1095-1097 E Merchant St

Kankakee, IL 60901

$195,000B-

4 bd · 2.0 ba · — sqft · Built 1890 · MultiFamily · Active · 46 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,269/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,023
• Tax + insurance: −$325
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$476
• Net cashflow: $445/mo
• Annual: $5,339/yr
• Cap rate: 9.03%
• Cash-on-cash: 9.78%
• DSCR: 1.44
• 1% rule: 1.16%
• Cash to close: $54,600

Investor read

• This is a 2 × 2-bed/1.0-bath units multifamily listed at $195k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $445 ($5k/yr) — positive. Per door: $222/mo.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $195k).
• It's been on market 46 days — a 3% lower offer ($189k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $189k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $6k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 62/100 on livability (#832 in IL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A; Watch: crime F, amenities F, employment D-.
• Kankakee SD 111 (urban): math 6% / reading 13% proficiency, ranked #584 of 620 in IL (top 94%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 78% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: King Middle Grade School (math 6% / reading 10%, grade F, #1,621 of 2,056 statewide, top 79%, 344 students, 0% FRL); Kankakee Junior High School (math 4% / reading 15%, grade F, #597 of 665 statewide, top 91%, 560 students, 0% FRL); Kankakee High School (math 6% / reading 10%, grade F, #587 of 693 statewide, top 85%, 1,513 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 78% district-wide (78 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: built in 1890 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+4.4%/yr); 114 active listings in the ZIP; 5 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 45d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 100% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 145 units permitted in Kankakee County in 2024 (5 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Kankakee County population projected at -19% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 7 sale attempts since 23y 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 $50k; list at $195k implies a 290% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 4.4% rent growth), your $55k cash investment doubles in ~10 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 9.0% vs local median 5.7% in Kankakee — 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.
• At $2,269/mo this rent would consume 47% of the median local household income ($58k/yr) (locally 1317% of renters already pay >50% of income on rent) — very limited rent-growth headroom before tenants either downsize or default.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 46 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Can we see the unit-by-unit rent roll, current vacancy, and any below-market leases? What's the average tenancy length?
• What capital expenditures (roof, boiler, parking lot, exteriors) have been made in the last 5 years, and what's planned in the next 2?
• Built in 1890 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• 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 F 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.