1615 4th Ave SE · Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

$143,500

4 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,732 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 43 Days on market

Built 1916 2,788 sqft lot Est $216k · 34% under ↓ 4% since listing

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Why this score? — see what drove the B 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 +26.1/30.0
• ARV discount +15.0/15.0
• DSCR +8.8/10.0
• 1% rule +6.8/10.0
• Rent growth +5.0/5.0
• Schools +4.7/10.0
• Livability +3.9/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Key facts

• 2,788 sq ft lot
• Garage
• Built 1916

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 4-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $144k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $359 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $144k).
• Recommended offer: $139k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Cap rate 9.3% vs local median 3.5% in Cedar Rapids — 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 78/100 on livability (#134 in IA, #2,474 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: crime C-, commute F.
• Cedar Rapids Community School District (urban): math 50% / reading 59% proficiency, ranked #265 of 289 in IA (top 92%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Johnson Steam Academy School (math 32% / reading 37%, grade F, #595 of 616 statewide, top 97%, 346 students, 74% FRL); Mckinley Steam Academy (math 45% / reading 55%, grade C, #216 of 246 statewide, top 88%, 448 students, 52% FRL); George Washington High School (math 44% / reading 62%, grade C-, #296 of 336 statewide, top 88%, 1,291 students, 49% FRL) — zoned schools average 59% FRL vs 43% district-wide (15 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+14.7%/yr); 236 active listings in the ZIP; 1 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 1,023 units permitted in Linn County in 2024 (456 in 5+ unit buildings).

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $992 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Linn County population projected at +16% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 8.0% rent growth), your $40k cash investment doubles in ~7 years — after that, you're playing with house money.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 43 days — a 3% lower offer ($139k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1916 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $139,195 (3.0% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 43 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 1916 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
4. Schools are B-rated — typically a magnet for longer-tenancy family renters. What's the average tenant stay here, and is there a school-zone premium baked into asking?
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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: 1.18% ✓
• Cap rate: 9.30%
• Cash-on-cash: 10.73%
• DSCR: 1.48
• GRM: 7.1

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $216,500
• Comps found: 12

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
1806 7th Ave SE	0.25mi	4/1.5	1,646 (-5%)	1mo	$230,000	$140	77
1713 7th Ave SE	0.23mi	4/2.0	1,826 (+5%)	0mo	$213,000	$117	76
1704 Park Ave SE	0.25mi	3/2.0 (-1)	1,807 (+4%)	2mo	$125,000	$69	70
2026 Bever Ave SE	0.41mi	3/1.5 (-1)	1,678 (-3%)	1mo	$210,000	$125	68
1812 Park Ave Ave SE	0.29mi	4/1.5	1,916 (+11%)	0mo	$179,000	$93	67
2009 Blake Blvd SE	0.51mi	3/1.5 (-1)	1,720 (-1%)	2mo	$305,000	$177	66
335 18th St SE	0.37mi	3/1.5 (-1)	1,529 (-12%)	1mo	$189,000	$124	56
931 20th St SE	0.62mi	3/2.0 (-1)	1,799 (+4%)	3mo	$235,000	$131	53
2226 5th Ave SE	0.60mi	3/2.5 (-1)	1,820 (+5%)	0mo	$256,000	$141	52
385 21st St St SE	0.46mi	3/2.0 (-1)	1,555 (-10%)	0mo	$255,000	$164	52
1645 D Ave NE	0.73mi	3/1.0 (-1)	1,578 (-9%)	0mo	$170,000	$108	46
2323 Upland Dr SE	0.66mi	4/2.0	1,957 (+13%)	1mo	$243,000	$124	43

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: 5.2%
• Equity multiple: 1.21×
• Total profit: $8,580
• Equity at exit: $21,396

10-year hold

• IRR: 18.8%
• Equity multiple: 2.93×
• Total profit: $77,633
• Equity at exit: $12,407

Cash invested: $40,180 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Iowa: 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+6
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

3-day pay-or-quit; mostly landlord-friendly statewide.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 52403

• Rents YoY: 14.7%
• Active inventory: 236
• Price-to-rent: 7.1×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,689 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$753
• Tax from tax record: −$162 /mo · $1,950/yr
• Insurance: −$60
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$355
• Net cashflow: $359

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,234

Max offer price $143,500

Occupancy floor 74%

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: $35,875
• Closing costs: $4,305
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 1 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
730 Wellington St SE Cedar Rapids, IA	3.0	1.0	1366	$1,325	$0.97	21d	1	0.27mi

Listing history 3 events

1. 2026-03-25
   status Pending
2. 2026-02-24
   price $143,500
3. 2026-02-09
   listed $149,500 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 IA · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $1,950 · $162/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,101 · $175/mo
• Expected delta: +$151/yr (+$13/mo · 7.8%)

ⓘ Screening estimate from a state-policy table — verify with the county assessor before closing.

Climate risk First Street

• 🌊 Flood 3/10 Moderate FEMA zone X (unshaded) · 20% chance over 30 yrs
• 🔥 Wildfire 3/10 Moderate
• 🌡 Heat 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥104°F today · 15 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $20,267
• − Mortgage interest: −$8,038
• − Property taxes: −$1,950
• − Insurance: −$718
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,621
• − Management: −$1,621
• − Depreciation: −$4,175
• Taxable income: $2,144
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$515
• After-tax cash flow: $3,799/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: Cedar Rapids Community School District
• NCES district ID: 1906540
• Math proficiency: 50% ▼ -12.00%
• Reading proficiency: 59% ▼ -6.00%
• Median HH income: $53,568
• Composite: 46.82/100
• National rank: #2378
• State rank: #265 of 289 in IA

Livability — Cedar Rapids

• Score: 78/100
• State rank: #134
• US rank: #2474

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Cedar Rapids, IA
• County: Linn County · 179,860 people
• City population: 137,154
• Metro: Cedar Rapids, IA
• Population (ZIP): 22,551
• Household income: $74,703
• Rent vs Own: 23.0% rent · 77.0% own
• Severe rent burden: 452.0

Population outlook (Linn County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 239,589 people
• By 2030: 248,587 · +3.8%
• By 2040: 264,817 · +10.5%
• By 2050: 278,685 · +16.3%
• By 2075: 311,754 · +30.1%
• By 2100: 336,773 · +40.6%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (85%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 85% Black 7% Two or more races 5% Hispanic / Latino 3%
• Common ancestry: Italian 3% Slovak 3% Portuguese 3%
• Foreign-born: 3% · Canada
• Languages at home: 95% English-only · Spanish 3% Other Indo-European 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Linn

• 2024 margin: Lean D (+9.9) · D 54.2% · R 44.3% · Other 1.4%
• 2008→2024 swing: -11.6pp toward R · 2008: 21.5pp · 2024: 9.9pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+9.9 2020: D+13.7 2016: D+9.0 2012: D+17.6 2008: D+21.5

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -170.15%
• Current HPI: 196.1114
• Rent YoY: ▲ 14.67%
• Metro: Cedar Rapids, IA
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.48%
• F500 in state: 4

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in IA)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Financial Services	1	$16B
▸Retail / Convenience	1	$15B

Price history

-4.0% since first listed

3 events — show timeline

• 2026-03-25 Pending — CRAAR, CDRMLS
• 2026-02-24 Price Changed $143,500 CRAAR, CDRMLS
• 2026-02-09 Listed $149,500 CRAAR, CDRMLS

Property tax history

+1.9%/yr

Latest (2025): $1,950 · +2.3% YoY. Source: county tax records.