5959 Alan Dr #56

Brighton, MI 48116

$85,000B+

2 bd · 1.5 ba · 1,250 sqft · Built 1968 · Condo · Active · 156 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,795/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$446
• Tax + insurance: −$142
• HOA: −$772
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$587
• Net cashflow: $849/mo
• Annual: $10,182/yr
• Cap rate: 18.27%
• Cash-on-cash: 42.78%
• DSCR: 2.90
• 1% rule: 3.29%
• Cash to close: $23,800

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.5-bath condo listed at $85k. Condition is rated good.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $849 ($10k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($3k rent vs $85k).
• It's been on market 156 days — a 12% lower offer ($75k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $75k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $588 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $3k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 78/100 on livability (#108 in MI, #2,621 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: amenities F, commute F.
• Brighton Area Schools (suburban): math 59% / reading 69% proficiency, ranked #22 of 540 in MI (top 4%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease; only 10% free/reduced lunch — higher-income household profile.
• Zoned schools: Spencer Road Elementary School (math 72% / reading 72%, grade A-, #51 of 1,397 statewide, top 5%, 510 students, 14% FRL); Scranton Middle School (math 56% / reading 71%, grade B+, #42 of 493 statewide, top 8%, 828 students, 16% FRL); Brighton High School (math 54% / reading 75%, grade B-, #46 of 713 statewide, top 7%, 1,961 students, 13% FRL) — zoned schools at 14% FRL track the district average.
• Watch-outs: HOA is 28% of rent.
• Market conditions: 181 active listings in the ZIP; 2 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; solid renter incomes; 488 units permitted in Livingston County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Livingston County population projected at +7% by 2050 — modest demand growth; plan on rents tracking national, not racing it.
• 8 sale attempts since 31y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $10k (10%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $51k; list at $85k implies a 66% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $24k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 18.3% vs local median 3.4% in Brighton — 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.
• This rent runs 31% of the median local income ($107k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 156 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1968 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• What does the HOA fee cover, when was the last increase, and are there any pending special assessments or reserve-fund shortfalls?
• 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?
• 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.