379 Sequoia Dr · Lake Wales, FL 33859

$247,224

3 bd · 2.5 ba · 1,685 sqft · Townhouse · 35 Days on market

Built 2025 3,484 sqft lot $191/mo HOA · 9% of rent ↓ 2% since listing

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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 +12.0/30.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• DSCR +3.5/10.0
• Schools +3.5/10.0
• Livability +3.4/5.0
• 1% rule +3.3/10.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity. This lovely, two-story home boasts an open floor plan with tile flooring and an expansive great room. The modern kitchen features granite countertops, a breakfast bar, pantry, Moen® faucet, Whirlpool® stainless steel appliances and 36-in. upper cabinets with hardware. Upstairs, enjoy the convenience of a dedicated laundry room space. The two secondary bedrooms each showcases a large closet. The primary suite offers an oversized closet and connecting bath that includes a dual-sink vanity and walk-in shower with stylish tile surround.

Key facts

• Open floor plan
• Spacious great room
• Stainless steel sink

Tags

• OPEN FLOOR PLAN
• TILE FLOORING
• SPACIOUS GREAT ROOM
• KITCHEN ISLAND
• GRANITE COUNTERTOPS
• STAINLESS STEEL SINK

Property features AI

Finance

• Other: Lease restrictions apply
• HOA & community: Has HOA (Reserve at Forest Lake Townhomes HOA; Empire Management Group/Lee Weiss); Monthly HOA approximately $33.33; Quarterly association fees (examples listed: $100 quarterly; $474 quarterly); HOA includes pool and grounds maintenance; Community amenities: clubhouse, pool, playground, trails; Pets allowed

Exterior

• Parking: Attached 1-car garage (20 x 11)
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer; BB/HS internet available
• Home design: Attached townhouse; Two stories; Faces north; New construction; Completed condition
• Construction: Block, stucco, and frame construction; Shingle roof; Slab foundation; Built by KB Home
• Exterior features: Covered front porch; Sidewalk; Patio/porch covered; Sliding doors

Interior

• Kitchen: Dishwasher; Range; Range hood; Garbage disposal
• Bedrooms: 3 bedrooms
• Flooring: Carpet; Tile
• Bathrooms: 2 full bathrooms; 1 half bathroom
• Heating & cooling: Central heating; Central air
• Interior features: Open floorplan; Stone counters; Thermostat; ENERGY STAR qualified windows; Sliding doors
• Laundry & utility: Laundry room on upper level

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/2.5-bath townhouse listed at $247k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-59 ($-704/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $237k (4.2% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $204k (17.4% below list).
• Recommended offer: $204k (17.4% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 68/100 on livability (#535 in FL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: employment D+, schools D, amenities F.
• Polk (suburban): math 39% / reading 43% proficiency, ranked #62 of 73 in FL (top 85%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Market conditions: 261 active listings in the ZIP; 18 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 22d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 10,384 units permitted in Polk County in 2024 (1,716 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 42% of the median local income ($58k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $2k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $7k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Polk County population projected at +33% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 35 days — a 3% lower offer ($240k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 2 sale attempts; this cycle's ask has dropped $20k (7%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.

Recommended offer $204,105 (17.4% 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. It's been on market 35 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 17% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
3. What does the HOA fee cover, when was the last increase, and are there any pending special assessments or reserve-fund shortfalls?
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. 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?
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: 0.83% ✗
• Cap rate: 6.01%
• Cash-on-cash: -1.02%
• DSCR: 0.95
• GRM: 10.1

CMA / ARV

No comps found within radius.

Projected returns pro-forma

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

5-year hold

• IRR: -18.0%
• Equity multiple: 0.37×
• Total profit: $-43,790
• Equity at exit: $36,862

10-year hold

• IRR: -10.2%
• Equity multiple: 0.38×
• Total profit: $-42,911
• Equity at exit: $21,375

Cash invested: $69,223 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 87 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Florida: 87 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+3
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

3-day pay-or-quit; preempts local rent control; landlord-friendly statutes. Court speed varies by county.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 33859

• Home prices YoY: -16.6%
• Active inventory: 261
• Price-to-rent: 10.1×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $2,041 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,296
• Tax from tax record: −$81 /mo · $967/yr
• Insurance: −$103
• HOA: −$191
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$429
• Net cashflow: $-59

Break-even live

Break-even rent $2,115

Max offer price $236,860

Occupancy floor 98%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $81	-5% $11	+0% $-59	+5% $-129	+10% $-199
Rent	-10% $-220	-5% $-139	+0% $-59	+5% $22	+10% $103
Rate	-1.0pp $66	-0.5pp $4	base $-59	+0.5pp $-123	+1.0pp $-188

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: $61,806
• Closing costs: $7,417
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 18 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
598 Bell Prairie Cir Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.5	1931	$2,100	$1.09	24d	1	0.25mi
260 Lake Suzanne Dr Lake Wales, FL	2.0	2.0	1321	$1,650	$1.25	24d	1	0.28mi
626 Bell Prairie Cir Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.0	1931	$2,600	$1.35	24d	1	0.30mi
645 Bell Prairie Cir Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.5	1933	$2,000	$1.03	12d	1	0.32mi
517 Bell Prairie Cir Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.5	1897	$2,100	$1.11	15d	1	0.34mi
437 Singing Sands Cir Lake Wales, FL	3.0	2.0	1555	$1,950	$1.25	15d	1	0.40mi
413 Singing Sands Cir Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.0	1817	$1,950	$1.07	3d	1	0.42mi
338 Rustic Rail Dr Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.0	1841	$2,150	$1.17	15d	1	0.44mi
346 Rustic Rail Dr Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.0	1844	$2,150	$1.17	15d	1	0.46mi
199 Dinner Lake Loop Lake Wales, FL	3.0	2.0	1599	$1,800	$1.13	15d	1	0.47mi
105 Serenity Loop Unit 5-302 Lake Wales, FL	2.0	2.0	1095	$2,305	$2.11	24d	1	0.68mi
105 Serenity Lp Lake Wales, FL	1.0–3.0	1.0–2.0	1007	$2,245	$2.23	3d	100	0.68mi
243 C F Kinney Rd Lake Wales, FL	3.0	2.0	1600	$2,600	$1.62	21d	1	0.69mi
343 Dinner Lake Ct Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.0	1801	$2,400	$1.33	15d	1	0.73mi
238 Dinner Lake Pl Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.0	1913	$1,950	$1.02	24d	1	0.80mi
315 Dinner Lake Ct Lake Wales, FL	3.0	2.0	1405	$2,000	$1.42	24d	1	0.83mi
802 Ballantyne Dr Lake Wales, FL	4.0	2.0	1928	$2,100	$1.09	24d	1	0.98mi
474 Hennepin Loop Lake Wales, FL	3.0	2.0	1589	$1,850	$1.16	24d	1	1.13mi

HOA detail

• Monthly dues: $191 · $2,292/yr
• Likely covers: pool

Listing history 17 events

1. 2026-06-18
   days on market $247,224 Active 35 DOM
2. 2026-06-17
   days on market $247,224 Active 34 DOM
3. 2026-06-16
   days on market $247,224 Active 33 DOM
4. 2026-06-15
   days on market $247,224 Active 32 DOM
5. 2026-06-13
   pricedays on market $247,224 Active 30 DOM
6. 2026-06-10
   days on market $267,224 Active 27 DOM
7. 2026-06-09
   days on market $267,224 Active 26 DOM
8. 2026-06-08
   days on market $267,224 Active 25 DOM
9. 2026-06-07
   days on market $267,224 Active 24 DOM
10. 2026-06-05
    days on market $267,224 Active 21 DOM
11. 2026-06-03
    days on market $267,224 Active 20 DOM
12. 2026-06-03
    days on market $267,224 Active 19 DOM
13. 2026-06-01
    days on market $267,224 Active 18 DOM
14. 2026-05-31
    days on market $267,224 Active 17 DOM
15. 2026-05-14
    listed $267,224 Active
16. 2026-04-15
    price $267,224 592-char remark

    Show marketing remark (592 chars)

    Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity. This lovely, two-story home boasts an open floor plan with tile flooring and an expansive great room. The modern kitchen features granite countertops, a breakfast bar, pantry, Moen® faucet, Whirlpool® stainless steel appliances and 36-in. upper cabinets with hardware. Upstairs, enjoy the convenience of a dedicated laundry room space. The two secondary bedrooms each showcases a large closet. The primary suite offers an oversized closet and connecting bath that includes a dual-sink vanity and walk-in shower with stylish tile surround.

17. 2026-04-03
    listed $272,224 Active 592-char remark

    Show marketing remark (592 chars)

    Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity. This lovely, two-story home boasts an open floor plan with tile flooring and an expansive great room. The modern kitchen features granite countertops, a breakfast bar, pantry, Moen® faucet, Whirlpool® stainless steel appliances and 36-in. upper cabinets with hardware. Upstairs, enjoy the convenience of a dedicated laundry room space. The two secondary bedrooms each showcases a large closet. The primary suite offers an oversized closet and connecting bath that includes a dual-sink vanity and walk-in shower with stylish tile surround.

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

Tax reassessment forecast FL · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $967 · $81/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,052 · $171/mo
• Expected delta: +$1,085/yr (+$90/mo · 112.1%)

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

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $24,493
• − Mortgage interest: −$13,848
• − Property taxes: −$967
• − Insurance: −$1,236
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,959
• − Management: −$1,959
• − HOA: −$2,292
• − Depreciation: −$7,192
• Taxable loss: −$4,962
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$1,191
• After-tax cash flow: $487/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: Polk
• NCES district ID: 1201590
• Math proficiency: 39% ▼ -11.00%
• Reading proficiency: 43% ▼ -4.00%
• Median HH income: $43,979
• Composite: 34.74/100
• National rank: #5132
• State rank: #62 of 73 in FL

Livability — Lake Wales

• Score: 68/100
• State rank: #535
• US rank: #10036

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Lake Wales, FL
• County: Polk County · 740,051 people
• City population: 30,351
• Metro: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
• Population (ZIP): 11,824
• Household income: $57,760
• Rent vs Own: 28.5% rent · 71.5% own
• Severe rent burden: 408.0

Population outlook (Polk County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 752,975 people
• By 2030: 804,621 · +6.9%
• By 2040: 906,117 · +20.3%
• By 2050: 1,000,476 · +32.9%
• By 2075: 1,197,520 · +59.0%
• By 2100: 1,271,518 · +68.9%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Majority White (61%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 61% Hispanic / Latino 25% Two or more races 13% Black 11%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 11% Puerto Rican 6% Cuban 1% Dominican 4%
• Common ancestry: Lithuanian 2% Romanian 1% Serbian 1%
• Foreign-born: 10% · Canada
• Languages at home: 79% English-only · Spanish 19% French/Haitian/Cajun 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Polk

• 2024 margin: Strong R (+20.7) · D 39.2% · R 59.9%
• 2008→2024 swing: -14.6pp toward R · 2008: -6.1pp · 2024: -20.7pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+20.7 2020: R+14.4 2016: R+14.1 2012: R+6.8 2008: R+6.1

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -53.19%
• Current HPI: 267.4537
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 3.28%
• F500 in state: 36

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in FL)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Industrial Technology	2	$29B
▸Insurance	2	$17B
▸Retail	1	$60B
▸Technology Distribution	1	$58B
▸Homebuilding	1	$35B
▸Technology Manufacturing	1	$35B

Price history

-1.8% since first listed

3 events — show timeline

• 2026-05-14 Listed $267,224 Stellar MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2026-04-15 Price Changed $267,224 Zillow
• 2026-04-03 Listed $272,224 Zillow