143 Laurel Dr · Battle Creek, MI 49017

$135,000

2 bd · 2.0 ba · 990 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 6 Days on market

Built 1947 0.49 ac lot Est $113k · 20% over

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Why this score? — see what drove the F 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 +8.7/30.0
• Livability +3.7/5.0
• 1% rule +3.1/10.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• DSCR +2.4/10.0
• Schools +1.1/10.0
• ARV discount +0.0/15.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

ATTENTION INVESTORS!! Looking for a home to RENOVATE & MAKE YOUR OWN or to FIX & FLIP? If you're ready to roll up your sleeves for sweat equity you can have an excellent return on your investment. This home already has large replacement windows, a newer hot water heater, high efficiency furnace, and central air installed. It has a woodburning fireplace in a large living room, tons of Storage Space, an Eat-In-Kitchen with a Fabulous Copper Hood, a finished basement with a 3rd Bedroom and a 2nd Full Bathroom with Laundry. A 2-Car Attached Garage that keeps the car protected from the elements. Enjoy outdoors with a attached 3-Seasons Porch and a Patio, in the Landscaped, Fenced in Backyard, all with a Garden Shed to Store the outdoor tools. This home needs a new roof, basement drywall repair from a previous leak, and updates throughout. Home is is being SOLD-AS-IS. Come see this SLEEPING BEAUTY that is waiting for the next owner to give her some tender love and care.

Key facts

• Eat-in-kitchen
• Hot water heater
• Central air

Tags

• REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
• HOT WATER HEATER
• HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE
• CENTRAL AIR
• WOODBURNING FIREPLACE
• EAT-IN-KITCHEN

Property features AI

Exterior

• Parking: Attached 2-car garage
• Utilities: Public water; Natural gas connected; Natural gas water heater
• Home design: Ranch-style single family home; Built in 1947
• Construction: Vinyl siding; Shingle roof; Full basement
• Exterior features: Paved road access; Shed(s)

Interior

• Kitchen: Dishwasher; Microwave; Eat-in kitchen with pantry
• Bedrooms: Primary bedroom; Bedroom 2; Bedroom 3
• Bathrooms: 2 full bathrooms
• Heating & cooling: Forced air heating; Central cooling
• Interior features: Garage door opener; Eat-in kitchen; Pantry; Wood-burning fireplace; Replacement windows with screens
• Laundry & utility: Washer; Dryer; Laundry room (10.1 x 11.2); Utility room

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 2-bed/2.0-bath single-family listed at $135k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-113 ($-1k/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $115k (14.7% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $109k (19.2% below list).
• Recommended offer: $109k (19.2% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 73/100 on livability (#198 in MI) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: schools C-, amenities C-, crime F.
• Battle Creek Public Schools (urban): math 8% / reading 19% proficiency, ranked #510 of 540 in MI (top 94%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 75% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: 155 active listings in the ZIP; 6 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 45d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 83% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 132 units permitted in Calhoun County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $933 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Calhoun County population projected at -16% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.

Negotiation context

• Only 6 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• 3 sale attempts 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.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1947 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $109,144 (19.2% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
2. Built in 1947 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
4. 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?
5. 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?
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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: 0.81% ✗
• Cap rate: 5.29%
• Cash-on-cash: -3.57%
• DSCR: 0.84
• GRM: 10.3

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $112,860
• Comps found: 12

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
54 Maple Ter	0.53mi	2/1.0	1,000 (+1%)	2mo	$139,000	$139	68
31 Oxford St	0.57mi	2/1.0	996 (+1%)	2mo	$105,000	$105	67
207 Laurel Dr	0.13mi	2/1.0	890 (-10%)	10mo	$103,000	$116	65
246 Laurel Dr	0.22mi	3/1.0 (+1)	1,089 (+10%)	3mo	$179,000	$164	62
102 Yale St	0.45mi	2/1.0	874 (-12%)	3mo	$100,000	$114	53
58 E Emmett St	0.58mi	2/1.0	951 (-4%)	12mo	$168,000	$177	53
30 East Ave N	0.59mi	3/1.0 (+1)	1,054 (+6%)	3mo	$89,900	$85	50
50 Montford St	0.59mi	3/1.0 (+1)	936 (-6%)	9mo	$70,000	$75	47
17 Wren St	0.71mi	3/1.0 (+1)	1,035 (+4%)	6mo	$98,000	$95	46
21 Charlotte St	0.56mi	2/1.0	860 (-13%)	5mo	$52,000	$60	44
179 Bryant St	0.56mi	3/1.5 (+1)	1,101 (+11%)	8mo	$114,900	$104	42
21 Wren St	0.72mi	3/1.5 (+1)	1,090 (+10%)	4mo	$134,000	$123	39

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 · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -22.3%
• Equity multiple: 0.23×
• Total profit: $-29,003
• Equity at exit: $20,129

10-year hold

• IRR: -16.2%
• Equity multiple: 0.09×
• Total profit: $-34,316
• Equity at exit: $11,672

Cash invested: $37,800 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 62 Landlord-Friendly
• State Michigan: 62 Landlord-Friendly · EVEN
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

7-day pay-or-quit; mixed climate; Detroit/AA have some protections.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 49017

• Home prices YoY: -32.2%
• Active inventory: 155
• Price-to-rent: 10.3×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,091 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$708
• Tax from tax record: −$211 /mo · $2,527/yr
• Insurance: −$56
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$229
• Net cashflow: $-113

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,234

Max offer price $115,115

Occupancy floor —

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $-36	-5% $-74	+0% $-113	+5% $-151	+10% $-189
Rent	-10% $-199	-5% $-156	+0% $-113	+5% $-69	+10% $-26
Rate	-1.0pp $-45	-0.5pp $-78	base $-113	+0.5pp $-148	+1.0pp $-183

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: $33,750
• Closing costs: $4,050
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 6 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
138 Yale St Battle Creek, MI	2.0	1.0	877	$1,275	$1.45	45d	1	0.46mi
775 Wagner Dr Battle Creek, MI	1.0–2.0	1.0	772	$1,085	$1.40	45d	6	0.74mi
595 Wagner Dr Unit 22 Battle Creek, MI	1.0	1.0	750	$1,050	$1.40	45d	1	0.80mi
54 Springview Dr Battle Creek, MI	1.0–3.0	1.0–2.0	900	$925	$1.03	22d	3	0.82mi
115 West St Battle Creek, MI	2.0–3.0	1.0–2.0	1090	$1,350	$1.24	45d	3	0.94mi
98 Van Buren St E Battle Creek, MI	2.0	1.0	1118	$950	$0.85	45d	1	1.05mi

Listing history 6 events

1. 2026-06-21
   days on market $135,000 Active 6 DOM
2. 2026-06-19
   days on market $135,000 Active 4 DOM
3. 2026-06-18
   days on market $135,000 Active 3 DOM
4. 2026-06-17
   days on market $135,000 Active 2 DOM
5. 2026-06-16
   remarks 691-char remark

   Show marketing remark (992 chars)

   ATTENTION INVESTORS!! Looking for a home to RENOVATE & MAKE YOUR OWN or to FIX & FLIP? If you're ready to roll up your sleeves for sweat equity you can have an excellent return on your investment. This home already has large replacement windows, a newer hot water heater, high efficiency furnace, and central air installed. It has a woodburning fireplace in a large living room, tons of Storage Space, an Eat-In-Kitchen with a Fabulous Copper Hood, a finished basement with a 3rd Bedroom and a 2nd Full Bathroom with Laundry. A 2-Car Attached Garage that keeps the car protected from the elements. Enjoy outdoors with a attached 3-Seasons Porch and a Patio, in the Landscaped, Fenced in Backyard, all with a Garden Shed to Store the outdoor tools. This home needs a new roof, basement drywall repair from a previous leak, and updates throughout. Home is is being SOLD-AS-IS. Come see this SLEEPING BEAUTY that is waiting for the next owner to give her some tender love and care.

6. 2026-06-16
   listed $135,000 Active 1 DOM

   Show marketing remark (992 chars)

   ATTENTION INVESTORS!! Looking for a home to RENOVATE & MAKE YOUR OWN or to FIX & FLIP? If you're ready to roll up your sleeves for sweat equity you can have an excellent return on your investment. This home already has large replacement windows, a newer hot water heater, high efficiency furnace, and central air installed. It has a woodburning fireplace in a large living room, tons of Storage Space, an Eat-In-Kitchen with a Fabulous Copper Hood, a finished basement with a 3rd Bedroom and a 2nd Full Bathroom with Laundry. A 2-Car Attached Garage that keeps the car protected from the elements. Enjoy outdoors with a attached 3-Seasons Porch and a Patio, in the Landscaped, Fenced in Backyard, all with a Garden Shed to Store the outdoor tools. This home needs a new roof, basement drywall repair from a previous leak, and updates throughout. Home is is being SOLD-AS-IS. Come see this SLEEPING BEAUTY that is waiting for the next owner to give her some tender love and care.

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

Tax reassessment forecast MI · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $2,527 · $211/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,527 · $211/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 1/10 Low
• 🌡 Heat 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥97°F today · 16 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 3/10 Moderate 2 unhealthy d/yr today · 3 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $13,097
• − Mortgage interest: −$7,562
• − Property taxes: −$2,527
• − Insurance: −$675
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,048
• − Management: −$1,048
• − Depreciation: −$3,927
• Taxable loss: −$3,690
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$886
• After-tax cash flow: $-465/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: Battle Creek Public Schools
• NCES district ID: 2600005
• Math proficiency: 8% ▼ -2.00%
• Reading proficiency: 19% ▬ 0.00%
• Median HH income: $31,697
• Composite: 10.73/100
• National rank: #9769
• State rank: #510 of 540 in MI

Livability — Battle Creek

• Score: 73/100
• State rank: #198
• US rank: #5031

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Battle Creek, MI
• County: Calhoun County · 91,590 people
• City population: 91,590
• Metro: Battle Creek, MI
• Population (ZIP): 21,295
• Household income: $60,885
• Rent vs Own: 25.3% rent · 74.7% own
• Severe rent burden: 697.0

Population outlook (Calhoun County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 130,157 people
• By 2030: 126,691 · -2.7%
• By 2040: 118,517 · -8.9%
• By 2050: 109,855 · -15.6%
• By 2075: 90,486 · -30.5%
• By 2100: 70,766 · -45.6%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (78%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 78% Black 9% Two or more races 8% Hispanic / Latino 6%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 4%
• Common ancestry: Slovak 3% Iranian 3% Romanian 2%
• Foreign-born: 3% · Canada, Philippines
• Languages at home: 95% English-only · Spanish 2% Other Asian/Pacific 1% Arabic 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Calhoun

• 2024 margin: R (+14.1) · D 42.3% · R 56.4% · Other 1.3%
• 2008→2024 swing: -23.4pp toward R · 2008: 9.4pp · 2024: -14.1pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+14.1 2020: R+11.1 2016: R+12.5 2012: D+1.6 2008: D+9.4

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -115.68%
• Current HPI: 243.5008
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: Battle Creek, MI
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.37%
• F500 in state: 28

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in MI)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Automotive Parts	3	$48B
▸Automotive	2	$372B
▸Chemicals	1	$45B
▸Automotive Retail	1	$29B
▸Healthcare / Medical Devices	1	$23B
▸Automotive Technology	1	$20B

Price history

+0.0% since first listed

3 events — show timeline

• 2026-06-16 Listed $135,000 REALCOMP
• 2026-06-15 Listed $135,000 MiRealSource-MiMLS
• 2026-06-15 Listed $135,000 SW Michigan MLS

Property tax history

+4.1%/yr

Latest (2025): $2,527 · -31.2% YoY. Source: county tax records.