1501 E Dartmouth Ave

Muncie, IN 47303

$47,500B

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,440 sqft · Built 1949 · SingleFamily · Pending · 26 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,133/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$249
• Tax + insurance: −$84
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$238
• Net cashflow: $562/mo
• Annual: $6,742/yr
• Cap rate: 20.49%
• Cash-on-cash: 50.69%
• DSCR: 3.26
• 1% rule: 2.38%
• Cash to close: $13,300

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $48k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $562 ($7k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $48k).
• It's been on market 26 days — a 2% lower offer ($47k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $47k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $328 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $1k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 80/100 on livability (#18 in IN, #1,654 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: amenities A+, commute A+, cost of living A+; Watch: crime F, employment F.
• Muncie Community Schools (urban): math 18% / reading 25% proficiency, ranked #275 of 301 in IN (top 91%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 68% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: Longfellow Elementary School (math 17% / reading 12%, grade F, #862 of 994 statewide, top 88%, 324 students, 86% FRL); Northside Middle School (math 17% / reading 36%, grade F, #236 of 330 statewide, top 72%, 583 students, 70% FRL); Muncie Central High School (math 20% / reading 39%, 1,326 students, 70% FRL).
• Watch-outs: built in 1949 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+7.8%/yr); 115 active listings in the ZIP; 13 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 45d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 100% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 171 units permitted in Delaware County in 2024 (57 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Delaware County population projected at -11% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• Current owner paid $38k; 23% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 7.8% rent growth), your $13k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 20.5% vs local median 6.0% in Muncie — 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 1949 — 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?
• 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.