2 bd · 1.0 ba ·
844 sqft ·
Built 1945
· SingleFamily
· Active
· 32 DOM
Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)
Estimated rent
$1,032/mo
Mortgage (P&I)
−$629
Tax + insurance
−$110
HOA
−$0
Vac / Maint / Mgmt
−$217
Net cashflow
$76/mo
Annual
$915/yr
Cap rate
7.06%
Cash-on-cash
2.72%
DSCR
1.12
1% rule
0.86%
Cash to close
$33,572
Investor read
This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $120k.
At list price, monthly cash flow is $76 ($915/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 $103k (14.0% below list).
It's been on market 32 days — a 3% lower offer ($116k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
Recommended offer: $103k (14.0% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $829 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
Location reads 55/100 on livability (#671 in MI) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A-; Watch: schools F, crime F, amenities F.
Benton Harbor Area Schools (urban): math 4% / reading 7% proficiency, ranked #732 of 760 in MI (top 96%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 89% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
Watch-outs: built in 1945 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
Market conditions: 179 active listings in the ZIP; 2 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 397 units permitted in Berrien County in 2024 (40 in 5+ unit buildings).
Berrien County population projected at -16% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
13 sale attempts since 5y 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 $75k; list at $120k implies a 60% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
Questions for listing agent
It's been on market 32 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 14% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
Built in 1945 — 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?
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?
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.
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