328 Wells Ave

Mitchell, IN 47446

$149,000C+

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,224 sqft · Built 1910 · SingleFamily · Active · 18 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,385/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$781
• Tax + insurance: −$115
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$291
• Net cashflow: $198/mo
• Annual: $2,376/yr
• Cap rate: 7.89%
• Cash-on-cash: 5.69%
• DSCR: 1.25
• 1% rule: 0.93%
• Cash to close: $41,720

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $149k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $198 ($2k/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 $138k (7.1% below list).
• It's been on market 18 days — a 2% lower offer ($147k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $138k (7.1% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• In year one you build about $2k of equity ($1k loan paydown + $917 appreciation (0.6% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 69/100 on livability (#187 in IN) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, crime B; Watch: employment D, amenities F, commute F.
• Mitchell Community Schools (town): math 26% / reading 37% proficiency, ranked #230 of 301 in IN (top 76%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Mitchell Jr High School (math 16% / reading 33%, grade F, #251 of 330 statewide, top 77%, 359 students, 61% FRL); Mitchell High School (math 32% / reading 67%, grade D, #123 of 369 statewide, top 36%, 436 students, 51% FRL).
• Watch-outs: built in 1910 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 61 active listings in the ZIP; 8 units permitted in Lawrence County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Lawrence County population projected at -14% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 2 sale attempts since 5y 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 $99k; list at $149k implies a 51% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (0.6% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $42k cash investment doubles in ~8 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 7.9% vs local median 5.6% in Mitchell — 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

• Built in 1910 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• 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?
• 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.