1800 Lavaca St #207

Austin, TX 78701

$260,000D

2 bd · 2.0 ba · 880 sqft · Built 1966 · Condo · Active · 176 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,242/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,363
• Tax + insurance: −$433
• HOA: −$768
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$471
• Net cashflow: $-794/mo
• Annual: $-9,525/yr
• Cap rate: 2.63%
• Cash-on-cash: -13.08%
• DSCR: 0.42
• 1% rule: 0.86%
• Cash to close: $72,800

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/2.0-bath condo listed at $260k. Condition is rated good.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-794 ($-10k/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $145k (44.2% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $224k (13.8% below list).
• It's been on market 176 days — a 12% lower offer ($229k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $145k (44.2% below list) — sets the bar for cash-flow.
• In year one you build about $611 of equity ($2k loan paydown + $-1k appreciation (-0.5% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 82/100 on livability (#16 in TX, #1,208 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: amenities A+, commute A+, employment A+; Watch: cost of living D, crime F.
• Austin ISD (urban): math 33% / reading 44% proficiency, ranked #431 of 826 in TX (top 52%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Watch-outs: HOA is 34% of rent.
• Market conditions: Rents rising (+2.5%/yr); 420 active listings in the ZIP; 40 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 41d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 58% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; high-income renter base; 17,121 units permitted in Travis County in 2024 (11,963 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Travis County population projected at +60% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• 4 sale attempts since 6y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $40k (13%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Climate carrying-cost: severe wind risk, 80% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→22/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 2.6% vs local median 1.8% in Austin — 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.
• This rent is only 17% of the median local income ($162k/yr) — well below the 30% rent-burden line; pricing power to push rent on renewal without tenant pushback.

Questions for listing agent

• What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
• It's been on market 176 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 44% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1966 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• 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?
• Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• 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?