311 Fern St · Darby, PA 19023

$140,000

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 952 sqft · Townhouse public records · 40 Days on market

Built 1940 1,307 sqft lot $147/sqft · at area comps Est $147k · at est.

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Why this score? — see what drove the D 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 +12.9/30.0
• ARV discount +9.7/15.0
• Rent growth +5.0/5.0
• 1% rule +4.3/10.0
• DSCR +3.8/10.0
• Livability +3.7/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +1.7/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

BACK ON THE MARKET THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE SELLER. This well kept 2 bedroom home is perfect for a first time buyer or investor. Located on a quiet street with minimal traffic flow, this home is worth a look. Enter into the living room and dining room which offers a nice open space. The kitchen which offers a retro look, leads to the backyard with deck. The upstairs has two nice size bedrooms and the hall bath offers a bright and airy feel. Add this to your tour today.

Key facts

• Versatile space
• Fenced yard
• Laundry hookups

Tags

• FENCED YARD
• VERSATILE SPACE
• LAUNDRY HOOKUPS

Property features AI

Exterior

• Parking: On-street parking
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer; Natural gas service; Municipal trash collection
• Home design: Interior townhouse/rowhouse; Fee simple ownership; Estimated year built
• Construction: Brick construction; Stone foundation; Building not winterized; Finished above-grade area per assessor
• Exterior features: Sidewalks; Street lights; Fully fenced

Interior

• Bedrooms: Two bedrooms on the first upper level
• Flooring: Carpet (some areas)
• Bathrooms: One full bathroom (all upper levels)
• Heating & cooling: Hot water heating; Natural gas heating and hot water
• Interior features: Combination dining and living area; Tub with shower; Carpeted flooring in some areas; Basement present (unfinished)
• Laundry & utility: Laundry hookups in basement

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath townhouse listed at $140k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-11 ($-133/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $138k (1.4% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $131k (6.6% below list).
• Recommended offer: $131k (6.6% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 74/100 on livability (#485 in PA, #4,468 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities D+, employment D, crime F.
• William Penn SD (suburban): math 11% / reading 28% proficiency, ranked #491 of 539 in PA (top 91%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 69% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: Bell Avenue School (math 2% / reading 12%, grade F, #1,468 of 1,518 statewide, top 98%, 265 students, 100% FRL); Penn Wood Ms (math 5% / reading 28%, grade F, #463 of 512 statewide, top 91%, 683 students, 100% FRL); Penn Wood Hs (math 25% / reading 15%, grade F, #387 of 437 statewide, top 89%, 1,170 students, 95% FRL) — zoned schools average 98% FRL vs 69% district-wide (30 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+13.1%/yr); 98 active listings in the ZIP; 23 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 22d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 299 units permitted in Delaware County in 2024 (5 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 34% of the median local income ($46k/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 $968 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 40 days — a 3% lower offer ($136k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 3 sale attempts since 4y 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 $85k; list at $140k implies a 65% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1940 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 27% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→15/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $130,792 (6.6% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
2. It's been on market 40 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 7% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
3. Built in 1940 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
4. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
5. 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?
6. 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?
7. The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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: 0.93% ✗
• Cap rate: 6.20%
• Cash-on-cash: -0.34%
• DSCR: 0.98
• GRM: 8.9

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $147,177
• List price: $140,000
• Delta: -4.88%
• Verdict: FAIR
• Comps: 20 within 1.0 mi

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
318 Fern St	0.03mi	2/1.0	952 (0%)	2mo	$105,000	$110	97
224 N 2nd St	0.10mi	3/1.0 (+1)	992 (+4%)	2mo	$190,000	$192	82
421 Darby Ter	0.14mi	3/1.0 (+1)	968 (+2%)	5mo	$66,000	$68	81
422 Darby Ter	0.16mi	3/1.0 (+1)	1,006 (+6%)	1mo	$185,000	$184	78
2120 S Lloyd St	0.29mi	2/1.0	896 (-6%)	1mo	$70,000	$78	76
443 Darby Ter	0.16mi	3/1.0 (+1)	1,064 (+12%)	4mo	$120,500	$113	64
606 Colwyn	0.57mi	2/1.5	896 (-6%)	1mo	$120,000	$134	61
7113 Theodore St	0.72mi	3/1.5 (+1)	1,008 (+6%)	4mo	$170,000	$169	46
456 S 2nd St	0.60mi	3/1.0 (+1)	1,072 (+13%)	2mo	$189,000	$176	45
2601 S Bialy St	0.72mi	3/1.0 (+1)	1,056 (+11%)	4mo	$230,000	$218	40
2426 S Rosella St	0.64mi	3/1.5 (+1)	1,090 (+14%)	3mo	$237,500	$218	36
2604 S Berbro St	0.72mi	3/2.5 (+1)	1,088 (+14%)	5mo	$240,000	$221	28

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

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 8.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -11.0%
• Equity multiple: 0.58×
• Total profit: $-16,414
• Equity at exit: $20,874

10-year hold

• IRR: 4.6%
• Equity multiple: 1.42×
• Total profit: $16,527
• Equity at exit: $12,105

Cash invested: $39,200 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 62 Landlord-Friendly
• State Pennsylvania: 62 Landlord-Friendly · EVEN
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

10-day notice; Philadelphia has eviction-court diversion + some protections; otherwise moderate.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 19023

• Rents YoY: 13.1%
• Active inventory: 98
• Price-to-rent: 8.9×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,308 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$734
• Tax from tax record: −$252 /mo · $3,022/yr
• Insurance: −$58
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$275
• Net cashflow: $-11

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,322

Max offer price $138,038

Occupancy floor 96%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $68	-5% $29	+0% $-11	+5% $-51	+10% $-90
Rent	-10% $-114	-5% $-63	+0% $-11	+5% $41	+10% $92
Rate	-1.0pp $59	-0.5pp $25	base $-11	+0.5pp $-47	+1.0pp $-84

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: $35,000
• Closing costs: $4,200
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 23 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
300 N Front St Darby, PA	2.0	1.0	850	$1,395	$1.64	45d	1	0.15mi
109 Main St Unit B Darby, PA	1.0	1.0	800	$1,100	$1.38	20d	1	0.18mi
109 Main St Unit B Darby, PA	1.0	1.0	800	$1,100	$1.38	21d	1	0.18mi
109 Main St Unit A Darby, PA	1.0	3.0	800	$1,100	$1.38	21d	1	0.18mi
109 Main St Unit A Darby, PA	1.0	3.0	800	$1,100	$1.38	20d	1	0.18mi
1607 Patricia Dr Lansdowne, PA	1.0	1.0	757	$925	$1.22	45d	1	0.20mi
700 Pine St Unit 2F Darby, PA	2.0	1.0	1100	$1,250	$1.14	19d	1	0.55mi
909 Springfield Rd Unit B Darby, PA	1.0	1.0	700	$1,000	$1.43	45d	1	0.67mi
957 Springfield Rd Unit 1 Darby, PA	2.0	1.0	600	$1,400	$2.33	20d	1	0.79mi
810 Rundale Ave Lansdowne, PA	2.0	1.0	868	$1,500	$1.73	26d	1	0.85mi
1300 Main St Unit Basement Darby, PA	2.0	1.0	800	$1,450	$1.81	12d	1	0.85mi
1300 Main St Unit Basement Darby, PA	2.0	1.0	1000	$1,450	$1.45	26d	1	0.85mi
601 Poplar St Sharon Hill, PA	1.0–2.0	1.0	787	$1,599	$2.03	16d	5	0.89mi
37 Concord Rd Darby, PA	3.0	1.0	1120	$1,795	$1.60	45d	1	0.97mi
826 Guenther Ave Lansdowne, PA	2.0	1.0–2.0	800	$1,699	$2.12	26d	1	1.02mi
608 Yeadon Ave Unit 2nd Floor Yeadon, PA	2.0	1.0	1000	$1,400	$1.40	14d	1	1.16mi
608 Yeadon Ave Unit 1st Floor Yeadon, PA	2.0	1.0	1000	$1,400	$1.40	19d	1	1.16mi
504 S Lansdowne Ave Lansdowne, PA	2.0	1.0	815	$1,545	$1.90	0d	4	1.27mi
772 E Providence Rd Aldan, PA	1.0	1.0	725	$1,497	$2.06	45d	1	1.33mi
112 Juliana Ter Darby, PA	3.0	1.0	1020	$2,350	$2.30	46d	1	1.37mi
112 Juliana Ter Darby, PA	3.0	1.0	1020	$2,450	$2.40	26d	1	1.37mi
146 S Lansdowne Ave Apt A9 Lansdowne, PA	2.0	1.0	950	$1,469	$1.55	0d	1	1.43mi
1037 Laurel Rd Sharon Hill, PA	2.0	1.0	655	$1,195	$1.82	45d	1	1.50mi

Listing history 25 events

1. 2026-06-21
   days on market $140,000 Active 40 DOM
2. 2026-06-18
   days on market $140,000 Active 37 DOM
3. 2026-06-17
   days on market $140,000 Active 36 DOM
4. 2026-06-16
   days on market $140,000 Active 35 DOM
5. 2026-06-15
   days on market $140,000 Active 34 DOM
6. 2026-06-13
   days on market $140,000 Active 32 DOM
7. 2026-06-13
   days on market $140,000 Active 31 DOM
8. 2026-06-09
   days on market $140,000 Active 28 DOM
9. 2026-06-08
   days on market $140,000 Active 27 DOM
10. 2026-06-07
    days on market $140,000 Active 26 DOM
11. 2026-06-04
    days on market $140,000 Active 23 DOM
12. 2026-06-03
    days on market $140,000 Active 22 DOM
13. 2026-06-02
    days on market $140,000 Active 21 DOM
14. 2026-06-01
    days on market $140,000 Active 20 DOM
15. 2026-05-31
    days on market $140,000 Active 19 DOM
16. 2026-05-12
    listed $140,000 Active 1045-char remark
17. 2022-11-23
    soldstatus $85,000
18. 2022-11-21
    soldstatus $85,000 Closed 472-char remark

    Show marketing remark (472 chars)

    BACK ON THE MARKET THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE SELLER. This well kept 2 bedroom home is perfect for a first time buyer or investor. Located on a quiet street with minimal traffic flow, this home is worth a look. Enter into the living room and dining room which offers a nice open space. The kitchen which offers a retro look, leads to the backyard with deck. The upstairs has two nice size bedrooms and the hall bath offers a bright and airy feel. Add this to your tour today.

19. 2022-11-11
    historical Active Under Contract 472-char remark

    Show marketing remark (472 chars)

    BACK ON THE MARKET THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE SELLER. This well kept 2 bedroom home is perfect for a first time buyer or investor. Located on a quiet street with minimal traffic flow, this home is worth a look. Enter into the living room and dining room which offers a nice open space. The kitchen which offers a retro look, leads to the backyard with deck. The upstairs has two nice size bedrooms and the hall bath offers a bright and airy feel. Add this to your tour today.

20. 2022-11-10
    status Active 472-char remark

    Show marketing remark (472 chars)

    BACK ON THE MARKET THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE SELLER. This well kept 2 bedroom home is perfect for a first time buyer or investor. Located on a quiet street with minimal traffic flow, this home is worth a look. Enter into the living room and dining room which offers a nice open space. The kitchen which offers a retro look, leads to the backyard with deck. The upstairs has two nice size bedrooms and the hall bath offers a bright and airy feel. Add this to your tour today.

21. 2022-10-03
    historical Active Under Contract 472-char remark

    Show marketing remark (472 chars)

    BACK ON THE MARKET THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE SELLER. This well kept 2 bedroom home is perfect for a first time buyer or investor. Located on a quiet street with minimal traffic flow, this home is worth a look. Enter into the living room and dining room which offers a nice open space. The kitchen which offers a retro look, leads to the backyard with deck. The upstairs has two nice size bedrooms and the hall bath offers a bright and airy feel. Add this to your tour today.

22. 2022-09-19
    listed $85,000 Active 472-char remark

    Show marketing remark (472 chars)

    BACK ON THE MARKET THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE SELLER. This well kept 2 bedroom home is perfect for a first time buyer or investor. Located on a quiet street with minimal traffic flow, this home is worth a look. Enter into the living room and dining room which offers a nice open space. The kitchen which offers a retro look, leads to the backyard with deck. The upstairs has two nice size bedrooms and the hall bath offers a bright and airy feel. Add this to your tour today.

23. 2022-09-16
    historical $85,000 472-char remark

    Show marketing remark (472 chars)

    BACK ON THE MARKET THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE SELLER. This well kept 2 bedroom home is perfect for a first time buyer or investor. Located on a quiet street with minimal traffic flow, this home is worth a look. Enter into the living room and dining room which offers a nice open space. The kitchen which offers a retro look, leads to the backyard with deck. The upstairs has two nice size bedrooms and the hall bath offers a bright and airy feel. Add this to your tour today.

24. 1989-06-19
    soldstatus $31,500
25. 1982-11-01
    soldstatus $16,000

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

Tax reassessment forecast PA · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $3,022 · $252/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $3,022 · $252/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 1/10 Low
• 🌡 Heat 7/10 Severe 7 d/yr ≥103°F today · 15 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 6/10 Major 27% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 4/10 Moderate 3 unhealthy d/yr today · 6 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $15,695
• − Mortgage interest: −$7,842
• − Property taxes: −$3,022
• − Insurance: −$700
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,256
• − Management: −$1,256
• − Depreciation: −$4,073
• Taxable loss: −$2,453
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$589
• After-tax cash flow: $456/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: William Penn SD
• NCES district ID: 4226390
• Math proficiency: 11% ▼ -3.00%
• Reading proficiency: 28% ▼ -7.00%
• Median HH income: $48,543
• Composite: 17.29/100
• National rank: #9086
• State rank: #491 of 539 in PA

Livability — Darby

• Score: 74/100
• State rank: #485
• US rank: #4468

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Darby, PA
• County: Delaware County · 399,863 people
• Metro: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
• Population (ZIP): 22,247
• Household income: $46,463
• Rent vs Own: 47.4% rent · 52.6% own
• Severe rent burden: 1468.0

Population outlook (Delaware County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 577,490 people
• By 2030: 581,243 · +0.6%
• By 2040: 584,700 · +1.2%
• By 2050: 586,581 · +1.6%
• By 2075: 598,706 · +3.7%
• By 2100: 590,823 · +2.3%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly Black (76%)
• Race & ethnicity: Black 76% White 15% Two or more races 5% Hispanic / Latino 3% Asian 2%
• Common ancestry: Swiss 5% Hispanic 1% Romanian 1%
• Foreign-born: 18% · Canada
• Languages at home: 84% English-only · French/Haitian/Cajun 4% Spanish 3% Other Asian/Pacific 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Delaware

• 2024 margin: Strong D (+23.7) · D 61.4% · R 37.6% · Other 1.0%
• 2008→2024 swing: +2.3pp toward D · 2008: 21.4pp · 2024: 23.7pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+23.7 2020: D+26.7 2016: D+22.0 2012: D+21.8 2008: D+21.4

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -190.50%
• Current HPI: 277.7034
• Rent YoY: ▲ 13.10%
• Metro: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.68%
• F500 in state: 34

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in PA)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Healthcare	2	$309B
▸Insurance	2	$27B
▸Telecommunications / Media	1	$124B
▸Industrial Distribution	1	$22B
▸Financial Services	1	$20B
▸Chemicals / Materials	1	$18B

Price history

+775.0% since first listed

10 events — show timeline

• 2026-05-12 Listed $140,000 BRIGHT MLS
• 2022-11-23 Sold (Public Records) $85,000 Public Records
• 2022-11-21 Sold (MLS) $85,000 BRIGHT MLS
• 2022-11-11 Contingent — BRIGHT MLS
• 2022-11-10 Relisted — BRIGHT MLS
• 2022-10-03 Contingent — BRIGHT MLS
• 2022-09-19 Listed $85,000 BRIGHT MLS
• 2022-09-16 Coming Soon $85,000 BRIGHT MLS
• 1989-06-19 Sold (Public Records) $31,500 Public Records
• 1982-11-01 Sold (Public Records) $16,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+1.9%/yr

Latest (2026): $3,022 · -0.5% YoY. Source: county tax records.