289 Meskinnish St

Bluefield, WV 24701

$62,000B

4 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,434 sqft · Built 1931 · SingleFamily · Active · 92 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,249/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$325
• Tax + insurance: −$103
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$262
• Net cashflow: $558/mo
• Annual: $6,696/yr
• Cap rate: 17.09%
• Cash-on-cash: 38.57%
• DSCR: 2.72
• 1% rule: 2.01%
• Cash to close: $17,360

Investor read

• This is a 4-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $62k. Condition is rated poor.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $558 ($7k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $62k).
• It's been on market 92 days — a 9% lower offer ($56k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $56k (9.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $3k of equity ($429 loan paydown + $2k appreciation (3.4% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 56/100 on livability (#265 in WV) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: crime D+, schools F, amenities F.
• Mercer County Schools (town): math 26% / reading 37% proficiency, ranked #28 of 55 in WV (top 51%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Watch-outs: built in 1931 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 52 active listings in the ZIP; 4 units permitted in Mercer County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Mercer County population projected at -18% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• At projected returns (3.4% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $17k cash investment doubles in ~2 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Climate carrying-cost: moderate wildfire risk — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 17.1% vs local median 5.2% in Bluefield — 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.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 92 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 9% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Have any recent inspections been done? Can we get a copy of the seller's disclosures and any deferred-maintenance estimates?
• Built in 1931 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• 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 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 D 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?
• 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.

Repairs flagged (vision-AI assessment)

• Major: Structures — Structures are in poor condition and need significant repair
• Major: Roof — Structures have visible damage and debris
• Major: HVAC/mechanicals — Structures appear uninhabitable