4 bd · 1.0 ba ·
1,340 sqft ·
Built 1940
· SingleFamily
· Active
· 57 DOM
Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)
Estimated rent
$1,469/mo
Mortgage (P&I)
−$886
Tax + insurance
−$136
HOA
−$0
Vac / Maint / Mgmt
−$308
Net cashflow
$137/mo
Annual
$1,650/yr
Cap rate
7.27%
Cash-on-cash
3.49%
DSCR
1.16
1% rule
0.87%
Cash to close
$47,320
Investor read
This is a 4-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $169k.
At list price, monthly cash flow is $137 ($2k/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 $147k (13.1% below list).
It's been on market 57 days — a 3% lower offer ($164k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
Recommended offer: $147k (13.1% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
In year one you build about $18k of equity ($1k loan paydown + $17k appreciation (10.0% local appreciation)).
Location reads 65/100 on livability (#563 in MN) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, employment B+; Watch: health & safety D+, schools F, amenities F.
Melrose Public School District (rural): math 45% / reading 50% proficiency, ranked #142 of 301 in MN (top 47%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
Watch-outs: built in 1940 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
Market conditions: 31 active listings in the ZIP; 661 units permitted in Stearns County in 2024 (291 in 5+ unit buildings).
Stearns County population projected at +9% by 2050 — modest demand growth; plan on rents tracking national, not racing it.
7 sale attempts since 19y 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 $95k; list at $169k implies a 78% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
At projected returns (10.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $47k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
By year 3, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$46k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.
Questions for listing agent
It's been on market 57 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 13% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
Built in 1940 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
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?
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 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.
CashFlowRE · CFR-QCCRZ0E6ZBWM2E
· Data 2 days agocashflowre.app · 2026-05-29