901 Jones St · Ruston, LA 71270

$180,000

4 bd · 3.0 ba · 2,576 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 241 Days on market

Built 1960 0.55 ac lot $70/sqft · 27% below area Est $266k · 32% under

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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 +18.2/30.0
• ARV discount +15.0/15.0
• DSCR +5.7/10.0
• Rent growth +4.2/5.0
• 1% rule +4.1/10.0
• Livability +3.4/5.0
• Schools +3.3/10.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Conveniently located in Ruston, this spacious 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home offers comfort and charm. Featuring a cozy fireplace, inviting living and dining areas, and a huge backyard perfect for gatherings, play, or relaxation. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy both space and convenience in a great location.

Key facts

• Great location
• Huge backyard
• 0.55 acre lot

Tags

• HUGE BACKYARD
• GREAT LOCATION

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 4-bed/3.0-bath single-family listed at $180k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $163 ($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 $164k (8.8% below list).
• Recommended offer: $158k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Cap rate 7.4% vs local median 3.2% in Ruston — 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 68/100 on livability (#86 in LA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, health & safety A+; Watch: amenities C-, crime F, commute F.
• Lincoln Parish (town): math 35% / reading 45% proficiency, ranked #24 of 98 in LA (top 24%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases; 62% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+6.6%/yr); 276 active listings in the ZIP; lower-income renter base — watch delinquency; 171 units permitted in Lincoln Parish in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• At $1,642/mo this rent would consume 54% of the median local household income ($37k/yr) (locally 2476% of renters already pay >50% of income on rent) — very limited rent-growth headroom before tenants either downsize or default.

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $5k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Lincoln County population projected at +15% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 241 days — a 12% lower offer ($158k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Current owner paid $83k; list at $180k implies a 117% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 73% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→21/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $158,400 (12.0% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 241 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1960 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
4. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
5. Schools are B-rated — typically a magnet for longer-tenancy family renters. What's the average tenant stay here, and is there a school-zone premium baked into asking?
6. 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?
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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: 0.91% ✗
• Cap rate: 7.38%
• Cash-on-cash: 3.88%
• DSCR: 1.17
• GRM: 9.1

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $266,025
• List price: $180,000
• Delta: -32.34%
• Verdict: UNDERPRICED
• Comps: 13 within 1.0 mi

Show comp detail 2 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
901 Jones St	0.00mi	4/2.5	2,776 (+8%)	1mo	$165,200	$60	84
600 South Bonner St	0.31mi	3/2.0 (-1)	2,534 (-2%)	22mo	$280,000	$110	55

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 · 6.6% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -6.6%
• Equity multiple: 0.75×
• Total profit: $-12,662
• Equity at exit: $26,839

10-year hold

• IRR: 6.8%
• Equity multiple: 1.58×
• Total profit: $29,413
• Equity at exit: $15,563

Cash invested: $50,400 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Louisiana: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+12
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

5-day notice; no state rent control; civil-law jurisdiction; landlord-favorable.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 71270

• Home prices YoY: -16.1%
• Rents YoY: 6.6%
• Active inventory: 276
• Price-to-rent: 9.1×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,642 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$944
• Tax from tax record: −$116 /mo · $1,386/yr
• Insurance: −$75
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$345
• Net cashflow: $163

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,436

Max offer price $180,000

Occupancy floor 85%

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: $45,000
• Closing costs: $5,400
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Listing history 3 events

1. 2025-10-30
   price $180,000 304-char remark

   Show marketing remark (304 chars)

   Conveniently located in Ruston, this spacious 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home offers comfort and charm. Featuring a cozy fireplace, inviting living and dining areas, and a huge backyard perfect for gatherings, play, or relaxation. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy both space and convenience in a great location.

2. 2025-09-22
   listed $190,000 Active 304-char remark

   Show marketing remark (304 chars)

   Conveniently located in Ruston, this spacious 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home offers comfort and charm. Featuring a cozy fireplace, inviting living and dining areas, and a huge backyard perfect for gatherings, play, or relaxation. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy both space and convenience in a great location.

3. 2005-08-10
   soldstatus $83,000

ⓘ Source: listings_history table (triggers on properties + properties_extension) + one-shot backfill from property_details.listing_events for pre-trigger history.

Tax reassessment forecast LA · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $1,386 · $116/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $1,386 · $116/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 7/10 Severe 7 d/yr ≥111°F today · 21 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 6/10 Major 73% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 1/10 Low 0 unhealthy d/yr today · 0 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $19,709
• − Mortgage interest: −$10,083
• − Property taxes: −$1,386
• − Insurance: −$900
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,577
• − Management: −$1,577
• − Depreciation: −$5,236
• Taxable loss: −$1,050
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$252
• After-tax cash flow: $2,209/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: Lincoln Parish
• NCES district ID: 2200990
• Math proficiency: 35% ▼ -32.00%
• Reading proficiency: 45% ▼ -27.00%
• Median HH income: $33,901
• Composite: 32.92/100
• National rank: #5599
• State rank: #24 of 98 in LA

Livability — Ruston

• Score: 68/100
• State rank: #86
• US rank: #9522

Category grades

Amenities C- Commute F Cost of living A+ Crime F Employment F Housing C+ Health & safety A+ User ratings F

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Ruston, LA
• County: Lincoln Parish · 32,885 people
• City population: 32,885
• Metro: Ruston, LA
• Population (ZIP): 32,885
• Household income: $36,791
• Rent vs Own: 50.0% rent · 50.0% own
• Severe rent burden: 2476.0

Population outlook (Lincoln County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 49,595 people
• By 2030: 50,954 · +2.7%
• By 2040: 53,601 · +8.1%
• By 2050: 57,178 · +15.3%
• By 2075: 69,580 · +40.3%
• By 2100: 79,862 · +61.0%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Diverse neighborhood (Simpson 0.60)
• Race & ethnicity: White 51% Black 38% Two or more races 6% Hispanic / Latino 4% Asian 2% Native American 1%
• Common ancestry: Lithuanian 4% Slovak 2% Serbian 1%
• Foreign-born: 3% · Canada, Vietnam
• Languages at home: 95% English-only · Spanish 2% Other Indo-European 1% Arabic 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Lincoln

• 2024 margin: Strong R (+25.4) · D 36.5% · R 62.0% · Other 1.6%
• 2008→2024 swing: -13.0pp toward R · 2008: -12.5pp · 2024: -25.4pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+25.4 2020: R+19.5 2016: R+19.6 2012: R+14.7 2008: R+12.5

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -40.69%
• Current HPI: 212.8211
• Rent YoY: ▲ 6.60%
• Metro: Ruston, LA
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 3.29%
• F500 in state: 10

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in LA)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Telecommunications	2	$23B
▸Utilities	1	$12B
▸Wholesale / Distribution	1	$5B
▸Advertising	1	$2B

Price history

+116.9% since first listed

3 events — show timeline

• 2025-10-30 Price Changed $180,000 NELABOR
• 2025-09-22 Listed $190,000 NELABOR
• 2005-08-10 Sold (Public Records) $83,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+3.1%/yr

Latest (2025): $1,386 · -0.0% YoY. Source: county tax records.