28 Malvern Dr

Elkton, MD 21921

$88,000B-

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,008 sqft · Built 2021 · SingleFamily · Active · 125 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,007/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$461
• Tax + insurance: −$147
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$421
• Net cashflow: $977/mo
• Annual: $11,726/yr
• Cap rate: 19.62%
• Cash-on-cash: 47.59%
• DSCR: 3.12
• 1% rule: 2.28%
• Cash to close: $24,640

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath single-family listed at $88k. Condition is rated fair.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $977 ($12k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $88k).
• It's been on market 125 days — a 12% lower offer ($77k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $77k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $608 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $3k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 65/100 on livability (#261 in MD) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: housing A+, health & safety A+, cost of living A; Watch: crime F, commute F.
• Cecil County Public Schools (rural): math 15% / reading 30% proficiency, ranked #15 of 24 in MD (top 62%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover.
• Zoned schools: Leeds Elementary (math 8% / reading 12%, grade F, #614 of 860 statewide, top 75%, 334 students, 56% FRL); North East Middle (math 8% / reading 29%, grade F, #159 of 225 statewide, top 73%, 791 students, 54% FRL); North East High (math 32% / reading 78%, grade C, #88 of 222 statewide, top 40%, 1,069 students, 49% FRL) — zoned schools average 53% FRL vs 37% district-wide (16 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Market conditions: Rents rising (+2.3%/yr); 435 active listings in the ZIP; 1 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; solid renter incomes; 563 units permitted in Cecil County in 2024 (330 in 5+ unit buildings).
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 2.3% rent growth), your $25k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 19.6% vs local median 4.5% in Elkton — 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 125 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Have any recent inspections been done? Can we get a copy of the seller's disclosures and any deferred-maintenance estimates?
• 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?
• 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.
• 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.

Repairs flagged (vision-AI assessment)

• Minor: Landscaping — Overgrown vegetation needs trimming
• Minor: Exterior siding — Light wear on siding