1548 6th Ave Ave · Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

$170,000

3 bd · 2.5 ba · 1,376 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 2 Days on market

Built 1915 Est $154k · 10% over

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Why this score? — see what drove the D- 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 +12.5/30.0
• Rent growth +5.0/5.0
• Schools +4.7/10.0
• Livability +3.9/5.0
• DSCR +3.7/10.0
• 1% rule +3.2/10.0
• ARV discount +2.9/15.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks

Charming and well-maintained 2-story home built in 1915, offering a perfect blend of historic character and modern updates. This inviting residence features 3 bedrooms(4th non-conforming attic room) and 2 full bathrooms, along with a thoughtfully updated kitchen and renovated bathrooms that provide contemporary comfort and style. The convenient main-floor laundry adds everyday functionality, while the home's excellent upkeep reflects pride of ownership throughout. With spacious living area, timeless appeal, and numerous updates, this move-in-ready home is an exceptional opportunity for buyers seeking both character and convenience.

Key facts

• Renovated bathrooms
• Move-in-ready
• Historic character

Tags

• HISTORIC CHARACTER
• UPDATED KITCHEN
• RENOVATED BATHROOMS
• MAIN-FLOOR LAUNDRY
• MOVE-IN-READY

Property features AI

Exterior

• Parking: Detached garage; Garage door opener; Off-street and on-street parking; 1 garage space
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer
• Home design: Single-family residence; Two-story
• Construction: Frame construction with wood siding
• Exterior features: Deck; Fenced yard; Pets allowed

Interior

• Kitchen: Dishwasher; Microwave; Range; Refrigerator
• Bedrooms: 7 total rooms (bedroom count not specified)
• Bathrooms: 2 full bathrooms
• Heating & cooling: Natural gas forced air heating; Window/wall air conditioning units
• Interior features: Dishwasher; Gas water heater; Microwave; Range; Refrigerator; Full basement
• Laundry & utility: Laundry on main level

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/2.5-bath single-family listed at $170k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-24 ($-282/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $166k (2.4% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $140k (17.8% below list).
• Recommended offer: $140k (17.8% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• Cap rate 6.1% vs local median 3.5% in Cedar Rapids — 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 78/100 on livability (#134 in IA, #2,474 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: crime C-, commute F.
• Cedar Rapids Community School District (urban): math 50% / reading 59% proficiency, ranked #265 of 289 in IA (top 92%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Johnson Steam Academy School (math 32% / reading 37%, grade F, #595 of 616 statewide, top 97%, 346 students, 74% FRL); Mckinley Steam Academy (math 45% / reading 55%, grade C, #216 of 246 statewide, top 88%, 448 students, 52% FRL); George Washington High School (math 44% / reading 62%, grade C-, #296 of 336 statewide, top 88%, 1,291 students, 49% FRL) — zoned schools average 59% FRL vs 43% district-wide (15 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+14.7%/yr); 236 active listings in the ZIP; 4 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 44d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 50% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 1,023 units permitted in Linn County in 2024 (456 in 5+ unit buildings).

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.
• Linn County population projected at +16% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• Only 2 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• Current owner paid $82k; list at $170k implies a 107% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1915 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $139,721 (17.8% 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. Built in 1915 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
4. Schools are B-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?
5. 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?
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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: 0.82% ✗
• Cap rate: 6.13%
• Cash-on-cash: -0.59%
• DSCR: 0.97
• GRM: 10.1

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $154,112
• Comps found: 12

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
513 16th ST St SE	0.03mi	3/1.5	1,332 (-3%)	1mo	$150,000	$113	88
847 Camburn Ct SE	0.25mi	3/1.0	1,350 (-2%)	1mo	$148,000	$110	78
846 15th St SE	0.26mi	3/1.5	1,332 (-3%)	1mo	$121,900	$92	78
1431 5th Ave SE	0.13mi	3/1.5	1,274 (-7%)	2mo	$125,000	$98	76
1529 6th Ave SE	0.04mi	3/1.0	1,248 (-9%)	1mo	$60,000	$48	76
1442 4th Ave SE	0.19mi	3/1.0	1,232 (-10%)	1mo	$138,000	$112	67
330 Crescent St SE	0.70mi	3/2.0	1,418 (+3%)	0mo	$282,500	$199	60
2253 Meadowbrook Dr Dr SE	0.69mi	3/2.0	1,325 (-4%)	1mo	$204,000	$154	59
1751 Higley Ave Ave SE	0.32mi	2/1.0 (-1)	1,232 (-10%)	1mo	$117,500	$95	56
335 18th St SE	0.49mi	3/1.5	1,529 (+11%)	1mo	$189,000	$124	54
385 21st St St SE	0.54mi	3/2.0	1,555 (+13%)	0mo	$255,000	$164	51
2039 Park Ave SE	0.59mi	2/1.5 (-1)	1,221 (-11%)	0mo	$95,000	$78	45

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

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 8.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -12.0%
• Equity multiple: 0.54×
• Total profit: $-21,670
• Equity at exit: $25,348

10-year hold

• IRR: 3.1%
• Equity multiple: 1.27×
• Total profit: $12,774
• Equity at exit: $14,698

Cash invested: $47,600 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Iowa: 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+6
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

3-day pay-or-quit; mostly landlord-friendly statewide.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 52403

• Rents YoY: 14.7%
• Active inventory: 236
• Price-to-rent: 10.1×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,397 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$891
• Tax from tax record: −$165 /mo · $1,980/yr
• Insurance: −$71
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$293
• Net cashflow: $-24

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,427

Max offer price $165,842

Occupancy floor 97%

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: $42,500
• Closing costs: $5,100
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 4 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
730 Wellington St SE Cedar Rapids, IA	3.0	1.0	1366	$1,325	$0.97	21d	1	0.24mi
906 10th St SE Cedar Rapids, IA	1.0–2.0	1.0–2.0	890	$1,300	$1.46	13d	6	0.41mi
1017 19th St SE Cedar Rapids, IA	3.0	1.0	946	$1,100	$1.16	43d	1	0.53mi
511 23rd St NE Cedar Rapids, IA	2.0	1.0	888	$1,500	$1.69	43d	1	1.29mi

Listing history 3 events

1. 2026-06-08
   status $170,000 Pending 2 DOM
2. 2026-06-07
   remarks 639-char remark
3. 2026-06-07
   listed $170,000 Active 2 DOM

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

Tax reassessment forecast IA · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $1,980 · $165/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,324 · $194/mo
• Expected delta: +$344/yr (+$29/mo · 17.4%)

ⓘ 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 2/10 Low
• 🌡 Heat 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥103°F today · 15 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $16,767
• − Mortgage interest: −$9,523
• − Property taxes: −$1,980
• − Insurance: −$850
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,341
• − Management: −$1,341
• − Depreciation: −$4,945
• Taxable loss: −$3,214
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$771
• After-tax cash flow: $489/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: Cedar Rapids Community School District
• NCES district ID: 1906540
• Math proficiency: 50% ▼ -12.00%
• Reading proficiency: 59% ▼ -6.00%
• Median HH income: $53,568
• Composite: 46.82/100
• National rank: #2378
• State rank: #265 of 289 in IA

Livability — Cedar Rapids

• Score: 78/100
• State rank: #134
• US rank: #2474

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Cedar Rapids, IA
• County: Linn County · 179,860 people
• City population: 137,154
• Metro: Cedar Rapids, IA
• Population (ZIP): 22,551
• Household income: $74,703
• Rent vs Own: 23.0% rent · 77.0% own
• Severe rent burden: 452.0

Population outlook (Linn County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 239,589 people
• By 2030: 248,587 · +3.8%
• By 2040: 264,817 · +10.5%
• By 2050: 278,685 · +16.3%
• By 2075: 311,754 · +30.1%
• By 2100: 336,773 · +40.6%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (85%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 85% Black 7% Two or more races 5% Hispanic / Latino 3%
• Common ancestry: Italian 3% Slovak 3% Portuguese 3%
• Foreign-born: 3% · Canada
• Languages at home: 95% English-only · Spanish 3% Other Indo-European 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Linn

• 2024 margin: Lean D (+9.9) · D 54.2% · R 44.3% · Other 1.4%
• 2008→2024 swing: -11.6pp toward R · 2008: 21.5pp · 2024: 9.9pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+9.9 2020: D+13.7 2016: D+9.0 2012: D+17.6 2008: D+21.5

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -170.15%
• Current HPI: 196.1114
• Rent YoY: ▲ 14.67%
• Metro: Cedar Rapids, IA
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.48%
• F500 in state: 4

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in IA)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Financial Services	1	$16B
▸Retail / Convenience	1	$15B

Price history

+107.3% since first listed

2 events — show timeline

• 2026-06-05 Listed $170,000 CRAAR, CDRMLS
• 2013-05-28 Sold (Public Records) $82,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+3.3%/yr

Latest (2025): $1,980 · +15.5% YoY. Source: county tax records.