302 Long Ave

Lost Nation, IA 52254

$79,000B+

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,164 sqft · Built 1890 · SingleFamily · Active · 30 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,087/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$414
• Tax + insurance: −$98
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$228
• Net cashflow: $347/mo
• Annual: $4,163/yr
• Cap rate: 11.56%
• Cash-on-cash: 18.82%
• DSCR: 1.84
• 1% rule: 1.38%
• Cash to close: $22,120

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $79k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $347 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $79k).
• It's been on market 30 days — a 2% lower offer ($78k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $78k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $4k of equity ($546 loan paydown + $3k appreciation (4.1% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 61/100 on livability (#757 in IA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A, health & safety A-; Watch: amenities F, commute F, employment D-.
• Midland Community School District (rural): math 57% / reading 66% proficiency, ranked #231 of 289 in IA (top 80%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Midland Elementary (math 62% / reading 62%, grade B, #363 of 616 statewide, top 62%, 205 students, 51% FRL); Midland Middle/High School (math 56% / reading 67%, grade B-, #255 of 336 statewide, top 76%, 303 students, 52% FRL).
• Watch-outs: built in 1890 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 5 active listings in the ZIP; 116 units permitted in Clinton County in 2024 (50 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Clinton County population projected at -19% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 3 sale attempts since 3y 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 $60k; 32% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
• At projected returns (4.1% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $22k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 9, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$32k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.

Questions for listing agent

• Built in 1890 — 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.