225 Columbia St · Elim, PA 15905

$67,500

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 826 sqft · SingleFamily · 76 Days on market

Built 1938 4,792 sqft lot Est $69k · at est.

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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 +25.2/30.0
• DSCR +8.3/10.0
• ARV discount +8.2/15.0
• 1% rule +6.6/10.0
• Schools +3.9/10.0
• Livability +3.4/5.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Don't Rent-Buy! Take a look at this well maintained 2 bedroom 1 bath ranch style home located in Westmont Hilltop School District. Easy one floor living featuring an updated kitchen. Large backyard gives you the space to plant a garden or build a garage. Call today to schedule a tour.

Key facts

• Gas hot water heat
• Fenced yard
• Vinyl siding

Tags

• LIVING ROOM DINING ROOM COMBO
• KITCHEN WITH APPLIANCES
• GAS HOT WATER HEAT
• VINYL SIDING
• FENCED YARD
• CONVENIENTLY LOCATED

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $68k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $151 ($2k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($784 rent vs $68k).
• Recommended offer: $63k (6.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 67/100 on livability (#992 in PA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, crime A; Watch: amenities F, commute F, health & safety F.
• Westmont Hilltop SD (suburban): math 39% / reading 51% proficiency, ranked #252 of 539 in PA (top 47%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Westmont Hilltop El Sch (math 37% / reading 49%, grade F, #873 of 1,518 statewide, top 58%, 739 students, 47% FRL); Westmont Hilltop Jshs (math 42% / reading 57%, grade D, #138 of 437 statewide, top 34%, 725 students, 38% FRL) — zoned schools average 43% FRL vs 24% district-wide (19 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Market conditions: 93 active listings in the ZIP; 4 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 46d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 100% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 64 units permitted in Cambria County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent is only 14% of the median local income ($69k/yr) — well below the 30% rent-burden line; pricing power to push rent on renewal without tenant pushback.

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $467 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $2k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Cambria County population projected at -28% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 76 days — a 6% lower offer ($63k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 4 sale attempts since 26y ago with the ask held roughly flat each time — persistent listings suggest the price (not the market) is what's stuck; bring a comps-based counter.
• Current owner paid $40k; list at $68k implies a 69% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1938 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $63,450 (6.0% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 76 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 6% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1938 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
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. 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: 1.16% ✓
• Cap rate: 8.98%
• Cash-on-cash: 9.60%
• DSCR: 1.43
• GRM: 7.2

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $68,558
• Comps found: 9

Show comp detail 9 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
225 Columbia St	0.00mi	2/1.0	826 (0%)	1mo	$67,500	$82	100
1355 Franklin St	0.41mi	2/1.0	868 (+5%)	4mo	$68,000	$78	69
225 Swank St	0.28mi	2/1.0	882 (+7%)	21mo	$61,900	$70	58
121 Royal Ave	0.32mi	2/1.0	940 (+14%)	10mo	$90,000	$96	54
180 Hammer Ave	0.56mi	2/1.0	864 (+5%)	16mo	$58,500	$68	53
1136 Shaffer St	0.66mi	2/1.0	768 (-7%)	13mo	$76,100	$99	47
413 Sell St	0.59mi	2/1.0	864 (+5%)	22mo	$72,000	$83	47
433 Tiffany St	0.68mi	2/2.0	732 (-11%)	1mo	$80,000	$109	44
464 Harshberger	0.60mi	2/1.0	898 (+9%)	20mo	$114,900	$128	41

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 · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -1.8%
• Equity multiple: 0.93×
• Total profit: $-1,290
• Equity at exit: $10,064

10-year hold

• IRR: 7.9%
• Equity multiple: 1.60×
• Total profit: $11,335
• Equity at exit: $5,836

Cash invested: $18,900 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 62 Landlord-Friendly
• State Pennsylvania: 62 Landlord-Friendly · EVEN
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

10-day notice; Philadelphia has eviction-court diversion + some protections; otherwise moderate.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 15905

• Home prices YoY: -31.1%
• Active inventory: 93
• Price-to-rent: 7.2×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $784 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$354
• Tax from tax record: −$86 /mo · $1,032/yr
• Insurance: −$28
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$165
• Net cashflow: $151

Break-even live

Break-even rent $593

Max offer price $67,500

Occupancy floor 76%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $189	-5% $170	+0% $151	+5% $132	+10% $113
Rent	-10% $89	-5% $120	+0% $151	+5% $182	+10% $213
Rate	-1.0pp $185	-0.5pp $168	base $151	+0.5pp $134	+1.0pp $116

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: $16,875
• Closing costs: $2,025
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 4 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
520 Vickroy Ave Johnstown, PA	1.0	1.0	1125	$500	$0.44	45d	1	0.89mi
522 Vickroy Ave Johnstown, PA	3.0	1.0	1125	$850	$0.76	45d	1	0.89mi
619 Grove Ave Johnstown, PA	2.0	2.0	1100	$1,050	$0.95	45d	1	1.14mi
343 Linden Ave Unit 2 Johnstown, PA	1.0	1.0	850	$675	$0.79	45d	1	1.45mi

Listing history 11 events

1. 2026-04-26
   status Pending
2. 2026-03-25
   price $67,500
3. 2026-02-09
   listed $69,500 Active
4. 2024-04-27
   historical $950
5. 2024-04-16
   listed $950
6. 2017-10-27
   soldstatus $40,000 288-char remark

   Show marketing remark (288 chars)

   Don't Rent-Buy! Take a look at this well maintained 2 bedroom 1 bath ranch style home located in Westmont Hilltop School District. Easy one floor living featuring an updated kitchen. Large backyard gives you the space to plant a garden or build a garage. Call today to schedule a tour.

7. 2017-10-05
   soldstatus $40,000
8. 2017-06-28
   listed $39,900 288-char remark

   Show marketing remark (288 chars)

   Don't Rent-Buy! Take a look at this well maintained 2 bedroom 1 bath ranch style home located in Westmont Hilltop School District. Easy one floor living featuring an updated kitchen. Large backyard gives you the space to plant a garden or build a garage. Call today to schedule a tour.

9. 2000-12-18
   soldstatus $19,500 102-char remark

   Show marketing remark (102 chars)

   FROM FERNDALE FOLLOW GOUCHER ST. TURN RIGHT ONTO WARREN, GO STRAIGHT AT STOP SIGN, LEFT ONTO COLUMBIA.

10. 2000-08-22
    listed $30,000 102-char remark

    Show marketing remark (102 chars)

    FROM FERNDALE FOLLOW GOUCHER ST. TURN RIGHT ONTO WARREN, GO STRAIGHT AT STOP SIGN, LEFT ONTO COLUMBIA.

11. 1978-08-01
    soldstatus $26,000

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

Tax reassessment forecast PA · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $1,032 · $86/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $1,049 · $87/mo
• Expected delta: +$17/yr (+$1/mo · 1.7%)

ⓘ 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 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥93°F today · 17 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: $9,408
• − Mortgage interest: −$3,781
• − Property taxes: −$1,032
• − Insurance: −$338
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$753
• − Management: −$753
• − Depreciation: −$1,964
• Taxable income: $789
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$189
• After-tax cash flow: $1,626/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: Westmont Hilltop SD
• NCES district ID: 4226130
• Math proficiency: 39% ▼ -10.00%
• Reading proficiency: 51% ▼ -15.00%
• Median HH income: $59,325
• Composite: 39.49/100
• National rank: #3955
• State rank: #252 of 539 in PA

Livability — Elim

• Score: 67/100
• State rank: #992
• US rank: #10931

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Elim, PA
• County: Cambria County · 30,791 people
• Metro: Johnstown, PA
• Population (ZIP): 19,329
• Household income: $69,212
• Rent vs Own: 21.4% rent · 78.6% own
• Severe rent burden: 359.0

Population outlook (Cambria County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 122,754 people
• By 2030: 115,827 · -5.6%
• By 2040: 101,309 · -17.5%
• By 2050: 88,379 · -28.0%
• By 2075: 65,237 · -46.9%
• By 2100: 46,909 · -61.8%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (92%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 92% Two or more races 3% Hispanic / Latino 2% Black 2%
• Common ancestry: Romanian 7% Scotch-Irish 1% Italian 1%
• Foreign-born: 2% · Canada
• Languages at home: 96% English-only · Spanish 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Cambria

• 2024 margin: Solid R (+39.7) · D 29.8% · R 69.5%
• 2008→2024 swing: -40.4pp toward R · 2008: 0.7pp · 2024: -39.7pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+39.7 2020: R+37.3 2016: R+37.8 2012: R+17.8 2008: D+0.7

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -64.18%
• Current HPI: 142.5218
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: Johnstown, PA
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.68%
• F500 in state: 34

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in PA)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Healthcare	2	$309B
▸Insurance	2	$27B
▸Telecommunications / Media	1	$124B
▸Industrial Distribution	1	$22B
▸Financial Services	1	$20B
▸Chemicals / Materials	1	$18B

Price history

+159.6% since first listed

11 events — show timeline

• 2026-04-26 Pending — CSMLS
• 2026-03-25 Price Changed $67,500 CSMLS
• 2026-02-09 Listed $69,500 CSMLS
• 2024-04-27 Rental Removed $950 Avail
• 2024-04-16 Listed for Rent $950 Avail
• 2017-10-27 Sold (MLS) $40,000 CSMLS
• 2017-10-05 Sold (Public Records) $40,000 Public Records
• 2017-06-28 Listed $39,900 CSMLS
• 2000-12-18 Sold (MLS) $19,500 CSMLS
• 2000-08-22 Listed $30,000 CSMLS
• 1978-08-01 Sold (Public Records) $26,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+0.3%/yr

Latest (2026): $1,032 · +0.0% YoY. Source: county tax records.