204 Elm Ave · Birmingham, AL 35214

$129,900

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 3,546 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 18 Days on market

Built 1955 6,098 sqft lot Est $191k · 32% under

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Why this score? — see what drove the B- 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 +26.5/30.0
• ARV discount +15.0/15.0
• DSCR +9.1/10.0
• 1% rule +6.3/10.0
• Livability +3.4/5.0
• Rent growth +2.7/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +0.9/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Beautifully renovated spacious 6 bedroom, 3 bath home. This home has it all; from lovely re-finished hard wood floors, to fully finished basement den. One year home warranty included!!!!!!

Key facts

• 6,098 sq ft lot
• Garage
• Built 1955

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 $345 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $130k).
• Recommended offer: $128k (1.5% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Cap rate 9.5% vs local median 6.2% in Birmingham — 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 67/100 on livability (#78 in AL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities C-, crime F, employment F.
• Birmingham City (urban): math 4% / reading 20% proficiency, ranked #116 of 129 in AL (top 90%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 82% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: South Hampton K8 (math 4% / reading 22%, grade F, #532 of 627 statewide, top 85%, 513 students, 86% FRL) — zoned schools at 86% FRL track the district average.
• Market conditions: Rents flat; 116 active listings in the ZIP; 2,114 units permitted in Jefferson County in 2024 (556 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 31% of the median local income ($56k/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.
• Jefferson County population projected to shrink 4% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 18 days — a 2% lower offer ($128k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 4 sale attempts since 15y 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.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1955 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 27% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→19/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $127,951 (1.5% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. Built in 1955 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
2. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
3. 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?
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: 1.13% ✓
• Cap rate: 9.48%
• Cash-on-cash: 11.37%
• DSCR: 1.51
• GRM: 7.4

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $191,484
• Comps found: 1

Show comp detail 1 sale within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
325 Miles Ave	0.17mi	4/3.0 (+1)	3,328 (-6%)	14mo	$179,500	$54	61

Match score weights: distance 35% · size 25% · config 20% · recency 20%. Top-matched comps best support the ARV.

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 0.74% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -1.8%
• Equity multiple: 0.93×
• Total profit: $-2,382
• Equity at exit: $19,369

10-year hold

• IRR: 5.5%
• Equity multiple: 1.37×
• Total profit: $13,312
• 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 Alabama: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+15
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

Right-to-evict in 7 days for non-payment; no rent control; preempted statewide; courts move quickly.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 35214

• Home prices YoY: -20.0%
• Rents YoY: 0.7%
• Active inventory: 116
• Price-to-rent: 7.4×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,462 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$681
• Tax from tax record: −$75 /mo · $899/yr
• Insurance: −$54
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$307
• Net cashflow: $345

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,026

Max offer price $129,900

Occupancy floor 71%

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: —

Listing history 9 events

1. 2023-02-27
   soldstatus $123,500
2. 2023-02-02
   status Pending
3. 2023-01-25
   status Active
4. 2023-01-21
   historical Contingent
5. 2023-01-14
   listed $129,900 Active
6. 2013-07-01
   soldstatus $42,000 188-char remark

   Show marketing remark (188 chars)

   Beautifully renovated spacious 6 bedroom, 3 bath home. This home has it all; from lovely re-finished hard wood floors, to fully finished basement den. One year home warranty included!!!!!!

7. 2012-11-30
   listed $54,900 188-char remark

   Show marketing remark (188 chars)

   Beautifully renovated spacious 6 bedroom, 3 bath home. This home has it all; from lovely re-finished hard wood floors, to fully finished basement den. One year home warranty included!!!!!!

8. 2012-10-30
   soldstatus $25,000 206-char remark

   Show marketing remark (206 chars)

   3 Bedroom, 1 Bath home on nice sized lot. Living/Dining Combination with beamed ceilings. One car basement level garage. Spacious Bedrooms. Great Potential! Property is being sold subject to 24 CFR 206.125.

9. 2011-08-15
   listed $25,000 206-char remark

   Show marketing remark (206 chars)

   3 Bedroom, 1 Bath home on nice sized lot. Living/Dining Combination with beamed ceilings. One car basement level garage. Spacious Bedrooms. Great Potential! Property is being sold subject to 24 CFR 206.125.

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

Tax reassessment forecast AL · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $899 · $75/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $899 · $75/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 4/10 Moderate
• 🌡 Heat 6/10 Major 7 d/yr ≥106°F today · 19 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 6/10 Major 27% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 4/10 Moderate 5 unhealthy d/yr today · 5 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $17,543
• − Mortgage interest: −$7,276
• − Property taxes: −$899
• − Insurance: −$650
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,403
• − Management: −$1,403
• − Depreciation: −$3,779
• Taxable income: $2,132
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$512
• After-tax cash flow: $3,624/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: Birmingham City
• NCES district ID: 0100390
• Math proficiency: 4% ▼ -17.00%
• Reading proficiency: 20% ▼ -4.00%
• Median HH income: $31,988
• Composite: 9.49/100
• National rank: #9850
• State rank: #116 of 129 in AL

Livability — Birmingham

• Score: 67/100
• State rank: #78
• US rank: #10412

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Birmingham, AL
• County: Jefferson County · 527,445 people
• City population: 210,422
• Metro: Birmingham-Hoover, AL
• Population (ZIP): 17,027
• Household income: $56,383
• Rent vs Own: 35.4% rent · 64.6% own
• Severe rent burden: 578.0

Population outlook (Jefferson County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 669,185 people
• By 2030: 669,694 · +0.1%
• By 2040: 661,388 · -1.2%
• By 2050: 643,086 · -3.9%
• By 2075: 577,267 · -13.7%
• By 2100: 474,758 · -29.1%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly Black (77%)
• Race & ethnicity: Black 77% White 18% Two or more races 2%
• Foreign-born: 1% · Canada
• Languages at home: 98% English-only · Spanish 2%

Political lean MEDSL · Jefferson

• 2024 margin: D (+10.4) · D 54.6% · R 44.2% · Other 1.2%
• 2008→2024 swing: +5.4pp toward D · 2008: 5.1pp · 2024: 10.4pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+10.4 2020: D+13.2 2016: D+7.2 2012: D+6.0 2008: D+5.1

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -54.48%
• Current HPI: 218.5233
• Rent YoY: ▲ 0.74%
• Metro: Birmingham-Hoover, AL
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.94%
• F500 in state: 4

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in AL)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Financial Services	1	$8B
▸Healthcare	1	$5B

Price history

+394.0% since first listed

9 events — show timeline

• 2023-02-27 Sold (Public Records) $123,500 Public Records
• 2023-02-02 Pending — Greater Alabama MLS
• 2023-01-25 Relisted — Greater Alabama MLS
• 2023-01-21 Contingent — Greater Alabama MLS
• 2023-01-14 Listed $129,900 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2013-07-01 Sold (MLS) $42,000 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2012-11-30 Listed $54,900 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2012-10-30 Sold (MLS) $25,000 Greater Alabama MLS
• 2011-08-15 Listed $25,000 Greater Alabama MLS

Property tax history

-3.9%/yr

Latest (2025): $899 · +0.0% YoY. Source: county tax records.