1240 14th St

Marion, IA 52302

$147,500B

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,458 sqft · Built 1893 · SingleFamily · Pending · 47 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,801/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$774
• Tax + insurance: −$269
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$378
• Net cashflow: $380/mo
• Annual: $4,559/yr
• Cap rate: 9.38%
• Cash-on-cash: 11.04%
• DSCR: 1.49
• 1% rule: 1.22%
• Cash to close: $41,300

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath single-family listed at $148k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $380 ($5k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $148k).
• It's been on market 47 days — a 3% lower offer ($143k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $143k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 84/100 on livability (#19 in IA, #633 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: crime A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities D-, commute F.
• Marion Independent School District (suburban): math 68% / reading 70% proficiency, ranked #158 of 289 in IA (top 55%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Francis Marion Intermediate School (math 72% / reading 63%, grade B+, #270 of 616 statewide, top 44%, 269 students, 45% FRL); Vernon Middle School (math 66% / reading 65%, grade A-, #153 of 246 statewide, top 62%, 668 students, 40% FRL); Marion High School (math 69% / reading 80%, grade B+, #89 of 336 statewide, top 30%, 722 students, 28% FRL).
• Watch-outs: built in 1893 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+8.4%/yr); 457 active listings in the ZIP; 7 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 15d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); solid renter incomes; 1,023 units permitted in Linn County in 2024 (456 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Linn County population projected at +16% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• Current owner paid $71k; list at $148k implies a 108% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 8.0% rent growth), your $41k cash investment doubles in ~7 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 9.4% vs local median 2.7% in Marion — 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 47 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1893 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• Schools are A-rated — typically a magnet for longer-tenancy family renters. What's the average tenant stay here, and is there a school-zone premium baked into asking?
• 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.
• 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.