245 3rd Ave SE

Wells, MN 56097

$95,000C

2 bd · 1.5 ba · 1,034 sqft · Built 1890 · Other · Active · 73 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $956/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$498
• Tax + insurance: −$158
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$201
• Net cashflow: $99/mo
• Annual: $1,182/yr
• Cap rate: 7.54%
• Cash-on-cash: 4.45%
• DSCR: 1.20
• 1% rule: 1.01%
• Cash to close: $26,600

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.5-bath other listed at $95k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $99 ($1k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($956 rent vs $95k).
• It's been on market 73 days — a 6% lower offer ($89k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $89k (6.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $10k of equity ($657 loan paydown + $10k appreciation (10.0% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 76/100 on livability (#149 in MN, #3,328 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, health & safety A+, crime A; Watch: amenities D, employment D, commute F.
• United South Central School District (rural): math 46% / reading 53% proficiency, ranked #130 of 301 in MN (top 43%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: United South Central Elementary (math 57% / reading 59%, grade C+, #258 of 857 statewide, top 30%, 445 students, 55% FRL); United South Central High School (math 32% / reading 47%, grade F, #246 of 471 statewide, top 59%, 333 students, 51% FRL) — zoned schools average 53% FRL vs 35% district-wide (18 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Watch-outs: built in 1890 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 28 active listings in the ZIP; 4 units permitted in Faribault County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Faribault County population projected at -11% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 4 sale attempts; this cycle's ask has dropped $14k (13%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $12k; list at $95k implies a 692% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (10.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $27k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 4, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$36k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 73 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 6% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1890 — 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.
• 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.