2629 Berger Ave

Springfield, OH 45503

$104,900B-

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 720 sqft · Built 1942 · SingleFamily · Active · 22 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,227/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$550
• Tax + insurance: −$124
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$258
• Net cashflow: $295/mo
• Annual: $3,536/yr
• Cap rate: 9.66%
• Cash-on-cash: 12.04%
• DSCR: 1.54
• 1% rule: 1.17%
• Cash to close: $29,372

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $105k. Condition is rated good.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $295 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $105k).
• It's been on market 22 days — a 2% lower offer ($103k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $103k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $725 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $3k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 56/100 on livability (#1,108 in OH) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: crime F, amenities F, commute F.
• Springfield City School District (urban): math 20% / reading 27% proficiency, ranked #616 of 656 in OH (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.
• Zoned schools: Kenton Elementary School (math 23% / reading 30%, grade F, #1,209 of 1,584 statewide, top 76%, 469 students, 0% FRL); Schaefer Middle School (math 20% / reading 27%, grade F, #597 of 654 statewide, top 92%, 268 students, 0% FRL); Springfield High School (math 17% / reading 31%, grade F, #665 of 781 statewide, top 85%, 1,516 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 75% district-wide (75 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: built in 1942 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 359 active listings in the ZIP; 232 units permitted in Clark County in 2024 (116 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Clark County population projected at -16% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 5 sale attempts since 7y ago 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.
• Current owner paid $78k; 35% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $29k cash investment doubles in ~10 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 9.7% vs local median 4.7% in Springfield — 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

• Built in 1942 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• 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.
• 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.