175 Saint James Ave

Lawtell, LA 70570

$85,000B

3 bd · 3.0 ba · 2,291 sqft · Built — · Other · Active · 133 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,217/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$446
• Tax + insurance: −$505
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$256
• Net cashflow: $11/mo
• Annual: $135/yr
• Cap rate: 12.47%
• Cash-on-cash: 22.07%
• DSCR: 1.98
• 1% rule: 1.43%
• Cash to close: $23,800

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/3.0-bath other listed at $85k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $11 ($135/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $85k).
• It's been on market 133 days — a 12% lower offer ($75k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $75k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $588 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $3k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 60/100 on livability (#248 in LA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A; Watch: employment C-, crime F, amenities F.
• St. Landry Parish (town): math 20% / reading 33% proficiency, ranked #54 of 98 in LA (top 55%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 73% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Watch-outs: flood insurance adds $427/mo.
• Market conditions: 309 active listings in the ZIP; 142 units permitted in St. Landry Parish in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• St. Landry County population projected to shrink 9% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.
• 2 sale attempts since 14y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $50k (37%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $14k; list at $85k implies a 507% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• Climate carrying-cost: in FEMA flood zone AE (mandatory federal flood insurance); severe wind risk, 99% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→20/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 133 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• What's the actual annual flood-insurance premium (NFIP or private), and is the property in a SFHA with mandatory coverage?
• 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.
• 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.