519 N Charles St

Macomb, IL 61455

$48,900C+

2 bd · 2.0 ba · 936 sqft · Built 1920 · Other · Active · 66 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $737/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$256
• Tax + insurance: −$136
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$155
• Net cashflow: $189/mo
• Annual: $2,271/yr
• Cap rate: 10.94%
• Cash-on-cash: 16.58%
• DSCR: 1.74
• 1% rule: 1.51%
• Cash to close: $13,692

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/2.0-bath other listed at $49k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $189 ($2k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($737 rent vs $49k).
• It's been on market 66 days — a 6% lower offer ($46k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $46k (6.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $338 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $1k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 70/100 on livability (#379 in IL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, health & safety A+, housing B; Watch: crime D, amenities D, commute F.
• Macomb CUSD 185 (town): math 19% / reading 26% proficiency, ranked #410 of 620 in IL (top 66%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover.
• Zoned schools: Lincoln Elem School (math 17% / reading 12%, grade F, #1,278 of 2,056 statewide, top 65%, 548 students, 0% FRL); Edison Elementary School (math 15% / reading 22%, grade F, #438 of 665 statewide, top 67%, 432 students, 0% FRL); Macomb Senior High School (math 27% / reading 37%, grade F, #157 of 693 statewide, top 25%, 622 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 40% district-wide (40 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: property tax is 2.8% of price; built in 1920 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 140 active listings in the ZIP; 4 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 46d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 100% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $14k cash investment doubles in ~8 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Climate carrying-cost: major flood risk — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 10.9% vs local median 6.0% in Macomb — 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.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 66 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 6% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1920 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• Property tax is high relative to price — has the assessment been appealed recently, and will the sale trigger a re-assessment?
• 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 D-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 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?
• 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.