2035 N US-31 N #2404

Garfield, MI 49686

$59,000C-

2 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,420 sqft · Built 2006 · Condo · Active · 128 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,840/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$309
• Tax + insurance: −$98
• HOA: −$406
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$386
• Net cashflow: $640/mo
• Annual: $7,678/yr
• Cap rate: 19.31%
• Cash-on-cash: 46.48%
• DSCR: 3.07
• 1% rule: 3.12%
• Cash to close: $16,520

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/2.0-bath condo listed at $59k. Condition is rated good.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $640 ($8k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $59k).
• It's been on market 128 days — a 12% lower offer ($52k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $52k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $408 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $2k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads: area grade C — affects rentability + tenant quality, not the cash-flow math above.
• Traverse City Area Public Schools (town): math 45% / reading 56% proficiency, ranked #94 of 540 in MI (top 17%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Central Grade School (math 57% / reading 65%, grade B, #190 of 1,397 statewide, top 14%, 516 students, 47% FRL); West Middle School (math 45% / reading 54%, grade C, #127 of 493 statewide, top 26%, 1,081 students, 38% FRL); West Senior High (math 51% / reading 67%, grade C+, #87 of 713 statewide, top 12%, 1,509 students, 34% FRL).
• Watch-outs: HOA is 22% of rent.
• Market conditions: Rents soft (-0.5%/yr); 497 active listings in the ZIP; 11 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 16d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); 883 units permitted in Grand Traverse County in 2024 (501 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Grand Traverse County population projected at +20% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 0.0% rent growth), your $17k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 19.3% vs local median 2.8% in Garfield — 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 ($72k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 128 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.