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598 Van Houten Ave Fourplex
D- Composite 39.98
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).

  • Cash flow +13.3/30.0
  • ARV discount +7.5/15.0
  • DSCR +4.0/10.0
  • Livability +3.9/5.0
  • 1% rule +3.8/10.0
  • Schools +2.8/10.0
  • Rent growth +2.5/5.0
  • Condition / age +2.2/5.0
  • Appreciation +0.0/10.0

$999,000

598 Van Houten Ave · Clifton, NJ 07013
None bd · None ba · — sqft · MultiFamily · 27 Days on market
Fair condition

🖨 Deal sheet 📄 Offer letter ✓ Due diligence

Multi-family units

County records classify this as Multi-Family (2-4 Unit). Listing-text estimate: 4 units. confirmed

Listing remarks MLS

Mixed-use 4-unit investment property in Clifton's sought-after Athenia section. Three residential apartments plus one ground-floor commercial storefront generating $4,850/month gross income ($58,200 annually). All utilities are separately metered tenants pay their own gas and electric. Unit breakdown: 1st Fl Front (Commercial): Operating storefront/print shop with half bath. Suitable for retail, professional services, or owner-user occupancy. $1,150/month. 1st Fl Rear (Residential): 1BR, living room, eat-in kitchen, full bath. Electric baseboard heat, wall AC, electric cooking. $850/month. 2nd Fl Front (Residential): 1BR, living room, eat-in kitchen, full bath. Baseboard hot water heat, window AC. $1,150/month. 2nd Fl Rear (Residential): 2BR plus loft, living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, 2 full baths, in-unit washer/dryer. Baseboard hot water heat, wall AC. $1,700/month. Three units have individual gas hot water furnaces; 1st floor rear is all-electric. Roof replaced 2015. Located on Van Houten Avenue with shops, restaurants, and transit nearby. Quick access to Route 3, Route 46, Garden State Parkway, and NJ Transit bus and rail service. Approximately 15 miles to Manhattan.

Key facts

  • In-unit washer dryer
  • Roof replaced
  • Listed 27 days

Tags

MIXED-USE INVESTMENT PROPERTYSEPARATELY METERED UTILITIESIN-UNIT WASHER DRYERROOF REPLACED

Property features AI

Exterior

  • Home design: Residential Income property; Mixed Use
  • Exterior features: Asphalt roof

Interior

  • Interior features: Mixed-use residential income property (combines living and commercial space)

Neighborhood map

Property Rental comp Retail Transit Schools Stadiums Fortune 500 · Circle radius: 3.0 mi
Loading POIs…

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

  • This is a 4 × 1-bed/1-bath units multifamily listed at $999k. Condition is rated fair.

Deal economics

  • At list price, monthly cash flow is $2 ($28/yr) — positive. Per door: $1/mo.
  • The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
  • To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $874k (12.5% below list).
  • Recommended offer: $874k (12.5% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
  • Cap rate 6.3% vs local median 2.7% in Clifton — 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 77/100 on livability (#110 in NJ, #2,833 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: commute A+, employment A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities C-, cost of living F.
  • Clifton Public School District (suburban): math 21% / reading 40% proficiency, ranked #332 of 472 in NJ (top 70%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
  • Market conditions: 37 active listings in the ZIP; 40 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 22d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 860 units permitted in Passaic County in 2024 (614 in 5+ unit buildings).

Forward outlook

  • Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $7k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $30k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
  • Passaic County population projected at +5% by 2050 — modest demand growth; plan on rents tracking national, not racing it.

Negotiation context

  • It's been on market 27 days — a 2% lower offer ($984k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
Recommended offer $874,200 (12.5% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

  1. Can we see the unit-by-unit rent roll, current vacancy, and any below-market leases? What's the average tenancy length?
  2. What capital expenditures (roof, boiler, parking lot, exteriors) have been made in the last 5 years, and what's planned in the next 2?
  3. Have any recent inspections been done? Can we get a copy of the seller's disclosures and any deferred-maintenance estimates?
  4. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
  5. Schools are B-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?
  6. 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?
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. How much new apartment / multifamily construction is in the pipeline within 1–3 miles? Heavy new supply (>2% of stock underway) typically softens rents 12–24 months out; light construction supports rent growth.

Investment metrics

1% rule
0.88%
Cap rate
6.30%
Cash-on-cash
0.01%
DSCR
1.00
GRM
9.5

CMA / ARV

No comps found within radius.

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi
Address Dist Beds/Ba Sqft Sold Price $/sf Match
106 SPEER Ave 0.10mi —/— 2mo $1,050,000 81
90 Dick St 0.24mi 4/2.0 1mo $675,000 76
9 Spencer Ave 0.28mi 4/2.0 4mo $669,000 71
144 Major St 0.36mi 2/1.5 2mo $443,000 69
18 Guenther Pl 0.39mi —/— 4mo $800,000 66
190 Martin Ave 0.40mi 6/2.0 3mo $940,000 66
102 Scoles Ave 0.53mi 4/4.0 2mo $805,000 62
20 Wickham St 0.54mi 4/2.0 2mo $635,000 60
138 Scoles Ave 0.51mi 6/3.5 5mo $940,000 59
339 Broadway 0.55mi 6/2.0 5mo $650,000 58
16 Krueger Pl 0.70mi 6/4.0 0mo $727,000 54
354 Summer St 0.63mi 5/2.0 4mo $675,000 54

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
-16.3%
Equity multiple
0.42×
Total profit
$-161,602
Equity at exit
$148,954
10-year hold
IRR
-8.0%
Equity multiple
0.50×
Total profit
$-139,994
Equity at exit
$86,375

Cash invested: $279,720 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

Overall (STATE)
21 Tenant-Leaning
State New Jersey
21 Tenant-Leaning · D+6
County
— inherits STATE
City
— inherits STATE
Anti-eviction Act requires just-cause statewide; rent control in 100+ municipalities; one of the most tenant-friendly states.

ZIP-level market 07013

Active inventory
37
Price-to-rent
38.1×

Monthly cashflow live

Estimated rent
$8,742 high interval (Pro) →
Mortgage (P&I)
$5,239
Tax est. 1.5%
$1,249 /mo · $14,985/yr
Insurance
$416
HOA
$0
Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt
$1,836
Net cashflow
$2

Break-even live

Break-even rent $8,739
Max offer price $999,000
Occupancy floor 95%

4-unit breakdown (identical units grouped — click to expand)

UnitsBedsBathsEst. rent
Total (4 units) $8,742

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
$249,750
Closing costs
$29,970
Reserves months
Total cash needed

Loan-product check · same deal, 3 products live

Conventional

25% down · 7.5% · 30yr

Down + closing
Monthly P&I
Monthly cashflow
DSCR
Eligible?

Personal DTI + credit; lowest rate.

DSCR

20% down · 8.5% · 30yr

Down + closing
Monthly P&I
Monthly cashflow
DSCR
Eligible?

No personal income docs; deal must DSCR.

Hard money

10% down · 12.0% · 12mo

Down + closing
Monthly P&I
Monthly cashflow
DSCR
Eligible?

Short-term bridge; refi at stabilization.

Rent comps 40 comps

AddressBedsBaths SqftRent$/sqft DOM Units Dist
23 Renaissance Dr Unit 2 Clifton, NJ 3.0 2.0 $3,200 25d 1 0.10mi
32 Althea St Unit Roommate Clifton, NJ 1.0 1.0 $1,850 25d 1 0.12mi
106 Speer Ave Unit 3 Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,300 22d 1 0.13mi
60 Dick St Unit 2nd Fl Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,500 25d 1 0.20mi
5 Wesley St Unit 2 Passaic, NJ 3.0 1.0 $2,500 24d 1 0.21mi
30 Bowdoin St #4 Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.5 $2,475 25d 1 0.25mi
30 Bowdoin St Unit 3 Clifton, NJ 3.0 1.0 $2,775 5d 1 0.25mi
47 Emma Pl Unit 2 Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,200 3d 1 0.25mi
9 Spencer Ave Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,400 5d 1 0.26mi
77 Wesley St Clifton, NJ 1.0 1.0 800 $1,750 $2.19 2d 1 0.30mi
77 Wesley St Unit 2 Clifton, NJ 1.0 1.0 $1,700 19d 1 0.30mi
69 La Salle Ave Unit 2 Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,200 25d 1 0.32mi
46 Guenther Pl Passaic, NJ 3.0 1.0 $2,900 24d 1 0.35mi
99 Spencer Ave #1 Clifton, NJ 3.0 2.0 2700 $3,500 $1.30 5d 1 0.39mi
99 Spencer Ave Clifton, NJ 3.0 2.0 $3,500 22d 1 0.39mi
417 Boulevard Unit 9 Passaic, NJ 1.0 1.0 $1,850 5d 1 0.39mi
411 Boulevard Passaic, NJ 1.0 1.0 $1,850 21d 1 0.39mi
120 Campbell Ave Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,400 7d 1 0.41mi
97 Sipp Ave Unit 2 Clifton, NJ 3.0 2.0 $3,500 25d 1 0.42mi
373 Broadway Unit 4 Passaic, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,600 7d 1 0.53mi
17-19 Wickham St Unit 202 Passaic, NJ 3.0 1.0 $3,200 24d 1 0.53mi
17-19 Wickham St Unit 203 Passaic, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,700 24d 1 0.53mi
109 Scoles Ave Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,000 2d 1 0.57mi
94 Grant St Unit 2 Passaic, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,000 13d 1 0.59mi
66 Mount Prospect Ave Unit 15 Clifton, NJ 2.0 2.0 $2,900 18d 1 0.60mi
66 Mount Prospect Ave Unit 4 Clifton, NJ 2.0 2.0 $2,700 7d 1 0.60mi
66 Mount Prospect Ave Unit 4 Clifton, NJ 2.0 2.0 $2,800 25d 1 0.60mi
382 Lafayette Ave Unit 2 Passaic, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,200 3d 1 0.61mi
584 Gregory Ave Unit 1st Floor Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,500 10d 1 0.62mi
12 Tromp St Unit 2 Clifton, NJ 2.0 1.0 800 $2,500 $3.12 25d 1 0.62mi
24 Van Vliet Ct Unit 2 Clifton, NJ 3.0 1.0 $3,100 25d 1 0.69mi
310 Summer St Clifton, NJ 3.0 2.5 $3,800 25d 1 0.69mi
178 Howe Ave Unit 3 Passaic, NJ 2.0 1.0 $2,200 18d 1 0.70mi
375 Madison St Unit 5 Passaic, NJ 2.0 1.0 $1,595 7d 1 0.71mi
355 Madison St Unit 1 Passaic, NJ 2.0 1.0 550 $2,100 $3.82 24d 1 0.76mi
163 Meade Ave Passaic, NJ 3.0 1.0 $2,400 24d 1 0.78mi
285 Aycrigg Ave Unit 4J Passaic, NJ 1.0 1.0 $2,350 24d 1 0.82mi
765 Clifton Ave Clifton, NJ 1.0–2.0 1.0 717 $2,475 $3.45 13d 3 0.82mi
3 Lucille Pl Unit 7 Passaic, NJ 3.0 1.0 800 $2,300 $2.88 19d 1 0.84mi
3 Lucille Pl Passaic, NJ 3.0 1.0 800 $2,300 $2.88 24d 1 0.84mi

Listing history 16 events

  1. 2026-06-18
    days on market $999,000 Active 27 DOM
  2. 2026-06-17
    days on market $999,000 Active 26 DOM
  3. 2026-06-16
    days on market $999,000 Active 25 DOM
  4. 2026-06-15
    days on market $999,000 Active 24 DOM
  5. 2026-06-13
    days on market $999,000 Active 22 DOM
  6. 2026-06-13
    days on market $999,000 Active 21 DOM
  7. 2026-06-09
    days on market $999,000 Active 18 DOM
  8. 2026-06-08
    days on market $999,000 Active 17 DOM
  9. 2026-06-07
    days on market $999,000 Active 16 DOM
  10. 2026-06-04
    days on market $999,000 Active 13 DOM
  11. 2026-06-03
    days on market $999,000 Active 12 DOM
  12. 2026-06-02
    days on market $999,000 Active 11 DOM
  13. 2026-06-01
    days on market $999,000 Active 10 DOM
  14. 2026-05-31
    days on market $999,000 Active 9 DOM
  15. 2026-05-22
    historical $999,000 1200-char remark
    Show marketing remark (1200 chars)

    Mixed-use 4-unit investment property in Clifton's sought-after Athenia section. Three residential apartments plus one ground-floor commercial storefront generating $4,850/month gross income ($58,200 annually). All utilities are separately metered tenants pay their own gas and electric. Unit breakdown: 1st Fl Front (Commercial): Operating storefront/print shop with half bath. Suitable for retail, professional services, or owner-user occupancy. $1,150/month. 1st Fl Rear (Residential): 1BR, living room, eat-in kitchen, full bath. Electric baseboard heat, wall AC, electric cooking. $850/month. 2nd Fl Front (Residential): 1BR, living room, eat-in kitchen, full bath. Baseboard hot water heat, window AC. $1,150/month. 2nd Fl Rear (Residential): 2BR plus loft, living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, 2 full baths, in-unit washer/dryer. Baseboard hot water heat, wall AC. $1,700/month. Three units have individual gas hot water furnaces; 1st floor rear is all-electric. Roof replaced 2015. Located on Van Houten Avenue with shops, restaurants, and transit nearby. Quick access to Route 3, Route 46, Garden State Parkway, and NJ Transit bus and rail service. Approximately 15 miles to Manhattan.

  16. 2026-05-21
    listed $999,000 Active

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

Nearby sold comps map

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Walkable amenities ~0.75 mi

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Taxation est. · year 1

Rental income
$104,904
− Mortgage interest
−$55,960
− Property taxes
−$14,985
− Insurance
−$4,995
− Repairs & maintenance
−$8,392
− Management
−$8,392
− Depreciation
−$29,062
Taxable loss
−$16,882
combined federal + state — saved on this device
Est. tax savings @ 24.0%
+$4,052
After-tax cash flow
$4,079/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.

Condition & rehab AI · 13 photos

Fair 45/100 Moderate rehab

The property requires moderate renovations, focusing on updating the kitchen and bathroom to enhance both resale and rental value.

Repairs flagged

  • Minor Kitchen cabinets — Slight wear and tear visible
  • Major Bathroom fixtures — Outdated and possibly leaking

Value-add opportunities

  • Both Kitchen renovation — Modernizing the kitchen can increase both resale and rental value
  • Both Bathroom renovation — Updating the bathroom can significantly boost both resale and rental value

Renovation cost estimate screening

Repair itemSeverityEst. cost
Kitchen cabinets · Slight wear and tear visible Minor $500–3,000
Bathroom fixtures · Outdated and possibly leaking Major $15,000–50,000
Total estimated repair cost · 2 items $15,500–53,000

Value-add ROI direction

  • Both Kitchen renovation — Modernizing the kitchen can increase both resale and rental value
  • Both Bathroom renovation — Updating the bathroom can significantly boost both resale and rental value

ⓘ Cost ranges are severity-bucket heuristics (US national rule-of-thumb). Get contractor quotes + a written scope before underwriting a rehab budget.

Schools (NCES district)

District
Clifton Public School District
NCES district ID
3403300
Math proficiency
21% ▼ -18.00%
Reading proficiency
40% ▼ -8.00%
Median HH income
$66,455
Composite
28.12/100
National rank
#6820
State rank
#332 of 472 in NJ

Livability — Clifton

Score
77/100
State rank
#110
US rank
#2833

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

Census place
Clifton, NJ
City population
53,240
Population (ZIP)
29,419

Population outlook (Passaic County) Hauer SSP2

Today (2025)
525,915 people
By 2030
532,160 · +1.2%
By 2040
543,670 · +3.4%
By 2050
554,326 · +5.4%
By 2075
584,728 · +11.2%
By 2100
598,978 · +13.9%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

Neighborhood character
Diverse neighborhood (Simpson 0.59)
Race & ethnicity
White 58% Hispanic / Latino 26% Two or more races 13% Asian 10% Black 2%
Hispanic origin (detail)
Mexican 3% Puerto Rican 6% Cuban 3% Dominican 4%
Common ancestry
Romanian 14% Subsaharan African 2% Russian 1%
Foreign-born
33% · Canada, Jamaica, South Korea
Languages at home
53% English-only · Spanish 19% Russian/Polish/Slavic 9% Other Indo-European 8%

Political lean MEDSL · Passaic

2024 margin
Toss-up / Even · D 46.9% · R 49.8% · Other 3.3%
2008→2024 swing
-24.6pp toward R · 2008: 21.7pp · 2024: -2.9pp
All cycles
2024: R+2.9 2020: D+16.5 2016: D+21.8 2012: D+27.3 2008: D+21.7

Not yet ingested

Civics

Market trends

HPI YoY
▼ -293.07%
Current HPI
294.2089
Rent YoY
Metro
State GDP YoY
▲ 2.05%
F500 in state
34

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in NJ)

Industry F500 HQs Revenue

Price history

+0.0% since first listed
2 events — show timeline
  • 2026-05-22 Coming Soon $999,000 GSMLS
  • 2026-05-21 Listed $999,000 NJMLS

Cash-flow waterfall

monthly

Sold comps — $/sqft

last 12 mo · ≤1 mi

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