218 E Hillcrest Ave · New Castle, PA 16105

$138,900

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,536 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 6 Days on market

Built 1910 5,227 sqft lot Est $174k · 20% under

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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 +25.0/30.0
• ARV discount +15.0/15.0
• DSCR +8.1/10.0
• 1% rule +6.6/10.0
• Livability +4.1/5.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +1.1/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

This well-appointed North Hill home, boasts 3 bedrooms and is conveniently located near shopping, schools, & restaurants. Built in the early 1900's, the home boasts deep rich oak trim throughout, a gas fireplace in the living room, hardwood flooring, and built-in cupboards in the dining area and kitchen. The ceiling height is approx. 9' and there are 5 ceiling fans throughout. The grand entry measures 13' x 11' and a solid oak staircase leads to the upper level bedrooms. The home is over 1500 SF. A Rheem high efficiency - gas forced air furnace heats the home. Owner is also furnishing two window air conditioners for summer cooling. An upgraded 200 amp electrical service provides ample residential power. The home has Pella Replacement windows throughout . All kitchen appliances go, as does a freezer chest, dehumidifier & washer/dryer in the basement. Front porch measures 7' x 23' and a large 14' x 18' converted garage makes for perfect storage and garden shed.

Key facts

• Covered front porch
• Gambrel roof
• Original trim

Tags

• GAMBREL ROOF
• COVERED FRONT PORCH
• DECORATIVE COLUMNS
• HARDWOOD FLOORS
• MAHOGANY STAIRCASE
• ORIGINAL TRIM

Property features AI

Exterior

• Parking: Off-street parking for 2 vehicles
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer
• Home design: Two-story resale home
• Construction: Asphalt roof
• Exterior features: Aluminum siding; Lot dimensions approximately 40 x 127

Interior

• Kitchen: Kitchen on main level (approx. 13x12); Dishwasher; Microwave; Refrigerator; Stove
• Bedrooms: Upper-level bedrooms: 3 total (examples include 11x10 and 15x10)
• Flooring: Hardwood; Vinyl; Carpet
• Bathrooms: One full bathroom
• Heating & cooling: Gas forced-air heating; Wall/window cooling units
• Interior features: Pantry; Multi-pane windows with screens; Full basement with interior entry; Gas fireplace (one)
• Laundry & utility: Washer and Dryer; Laundry room in basement

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $139k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $302 ($4k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $139k).

Location & tenants

• Location reads 82/100 on livability (#137 in PA, #1,120 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: crime A+, commute A+, cost of living A+; Watch: amenities F, employment F.
• New Castle Area SD (town): math 9% / reading 19% proficiency, ranked #519 of 539 in PA (top 96%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 66% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: 105 active listings in the ZIP; 51 units permitted in Lawrence County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $960 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Lawrence County population projected at -25% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.

Negotiation context

• Only 6 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• 3 sale attempts since 10y 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 $56k; list at $139k implies a 146% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1910 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $138,900

Questions for the listing agent

1. Built in 1910 — 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. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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: 1.16% ✓
• Cap rate: 8.90%
• Cash-on-cash: 9.31%
• DSCR: 1.41
• GRM: 7.2

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $173,568
• Comps found: 12

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
116 E Euclid Ave	0.34mi	3/1.0	1,481 (-4%)	1mo	$167,500	$113	77
232 E Meyer Ave	0.23mi	3/2.0	1,598 (+4%)	2mo	$205,000	$128	77
313 Norwood Ave	0.17mi	3/1.0	1,344 (-12%)	2mo	$147,000	$109	69
106 W Elizabeth St	0.45mi	3/1.0	1,440 (-6%)	1mo	$235,000	$163	68
212 E Garfield Ave	0.45mi	3/1.5	1,450 (-6%)	0mo	$103,200	$71	67
2303 Delaware Ave	0.44mi	4/2.0 (+1)	1,504 (-2%)	2mo	$216,000	$144	66
407 E Fairfield Ave	0.52mi	3/1.5	1,447 (-6%)	3mo	$180,000	$124	61
142 E Garfield Ave	0.45mi	3/1.0	1,359 (-12%)	3mo	$150,000	$110	57
414 E Edgewood Ave	0.40mi	4/1.5 (+1)	1,706 (+11%)	0mo	$125,000	$73	55
212 E Meyer Ave	0.22mi	2/2.5 (-1)	1,316 (-14%)	0mo	$138,000	$105	55
210 E Garfield Ave	0.45mi	4/1.5 (+1)	1,722 (+12%)	1mo	$195,000	$113	51
216 W Northview Ave	0.62mi	3/2.0	1,760 (+15%)	0mo	$239,000	$136	43

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 · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -2.2%
• Equity multiple: 0.92×
• Total profit: $-3,264
• Equity at exit: $20,710

10-year hold

• IRR: 7.5%
• Equity multiple: 1.57×
• Total profit: $22,028
• Equity at exit: $12,010

Cash invested: $38,892 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 62 Landlord-Friendly
• State Pennsylvania: 62 Landlord-Friendly · EVEN
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

10-day notice; Philadelphia has eviction-court diversion + some protections; otherwise moderate.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 16105

• Home prices YoY: -26.5%
• Active inventory: 105
• Price-to-rent: 7.2×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,614 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$728
• Tax from tax record: −$187 /mo · $2,248/yr
• Insurance: −$58
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$339
• Net cashflow: $302

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,232

Max offer price $138,900

Occupancy floor 76%

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: $34,725
• Closing costs: $4,167
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Listing history 7 events

1. 2026-06-19
   days on market $138,900 Active 6 DOM
2. 2026-06-18
   days on market $138,900 Active 5 DOM
3. 2026-06-17
   days on market $138,900 Active 4 DOM
4. 2026-06-16
   days on market $138,900 Active 3 DOM
5. 2026-06-15
   days on market $138,900 Active 2 DOM
6. 2026-06-14
   remarks 699-char remark
7. 2026-06-14
   listed $138,900 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 PA · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $2,248 · $187/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,248 · $187/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 1/10 Low
• 🌡 Heat 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥96°F today · 17 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 1/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 3 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $19,371
• − Mortgage interest: −$7,781
• − Property taxes: −$2,248
• − Insurance: −$694
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,550
• − Management: −$1,550
• − Depreciation: −$4,041
• Taxable income: $1,508
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$362
• After-tax cash flow: $3,258/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: New Castle Area SD
• NCES district ID: 4216620
• Math proficiency: 9% ▼ -13.00%
• Reading proficiency: 19% ▼ -23.00%
• Median HH income: $30,967
• Composite: 11.08/100
• National rank: #9736
• State rank: #519 of 539 in PA

Livability — New Castle

• Score: 82/100
• State rank: #137
• US rank: #1120

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: New Castle, PA
• City population: 30,767
• Population (ZIP): 15,195

Population outlook (Lawrence County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 81,781 people
• By 2030: 77,978 · -4.7%
• By 2040: 69,522 · -15.0%
• By 2050: 61,344 · -25.0%
• By 2075: 45,027 · -44.9%
• By 2100: 31,305 · -61.7%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (93%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 93% Black 3% Hispanic / Latino 2% Two or more races 1%
• Common ancestry: Romanian 9% Serbian 3% Lithuanian 3%
• Foreign-born: 2% · Canada
• Languages at home: 96% English-only · Other Indo-European 1% Spanish 1% German/W. Germanic 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Lawrence

• 2024 margin: Solid R (+33.8) · D 32.8% · R 66.5%
• 2008→2024 swing: -28.7pp toward R · 2008: -5.1pp · 2024: -33.8pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+33.8 2020: R+29.6 2016: R+28.1 2012: R+9.0 2008: R+5.1

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -62.26%
• Current HPI: 173.0332
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: —
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.68%
• F500 in state: 34

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in PA)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Healthcare	2	$309B
▸Insurance	2	$27B
▸Telecommunications / Media	1	$124B
▸Industrial Distribution	1	$22B
▸Financial Services	1	$20B
▸Chemicals / Materials	1	$18B

Price history

+296.9% since first listed

17 events — show timeline

• 2026-06-12 Listed $138,900 West Penn MLS
• 2020-06-24 Sold (Public Records) $56,500 Public Records
• 2020-06-22 Sold (MLS) $56,500 West Penn MLS
• 2020-06-11 Pending — West Penn MLS
• 2020-05-31 Contingent — West Penn MLS
• 2020-04-30 Listed $65,000 West Penn MLS
• 2017-07-17 Sold (Public Records) $64,500 Public Records
• 2017-07-17 Sold (Public Records) $64,500 Public Records
• 2017-07-17 Sold (MLS) $64,500 West Penn MLS
• 2017-07-11 Pending — West Penn MLS
• 2017-07-03 Contingent — West Penn MLS
• 2017-05-05 Price Changed $68,500 West Penn MLS
• 2016-09-12 Price Changed $69,900 West Penn MLS
• 2016-09-02 Price Changed $72,900 West Penn MLS
• 2016-07-09 Listed $74,900 West Penn MLS
• 2003-12-19 Sold (Public Records) $68,000 Public Records
• 2003-10-15 Sold (Public Records) $35,000 Public Records

Property tax history

+1.3%/yr

Latest (2026): $2,248 · +2.0% YoY. Source: county tax records.