503 Scott Ave

Beckley, WV 25801

$20,000D

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 834 sqft · Built 1965 · SingleFamily · Active · 277 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,251/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$105
• Tax + insurance: −$38
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$263
• Net cashflow: $846/mo
• Annual: $10,146/yr
• Cap rate: 57.02%
• Cash-on-cash: 181.18%
• DSCR: 9.06
• 1% rule: 6.25%
• Cash to close: $5,600

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $20k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $846 ($10k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $20k).
• It's been on market 277 days — a 12% lower offer ($18k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $18k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $138 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $600 of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 59/100 on livability (#235 in WV) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A-; Watch: employment D, crime F, amenities F.
• Raleigh County Schools (rural): math 29% / reading 42% proficiency, ranked #14 of 55 in WV (top 26%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Beckley Elementary (math 17% / reading 22%, grade F, #350 of 377 statewide, top 95%, 320 students, 0% FRL); Beckley-Stratton Middle School (math 14% / reading 27%, grade F, #102 of 109 statewide, top 94%, 674 students, 0% FRL); Woodrow Wilson High School (math 24% / reading 56%, grade F, #20 of 110 statewide, top 17%, 1,330 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 46% district-wide (46 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+4.2%/yr); 112 active listings in the ZIP; 41 units permitted in Raleigh County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Raleigh County population projected at -16% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 2 sale attempts since 2y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $10k (33%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $8k; list at $20k implies a 150% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 4.2% rent growth), your $6k cash investment doubles in ~1 year — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 57.0% vs local median 7.0% in Beckley — 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.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 277 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1965 — 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.
• 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?
• 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?
• 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?
• 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.