18291 Platinum Dr · Lowell, IN 46356

$245,000

2 bd · 2.5 ba · 1,680 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 54 Days on market

Built 2014 2,736 sqft lot $146/sqft · 26% below area Est $331k · 26% under $115/mo HOA · 6% of rent

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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
• Cash flow +7.7/30.0
• Schools +4.5/10.0
• Livability +3.8/5.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• 1% rule +2.3/10.0
• DSCR +1.8/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Maintenance free living at its best!! Beautifully kept and cared for 3bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome in Lowell's hottest area! Nice corner lot and all the privacy you need with no neighbors in the back. Kitchen features tile back splash, extended breakfast bar & stainless steel appliances. Patio area off of the dining room. Hardwood flooring in the foyer, kitchen & dining room. Main level has been freshly painted and new carpet installed. Ceiling fans in living room and all 3 bedrooms. Over sized master bedroom has attached bath with double bowl sinks & large walk-in closet. Close to shopping and expressway! Don't let this one get away!!

Key facts

• Natural light
• Open layout
• Ample cabinet space

Tags

• OPEN LAYOUT
• AMPLE CABINET SPACE
• NATURAL LIGHT
• LOW MAINTENANCE LIVING

Property features AI

Finance

• HOA & community: Homeowners association managed by 1st American Management; Monthly HOA fee of $115; HOA covers landscaping, snow removal, and grounds maintenance

Exterior

• Parking: 2-car garage
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer
• Home design: Attached property; Two stories; Built in 2014
• Construction: Built in 2014
• Exterior features: Neighborhood view

Interior

• Kitchen: Gas range; Dishwasher; Refrigerator; Pantry
• Bedrooms: Primary bedroom; Bedroom 2; Bedroom 3
• Bathrooms: 1 full bathroom; 1 half bathroom
• Heating & cooling: Central air conditioning; Natural gas heating
• Interior features: Entrance foyer; Walk-in closets; Pantry; Open floorplan; High ceilings
• Laundry & utility: Washer; Dryer

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 2-bed/2.5-bath single-family listed at $245k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-281 ($-3k/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $195k (20.2% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $178k (27.5% below list).
• Recommended offer: $178k (27.5% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• Cap rate 4.9% vs local median 3.8% in Lowell — meaningfully above typical; check what's discounted (condition, days-on-market, listing class) to confirm the premium yield is real.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 76/100 on livability (#51 in IN, #3,455 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: crime A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: health & safety C-, amenities F, commute F.
• Tri-Creek School Corporation (town): math 46% / reading 56% proficiency, ranked #39 of 301 in IN (top 13%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Three Creeks Elem School (math 55% / reading 48%, grade C-, #256 of 994 statewide, top 26%, 515 students, 30% FRL); Lowell Middle School (math 36% / reading 54%, grade D, #81 of 330 statewide, top 25%, 742 students, 33% FRL); Lowell Senior High School (math 31% / reading 75%, grade C-, #99 of 369 statewide, top 27%, 1,033 students, 29% FRL).
• Market conditions: 353 active listings in the ZIP; 1,642 units permitted in Lake County in 2024 (14 in 5+ unit buildings).

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $2k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $7k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Lake County population projected to shrink 7% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 54 days — a 3% lower offer ($238k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 3 sale attempts since 12y 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 $167k; 47% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.

Recommended offer $177,741 (27.5% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. 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?
2. It's been on market 54 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 27% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
3. What does the HOA fee cover, when was the last increase, and are there any pending special assessments or reserve-fund shortfalls?
4. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
5. 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?
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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: 0.73% ✗
• Cap rate: 4.92%
• Cash-on-cash: -4.91%
• DSCR: 0.78
• GRM: 11.5

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $331,378
• List price: $245,000
• Delta: -26.07%
• Verdict: UNDERPRICED
• Comps: 20 within 1.0 mi

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
4839 Richard Dr	0.25mi	3/2.0 (+1)	1,725 (+3%)	1mo	$457,500	$265	76
18349 Kaiti Dr	0.21mi	3/2.0 (+1)	1,618 (-4%)	2mo	$361,000	$223	76
18345 Judith Way	0.23mi	3/2.0 (+1)	1,620 (-4%)	2mo	$493,300	$305	74
4817 Richard Dr	0.15mi	3/2.5 (+1)	1,795 (+7%)	8mo	$425,100	$237	70
4905 Stephen Ln	0.25mi	3/2.5 (+1)	1,795 (+7%)	5mo	$389,300	$217	68
4907 Richard Dr	0.21mi	3/2.5 (+1)	1,795 (+7%)	7mo	$400,470	$223	68
4863 Richard Dr	0.27mi	3/2.0 (+1)	1,864 (+11%)	1mo	$516,665	$277	61
1634 Northwood Dr	0.48mi	3/2.0 (+1)	1,552 (-8%)	5mo	$310,000	$200	54
2305 Hillcrest Ln	0.69mi	3/2.0 (+1)	1,757 (+5%)	6mo	$370,000	$211	48
18505 Clark Rd	0.46mi	3/2.0 (+1)	1,872 (+11%)	7mo	$395,000	$211	47
1328 Hilltop Dr	0.48mi	3/1.5 (+1)	1,912 (+14%)	1mo	$269,900	$141	45
1507 Harrison St	0.66mi	3/1.5 (+1)	1,452 (-14%)	7mo	$287,000	$198	32

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: -24.6%
• Equity multiple: 0.16×
• Total profit: $-57,554
• Equity at exit: $36,530

10-year hold

• IRR: -20.2%
• Equity multiple: -0.06×
• Total profit: $-73,045
• Equity at exit: $21,183

Cash invested: $68,600 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Indiana: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+11
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

10-day pay-or-quit; landlord-favorable; preempted.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 46356

• Home prices YoY: -30.1%
• Active inventory: 353
• Price-to-rent: 11.5×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,777 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,285
• Tax from tax record: −$183 /mo · $2,195/yr
• Insurance: −$102
• HOA: −$115
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$373
• Net cashflow: $-281

Break-even live

Break-even rent $2,133

Max offer price $195,421

Occupancy floor —

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $-142	-5% $-211	+0% $-281	+5% $-350	+10% $-419
Rent	-10% $-421	-5% $-351	+0% $-281	+5% $-210	+10% $-140
Rate	-1.0pp $-157	-0.5pp $-218	base $-281	+0.5pp $-344	+1.0pp $-409

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: $61,250
• Closing costs: $7,350
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

HOA detail

• Monthly dues: $115 · $1,380/yr

Listing history 16 events

1. 2026-06-15
   statusdays on market $245,000 Pending 54 DOM
2. 2026-06-13
   days on market $245,000 Active 53 DOM
3. 2026-06-10
   price $245,000 Active 49 DOM
4. 2026-06-09
   days on market $249,000 Active 49 DOM
5. 2026-06-08
   days on market $249,000 Active 48 DOM
6. 2026-06-07
   days on market $249,000 Active 47 DOM
7. 2026-06-04
   days on market $249,000 Active 44 DOM
8. 2026-06-03
   days on market $249,000 Active 43 DOM
9. 2026-06-02
   days on market $249,000 Active 42 DOM
10. 2026-06-01
    days on market $249,000 Active 41 DOM
11. 2026-05-31
    days on market $249,000 Active 40 DOM
12. 2026-04-21
    listed $250,000 Active 921-char remark
13. 2018-08-27
    soldstatus $167,000 660-char remark

    Show marketing remark (660 chars)

    Maintenance free living at its best!! Beautifully kept and cared for 3bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome in Lowell's hottest area! Nice corner lot and all the privacy you need with no neighbors in the back. Kitchen features tile back splash, extended breakfast bar & stainless steel appliances. Patio area off of the dining room. Hardwood flooring in the foyer, kitchen & dining room. Main level has been freshly painted and new carpet installed. Ceiling fans in living room and all 3 bedrooms. Over sized master bedroom has attached bath with double bowl sinks & large walk-in closet. Close to shopping and expressway! Don't let this one get away!!

14. 2018-07-10
    listed $166,900 660-char remark

    Show marketing remark (660 chars)

    Maintenance free living at its best!! Beautifully kept and cared for 3bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome in Lowell's hottest area! Nice corner lot and all the privacy you need with no neighbors in the back. Kitchen features tile back splash, extended breakfast bar & stainless steel appliances. Patio area off of the dining room. Hardwood flooring in the foyer, kitchen & dining room. Main level has been freshly painted and new carpet installed. Ceiling fans in living room and all 3 bedrooms. Over sized master bedroom has attached bath with double bowl sinks & large walk-in closet. Close to shopping and expressway! Don't let this one get away!!

15. 2014-02-20
    soldstatus $132,895

    Show marketing remark (586 chars)

    100% USDA FINANCING AVAILABLE!! Providence Townes of Lowell presents the Bayport! Maintenance free townhome living. Conveniently located just minutes from I-65, shopping, dining and Downtown Lowell. Main level features spacious kitchen and an abundance of cabinets. Upper level includes a loft, over-sized master bedroom with walk-in closet, and second floor laundry for convenience. Exterior features include attached garage, and professional landscaping package. You will have piece of mind knowing you are purchasing a quality constructed home by Providence Real Estate Development!!

16. 2014-02-08
    listed $132,895

    Show marketing remark (586 chars)

    100% USDA FINANCING AVAILABLE!! Providence Townes of Lowell presents the Bayport! Maintenance free townhome living. Conveniently located just minutes from I-65, shopping, dining and Downtown Lowell. Main level features spacious kitchen and an abundance of cabinets. Upper level includes a loft, over-sized master bedroom with walk-in closet, and second floor laundry for convenience. Exterior features include attached garage, and professional landscaping package. You will have piece of mind knowing you are purchasing a quality constructed home by Providence Real Estate Development!!

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

Tax reassessment forecast IN · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $2,195 · $183/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,195 · $183/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 ≥101°F today · 16 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low 0% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $21,329
• − Mortgage interest: −$13,724
• − Property taxes: −$2,195
• − Insurance: −$1,225
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,706
• − Management: −$1,706
• − HOA: −$1,380
• − Depreciation: −$7,127
• Taxable loss: −$7,735
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$1,856
• After-tax cash flow: $-1,511/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: Tri-Creek School Corporation
• NCES district ID: 1811460
• Math proficiency: 46% ▼ -8.00%
• Reading proficiency: 56% ▼ -5.00%
• Median HH income: $64,614
• Composite: 44.97/100
• National rank: #2704
• State rank: #39 of 301 in IN

Livability — Lowell

• Score: 76/100
• State rank: #51
• US rank: #3455

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Lowell, IN
• City population: 19,396
• Population (ZIP): 19,396

Population outlook (Lake County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 484,026 people
• By 2030: 478,091 · -1.2%
• By 2040: 462,974 · -4.3%
• By 2050: 449,894 · -7.1%
• By 2075: 436,169 · -9.9%
• By 2100: 426,607 · -11.9%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (88%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 88% Hispanic / Latino 9% Two or more races 6%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 8%
• Common ancestry: Romanian 16% Iranian 10% Lithuanian 2%
• Foreign-born: 4% · Canada
• Languages at home: 95% English-only · Spanish 4% Russian/Polish/Slavic 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Lake

• 2024 margin: Lean D (+5.6) · D 52.1% · R 46.5% · Other 1.5%
• 2008→2024 swing: -28.6pp toward R · 2008: 34.3pp · 2024: 5.6pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+5.6 2020: D+15.1 2016: D+20.6 2012: D+31.0 2008: D+34.3

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -110.73%
• Current HPI: 256.6224
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: —
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.90%
• F500 in state: 18

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in IN)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Industrial Machinery	2	$37B
▸Healthcare	1	$177B
▸Pharmaceuticals	1	$45B
▸Metals / Steel	1	$18B
▸Agriculture	1	$17B
▸Packaging	1	$12B

Price history

+84.4% since first listed

8 events — show timeline

• 2026-06-14 Pending — NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2026-06-09 Price Changed $245,000 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2026-05-26 Price Changed $249,000 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2026-04-21 Listed $250,000 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2018-08-27 Sold (MLS) $167,000 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2018-07-10 Listed $166,900 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2014-02-20 Sold (MLS) $132,895 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2014-02-08 Listed $132,895 NIRA MLS as Distributed by MLS Grid

Property tax history

+34.4%/yr

Latest (2024): $2,195 · +1.8% YoY. Source: county tax records.