490 W Ethelene St · Bartow, FL 33830

$189,000

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 840 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 19 Days on market

Built 1959 6,199 sqft lot

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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 +21.6/30.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• DSCR +6.9/10.0
• 1% rule +5.3/10.0
• Schools +3.5/10.0
• Livability +3.4/5.0
• Rent growth +3.2/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks

Opportunity is knocking! This 4-bedroom, 1-bath block home is priced to sell and ready for the right buyer to bring it to life. Whether you're a first-time buyer looking to build equity or an investor adding to your portfolio, this is the kind of deal that doesn't come around often in today's market. Located in Bartow, one of Polk County's most established and affordable communities, you're close to schools, local shops, and everyday conveniences. The bones are there; all it needs is your vision and a little sweat equity to shine. At this price point, you're not just buying a home, you're buying into your future.

Key facts

• Block home
• Close to schools
• Local shops

Tags

• BLOCK HOME
• ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY
• CLOSE TO SCHOOLS
• LOCAL SHOPS
• EVERYDAY CONVENIENCES

Property features AI

Finance

• Other: Zoned R-1; Unfurnished; No lease restrictions
• HOA & community: No HOA (no association)

Exterior

• Parking: Carport with 2 spaces
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer; Electricity available
• Home design: Single-family residence; One story; Faces south; Homestead property
• Construction: Block construction; Shingle roof; Slab foundation; Built area about 1,115 total
• Exterior features: Asphalt road access; Lot approximately 60 x 103 (0.14 acre)

Interior

• Kitchen: Dishwasher; Refrigerator
• Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms
• Flooring: Linoleum; Tile
• Bathrooms: 1 full bathroom
• Heating & cooling: Central heating; Central air conditioning
• Interior features: Ceiling fans
• Laundry & utility: Washer; Dryer; No dedicated laundry room

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath single-family listed at $189k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $288 ($3k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $189k).
• Recommended offer: $186k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 68/100 on livability (#526 in FL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: employment C-, crime D-, amenities F.
• Polk (suburban): math 39% / reading 43% proficiency, ranked #62 of 73 in FL (top 85%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Spessard L Holland Elementary (math 47% / reading 49%, grade D, #1,171 of 2,144 statewide, top 55%, 766 students, 52% FRL); Bartow Senior High School (math 26% / reading 46%, grade F, #359 of 667 statewide, top 55%, 2,125 students, 44% FRL).
• Market conditions: Rents rising (+2.7%/yr); 386 active listings in the ZIP; 7 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 14d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 10,384 units permitted in Polk County in 2024 (1,716 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 37% of the median local income ($64k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $6k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Polk County population projected at +33% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 19 days — a 2% lower offer ($186k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Current owner paid $29k; list at $189k implies a 543% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1959 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: severe wind risk, 99% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→26/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $186,165 (1.5% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. Built in 1959 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
2. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
3. Crime grade is D 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?
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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: 1.03% ✓
• Cap rate: 8.12%
• Cash-on-cash: 6.52%
• DSCR: 1.29
• GRM: 8.1

CMA / ARV

No comps found within radius.

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 2.72% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -6.6%
• Equity multiple: 0.76×
• Total profit: $-12,857
• Equity at exit: $28,181

10-year hold

• IRR: 2.7%
• Equity multiple: 1.19×
• Total profit: $10,147
• Equity at exit: $16,341

Cash invested: $52,920 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 87 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Florida: 87 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+3
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

3-day pay-or-quit; preempts local rent control; landlord-friendly statutes. Court speed varies by county.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 33830

• Home prices YoY: -19.8%
• Rents YoY: 2.7%
• Active inventory: 386
• Price-to-rent: 8.1×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,950 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$991
• Tax from tax record: −$183 /mo · $2,195/yr
• Insurance: −$79
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$409
• Net cashflow: $288

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,586

Max offer price $189,000

Occupancy floor 80%

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: $47,250
• Closing costs: $5,670
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 7 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
415 W Easy St Bartow, FL	3.0	1.0	912	$1,800	$1.97	14d	1	0.06mi
550 W Easy St Bartow, FL	2.0	1.0	912	$1,800	$1.97	14d	1	0.08mi
1350 N Wilson Ave Bartow, FL	1.0–2.0	1.0–2.0	892	$1,649	$1.85	2d	6	0.52mi
980 Waldon Ave Bartow, FL	3.0	2.0	1050	$1,550	$1.48	23d	1	0.54mi
885 Ruby Ave Unit NA Bartow, FL	3.0	1.0	807	$1,600	$1.98	2d	1	0.56mi
1135 Polk St Bartow, FL	2.0	1.0	768	$1,150	$1.50	21d	1	0.85mi
1465 E Boulevard St Bartow, FL	3.0	1.0	1000	$1,295	$1.29	23d	1	1.48mi

Listing history 15 events

1. 2026-06-18
   days on market $189,000 Active 19 DOM
2. 2026-06-17
   days on market $189,000 Active 18 DOM
3. 2026-06-16
   days on market $189,000 Active 17 DOM
4. 2026-06-15
   days on market $189,000 Active 16 DOM
5. 2026-06-13
   days on market $189,000 Active 14 DOM
6. 2026-06-10
   days on market $189,000 Active 11 DOM
7. 2026-06-09
   days on market $189,000 Active 10 DOM
8. 2026-06-08
   days on market $189,000 Active 9 DOM
9. 2026-06-07
   days on market $189,000 Active 8 DOM
10. 2026-06-05
    days on market $189,000 Active 5 DOM
11. 2026-06-03
    days on market $189,000 Active 4 DOM
12. 2026-06-03
    days on market $189,000 Active 3 DOM
13. 2026-06-01
    days on market $189,000 Active 2 DOM
14. 2026-05-31
    remarks 620-char remark
15. 2026-05-31
    listed $189,000 Active 1 DOM

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

Tax reassessment forecast FL · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $2,195 · $183/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,195 · $183/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 8/10 Severe 7 d/yr ≥108°F today · 26 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 9/10 Extreme 99% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 2 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $23,400
• − Mortgage interest: −$10,587
• − Property taxes: −$2,195
• − Insurance: −$945
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,872
• − Management: −$1,872
• − Depreciation: −$5,498
• Taxable income: $430
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$103
• After-tax cash flow: $3,349/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: Polk
• NCES district ID: 1201590
• Math proficiency: 39% ▼ -11.00%
• Reading proficiency: 43% ▼ -4.00%
• Median HH income: $43,979
• Composite: 34.74/100
• National rank: #5132
• State rank: #62 of 73 in FL

Livability — Bartow

• Score: 68/100
• State rank: #526
• US rank: #9835

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Bartow, FL
• County: Polk County · 740,051 people
• City population: 33,740
• Metro: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
• Population (ZIP): 33,740
• Household income: $63,918
• Rent vs Own: 31.1% rent · 68.9% own
• Severe rent burden: 681.0

Population outlook (Polk County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 752,975 people
• By 2030: 804,621 · +6.9%
• By 2040: 906,117 · +20.3%
• By 2050: 1,000,476 · +32.9%
• By 2075: 1,197,520 · +59.0%
• By 2100: 1,271,518 · +68.9%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Diverse neighborhood (Simpson 0.62)
• Race & ethnicity: White 55% Hispanic / Latino 22% Black 18% Two or more races 13% Asian 2%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 13% Puerto Rican 5%
• Common ancestry: Italian 3% Slovak 1% Lithuanian 1%
• Foreign-born: 8% · Canada
• Languages at home: 81% English-only · Spanish 17% Other Indo-European 1% Other Asian/Pacific 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Polk

• 2024 margin: Strong R (+20.7) · D 39.2% · R 59.9%
• 2008→2024 swing: -14.6pp toward R · 2008: -6.1pp · 2024: -20.7pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+20.7 2020: R+14.4 2016: R+14.1 2012: R+6.8 2008: R+6.1

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -82.47%
• Current HPI: 333.3392
• Rent YoY: ▲ 2.72%
• Metro: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 3.28%
• F500 in state: 36

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in FL)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Industrial Technology	2	$29B
▸Insurance	2	$17B
▸Retail	1	$60B
▸Technology Distribution	1	$58B
▸Homebuilding	1	$35B
▸Technology Manufacturing	1	$35B

Price history

+817.5% since first listed

3 events — show timeline

• 2026-05-30 Listed $189,000 Stellar MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 1990-12-01 Sold (Public Records) $29,400 Public Records
• 1979-06-01 Sold (Public Records) $20,600 Public Records

Property tax history

+17.8%/yr

Latest (2025): $2,195 · +3.7% YoY. Source: county tax records.