1018 N Forest View Dr S

Ellettsville, IN 47429

$198,900D

3 bd · 1.5 ba · 1,296 sqft · Built 2000 · Condo · Pending · 16 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,758/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,043
• Tax + insurance: −$280
• HOA: −$42
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$369
• Net cashflow: $24/mo
• Annual: $284/yr
• Cap rate: 6.84%
• Cash-on-cash: 1.94%
• DSCR: 1.09
• 1% rule: 0.88%
• Cash to close: $55,692

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/1.5-bath condo listed at $199k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $24 ($284/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $176k (11.6% below list).
• It's been on market 16 days — a 2% lower offer ($196k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $176k (11.6% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $6k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 70/100 on livability (#153 in IN) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, crime A-; Watch: amenities F, commute F, health & safety F.
• Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation (suburban): math 41% / reading 52% proficiency, ranked #82 of 301 in IN (top 27%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Edgewood Primary School (650 students, 38% FRL); Edgewood Junior High School (math 30% / reading 51%, grade F, #117 of 330 statewide, top 36%, 603 students, 40% FRL); Edgewood High School (math 42% / reading 77%, grade C+, #49 of 369 statewide, top 16%, 820 students, 33% FRL).
• Watch-outs: flood insurance adds $66/mo.
• Market conditions: 64 active listings in the ZIP; 2 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 872 units permitted in Monroe County in 2024 (663 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Monroe County population projected at +29% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• 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 $169k; 18% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
• Climate carrying-cost: major flood risk — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 6.8% vs local median 3.3% in Ellettsville — 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

• What's the actual annual flood-insurance premium (NFIP or private), and is the property in a SFHA with mandatory coverage?
• 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.
• 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?
• 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.