	696 (+4%)	9mo	$30,000	$43	78
5425 Janet Ave	0.08mi	2/1.0	725 (+8%)	10mo	$17,999	$25	75
5239 Hamilton Ave	0.26mi	2/1.0	725 (+8%)	2mo	$8,750	$12	73
7048 Idlewild Ave	0.28mi	2/1.0	744 (+11%)	14mo	$55,000	$74	58
5526 Jennings Station Rd	0.27mi	2/1.0	768 (+14%)	8mo	$70,000	$91	57
7121 Lamont Dr	0.62mi	2/1.0	716 (+6%)	9mo	$50,000	$70	53
4617 Hatz St	0.74mi	2/1.0	720 (+7%)	2mo	$30,000	$42	52
5760 Acme Ave	0.64mi	1/1.0 (-1)	624 (-7%)	4mo	$15,000	$24	50
4704 Seattle St	0.59mi	2/1.0	768 (+14%)	1mo	$84,900	$111	48
5920 Lalite Ave	0.66mi	2/1.0	760 (+13%)	4mo	$22,000	$29	44
6723 Stratford Ave	0.63mi	3/1.0 (+1)	768 (+14%)	6mo	$45,000	$59	37

Match score weights: distance 35% · size 25% · config 20% · recency 20%. Top-matched comps best support the ARV.

Projected returns pro-forma

3.79% appreciation · 4.97% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: —
• Equity multiple: 12.47×
• Total profit: $48,173
• Equity at exit: $7,422

10-year hold

• IRR: —
• Equity multiple: 27.89×
• Total profit: $112,952
• Equity at exit: $11,995

Cash invested: $4,200 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 81 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Missouri: 81 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+10
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

Generally landlord-friendly; St Louis has some habitability requirements.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 63136

• Home prices YoY: 0.9%
• Rents YoY: 5.0%
• Active inventory: 372
• Price-to-rent: 1.2×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,031 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$79
• Tax from tax record: −$45 /mo · $539/yr
• Insurance: −$6
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$217
• Net cashflow: $685

Break-even live

Break-even rent $164

Max offer price $15,000

Occupancy floor 29%

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: $3,750
• Closing costs: $450
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 10 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
7024 Idlewild Ave Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	588	$995	$1.69	43d	1	0.20mi
5635 Hodiamont Ave Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	580	$899	$1.55	20d	1	0.43mi
7142 Lamont Dr Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	750	$1,100	$1.47	17d	1	0.67mi
8344 Eton Pl Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	750	$895	$1.19	3d	1	0.91mi
8347 Eton Pl Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	750	$1,075	$1.43	43d	1	0.92mi
4719 Plover Ave Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	744	$995	$1.34	4d	1	1.02mi
5600 Gatesworth Ave Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	672	$1,095	$1.63	4d	1	1.03mi
7516 Chandler Ave Saint Louis, MO	1.0	1.0	728	$1,000	$1.37	43d	1	1.16mi
4935 Alcott Ave Saint Louis, MO	3.0	1.0	680	$705	$1.04	16d	1	1.31mi
3 Pohlman Ln Saint Louis, MO	2.0	1.0	704	$1,000	$1.42	16d	1	1.44mi

Listing history 26 events

1. 2026-06-18
   days on market $15,000 Active 56 DOM
2. 2026-06-17
   days on market $15,000 Active 55 DOM
3. 2026-06-16
   days on market $15,000 Active 54 DOM
4. 2026-06-15
   days on market $15,000 Active 53 DOM
5. 2026-06-13
   days on market $15,000 Active 51 DOM
6. 2026-06-09
   days on market $15,000 Active 47 DOM
7. 2026-06-08
   days on market $15,000 Active 46 DOM
8. 2026-06-07
   days on market $15,000 Active 45 DOM
9. 2026-06-03
   days on market $15,000 Active 41 DOM
10. 2026-06-02
    days on market $15,000 Active 40 DOM
11. 2026-06-01
    days on market $15,000 Active 39 DOM
12. 2026-05-31
    days on market $15,000 Active 38 DOM
13. 2026-05-11
    price $15,000 182-char remark
14. 2026-04-23
    listed $25,000 Active 182-char remark
15. 2024-01-24
    historical
16. 2023-11-30
    price $13,500
17. 2023-10-20
    price $14,500
18. 2023-10-10
    status Active
19. 2023-10-10
    price $14,900
20. 2023-09-24
    historical
21. 2023-08-30
    price $15,900
22. 2023-08-04
    price $16,900
23. 2023-07-31
    price $17,900
24. 2023-05-10
    price $18,900
25. 2023-03-24
    listed $19,900 Active
26. 2022-07-21
    soldstatus $9,000

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

Tax reassessment forecast MO · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $539 · $45/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $539 · $45/mo
• Expected delta: $0/yr ($0/mo · 0.0%)

ⓘ Screening estimate from a state-policy table — verify with the county assessor before closing.

Climate risk First Street

• 🌊 Flood 1/10 Low FEMA zone X (unshaded) · 0% chance over 30 yrs
• 🔥 Wildfire 1/10 Low
• 🌡 Heat 5/10 Major 7 d/yr ≥107°F today · 20 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low 100% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 4/10 Moderate 4 unhealthy d/yr today · 5 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $12,374
• − Mortgage interest: −$840
• − Property taxes: −$539
• − Insurance: −$75
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$990
• − Management: −$990
• − Depreciation: −$436
• Taxable income: $8,503
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$2,041
• After-tax cash flow: $6,177/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: Jennings
• NCES district ID: 2916290
• Math proficiency: 8% ▼ -16.00%
• Reading proficiency: 20% ▼ -4.00%
• Median HH income: $30,595
• Composite: 11.04/100
• National rank: #9739
• State rank: #315 of 324 in MO

Livability — Jennings

• Score: 67/100
• State rank: #208
• US rank: #10499

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Jennings, MO
• County: Saint Louis County · 888,823 people
• Metro: St. Louis, MO-IL
• Population (ZIP): 40,929
• Household income: $41,154
• Rent vs Own: 53.1% rent · 46.9% own
• Severe rent burden: 3085.0

Population outlook (St. Louis County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 1,025,227 people
• By 2030: 1,028,023 · +0.3%
• By 2040: 1,020,940 · -0.4%
• By 2050: 1,007,280 · -1.8%
• By 2075: 987,277 · -3.7%
• By 2100: 921,984 · -10.1%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly Black (90%)
• Race & ethnicity: Black 90% White 5% Two or more races 3%
• Foreign-born: 1% · Canada

Political lean MEDSL · St. Louis

• 2024 margin: Strong D (+23.4) · D 60.8% · R 37.4% · Other 1.7%
• 2008→2024 swing: +3.5pp toward D · 2008: 19.9pp · 2024: 23.4pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+23.4 2020: D+24.0 2016: D+16.2 2012: D+13.7 2008: D+19.9

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▲ 3.79%
• Current HPI: 420.28
• Rent YoY: ▲ 4.97%
• Metro: St. Louis, MO-IL
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.84%
• F500 in state: 20

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in MO)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Healthcare	1	$163B
▸Insurance	1	$21B
▸Industrial Technology	1	$17B
▸Retail	1	$16B
▸Industrial Distribution	1	$10B
▸Utilities	1	$9B

Price history

+66.7% since first listed

14 events — show timeline

• 2026-05-11 Price Changed $15,000 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2026-04-23 Listed $25,000 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2024-01-24 Delisted — MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-11-30 Price Changed $13,500 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-10-20 Price Changed $14,500 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-10-10 Relisted — MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-10-10 Price Changed $14,900 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-09-24 Delisted — MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-08-30 Price Changed $15,900 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-08-04 Price Changed $16,900 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-07-31 Price Changed $17,900 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-05-10 Price Changed $18,900 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2023-03-24 Listed $19,900 MARIS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2022-07-21 Sold (Public Records) $9,000 Public Records

Property tax history

-6.7%/yr

Latest (2022): $539 · +1.5% YoY. Source: county tax records.