4525 40th Pl N · Birmingham, AL
Flood risk 1/10 · Minimal
- FEMA flood zone
- X (unshaded)
- Chance of flooding over 30 yrs
- 0.0%
- Est. flood insurance / yr
- $507 – $1,088
Fire risk 3/10 · Minor
- Est. fire insurance / yr
- $916 – $1,700
Heat risk 6/10 · Moderate
- Hot days now (above 106°F)
- 7 days/yr
- Hot days in 30 yrs
- 19 days/yr
Wind risk 6/10 · Moderate
- Chance of severe wind over 30 yrs
- 27.0%
Air-quality risk 5/10 · Moderate
- Unhealthy air days now
- 9 days/yr
- Unhealthy air days in 30 yrs
- 10 days/yr
Risk factors via First Street. Map © Google.
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 +30.0/30.0
- 1% rule +10.0/10.0
- DSCR +10.0/10.0
- Rent growth +3.4/5.0
- Livability +3.4/5.0
- Condition / age +2.5/5.0
- Schools +0.9/10.0
- ARV discount +0.0/15.0
- Appreciation +0.0/10.0
$59,900
🖨 Deal sheet 📄 Offer letter ✓ Due diligence
Listing remarks MLS
GREAT INVESTMENT PROPERTY!!! Nice 2-bedroom 1 bath property in great condition.
Key facts
- 6,969 sq ft lot
- Built 1947
- Listed 101 days
Neighborhood map
What this means for you Summary
Snapshot
- This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $60k.
Deal economics
- At list price, monthly cash flow is $400 ($5k/yr) — positive.
- The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
- Meets the 1% rule at list price ($973 rent vs $60k).
- Recommended offer: $55k (9.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
- Cap rate 14.3% vs local median 6.2% in Birmingham — 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 67/100 on livability (#78 in AL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities C-, schools F, crime F.
- Birmingham City (urban): math 4% / reading 20% proficiency, ranked #116 of 129 in AL (top 90%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 82% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
- Market conditions: Rents rising (+3.6%/yr); 94 active listings in the ZIP; 27 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 44d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 56% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; lower-income renter base — watch delinquency; 2,114 units permitted in Jefferson County in 2024 (556 in 5+ unit buildings).
Forward outlook
- Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $414 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $2k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
- Jefferson County population projected to shrink 4% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.
- At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.6% rent growth), your $17k cash investment doubles in ~5 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
Negotiation context
- It's been on market 101 days — a 9% lower offer ($55k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
- 2 sale attempts since 6y 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 $22k; list at $60k implies a 172% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
Risks & watch-outs
- Watch-outs: built in 1947 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
- Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 27% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→19/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
Questions for the listing agent
- It's been on market 101 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 9% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
- Built in 1947 — 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 F-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?
- 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.
Investment metrics
- 1% rule
- 1.63% ✓
- Cap rate
- 14.31%
- Cash-on-cash
- 28.62%
- DSCR
- 2.27
- GRM
- 5.1
CMA / ARV
- ARV (median comp)
- $41,669
- List price
- $59,900
- Delta
- 43.75%
- Verdict
- OVERPRICED
- Comps
- 20 within 1.0 mi
Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi
| Address | Dist | Beds/Ba | Sqft | Sold | Price | $/sf | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4521 40th Pl N | 0.01mi | 2/1.0 | 728 (-6%) | 18mo | $40,000 | $55 | 75 |
| 4509 40th Pl N | 0.04mi | 2/1.0 | 728 (-6%) | 18mo | $40,000 | $55 | 74 |
| 4503 40th Pl N | 0.06mi | 2/1.0 | 728 (-6%) | 18mo | $40,000 | $55 | 73 |
| 1213 Maple St | 0.59mi | 2/1.0 | 792 (+2%) | 8mo | $55,500 | $70 | 62 |
| 3912 39th Ave N | 0.54mi | 1/1.0 (-1) | 763 (-1%) | 20mo | $32,000 | $42 | 51 |
| 4305 41st Ave N | 0.51mi | 3/1.0 (+1) | 864 (+12%) | 2mo | $66,000 | $76 | 50 |
| 4333 N 43rd Ave | 0.48mi | 2/1.0 | 841 (+9%) | 17mo | $50,000 | $59 | 49 |
| 5021 43rd St N | 0.48mi | 2/1.0 | 834 (+8%) | 21mo | $40,000 | $48 | 47 |
| 1061 Bristol St | 0.60mi | 2/1.0 | 736 (-5%) | 21mo | $58,000 | $79 | 46 |
| 4317 N 41st Ave N | 0.53mi | 3/1.0 (+1) | 864 (+12%) | 14mo | $49,900 | $58 | 39 |
| 1440 Park Ave | 0.75mi | 2/1.0 | 720 (-7%) | 20mo | $46,500 | $65 | 37 |
| 3708 42nd Ave N | 0.73mi | 3/1.0 (+1) | 876 (+13%) | 13mo | $54,900 | $63 | 28 |
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 · 3.58% rent growth · sell at horizon
- IRR
- 23.5%
- Equity multiple
- 1.97×
- Total profit
- $16,327
- Equity at exit
- $8,931
- IRR
- 31.8%
- Equity multiple
- 3.94×
- Total profit
- $49,340
- Equity at exit
- $5,179
Cash invested: $16,772 (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
ZIP-level market 35217
- Rents YoY
- 3.6%
- Active inventory
- 94
- Price-to-rent
- 5.1×
Monthly cashflow live
- Estimated rent
- $973 high interval (Pro) →
- Mortgage (P&I)
- −$314
- Tax from tax record
- −$30 /mo · $360/yr
- Insurance
- −$25
- HOA
- −$0
- Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt
- −$204
- Net cashflow
- $400
Break-even live
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
- $14,975
- Closing costs
- $1,797
- Reserves months
- —
- Total cash needed
- —
Loan-product check · same deal, 3 products live
Conventional
25% down · 7.5% · 30yr
- Down + closing
- —
- Monthly P&I
- —
- Monthly cashflow
- —
- DSCR
- —
- Eligible?
- —
Personal DTI + credit; lowest rate.
DSCR
20% down · 8.5% · 30yr
- Down + closing
- —
- Monthly P&I
- —
- Monthly cashflow
- —
- DSCR
- —
- Eligible?
- —
No personal income docs; deal must DSCR.
Hard money
10% down · 12.0% · 12mo
- Down + closing
- —
- Monthly P&I
- —
- Monthly cashflow
- —
- DSCR
- —
- Eligible?
- —
Short-term bridge; refi at stabilization.
Rent comps 27 comps
| Address | Beds | Baths | Sqft | Rent | $/sqft | DOM | Units | Dist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4549 40th Pl N Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 728 | $850 | $1.17 | 44d | 1 | 0.06mi |
| 4244 Jackson St Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 858 | $1,100 | $1.28 | 44d | 1 | 0.23mi |
| 1316 Spring St Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 920 | $1,195 | $1.30 | 3d | 1 | 0.27mi |
| 4101 50th Ave N Unit B Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 850 | $900 | $1.06 | 44d | 1 | 0.33mi |
| 4208 50th Ave N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1104 | $1,200 | $1.09 | 44d | 1 | 0.37mi |
| 4316 Gadsden St Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1048 | $1,100 | $1.05 | 3d | 1 | 0.42mi |
| 3944 40th St N Unit A Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 625 | $675 | $1.08 | 44d | 1 | 0.44mi |
| 3944 40th St N Unit A Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 625 | $699 | $1.12 | 2d | 1 | 0.44mi |
| 4220 40th Ct N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 948 | $1,200 | $1.27 | 44d | 1 | 0.48mi |
| 821 Overton Ave Unit B Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 650 | $625 | $0.96 | 44d | 1 | 0.52mi |
| 4317 41st Ave N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 864 | $1,000 | $1.16 | 44d | 1 | 0.52mi |
| 1224 Maple St Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 812 | $690 | $0.85 | 19d | 1 | 0.61mi |
| 4236 39th Ave N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1000 | $1,195 | $1.20 | 23d | 1 | 0.61mi |
| 1233 Elm Ave Unit a Birmingham, AL | 1.0 | 1.0 | 580 | $703 | $1.21 | 2d | 1 | 0.64mi |
| 1045 Waverly St Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1014 | $1,000 | $0.99 | 44d | 1 | 0.67mi |
| 3708 42nd Ave N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 876 | $950 | $1.08 | 44d | 1 | 0.74mi |
| 1120 Hall St Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 887 | $775 | $0.87 | 44d | 1 | 0.77mi |
| 1116 Hall St Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 887 | $775 | $0.87 | 44d | 1 | 0.78mi |
| 1113 Elm Ave Unit c Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 800 | $749 | $0.94 | 44d | 1 | 0.84mi |
| 1439 Sloan Ave Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 936 | $900 | $0.96 | 44d | 1 | 0.91mi |
| 1137 Sloan Ave Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 750 | $750 | $1.00 | 14d | 1 | 0.94mi |
| 1401 Wharton Ave Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1104 | $950 | $0.86 | 19d | 1 | 0.95mi |
| 1415 Virginia St Birmingham, AL | 2.0 | 1.0 | 781 | $650 | $0.83 | 44d | 1 | 0.95mi |
| 3376 34th Ave N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 2.0 | 928 | $1,200 | $1.29 | 3d | 1 | 1.24mi |
| 3376 34th St N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 928 | $1,200 | $1.29 | 12d | 1 | 1.37mi |
| 3376 34th St N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 2.0 | 928 | $1,200 | $1.29 | 23d | 1 | 1.37mi |
| 3373 33rd Pl N Birmingham, AL | 3.0 | 1.0 | 912 | $1,150 | $1.26 | 3d | 1 | 1.41mi |
Listing history 19 events
-
2026-06-18days on market $59,900 Active 101 DOM
-
2026-06-17days on market $59,900 Active 100 DOM
-
2026-06-16days on market $59,900 Active 99 DOM
-
2026-06-15days on market $59,900 Active 98 DOM
-
2026-06-13days on market $59,900 Active 96 DOM
-
2026-06-10days on market $59,900 Active 93 DOM
-
2026-06-09days on market $59,900 Active 92 DOM
-
2026-06-08days on market $59,900 Active 91 DOM
-
2026-06-07days on market $59,900 Active 90 DOM
-
2026-06-03days on market $59,900 Active 86 DOM
-
2026-06-02days on market $59,900 Active 85 DOM
-
2026-06-01days on market $59,900 Active 84 DOM
-
2026-05-31days on market $59,900 Active 83 DOM
-
2026-03-09$59,900 Active 79-char remark
Show marketing remark (79 chars)
GREAT INVESTMENT PROPERTY!!! Nice 2-bedroom 1 bath property in great condition.
-
2020-06-22soldstatus $22,000 Sold 44-char remark
Show marketing remark (44 chars)
GREAT STARTER HOME OR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
-
2020-05-26price $24,900 44-char remark
Show marketing remark (44 chars)
GREAT STARTER HOME OR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
-
2020-05-15historical Contingent 44-char remark
Show marketing remark (44 chars)
GREAT STARTER HOME OR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
-
2020-05-01$29,900 Active 44-char remark
Show marketing remark (44 chars)
GREAT STARTER HOME OR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
-
2019-04-03soldstatus $30,000
ⓘ 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
- $360 · $30/mo
- Projected year-2 tax
- $360 · $30/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 3/10 Moderate
- Heat 6/10 Major 7 d/yr ≥106°F today · 19 d/yr by 30 yrs out
- Wind 6/10 Major 27% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
- Air quality 5/10 Major 9 unhealthy d/yr today · 10 by 30 yrs out
Nearby sold comps map
Loading sold comps map…
Walkable amenities ~0.75 mi
Loading nearby amenities…
Taxation est. · year 1
- Rental income
- $11,681
- − Mortgage interest
- −$3,355
- − Property taxes
- −$360
- − Insurance
- −$300
- − Repairs & maintenance
- −$935
- − Management
- −$935
- − Depreciation
- −$1,743
- Taxable income
- $4,055
- Est. tax owed @ 24.0%
- −$973
- After-tax cash flow
- $3,826/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
- Birmingham City
- NCES district ID
- 0100390
- Math proficiency
- 4% ▼ -17.00%
- Reading proficiency
- 20% ▼ -4.00%
- Median HH income
- $31,988
- Composite
- 9.49/100
- National rank
- #9850
- State rank
- #116 of 129 in AL
Livability — Birmingham
- Score
- 67/100
- State rank
- #78
- US rank
- #10412
Category grades
Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.
Census & demographics
- Census place
- Birmingham, AL
- County
- Jefferson County · 527,445 people
- City population
- 210,422
- Metro
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Population (ZIP)
- 12,240
- Household income
- $40,486
- Rent vs Own
- Severe rent burden
- 594.0
Population outlook (Jefferson County) Hauer SSP2
- Today (2025)
- 669,185 people
- By 2030
- 669,694 · +0.1%
- By 2040
- 661,388 · -1.2%
- By 2050
- 643,086 · -3.9%
- By 2075
- 577,267 · -13.7%
- By 2100
- 474,758 · -29.1%
Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023
- Neighborhood character
- Diverse neighborhood (Simpson 0.58)
- Race & ethnicity
- Black 57% White 27% Hispanic / Latino 14% Two or more races 6%
- Hispanic origin (detail)
- Mexican 9%
- Common ancestry
- Slovak 3% Italian 1%
- Foreign-born
- 7% · Canada, Guatemala
- Languages at home
- 86% English-only · Spanish 13%
Political lean MEDSL · Jefferson
- 2024 margin
- D (+10.4) · D 54.6% · R 44.2% · Other 1.2%
- 2008→2024 swing
- +5.4pp toward D · 2008: 5.1pp · 2024: 10.4pp
- All cycles
- 2024: D+10.4 2020: D+13.2 2016: D+7.2 2012: D+6.0 2008: D+5.1
Not yet ingested
- Civics
- —
Market trends
- HPI YoY
- ▼ -74.54%
- Current HPI
- 117.416
- Rent YoY
- ▲ 3.58%
- Metro
- Birmingham-Hoover, 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 |
|
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Price history
+99.7% since first listed6 events — show timeline
- 2026-03-09 Listed $59,900 Greater Alabama MLS
- 2020-06-22 Sold (MLS) $22,000 Greater Alabama MLS
- 2020-05-26 Price Changed $24,900 Greater Alabama MLS
- 2020-05-15 Contingent — Greater Alabama MLS
- 2020-05-01 Listed $29,900 Greater Alabama MLS
- 2019-04-03 Sold (Public Records) $30,000 Public Records
Property tax history
+1.9%/yrLatest (2025): $360 · +0.0% YoY. Source: county tax records.
Cash-flow waterfall
monthlySold comps — $/sqft
last 12 mo · ≤1 miLoading sold comps…