2 bd · 1.0 ba ·
914 sqft ·
Built 1900
· Townhouse
· Active
· 1 DOM
Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)
Estimated rent
$1,611/mo
Mortgage (P&I)
−$708
Tax + insurance
−$289
HOA
−$0
Vac / Maint / Mgmt
−$338
Net cashflow
$276/mo
Annual
$3,313/yr
Cap rate
8.75%
Cash-on-cash
8.76%
DSCR
1.39
1% rule
1.19%
Cash to close
$37,800
Investor read
This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath townhouse listed at $135k.
At list price, monthly cash flow is $276 ($3k/yr) — positive.
The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $135k).
Only 1 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $933 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
Location reads 72/100 on livability (#643 in PA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: amenities C-, employment D+, crime F.
Pottstown SD (suburban): math 11% / reading 23% proficiency, ranked #504 of 539 in PA (top 94%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 62% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
Zoned schools: Pottstown Ms (math 6% / reading 20%, grade F, #486 of 512 statewide, top 95%, 915 students, 100% FRL); Pottstown Shs (math 37% / reading 10%, grade F, #379 of 437 statewide, top 87%, 912 students, 100% FRL) — zoned schools average 100% FRL vs 62% district-wide (37 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
Watch-outs: built in 1900 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+4.9%/yr); 202 active listings in the ZIP; 30 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 18d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); solid renter incomes; 1,936 units permitted in Montgomery County in 2024 (530 in 5+ unit buildings).
Montgomery County population projected at +5% by 2050 — modest demand growth; plan on rents tracking national, not racing it.
3 sale attempts since 14y 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 $44k; list at $135k implies a 207% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 4.9% rent growth), your $38k cash investment doubles in ~10 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
Climate carrying-cost: extreme-heat days projected 7→15/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
Cap rate 8.7% vs local median 5.0% in Pottstown — 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 1900 — 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 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?
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?
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-R9TEJEBGPHJ1V2
· Data 1 day agocashflowre.app · 2026-05-29