3 bd · 1.0 ba ·
1,086 sqft ·
Built 1906
· Townhouse
· Active
· 69 DOM
Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)
Estimated rent
$2,146/mo
Mortgage (P&I)
−$1,259
Tax + insurance
−$357
HOA
−$0
Vac / Maint / Mgmt
−$451
Net cashflow
$80/mo
Annual
$958/yr
Cap rate
6.69%
Cash-on-cash
1.43%
DSCR
1.06
1% rule
0.89%
Cash to close
$67,200
Investor read
This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath townhouse listed at $240k.
At list price, monthly cash flow is $80 ($958/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 $215k (10.6% below list).
It's been on market 69 days — a 6% lower offer ($226k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
Recommended offer: $215k (10.6% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $2k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $7k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
Location reads 76/100 on livability (#133 in NJ, #3,533 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: amenities A+, commute A+, health & safety A+; Watch: schools F, crime F, employment F.
Trenton Public School District (urban): math 2% / reading 16% proficiency, ranked #471 of 472 in NJ (top 100%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 80% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
Watch-outs: built in 1906 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+4.7%/yr); 84 active listings in the ZIP; 38 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 22d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 2,256 units permitted in Mercer County in 2024 (1,303 in 5+ unit buildings).
Mercer County population projected at +4% by 2050 — modest demand growth; plan on rents tracking national, not racing it.
3 sale attempts since 20y 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 $57k; list at $240k implies a 320% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 27% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→15/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
At $2,146/mo this rent would consume 45% of the median local household income ($57k/yr) (locally 2147% of renters already pay >50% of income on rent) — very limited rent-growth headroom before tenants either downsize or default.
Questions for listing agent
It's been on market 69 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 11% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
Built in 1906 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
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.
Schools are F-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?
The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?
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.
CashFlowRE · CFR-FQW0EB0S8ZRN9F
· Data 2 days agocashflowre.app · 2026-05-29