2 bd · 1.0 ba ·
1,098 sqft ·
Built 1940
· SingleFamily
· Active
· 139 DOM
Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)
Estimated rent
$1,064/mo
Mortgage (P&I)
−$828
Tax + insurance
−$318
HOA
−$0
Vac / Maint / Mgmt
−$224
Net cashflow
$-305/mo
Annual
$-3,661/yr
Cap rate
3.97%
Cash-on-cash
-8.28%
DSCR
0.63
1% rule
0.67%
Cash to close
$44,212
Investor read
This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $158k.
At list price, monthly cash flow is $-305 ($-4k/yr) — negative.
To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $104k (34.1% below list).
To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $106k (32.6% below list).
It's been on market 139 days — a 12% lower offer ($139k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
Recommended offer: $104k (34.1% below list) — sets the bar for cash-flow.
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.
Location reads 64/100 on livability (#701 in IL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A; Watch: health & safety C-, crime F, amenities D-.
Alton CUSD 11 (suburban): math 12% / reading 13% proficiency, ranked #544 of 620 in IL (top 88%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 60% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
Zoned schools: East Elementary School (math 11% / reading 11%, grade F, #1,460 of 2,056 statewide, top 72%, 424 students, 0% FRL); Alton Middle School (math 10% / reading 11%, grade F, #580 of 665 statewide, top 88%, 1,241 students, 0% FRL); Alton High School (math 20% / reading 25%, grade F, #317 of 693 statewide, top 46%, 1,990 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 60% district-wide (60 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
Watch-outs: built in 1940 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+8.2%/yr); 169 active listings in the ZIP; 7 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals leasing fast (median 6d on market — plan ~1-2 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 336 units permitted in Madison County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
Madison County population projected at -18% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
2 sale attempts since 13y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $37k (19%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
Current owner paid $95k; list at $158k implies a 66% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
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.
Cap rate 4.0% vs local median 6.4% in Alton — below-typical yield; the buyer is paying a premium for something (appreciation thesis, condition, location) that the cap rate doesn't capture.
Questions for listing agent
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?
It's been on market 139 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 34% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
Built in 1940 — 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.
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?
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?
The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?
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