204 Heron Dr · Columbia, SC 29203

$129,900

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,120 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 2 Days on market

Built 1993 0.28 ac lot

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Why this score? — see what drove the C- grade

The composite is a weighted blend of 9 inputs, each scored 0–100. Each bar is that input's sub-score; the figure is the points it added to the 100-point composite (weight × sub-score).

• Cash flow +18.8/30.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• 1% rule +6.4/10.0
• DSCR +5.9/10.0
• Livability +3.9/5.0
• Rent growth +3.1/5.0
• Schools +2.6/10.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks

Calling all investors! This 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is tenant-occupied on a month-to-month lease at $1,200 per month, providing immediate rental income. The property does need some TLC, but with updates it could be a strong addition to your portfolio. Don't miss this great investment opportunity. Disclaimer: CMLS has not reviewed and, therefore, does not endorse vendors who may appear in listings.

Key facts

• 0.28 acre lot
• Built 1993
• Listed 2 days

Property features AI

Exterior

• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer
• Home design: Single-story home; Sits on approximately 0.28 acres
• Construction: Crawlspace foundation
• Exterior features: Uncovered front porch; Vinyl exterior finish; Paved road access

Interior

• Kitchen: Eat-in galley kitchen; Tile floor and tiled backsplash; Countertops (other material)
• Bedrooms: Main-level master bedroom with private bath and tub/shower; Main-level second bedroom with shared bath; Main-level third bedroom with shared bath
• Flooring: Carpet and tile flooring
• Bathrooms: Two full bathrooms
• Heating & cooling: Central heat; Central air conditioning
• Interior features: Crown molding in living room; Ceiling fans in living room, master bedroom, and bedroom 3; Carpeted floors in bedrooms and living areas
• Laundry & utility: Laundry located in heated space off the kitchen on the main level

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath single-family listed at $130k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $131 ($2k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $130k).
• Cap rate 7.5% vs local median 5.0% in Columbia — 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.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 78/100 on livability (#18 in SC, #2,436 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: amenities A+, commute A+, cost of living A+; Watch: employment D, crime F.
• Richland 01 (urban): math 26% / reading 36% proficiency, ranked #54 of 80 in SC (top 68%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases; 64% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: Forest Heights Elementary (math 12% / reading 12%, grade F, #572 of 597 statewide, top 97%, 441 students, 100% FRL); Eau Claire High (math 22% / reading 84%, grade C-, #139 of 196 statewide, top 71%, 627 students, 100% FRL) — zoned schools average 100% FRL vs 64% district-wide (36 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Market conditions: Rents rising (+2.5%/yr); 238 active listings in the ZIP; 1 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 3,472 units permitted in Richland County in 2024 (1,096 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 39% of the median local income ($46k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $898 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Richland County population projected at +30% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• Only 2 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• 2 sale attempts 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.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: property tax is 2.8% of price.
• Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 60% chance of damaging wind over 30y; moderate wildfire risk; extreme-heat days projected 7→16/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $129,900

Questions for the listing agent

1. Property tax is high relative to price — has the assessment been appealed recently, and will the sale trigger a re-assessment?
2. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
3. Schools are D-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
4. 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?
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Investment metrics

• 1% rule: 1.14% ✓
• Cap rate: 7.50%
• Cash-on-cash: 4.32%
• DSCR: 1.19
• GRM: 7.3

CMA / ARV

No comps found within radius.

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 2.5% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -10.1%
• Equity multiple: 0.63×
• Total profit: $-13,333
• Equity at exit: $19,369

10-year hold

• IRR: -1.4%
• Equity multiple: 0.91×
• Total profit: $-3,429
• Equity at exit: $11,231

Cash invested: $36,372 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State South Carolina: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+6
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

5-day notice; preempted; landlord-favorable.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 29203

• Home prices YoY: -31.6%
• Rents YoY: 2.5%
• Active inventory: 238
• Price-to-rent: 7.3×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,481 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$681
• Tax from tax record: −$304 /mo · $3,642/yr
• Insurance: −$54
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$311
• Net cashflow: $131

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,315

Max offer price $129,900

Occupancy floor 86%

UW: 25.0% down · 7.5% · 30yr · 1.5% tax · 5.0% vac · 8.0% maint · 8.0% mgmt

Financing live

Cash to close

• Down payment: $32,475
• Closing costs: $3,897
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 1 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
1 Larkin Ct Columbia, SC	3.0	2.0	1248	$1,195	$0.96	23d	1	0.95mi

Listing history 3 events

1. 2026-06-18
   days on market $129,900 Active 2 DOM
2. 2026-06-16
   remarks 404-char remark
3. 2026-06-16
   listed $129,900 Active 1 DOM

ⓘ Source: listings_history table (triggers on properties + properties_extension) + one-shot backfill from property_details.listing_events for pre-trigger history.

Tax reassessment forecast SC · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $3,642 · $304/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $3,642 · $304/mo
• Expected delta: $0/yr ($0/mo · 0.0%)

ⓘ Screening estimate from a state-policy table — verify with the county assessor before closing.

Climate risk First Street

• 🌊 Flood 1/10 Low FEMA zone X (unshaded) · 0% chance over 30 yrs
• 🔥 Wildfire 5/10 Major
• 🌡 Heat 6/10 Major 7 d/yr ≥108°F today · 16 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 6/10 Major 60% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 3/10 Moderate 2 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $17,771
• − Mortgage interest: −$7,276
• − Property taxes: −$3,642
• − Insurance: −$650
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,422
• − Management: −$1,422
• − Depreciation: −$3,779
• Taxable loss: −$419
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$101
• After-tax cash flow: $1,674/yr

For passive investors: Depreciation is non-cash, so a rental often shows a tax loss while cash-flowing — sheltering income. Rental losses are passive: they offset passive income freely, and up to $25,000/yr can offset ordinary (W-2) income if you actively participate and your MAGI is under $100k (phasing out to $0 by $150k); unused losses carry forward. On sale, claimed depreciation is recaptured at up to 25%, and gains may owe capital-gains tax (a 1031 exchange can defer both). Figures are a year-1 estimate at your 24.0% rate — not tax advice; consult a CPA.

Schools (NCES district)

• District: Richland 01
• NCES district ID: 4503360
• Math proficiency: 26% ▼ -7.00%
• Reading proficiency: 36% ▼ -5.00%
• Median HH income: $38,931
• Composite: 25.94/100
• National rank: #7335
• State rank: #54 of 80 in SC

Livability — Columbia

• Score: 78/100
• State rank: #18
• US rank: #2436

Category grades

Amenities A+ Commute A+ Cost of living A+ Crime F Employment D Housing A+ Health & safety A+ User ratings D

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• County: Richland County · 389,530 people
• City population: 335,994
• Metro: Columbia, SC
• Population (ZIP): 40,653
• Household income: $46,054
• Rent vs Own: 51.3% rent · 48.7% own
• Severe rent burden: 1980.0

Population outlook (Richland County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 459,667 people
• By 2030: 487,524 · +6.1%
• By 2040: 542,035 · +17.9%
• By 2050: 595,371 · +29.5%
• By 2075: 732,998 · +59.5%
• By 2100: 820,415 · +78.5%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly Black (80%)
• Race & ethnicity: Black 80% White 13% Hispanic / Latino 5% Two or more races 2%
• Common ancestry: Serbian 1%
• Foreign-born: 3% · Canada
• Languages at home: 93% English-only · Spanish 5%

Political lean MEDSL · Richland

• 2024 margin: Solid D (+34.6) · D 66.4% · R 31.8% · Other 1.8%
• 2008→2024 swing: +5.7pp toward D · 2008: 28.9pp · 2024: 34.6pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+34.6 2020: D+38.3 2016: D+32.9 2012: D+33.3 2008: D+28.9

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -77.52%
• Current HPI: 168.2114
• Rent YoY: ▲ 2.50%
• Metro: Columbia, SC
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 4.51%
• F500 in state: 2

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in SC)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Packaging	1	$7B

Price history

-81.7% since first listed

8 events — show timeline

• 2026-06-16 Listed $129,900 Consolidated MLS
• 2025-11-26 Price Changed $129,900 Consolidated MLS
• 2025-09-18 Listed $139,900 Consolidated MLS
• 2023-07-03 Sold (Public Records) $725,000 Public Records
• 2013-06-05 Sold (Public Records) $378,000 Public Records
• 2000-03-08 Sold (Public Records) $82,500 Public Records
• 2000-03-07 Sold (Public Records) $13,000 Public Records
• 1997-04-11 Sold (Public Records) $708,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+6.7%/yr

Latest (2025): $3,642 · +2.5% YoY. Source: county tax records.