3831 Crane Dr NE · Huntsville, AL 35811

$149,400

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 840 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 156 Days on market

Built 1959 10,454 sqft lot $178/sqft · at area comps Est $150k · at est.

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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 +13.7/30.0
• ARV discount +7.8/15.0
• Rent growth +4.2/5.0
• DSCR +4.1/10.0
• Livability +4.1/5.0
• 1% rule +3.1/10.0
• Schools +2.9/10.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +1.4/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Convent to Alabama A&M College and Drake State Community & Technical College. This ranch style updated 3 bedroom 1 bath home on a large lot is move in ready with new LVP flooring in the bedrooms. Cute patio for entertaining and fenced yard. Great Investment property - DO NOT DISTURB TENANT ***NO SIGN IN THE YARD***

Key facts

• Updated
• Fenced yard
• Large lot

Tags

• RANCH STYLE
• UPDATED
• LARGE LOT
• NEW LVP FLOORING
• CUTE PATIO
• FENCED YARD

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $149k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $10 ($123/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $121k (19.1% below list).
• Recommended offer: $121k (19.1% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• Cap rate 6.4% vs local median 3.8% in Huntsville — 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 82/100 on livability (#3 in AL, #1,082 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: crime F.
• Huntsville City (urban): math 21% / reading 46% proficiency, ranked #48 of 129 in AL (top 37%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School (math 4% / reading 18%, grade F, #560 of 627 statewide, top 90%, 464 students, 89% FRL); Lee High School (math 2% / reading 17%, grade F, #252 of 305 statewide, top 84%, 840 students, 77% FRL) — zoned schools average 83% FRL vs 46% district-wide (36 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Zoned-school proficiency averages 10% at this address vs 34% district-wide (-23 pts) — the specific schools serving this property underperform the Huntsville City average; the district grade overstates school quality for this exact location.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+6.8%/yr); 570 active listings in the ZIP; 19 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 46d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 53% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; solid renter incomes; 4,709 units permitted in Madison County in 2024 (1,186 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 $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Madison County population projected at +18% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 156 days — a 12% lower offer ($131k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 4 sale attempts since 4y 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 $128k; 16% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1959 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: extreme-heat days projected 7→19/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $120,843 (19.1% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 156 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 19% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1959 — 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. 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?
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: 0.81% ✗
• Cap rate: 6.38%
• Cash-on-cash: 0.29%
• DSCR: 1.01
• GRM: 10.3

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $150,327
• List price: $149,400
• Delta: -0.62%
• Verdict: FAIR
• Comps: 20 within 1.0 mi

Show comp detail 7 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
133 Wilkenson Dr NE	0.04mi	3/1.0	864 (+3%)	8mo	$145,000	$168	87
153 Wilkenson Dr NE	0.09mi	3/1.0	864 (+3%)	12mo	$162,500	$188	81
203 Victory Ln NE	0.12mi	3/1.0	925 (+10%)	8mo	$166,000	$179	71
3807 Melody Rd NE	0.24mi	3/1.0	920 (+10%)	3mo	$151,000	$164	71
172 Wilkenson Dr NE	0.14mi	3/1.0	884 (+5%)	20mo	$145,000	$164	68
3815 Colton Ln NE	0.12mi	3/1.0	900 (+7%)	21mo	$179,900	$200	64
3803 Melody Rd NE	0.22mi	3/1.0	931 (+11%)	20mo	$162,900	$175	55

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 · 6.81% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -12.0%
• Equity multiple: 0.55×
• Total profit: $-18,783
• Equity at exit: $22,276

10-year hold

• IRR: 1.7%
• Equity multiple: 1.14×
• Total profit: $5,688
• Equity at exit: $12,917

Cash invested: $41,832 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Alabama: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+15
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

Right-to-evict in 7 days for non-payment; no rent control; preempted statewide; courts move quickly.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 35811

• Home prices YoY: -2.1%
• Rents YoY: 6.8%
• Active inventory: 570
• Price-to-rent: 10.3×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,208 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$783
• Tax from tax record: −$99 /mo · $1,184/yr
• Insurance: −$62
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$254
• Net cashflow: $10

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,195

Max offer price $149,400

Occupancy floor 94%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $95	-5% $53	+0% $10	+5% $-32	+10% $-74
Rent	-10% $-85	-5% $-37	+0% $10	+5% $58	+10% $106
Rate	-1.0pp $85	-0.5pp $48	base $10	+0.5pp $-28	+1.0pp $-68

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: $37,350
• Closing costs: $4,482
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 19 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
3330 Meridian St N Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.0	800	$700	$0.88	15d	1	0.54mi
3328 Meridian St N Apt 114 Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.0	800	$600	$0.75	15d	1	0.57mi
203 N Plymouth Rd NW Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.0	796	$1,310	$1.65	15d	1	0.79mi
4005 Memorial Pkwy NW Huntsville, AL	3.0	1.0	1100	$1,375	$1.25	45d	1	0.90mi
3707 Lakewood Dr NW Huntsville, AL	3.0	1.0	1100	$1,100	$1.00	45d	1	0.93mi
2117 Griffith Dr NW Huntsville, AL	3.0	1.0	1000	$1,095	$1.09	25d	1	1.09mi
102 Winchester Rd NW Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.0	850	$1,110	$1.31	45d	4	1.18mi
4130 High Mountain Rd NE Huntsville, AL	1.0–3.0	1.0–2.0	1119	$2,061	$1.84	45d	129	1.22mi
2107 Epworth Dr NE Unit H Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.5	875	$1,175	$1.34	15d	1	1.25mi
2207 Norwood Dr NW Huntsville, AL	3.0	1.0	1020	$1,295	$1.27	15d	1	1.26mi
2200 Norwood Dr NW Huntsville, AL	3.0	1.0	1060	$1,150	$1.08	25d	1	1.30mi
621 Murray Rd NW Huntsville, AL	3.0	1.5	1008	$1,325	$1.31	15d	1	1.31mi
2809 Academy Dr NW Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.5	900	$950	$1.06	45d	1	1.31mi
522 Lisa Ln NW Huntsville, AL	4.0	3.0	1025	$1,695	$1.65	45d	1	1.36mi
2219 Jonathan Dr NW Apt C Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.5	850	$850	$1.00	45d	1	1.42mi
3410 Elizabeth St NW Apt 7 Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.0	800	$799	$1.00	45d	1	1.46mi
3410 Elizabeth St NW Unit 5 Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.0	675	$799	$1.18	25d	1	1.46mi
3410 Elizabeth St NW Unit 2 Huntsville, AL	2.0	1.0	800	$850	$1.06	45d	1	1.46mi
2601 Academy Dr NW Huntsville, AL	2.0–4.0	1.0–2.0	971	$1,262	$1.30	45d	1	1.47mi

Listing history 31 events

1. 2026-06-22
   days on market $149,400 Active 156 DOM
2. 2026-06-18
   days on market $149,400 Active 153 DOM
3. 2026-06-17
   days on market $149,400 Active 152 DOM
4. 2026-06-16
   days on market $149,400 Active 151 DOM
5. 2026-06-15
   days on market $149,400 Active 150 DOM
6. 2026-06-14
   days on market $149,400 Active 148 DOM
7. 2026-06-10
   days on market $149,400 Active 145 DOM
8. 2026-06-09
   days on market $149,400 Active 144 DOM
9. 2026-06-08
   days on market $149,400 Active 143 DOM
10. 2026-06-07
    days on market $149,400 Active 142 DOM
11. 2026-06-03
    days on market $149,400 Active 138 DOM
12. 2026-06-02
    days on market $149,400 Active 137 DOM
13. 2026-06-01
    days on market $149,400 Active 136 DOM
14. 2026-05-31
    days on market $149,400 Active 135 DOM
15. 2026-05-30
    days on market $149,400 Active 134 DOM
16. 2026-03-14
    price $149,400 324-char remark

    Show marketing remark (324 chars)

    Convent to Alabama A&M College and Drake State Community & Technical College. This ranch style updated 3 bedroom 1 bath home on a large lot is move in ready with new LVP flooring in the bedrooms. Cute patio for entertaining and fenced yard. Great Investment property - DO NOT DISTURB TENANT ***NO SIGN IN THE YARD***

17. 2026-02-21
    price $150,000 324-char remark

    Show marketing remark (324 chars)

    Convent to Alabama A&M College and Drake State Community & Technical College. This ranch style updated 3 bedroom 1 bath home on a large lot is move in ready with new LVP flooring in the bedrooms. Cute patio for entertaining and fenced yard. Great Investment property - DO NOT DISTURB TENANT ***NO SIGN IN THE YARD***

18. 2026-01-16
    listed $149,800 Active 324-char remark

    Show marketing remark (324 chars)

    Convent to Alabama A&M College and Drake State Community & Technical College. This ranch style updated 3 bedroom 1 bath home on a large lot is move in ready with new LVP flooring in the bedrooms. Cute patio for entertaining and fenced yard. Great Investment property - DO NOT DISTURB TENANT ***NO SIGN IN THE YARD***

19. 2025-09-23
    historical $1,075
20. 2025-08-15
    price $1,075
21. 2025-06-12
    listed $1,095
22. 2023-03-06
    soldstatus $128,500 Sold 296-char remark

    Show marketing remark (296 chars)

    PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful, move-in ready home with updates throughout! 3 bedroom, 1 bath on large lot. Great opportunity for first time homebuyers or investors. Walking distance to Alabama A&M and Drake State Community & Technical College. All appliances stay! Don't miss out on this one!

23. 2023-03-06
    soldstatus $128,500

    Show marketing remark (296 chars)

    PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful, move-in ready home with updates throughout! 3 bedroom, 1 bath on large lot. Great opportunity for first time homebuyers or investors. Walking distance to Alabama A&M and Drake State Community & Technical College. All appliances stay! Don't miss out on this one!

24. 2023-01-31
    historical Contingent 296-char remark

    Show marketing remark (296 chars)

    PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful, move-in ready home with updates throughout! 3 bedroom, 1 bath on large lot. Great opportunity for first time homebuyers or investors. Walking distance to Alabama A&M and Drake State Community & Technical College. All appliances stay! Don't miss out on this one!

25. 2023-01-26
    price $137,500 296-char remark

    Show marketing remark (296 chars)

    PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful, move-in ready home with updates throughout! 3 bedroom, 1 bath on large lot. Great opportunity for first time homebuyers or investors. Walking distance to Alabama A&M and Drake State Community & Technical College. All appliances stay! Don't miss out on this one!

26. 2022-12-14
    listed $147,750 Active 296-char remark

    Show marketing remark (296 chars)

    PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful, move-in ready home with updates throughout! 3 bedroom, 1 bath on large lot. Great opportunity for first time homebuyers or investors. Walking distance to Alabama A&M and Drake State Community & Technical College. All appliances stay! Don't miss out on this one!

27. 2022-04-07
    soldstatus $85,000
28. 2022-04-05
    soldstatus $85,000 Sold
29. 2022-03-26
    status Pending
30. 2022-03-24
    listed $85,000 Active
31. 2022-03-08
    soldstatus $62,000

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

Tax reassessment forecast AL · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $1,184 · $99/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $1,184 · $99/mo
• Expected delta: $0/yr ($0/mo · 0.0%)

ⓘ 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 6/10 Major 7 d/yr ≥104°F today · 19 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 4/10 Moderate 19% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 1 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $14,501
• − Mortgage interest: −$8,369
• − Property taxes: −$1,184
• − Insurance: −$747
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,160
• − Management: −$1,160
• − Depreciation: −$4,346
• Taxable loss: −$2,465
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$592
• After-tax cash flow: $715/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: Huntsville City
• NCES district ID: 0101800
• Math proficiency: 21% ▼ -23.00%
• Reading proficiency: 46% ▬ 0.00%
• Median HH income: $48,264
• Composite: 28.84/100
• National rank: #6647
• State rank: #48 of 129 in AL

Livability — Huntsville

• Score: 82/100
• State rank: #3
• US rank: #1082

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Huntsville, AL
• County: Madison County · 380,832 people
• City population: 220,435
• Metro: Huntsville, AL
• Population (ZIP): 31,008
• Household income: $90,812
• Rent vs Own: 22.4% rent · 77.6% own
• Severe rent burden: 517.0

Population outlook (Madison County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 392,086 people
• By 2030: 409,788 · +4.5%
• By 2040: 440,557 · +12.4%
• By 2050: 460,990 · +17.6%
• By 2075: 502,872 · +28.3%
• By 2100: 513,623 · +31.0%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Majority White (64%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 64% Black 27% Two or more races 5% Hispanic / Latino 3% Asian 2%
• Common ancestry: Slovak 2% Italian 2% Serbian 2%
• Foreign-born: 4% · Canada, Vietnam, China
• Languages at home: 95% English-only · Spanish 3% Vietnamese 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Madison

• 2024 margin: Lean R (+9.0) · D 44.7% · R 53.7% · Other 1.6%
• 2008→2024 swing: +6.0pp toward D · 2008: -14.9pp · 2024: -9.0pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+9.0 2020: R+8.0 2016: R+16.8 2012: R+18.7 2008: R+14.9

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -7.13%
• Current HPI: 332.9423
• Rent YoY: ▲ 6.81%
• Metro: Huntsville, AL
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.94%
• F500 in state: 4

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in AL)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Financial Services	1	$8B
▸Healthcare	1	$5B

Price history

+141.0% since first listed

16 events — show timeline

• 2026-03-14 Price Changed $149,400 VMLS
• 2026-02-21 Price Changed $150,000 VMLS
• 2026-01-16 Listed $149,800 VMLS
• 2025-09-23 Rental Removed $1,075 VMLS
• 2025-08-15 Price Changed $1,075 VMLS
• 2025-06-12 Listed for Rent $1,095 VMLS
• 2023-03-06 Sold (Public Records) $128,500 Public Records
• 2023-03-06 Sold (MLS) $128,500 VMLS
• 2023-01-31 Contingent — VMLS
• 2023-01-26 Price Changed $137,500 VMLS
• 2022-12-14 Listed $147,750 VMLS
• 2022-04-07 Sold (Public Records) $85,000 Public Records
• 2022-04-05 Sold (MLS) $85,000 VMLS
• 2022-03-26 Pending — VMLS
• 2022-03-24 Listed $85,000 VMLS
• 2022-03-08 Sold (Public Records) $62,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+12.7%/yr

Latest (2024): $1,184 · +9.1% YoY. Source: county tax records.