1454 Aber Ave · Iowa City, IA
Flood risk 1/10 · Minimal
- FEMA flood zone
- X (unshaded)
- Chance of flooding over 30 yrs
- 0.0%
- Est. flood insurance / yr
- $473 – $860
Fire risk 3/10 · Minor
- Est. fire insurance / yr
- $902 – $1,676
Heat risk 3/10 · Minor
- Hot days now (above 106°F)
- 7 days/yr
- Hot days in 30 yrs
- 16 days/yr
Wind risk 2/10 · Minimal
- Chance of severe wind over 30 yrs
- —
Air-quality risk 2/10 · Minimal
- Unhealthy air days now
- 1 days/yr
- Unhealthy air days in 30 yrs
- 2 days/yr
Risk factors via First Street. Map © Google.
Why this score? — see what drove the D- 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).
- ARV discount +15.0/15.0
- Schools +5.7/10.0
- Cash flow +5.3/30.0
- Livability +4.3/5.0
- Rent growth +3.7/5.0
- Condition / age +2.5/5.0
- 1% rule +0.9/10.0
- DSCR +0.0/10.0
- Appreciation +0.0/10.0
$204,900
🖨 Deal sheet (PDF) 📄 Offer letter ✓ Due diligence
Listing remarks MLS
This 3 bed 2 bath zero-lot in Iowa City has functionality and location. Close enough to I-380 for easy commuting and plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. Inside is 1300+ sq ft of living space with an open floor plan between the kitchen, great room, and dining room with a small deck out back. 2 bedrooms and 1 bath on the main level with a rec room, 1 bedroom, and bathroom in the lower level. Great opportunity for a personal residence or an investment! * * * The property is legally a condominium but functions as a 2-unit divided property similar to a zero-lot. See attached condo docs. * * *
Key facts
- Easy commuting
- Open floor plan
- Small deck
Tags
Neighborhood map
What this means for you Summary
Snapshot
- This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath condo listed at $205k.
Deal economics
- At list price, monthly cash flow is $-455 ($-5k/yr) — negative.
- To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $125k (39.2% below list).
- To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $122k (40.5% below list).
- Recommended offer: $122k (40.5% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
- Cap rate 3.6% vs local median 2.7% in Iowa City — 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 86/100 on livability (#13 in IA, #450 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: amenities A+, commute A+, cost of living A+.
- Iowa City Community School District (urban): math 65% / reading 70% proficiency, ranked #174 of 289 in IA (top 60%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
- Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+4.9%/yr); 207 active listings in the ZIP; 14 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 45d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 57% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 714 units permitted in Johnson County in 2024 (158 in 5+ unit buildings).
Forward outlook
- Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $6k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
- Johnson County population projected at +60% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
Negotiation context
- It's been on market 74 days — a 6% lower offer ($193k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
- 4 sale attempts since 9y 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 $150k; 37% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
Questions for the 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 74 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 41% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
- 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.
- Schools are A-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?
- 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.
- How much new apartment / multifamily construction is in the pipeline within 1–3 miles? Heavy new supply (>2% of stock underway) typically softens rents 12–24 months out; light construction supports rent growth.
Investment metrics
- 1% rule
- 0.59% ✗
- Cap rate
- 3.63%
- Cash-on-cash
- -9.51%
- DSCR
- 0.58
- GRM
- 14.0
CMA / ARV
- ARV (median comp)
- $312,354
- List price
- $204,900
- Delta
- -34.40%
- Verdict
- UNDERPRICED
- Comps
- 20 within 1.0 mi
Projected returns pro-forma
-3.0% appreciation · 4.94% rent growth · sell at horizon
- IRR
- -31.2%
- Equity multiple
- -0.04×
- Total profit
- $-59,706
- Equity at exit
- $30,551
- IRR
- -26.6%
- Equity multiple
- -0.37×
- Total profit
- $-78,834
- Equity at exit
- $17,716
Cash invested: $57,372 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.
Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology
- Overall (STATE)
- 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
- State Iowa
- 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+6
- County
- — inherits STATE
- City
- — inherits STATE
ZIP-level market 52246
- Rents YoY
- 4.9%
- Active inventory
- 207
- Price-to-rent
- 14.0×
Monthly cashflow live
- Estimated rent
- $1,219 high interval (Pro) →
- Mortgage (P&I)
- −$1,075
- Tax from tax record
- −$258 /mo · $3,090/yr
- Insurance
- −$85
- HOA
- −$0
- Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt
- −$256
- Net cashflow
- $-455
Break-even live
Sensitivity live
| Price | -10% $-339 | -5% $-397 | +0% $-455 | +5% $-513 | +10% $-570 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | -10% $-551 | -5% $-503 | +0% $-455 | +5% $-406 | +10% $-358 |
| Rate | -1.0pp $-351 | -0.5pp $-402 | base $-455 | +0.5pp $-508 | +1.0pp $-562 |
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
- $51,225
- Closing costs
- $6,147
- Reserves months
- —
- Total cash needed
- —
Loan-product check · same deal, 3 products live
Conventional
25% down · 7.5% · 30yr
- Down + closing
- —
- Monthly P&I
- —
- Monthly cashflow
- —
- DSCR
- —
- Eligible?
- —
Personal DTI + credit; lowest rate.
DSCR
20% down · 8.5% · 30yr
- Down + closing
- —
- Monthly P&I
- —
- Monthly cashflow
- —
- DSCR
- —
- Eligible?
- —
No personal income docs; deal must DSCR.
Hard money
10% down · 12.0% · 12mo
- Down + closing
- —
- Monthly P&I
- —
- Monthly cashflow
- —
- DSCR
- —
- Eligible?
- —
Short-term bridge; refi at stabilization.
Rent comps 14 comps
| Address | Beds | Baths | Sqft | Rent | $/sqft | DOM | Units | Dist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1447 Aber Ave Apt 4 Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 825 | $900 | $1.09 | 22d | 1 | 0.01mi |
| 740 1/2 Sunset St Unit 740 Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 768 | $1,050 | $1.37 | 44d | 1 | 0.56mi |
| 920 Benton Dr Unit 908-13 Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 767 | $845 | $1.10 | 44d | 1 | 0.63mi |
| 300 Grandview Ct #313 Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 628 | $1,300 | $2.07 | 22d | 1 | 0.71mi |
| 1014 Oakcrest St Unit 2 Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 900 | $1,050 | $1.17 | 44d | 1 | 0.73mi |
| 700 Carriage Hl Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 750 | $1,150 | $1.53 | 14d | 1 | 0.83mi |
| 707 Oakcrest St Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 750 | $1,125 | $1.50 | 44d | 1 | 0.95mi |
| 727 Michael St Unit 731-1 Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 795 | $875 | $1.10 | 44d | 1 | 0.97mi |
| 205 Woodside Dr Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1100 | $1,800 | $1.64 | 44d | 1 | 0.98mi |
| 1165 S Riverside Dr Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 500 | $1,375 | $2.75 | 14d | 6 | 1.06mi |
| 740 Westwinds Dr #6 Iowa City, IA | 2.0 | 1.0 | 900 | $1,125 | $1.25 | 44d | 1 | 1.07mi |
| 302 Finkbine Ln Iowa City, IA | 1.0–2.0 | 1.0 | 765 | $955 | $1.25 | 14d | 3 | 1.07mi |
| 629 S Riverside Dr Iowa City, IA | 2.0–3.0 | 2.0 | 1010 | $2,170 | $2.15 | 44d | 2 | 1.22mi |
| 629 S Riverside Dr Iowa City, IA | 2.0–3.0 | 2.0 | 1040 | $2,170 | $2.09 | 22d | 1 | 1.22mi |
HOA detail condo
- Monthly dues
- $0 · $0/yr
- Assessments
- None detected in remarks — confirm with the listing agent.
Listing history 23 events
-
2026-06-19days on market $204,900 Active 74 DOM
-
2026-06-18days on market $204,900 Active 73 DOM
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2026-06-17days on market $204,900 Active 72 DOM
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2026-06-16days on market $204,900 Active 71 DOM
-
2026-06-15days on market $204,900 Active 70 DOM
-
2026-06-14days on market $204,900 Active 68 DOM
-
2026-06-13days on market $204,900 Active 67 DOM
-
2026-06-10days on market $204,900 Active 65 DOM
-
2026-06-09days on market $204,900 Active 64 DOM
-
2026-06-08days on market $204,900 Active 63 DOM
-
2026-06-07days on market $204,900 Active 62 DOM
-
2026-06-05days on market $204,900 Active 59 DOM
-
2026-06-03days on market $204,900 Active 58 DOM
-
2026-06-02days on market $204,900 Active 57 DOM
-
2026-06-01days on market $204,900 Active 56 DOM
-
2026-05-31days on market $204,900 Active 55 DOM
-
2026-05-30days on market $204,900 Active 54 DOM
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2026-04-06$204,900 Active 604-char remark
Show marketing remark (603 chars)
This 3 bed 2 bath zero-lot in Iowa City has functionality and location. Close enough to I-380 for easy commuting and plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. Inside is 1300+ sq ft of living space with an open floor plan between the kitchen, great room, and dining room with a small deck out back. 2 bedrooms and 1 bath on the main level with a rec room, 1 bedroom, and bathroom in the lower level. Great opportunity for a personal residence or an investment! * * * The property is legally a condominium but functions as a 2-unit divided property similar to a zero-lot. See attached condo docs. * * *
-
2026-04-06$204,900 Active 603-char remark
Show marketing remark (603 chars)
This 3 bed 2 bath zero-lot in Iowa City has functionality and location. Close enough to I-380 for easy commuting and plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. Inside is 1300+ sq ft of living space with an open floor plan between the kitchen, great room, and dining room with a small deck out back. 2 bedrooms and 1 bath on the main level with a rec room, 1 bedroom, and bathroom in the lower level. Great opportunity for a personal residence or an investment! * * * The property is legally a condominium but functions as a 2-unit divided property similar to a zero-lot. See attached condo docs. * * *
-
2017-12-27soldstatus $150,000
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2017-12-27soldstatus $150,000
-
2017-11-28$150,000
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2017-11-28$150,000
ⓘ Source: listings_history table (triggers on properties + properties_extension) + one-shot
backfill from property_details.listing_events for pre-trigger history.
Tax reassessment forecast IA · Partial reset (capped growth)
- Current annual tax
- $3,090 · $258/mo
- Projected year-2 tax
- $3,153 · $263/mo
- Expected delta
- +$63/yr (+$5/mo · 2.1%)
ⓘ 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 3/10 Moderate
- Heat 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥106°F today · 16 d/yr by 30 yrs out
- Wind 2/10 Low
- Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out
Nearby sold comps map
Loading sold comps map…
Walkable amenities ~0.75 mi
Loading nearby amenities…
Taxation est. · year 1
- Rental income
- $14,626
- − Mortgage interest
- −$11,478
- − Property taxes
- −$3,090
- − Insurance
- −$1,024
- − Repairs & maintenance
- −$1,170
- − Management
- −$1,170
- − Depreciation
- −$5,961
- Taxable loss
- −$9,267
- Est. tax savings @ 24.0%
- +$2,224
- After-tax cash flow
- $-3,230/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
- Iowa City Community School District
- NCES district ID
- 1914700
- Math proficiency
- 65% ▼ -6.00%
- Reading proficiency
- 70% ▲ 2.00%
- Median HH income
- $50,229
- Composite
- 57.3/100
- National rank
- #1088
- State rank
- #174 of 289 in IA
Livability — Iowa City
- Score
- 86/100
- State rank
- #13
- US rank
- #450
Category grades
Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.
Census & demographics
- Census place
- Iowa City, IA
- County
- Johnson County · 132,710 people
- City population
- 80,235
- Metro
- Iowa City, IA
- Population (ZIP)
- 22,308
- Household income
- $62,521
- Rent vs Own
- Severe rent burden
- 1680.0
Population outlook (Johnson County) Hauer SSP2
- Today (2025)
- 180,405 people
- By 2030
- 200,014 · +10.9%
- By 2040
- 241,428 · +33.8%
- By 2050
- 288,144 · +59.7%
- By 2075
- 420,009 · +132.8%
- By 2100
- 546,596 · +203.0%
Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023
- Neighborhood character
- Predominantly White (65%)
- Race & ethnicity
- White 65% Black 12% Asian 11% Hispanic / Latino 8% Two or more races 8%
- Hispanic origin (detail)
- Mexican 5%
- Common ancestry
- Portuguese 4% Swedish 3% Slovak 2%
- Foreign-born
- 17% · China, Canada, South Korea
- Languages at home
- 73% English-only · Spanish 6% Arabic 5% Chinese 4%
Political lean MEDSL · Johnson
- 2024 margin
- Solid D (+38.1) · D 68.4% · R 30.3% · Other 1.3%
- 2008→2024 swing
- -3.4pp toward R · 2008: 41.5pp · 2024: 38.1pp
- All cycles
- 2024: D+38.1 2020: D+43.2 2016: D+38.3 2012: D+35.4 2008: D+41.5
Not yet ingested
- Civics
- —
Market trends
- HPI YoY
- ▼ -151.08%
- Current HPI
- 159.5713
- Rent YoY
- ▲ 4.94%
- Metro
- Iowa City, IA
- State GDP YoY
- ▲ 2.48%
- F500 in state
- 4
Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in IA)
| Industry | F500 HQs | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | 1 | $16B |
|
||
| Retail / Convenience | 1 | $15B |
|
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Price history
+36.6% since first listed6 events — show timeline
- 2026-04-06 Listed $204,900 ICAARMLS
- 2026-04-06 Listed $204,900 CRAAR, CDRMLS
- 2017-12-27 Sold (MLS) $150,000 ICAARMLS
- 2017-12-27 Sold (MLS) $150,000 CRAAR, CDRMLS
- 2017-11-28 Listed $150,000 ICAARMLS
- 2017-11-28 Listed $150,000 CRAAR, CDRMLS
Property tax history
+2.6%/yrLatest (2025): $3,090 · +1.3% YoY. Source: county tax records.
Cash-flow waterfall
monthlySold comps — $/sqft
last 12 mo · ≤1 miLoading sold comps…