18340 Cherry Creek Dr #7

Homewood, IL 60430

$101,000B-

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,010 sqft · Built 1970 · Condo · Active · 27 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,033/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$530
• Tax + insurance: −$212
• HOA: −$568
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$427
• Net cashflow: $297/mo
• Annual: $3,559/yr
• Cap rate: 9.82%
• Cash-on-cash: 12.59%
• DSCR: 1.56
• 1% rule: 2.01%
• Cash to close: $28,280

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath condo listed at $101k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $297 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $101k).
• It's been on market 27 days — a 2% lower offer ($99k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $99k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $698 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $3k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 81/100 on livability (#81 in IL, #1,314 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: commute A+, employment A+, cost of living A+; Watch: amenities F.
• Homewood Flossmoor Chsd 233 (suburban): math 21% / reading 27% proficiency, ranked #272 of 620 in IL (top 44%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover.
• Zoned schools: Homewood-Flossmoor High School (math 21% / reading 27%, grade F, #304 of 693 statewide, top 44%, 2,798 students, 0% FRL).
• Watch-outs: HOA is 28% of rent.
• Market conditions: 101 active listings in the ZIP; 8 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 16d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 6,272 units permitted in Cook County in 2024 (4,658 in 5+ unit buildings).
• 17 sale attempts since 17y 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.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $28k cash investment doubles in ~9 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 9.8% vs local median 6.1% in Homewood — 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 1970 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• What does the HOA fee cover, when was the last increase, and are there any pending special assessments or reserve-fund shortfalls?
• Any open or pending special assessments — roof, HVAC, plumbing, elevator, façade? What's the per-unit balance and payoff schedule, and is the seller paying it off at close or rolling it to the buyer?
• 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?
• 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 apartment / multifamily construction is in the pipeline within 1–3 miles? Heavy new supply (>2% of stock underway) typically softens rents 12–24 months out; light construction supports rent growth.