4033 Polk St · Gary, IN 46408

$19,000

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 832 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 33 Days on market

Built 1921 4,791 sqft lot

---

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 +15.0/30.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• 1% rule +5.0/10.0
• DSCR +5.0/10.0
• Livability +3.7/5.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +0.5/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks

MOTIVATED SELLER!!! Full Gut Rehab looking for it's next investor!

Key facts

• 4,791 sq ft lot
• Garage
• Built 1921

Property features AI

Finance

• Other: Occupant status: Vacant

Exterior

• Parking: Has garage(s); Approximately 1.5 garage spaces
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer; No additional utilities listed
• Home design: One-level home; Built in 1921
• Construction: Year built: 1921
• Exterior features: Neighborhood view

Interior

• Kitchen: No appliances listed
• Bedrooms: Primary bedroom; Additional bedroom(s)
• Bathrooms: 1 full bathroom
• Heating & cooling: Central heating; Cooling: other
• Interior features: No notable interior features listed; Basement present (type: other)
• Laundry & utility: No laundry or utility appliances listed

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $19k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $770 ($9k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $19k).
• Recommended offer: $18k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Cap rate 54.9% vs local median 9.1% in Gary — 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.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 73/100 on livability (#105 in IN) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: schools F, crime F, employment F.
• Gary Community School Corporation (urban): math 3% / reading 11% proficiency, ranked #299 of 301 in IN (top 99%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 80% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: 102 active listings in the ZIP; 18 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals leasing fast (median 3d on market — plan ~1-2 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 1,642 units permitted in Lake County in 2024 (14 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 30% of the median local income ($47k/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 $131 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $570 of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Lake County population projected to shrink 7% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $5k cash investment doubles in ~1 year — after that, you're playing with house money.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 33 days — a 3% lower offer ($18k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: property tax is 4.0% of price; built in 1921 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $18,430 (3.0% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 33 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1921 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Property tax is high relative to price — has the assessment been appealed recently, and will the sale trigger a re-assessment?
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: 6.26% ✓
• Cap rate: 54.89%
• Cash-on-cash: 173.58%
• DSCR: 8.72
• GRM: 1.3

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $45,760
• Comps found: 12

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
3724 Tyler St	0.38mi	2/1.0	870 (+5%)	4mo	$48,000	$55	71
4115 Fillmore St	0.12mi	2/1.0	950 (+14%)	6mo	$51,000	$54	65
3953 Monroe St	0.32mi	2/1.0	740 (-11%)	2mo	$57,000	$77	65
4217 Massachusetts St	0.74mi	2/1.0	840 (+1%)	1mo	$28,000	$33	63
4525 Tyler St	0.63mi	3/1.0 (+1)	875 (+5%)	1mo	$136,000	$155	56
4024 Monroe St	0.29mi	2/1.0	728 (-12%)	12mo	$35,000	$48	56
3679 Buchanan St	0.48mi	3/1.0 (+1)	918 (+10%)	0mo	$112,000	$122	55
1413 W 35th Ave	0.71mi	2/1.0	868 (+4%)	9mo	$55,200	$64	52
4088 Monroe St	0.29mi	2/2.0	956 (+15%)	10mo	$139,000	$145	50
1418 W 45th Ave	0.64mi	2/1.0	950 (+14%)	1mo	$35,000	$37	45
4016 Connecticut St	0.72mi	2/1.0	920 (+11%)	4mo	$25,000	$27	45
4045 Massachusetts St	0.68mi	2/1.5	736 (-12%)	8mo	$3,500	$5	40

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 · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: —
• Equity multiple: 9.64×
• Total profit: $45,975
• Equity at exit: $2,833

10-year hold

• IRR: —
• Equity multiple: 20.42×
• Total profit: $103,316
• Equity at exit: $1,643

Cash invested: $5,320 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Indiana: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+11
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

10-day pay-or-quit; landlord-favorable; preempted.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 46408

• Home prices YoY: -31.6%
• Active inventory: 102
• Price-to-rent: 1.3×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,190 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$100
• Tax from tax record: −$63 /mo · $758/yr
• Insurance: −$8
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$250
• Net cashflow: $770

Break-even live

Break-even rent $216

Max offer price $19,000

Occupancy floor 30%

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: $4,750
• Closing costs: $570
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 18 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
4018 Tyler St Gary, IN	3.0	1.0	880	$1,350	$1.53	1d	1	0.04mi
4040 Fillmore St Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	1000	$1,000	$1.00	10d	1	0.10mi
4170 Fillmore St Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	720	$950	$1.32	19d	1	0.18mi
3708 Harrison St Gary, IN	3.0	1.5	904	$1,400	$1.55	2d	1	0.43mi
3777 Lincoln St Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	800	$1,150	$1.44	1d	1	0.44mi
4364 Buchanan St Gary, IN	3.0	1.0	900	$1,500	$1.67	1d	1	0.46mi
4327 Monroe St Unit 1st front Gary, IN	1.0	1.0	600	$1,095	$1.82	1d	1	0.47mi
624 W 44th Pl Gary, IN	3.0	1.0	836	$1,250	$1.50	7d	1	0.52mi
1005 W 35th Ave Apt 105 Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	601	$795	$1.32	18d	1	0.66mi
1005 W 35th Ave Apt 202 Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	617	$795	$1.29	1d	1	0.66mi
1015 W 35th Ave Apt 206 Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	601	$795	$1.32	43d	1	0.67mi
4456 Connecticut St Gary, IN	3.0	1.0	1044	$1,300	$1.25	2d	1	0.89mi
4748 Monroe St Gary, IN	3.0	1.0	1074	$1,695	$1.58	1d	1	0.93mi
2410 W 45th Ave #2 Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	850	$950	$1.12	21d	1	1.10mi
2410 W 45th Ave Unit 1 Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	850	$895	$1.05	21d	1	1.10mi
4816 Massachusetts St Gary, IN	3.0	1.0	1024	$1,350	$1.32	15d	1	1.18mi
816 E 35th Ct Gary, IN	2.0	1.0	810	$1,075	$1.33	1d	1	1.30mi
1240 W 52nd Dr Merrillville, IN	2.0	1.0–2.0	957	$1,349	$1.41	1d	9	1.47mi

Listing history 16 events

1. 2026-06-18
   days on market $19,000 Active 33 DOM
2. 2026-06-17
   days on market $19,000 Active 32 DOM
3. 2026-06-16
   days on market $19,000 Active 31 DOM
4. 2026-06-15
   price $19,000 Active 30 DOM
5. 2026-06-15
   days on market $21,000 Active 30 DOM
6. 2026-06-13
   days on market $21,000 Active 28 DOM
7. 2026-06-13
   days on market $21,000 Active 27 DOM
8. 2026-06-09
   days on market $21,000 Active 24 DOM
9. 2026-06-08
   days on market $21,000 Active 23 DOM
10. 2026-06-07
    days on market $21,000 Active 22 DOM
11. 2026-06-04
    days on market $21,000 Active 19 DOM
12. 2026-06-03
    days on market $21,000 Active 18 DOM
13. 2026-06-02
    days on market $21,000 Active 17 DOM
14. 2026-06-01
    days on market $21,000 Active 16 DOM
15. 2026-05-31
    days on market $21,000 Active 15 DOM
16. 2026-05-16
    listed $21,000 Active

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

Tax reassessment forecast IN · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $758 · $63/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $758 · $63/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 2/10 Low 7 d/yr ≥102°F today · 15 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low 0% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 3/10 Moderate 2 unhealthy d/yr today · 3 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $14,282
• − Mortgage interest: −$1,064
• − Property taxes: −$758
• − Insurance: −$95
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,143
• − Management: −$1,143
• − Depreciation: −$553
• Taxable income: $9,527
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$2,287
• After-tax cash flow: $6,948/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: Gary Community School Corporation
• NCES district ID: 1803870
• Math proficiency: 3% ▼ -10.00%
• Reading proficiency: 11% ▼ -6.00%
• Median HH income: $27,739
• Composite: 4.98/100
• National rank: #10039
• State rank: #299 of 301 in IN

Livability — Gary

• Score: 73/100
• State rank: #105
• US rank: #5592

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Gary, IN
• County: Lake County · 422,878 people
• City population: 63,701
• Metro: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
• Population (ZIP): 15,747
• Household income: $47,453
• Rent vs Own: 41.2% rent · 58.8% own
• Severe rent burden: 619.0

Population outlook (Lake County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 484,026 people
• By 2030: 478,091 · -1.2%
• By 2040: 462,974 · -4.3%
• By 2050: 449,894 · -7.1%
• By 2075: 436,169 · -9.9%
• By 2100: 426,607 · -11.9%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Diverse neighborhood (Simpson 0.68)
• Race & ethnicity: Black 41% White 32% Hispanic / Latino 22% Two or more races 12%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 14% Puerto Rican 7%
• Common ancestry: Romanian 5% Iranian 1% Slovak 1%
• Foreign-born: 4% · Canada, China
• Languages at home: 87% English-only · Spanish 12% Chinese 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Lake

• 2024 margin: Lean D (+5.6) · D 52.1% · R 46.5% · Other 1.5%
• 2008→2024 swing: -28.6pp toward R · 2008: 34.3pp · 2024: 5.6pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+5.6 2020: D+15.1 2016: D+20.6 2012: D+31.0 2008: D+34.3

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -72.08%
• Current HPI: 155.6238
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.90%
• F500 in state: 18

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in IN)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Industrial Machinery	2	$37B
▸Healthcare	1	$177B
▸Pharmaceuticals	1	$45B
▸Metals / Steel	1	$18B
▸Agriculture	1	$17B
▸Packaging	1	$12B

Price history

1 event — show timeline

• 2026-05-16 Listed $21,000 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid

Property tax history

-8.3%/yr

Latest (2024): $758 · +5.4% YoY. Source: county tax records.