326 Center St · Howells, NE 68641

$119,000

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,056 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 76 Days on market

Built 1900 9,583 sqft lot Est $137k · 13% 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 +14.8/30.0
• ARV discount +13.5/15.0
• Appreciation +7.4/10.0
• Schools +6.3/10.0
• DSCR +4.5/10.0
• Livability +3.9/5.0
• 1% rule +3.1/10.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0

Listing remarks

This charming 3-bedroom home is nestled in the heart of Howells! You are invited into this home by a small foyer area which allows you to see into the kitchen! The living room features an electric fireplace and ample windows! In the eat-in kitchen you will find many cabinets that reach to the ceiling. One full bath is present on the main floor! The main floor also contains 2 bedrooms along with a laundry room, which could also be used at the 3rd bedroom! The basement is unfinished and holds tons of potential and storage space! This spacious lot contains alley access! NEW roof 2020, NEW HVAC 2023 All measurements approximate

Key facts

• Alley access
• Many cabinets
• Unfinished basement

Tags

• ELECTRIC FIREPLACE
• MANY CABINETS
• ALLEY ACCESS
• UNFINISHED BASEMENT

Property features AI

Exterior

• Parking: Detached garage (1 covered space, 1 total parking space)
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer
• Home design: Single-family residential; Not new or a model; One story
• Construction: Built in 1900; Block foundation; Composition roof
• Exterior features: Front porch; Alley access; Lot approximately 0.22 acres (up to 1/4 acre)

Interior

• Kitchen: Kitchen located on the main floor
• Bedrooms: Master bedroom on main floor; Additional bedrooms on main floor
• Bathrooms: One full bathroom on the main floor
• Heating & cooling: Propane forced air heating; Central air conditioning
• Interior features: Electric fireplace; Basement with windows

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $119k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $32 ($380/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 $97k (18.7% below list).
• Recommended offer: $97k (18.7% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 77/100 on livability (#67 in NE, #3,015 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: schools A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities F, commute F.
• Howells-Dodge Consolidated Schools (rural): math 75% / reading 70% proficiency, ranked #11 of 245 in NE (top 4%) — strong family-tenant draw, lease renewals of 3-5y typical.
• Market conditions: 2 active listings in the ZIP; 40 units permitted in Colfax County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).

Forward outlook

• In year one you build about $7k of equity ($823 loan paydown + $6k appreciation (4.9% local appreciation)).
• Colfax County population projected at +16% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• At projected returns (4.9% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $33k cash investment doubles in ~5 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 6, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$35k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 76 days — a 6% lower offer ($112k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Current owner paid $59k; list at $119k implies a 102% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1900 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $96,701 (18.7% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 76 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 19% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1900 — 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 A-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. 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: 6.61%
• Cash-on-cash: 1.14%
• DSCR: 1.05
• GRM: 10.3

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $137,280
• Comps found: 2

Show comp detail 2 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
221 N 5th St	0.16mi	2/1.0 (-1)	1,040 (-2%)	18mo	$135,000	$130	70
116 S 4th St	0.06mi	2/1.0 (-1)	938 (-11%)	21mo	$66,500	$71	56

Match score weights: distance 35% · size 25% · config 20% · recency 20%. Top-matched comps best support the ARV.

Projected returns pro-forma

4.87% appreciation · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: 13.5%
• Equity multiple: 1.86×
• Total profit: $28,500
• Equity at exit: $66,472

10-year hold

• IRR: 14.4%
• Equity multiple: 3.54×
• Total profit: $84,791
• Equity at exit: $113,933

Cash invested: $33,320 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Nebraska: 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+13
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

3-day pay-or-quit; preempted; moderate court pace.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 68641

• Home prices YoY: 1.8%
• Active inventory: 2
• Price-to-rent: 10.3×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $967 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$624
• Tax from tax record: −$59 /mo · $703/yr
• Insurance: −$50
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$203
• Net cashflow: $32

Break-even live

Break-even rent $927

Max offer price $119,000

Occupancy floor 92%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $99	-5% $65	+0% $32	+5% $-2	+10% $-36
Rent	-10% $-45	-5% $-6	+0% $32	+5% $70	+10% $108
Rate	-1.0pp $92	-0.5pp $62	base $32	+0.5pp $1	+1.0pp $-31

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: $29,750
• Closing costs: $3,570
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Listing history 5 events

1. 2026-05-19
   status Pending
2. 2026-05-08
   price $119,000
3. 2026-03-01
   listed $129,900 New
4. 2018-08-31
   soldstatus $59,000
5. 2010-11-08
   soldstatus $26,000

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

Tax reassessment forecast NE · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $703 · $59/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,059 · $172/mo
• Expected delta: +$1,355/yr (+$113/mo · 192.8%)

ⓘ 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 ≥102°F today · 15 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 1/10 Low 0 unhealthy d/yr today · 0 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $11,604
• − Mortgage interest: −$6,666
• − Property taxes: −$703
• − Insurance: −$595
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$928
• − Management: −$928
• − Depreciation: −$3,462
• Taxable loss: −$1,678
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$403
• After-tax cash flow: $783/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: Howells-Dodge Consolidated Schools
• NCES district ID: 3100183
• Math proficiency: 75% ▲ 15.00%
• Reading proficiency: 70% ▲ 5.00%
• Median HH income: $51,044
• Composite: 62.65/100
• National rank: #1379
• State rank: #11 of 245 in NE

Livability — Howells

• Score: 77/100
• State rank: #67
• US rank: #3015

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Howells, NE
• Population (ZIP): 986

Population outlook (Colfax County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 10,949 people
• By 2030: 11,199 · +2.3%
• By 2040: 11,857 · +8.3%
• By 2050: 12,758 · +16.5%
• By 2075: 15,468 · +41.3%
• By 2100: 18,207 · +66.3%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (94%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 94% Hispanic / Latino 5%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 5%
• Common ancestry: Romanian 3% Iranian 1% Portuguese 1%
• Foreign-born: 1% · Canada
• Languages at home: 97% English-only · Spanish 1% Russian/Polish/Slavic 1% German/W. Germanic 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Colfax

• 2024 margin: Solid R (+50.9) · D 24.0% · R 75.0% · Other 1.0%
• 2008→2024 swing: -23.1pp toward R · 2008: -27.9pp · 2024: -50.9pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+50.9 2020: R+43.2 2016: R+41.4 2012: R+35.6 2008: R+27.9

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▲ 4.87%
• Current HPI: 283.4695
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: —
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 0.68%
• F500 in state: 2

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in NE)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Conglomerate	1	$371B

Price history

+357.7% since first listed

5 events — show timeline

• 2026-05-19 Pending — GPRMLS
• 2026-05-08 Price Changed $119,000 GPRMLS
• 2026-03-01 Listed $129,900 GPRMLS
• 2018-08-31 Sold (Public Records) $59,000 Public Records
• 2010-11-08 Sold (Public Records) $26,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+4.2%/yr

Latest (2025): $703 · -0.4% YoY. Source: county tax records.