520 Mahan Ave

Follansbee, WV 26037

$75,000B-

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 840 sqft · Built 1959 · SingleFamily · Active · 17 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $810/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$393
• Tax + insurance: −$95
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$170
• Net cashflow: $151/mo
• Annual: $1,811/yr
• Cap rate: 8.71%
• Cash-on-cash: 8.62%
• DSCR: 1.38
• 1% rule: 1.08%
• Cash to close: $21,000

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $75k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $151 ($2k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($810 rent vs $75k).
• It's been on market 17 days — a 2% lower offer ($74k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $74k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $262 of equity ($519 loan paydown + $-257 appreciation (-0.3% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 72/100 on livability (#49 in WV) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: crime A+, commute A+, cost of living A+; Watch: amenities F, employment D-, health & safety F.
• Brooke County Schools (rural): math 26% / reading 35% proficiency, ranked #26 of 55 in WV (top 47%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Brooke Primary School North (251 students, 0% FRL); Brooke Middle School (math 20% / reading 31%, grade F, #75 of 109 statewide, top 73%, 693 students, 0% FRL); Brooke High School (math 22% / reading 57%, grade F, #21 of 110 statewide, top 26%, 1,033 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 44% district-wide (44 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: built in 1959 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 24 active listings in the ZIP; 3 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 44d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 67% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 2 units permitted in Brooke County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Brooke County population projected at -19% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 2 sale attempts since 10y 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 $8k; list at $75k implies a 838% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (-0.3% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $21k cash investment doubles in ~8 years — after that, you're playing with house money.

Questions for listing agent

• Built in 1959 — 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.