834 W Liberty St · Allentown, PA 18102

$185,000

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,746 sqft · Townhouse public records · 1 Days on market

Built 1878 2,060 sqft lot Est $251k · 26% 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 +21.3/30.0
• ARV discount +15.0/15.0
• DSCR +6.8/10.0
• 1% rule +5.4/10.0
• Livability +4.0/5.0
• Rent growth +3.9/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +1.2/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Investment property located in center city Allentown-3 Bedroom 1 bath comes with a long term tenant. Living room has a drawn faux fireplace which gives the living room some charm. Modern kitchen with semi new kitchen wooden cabinets. Master bedroom has a walk in room that is currently being used as a private sitting room. Attic storage on the 3rd floor. Rear fenced back yard that leads off to street parking for 1 small car. All electric utilities that the tenant pays for. Buyer is selling property AS IS, buyer will be responsible for all repairs. Call to schedule your showing today. Please give a full 48 hour notice, tenant occupied.

Key facts

• Faux fireplace
• Wooden cabinetry
• Attic storage space

Tags

• FAUX FIREPLACE
• WOODEN CABINETRY
• PRIVATE FENCED REAR YARD
• ATTIC STORAGE SPACE

Property features AI

Exterior

• Parking: Off-street parking; Parking pad
• Security: Smoke detectors
• Utilities: Public water; Public sewer; Cable available; Electric service
• Home design: 2-story property; Vinyl siding; Asphalt/fiberglass roof; Basement foundation
• Construction: Vinyl siding construction; Asphalt/fiberglass roof
• Exterior features: Fenced yard; Porch; Patio

Interior

• Kitchen: Electric oven; Electric range; Refrigerator; Eat-in kitchen
• Bedrooms: Total rooms: 7
• Bathrooms: 1 full bathroom; 1 half bathroom
• Heating & cooling: Baseboard heating (electric); Ceiling fans
• Interior features: Dining area; Separate formal dining room; Eat-in kitchen; Full concrete basement
• Laundry & utility: Washer hookup; Dryer hookup; Electric water heater

🏷️ Possibly a rental listed for sale. The $185,000 price doesn't fit this home's estimated sale value (~$251,424) and the remarks read like a rental — treat the cards below with caution.

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath townhouse listed at $185k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $271 ($3k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $185k).
• Cap rate 8.0% vs local median 5.3% in Allentown — 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 81/100 on livability (#171 in PA, #1,440 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: commute A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: schools D+, employment D.
• Allentown City SD (urban): math 10% / reading 20% proficiency, ranked #513 of 539 in PA (top 95%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 73% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+5.5%/yr); 167 active listings in the ZIP; 40 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 20d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); lower-income renter base — watch delinquency; 765 units permitted in Lehigh County in 2024 (286 in 5+ unit buildings).
• At $1,918/mo this rent would consume 53% of the median local household income ($43k/yr) (locally 4313% of renters already pay >50% of income on rent) — very limited rent-growth headroom before tenants either downsize or default.

Forward outlook

• 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.
• Lehigh County population projected at +21% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• Only 1 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• 3 sale attempts since 26y 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 $105k; list at $185k implies a 76% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1878 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: extreme-heat days projected 7→15/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $185,000

Questions for the listing agent

1. Built in 1878 — 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. Schools are D-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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: 1.04% ✓
• Cap rate: 8.05%
• Cash-on-cash: 6.27%
• DSCR: 1.28
• GRM: 8.0

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $251,424
• Comps found: 12

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
1021 Allen St	0.24mi	3/1.5	1,840 (+5%)	5mo	$250,000	$136	74
914 W Green St	0.26mi	4/1.0 (+1)	1,672 (-4%)	3mo	$210,000	$126	73
638 N 12th St	0.44mi	4/2.0 (+1)	1,704 (-2%)	2mo	$262,000	$154	65
737 W Liberty St	0.10mi	4/2.0 (+1)	1,568 (-10%)	6mo	$228,000	$145	65
1109 W Washington	0.45mi	3/1.5	1,624 (-7%)	2mo	$251,500	$155	64
815 W Gordon St	0.09mi	2/1.0 (-1)	2,003 (+15%)	4mo	$239,000	$119	63
215 N 10th St	0.31mi	4/2.0 (+1)	1,590 (-9%)	1mo	$267,000	$168	61
419 W Liberty St	0.48mi	4/1.0 (+1)	1,664 (-5%)	6mo	$178,000	$107	60
1040 Spring Garden St	0.71mi	4/1.0 (+1)	1,732 (-1%)	4mo	$231,900	$134	58
619 N 5th St	0.43mi	4/1.5 (+1)	1,893 (+8%)	2mo	$260,000	$137	57
904 N 5th St	0.58mi	4/1.5 (+1)	1,595 (-9%)	3mo	$229,000	$144	49
732 W Whitehall St	0.50mi	4/1.0 (+1)	1,524 (-13%)	3mo	$230,000	$151	48

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 · 5.48% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -3.9%
• Equity multiple: 0.85×
• Total profit: $-7,836
• Equity at exit: $27,584

10-year hold

• IRR: 8.3%
• Equity multiple: 1.71×
• Total profit: $36,569
• Equity at exit: $15,995

Cash invested: $51,800 (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 18102

• Rents YoY: 5.5%
• Active inventory: 167
• Price-to-rent: 8.0×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,918 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$970
• Tax from tax record: −$197 /mo · $2,368/yr
• Insurance: −$77
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$403
• Net cashflow: $271

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,575

Max offer price $185,000

Occupancy floor 81%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $375	-5% $323	+0% $271	+5% $218	+10% $166
Rent	-10% $119	-5% $195	+0% $271	+5% $346	+10% $422
Rate	-1.0pp $364	-0.5pp $318	base $271	+0.5pp $223	+1.0pp $174

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: $46,250
• Closing costs: $5,550
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 40 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
828 W Gordon St Allentown, PA	4.0	2.5	1628	$2,250	$1.38	3d	1	0.09mi
944 W Gordon St Allentown, PA	3.0	1.5	1146	$1,750	$1.53	24d	1	0.15mi
635 N Lumber St Allentown, PA	3.0	1.5	1117	$1,750	$1.57	3d	1	0.20mi
347 N 7th St Apt 3 Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1200	$1,500	$1.25	45d	1	0.21mi
915 Tilghman St Apt 4 Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1250	$1,750	$1.40	24d	1	0.24mi
209 N Eighth St Apt 2 Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1430	$1,550	$1.08	45d	1	0.27mi
528 N 6th St Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1934	$1,800	$0.93	45d	1	0.28mi
622 W Chew St Unit 2 Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1161	$1,600	$1.38	20d	1	0.30mi
814 Washington St #2 Allentown, PA	4.0	1.0	1200	$1,600	$1.33	3d	1	0.33mi
432 N Law St Allentown, PA	4.0	1.0	1328	$1,500	$1.13	15d	1	0.33mi
626 Oak St Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1396	$1,900	$1.36	45d	1	0.33mi
626 N 11th St Allentown, PA	4.0	1.5	1642	$2,200	$1.34	3d	1	0.34mi
832 Chestnut St Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1124	$2,100	$1.87	24d	1	0.34mi
823 W Washington St Allentown, PA	4.0	1.0	1400	$1,950	$1.39	15d	1	0.35mi
829 Linden St Apt 1 Rear Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1200	$1,495	$1.25	24d	1	0.37mi
827 Linden St Unit 829-1 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1200	$1,495	$1.25	22d	1	0.37mi
535 Tilghman St Unit 2ND Allentown, PA	4.0	2.0	1500	$1,750	$1.17	3d	1	0.40mi
107 N 7th St Allentown, PA	2.0	1.0–2.0	855	$2,972	$3.47	3d	23	0.41mi
451 W Liberty St Allentown, PA	2.0	1.0	1126	$1,395	$1.24	45d	1	0.42mi
27 N 7th St Allentown, PA	2.0	1.0–2.0	840	$2,222	$2.64	3d	11	0.43mi
1039 E St Unit Linden St unit Apt Allentown, PA	2.0	1.0	1200	$1,500	$1.25	24d	1	0.45mi
835 Hamilton St Unit 509 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1052	$2,399	$2.28	20d	1	0.45mi
835 Hamilton St Unit 608 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1411	$2,725	$1.93	15d	1	0.46mi
835 Hamilton St Unit 409 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1052	$2,374	$2.26	20d	1	0.46mi
835 Hamilton St Unit 424 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1411	$2,625	$1.86	15d	1	0.46mi
1036 Linden St #2 Allentown, PA	2.0	1.0	1200	$1,600	$1.33	3d	1	0.47mi
26 N 6th St Allentown, PA	1.0–2.0	1.0–2.0	953	$2,224	$2.33	3d	9	0.48mi
1210 W Turner St Unit 1 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1200	$2,300	$1.92	45d	1	0.50mi
1210 W Turner St Unit 2 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1500	$1,900	$1.27	3d	1	0.50mi
1210 W Turner St Unit 2 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1500	$2,400	$1.60	45d	1	0.50mi
1210 W Turner St Unit 1 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1200	$1,800	$1.50	3d	1	0.50mi
1210 W Turner St Unit 1 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1200	$2,050	$1.71	24d	1	0.50mi
1210 W Turner St Unit 2 Allentown, PA	2.0	2.0	1500	$2,150	$1.43	24d	1	0.50mi
45 N 6th St Allentown, PA	2.0	1.0–2.0	1002	$3,616	$3.61	3d	13	0.50mi
932 W Hamilton St Allentown, PA	2.0	1.0–2.0	862	$2,350	$2.73	3d	15	0.53mi
407 N 4th St Allentown, PA	3.0	1.5	1321	$1,550	$1.17	24d	1	0.54mi
395 W Allen St Allentown, PA	3.0	1.0	1344	$1,800	$1.34	24d	1	0.55mi
1010 W Hamilton St Allentown, PA	1.0–2.0	1.0–2.0	943	$2,022	$2.14	3d	6	0.56mi
948 W Maple St Allentown, PA	4.0	1.0	1932	$2,300	$1.19	45d	1	0.56mi
913 N 6th St Allentown, PA	4.0	1.0	1476	$1,698	$1.15	15d	1	0.57mi

Listing history 2 events

1. 2026-06-16
   remarks 699-char remark
2. 2026-06-16
   listed $185,000 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: $2,368 · $197/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,646 · $220/mo
• Expected delta: +$277/yr (+$23/mo · 11.7%)

ⓘ 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 5/10 Major 7 d/yr ≥99°F today · 15 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 4/10 Moderate 15% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 3/10 Moderate 3 unhealthy d/yr today · 4 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $23,015
• − Mortgage interest: −$10,363
• − Property taxes: −$2,368
• − Insurance: −$925
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,841
• − Management: −$1,841
• − Depreciation: −$5,382
• Taxable income: $294
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$71
• After-tax cash flow: $3,176/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: Allentown City SD
• NCES district ID: 4202280
• Math proficiency: 10% ▼ -10.00%
• Reading proficiency: 20% ▼ -15.00%
• Median HH income: $36,337
• Composite: 12.43/100
• National rank: #9630
• State rank: #513 of 539 in PA

Livability — Allentown

• Score: 81/100
• State rank: #171
• US rank: #1440

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Allentown, PA
• County: Lehigh County · 333,019 people
• City population: 172,996
• Metro: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
• Population (ZIP): 51,001
• Household income: $43,085
• Rent vs Own: 67.9% rent · 32.1% own
• Severe rent burden: 4313.0

Population outlook (Lehigh County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 392,957 people
• By 2030: 408,319 · +3.9%
• By 2040: 440,007 · +12.0%
• By 2050: 475,940 · +21.1%
• By 2075: 590,448 · +50.3%
• By 2100: 690,314 · +75.7%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly Hispanic (69%)
• Race & ethnicity: Hispanic / Latino 69% Two or more races 28% White 18% Black 10%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 3% Puerto Rican 38% Dominican 22%
• Common ancestry: Polish 1% Romanian 1% Hispanic 1%
• Foreign-born: 22% · Canada, Jamaica
• Languages at home: 45% English-only · Spanish 52% Arabic 2%

Political lean MEDSL · Lehigh

• 2024 margin: Toss-up / Even · D 50.7% · R 48.0% · Other 1.2%
• 2008→2024 swing: -12.9pp toward R · 2008: 15.6pp · 2024: 2.7pp
• All cycles: 2024: D+2.7 2020: D+7.6 2016: D+4.4 2012: D+7.5 2008: D+15.6

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -227.01%
• Current HPI: 404.834
• Rent YoY: ▲ 5.48%
• Metro: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
• 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

+125.6% since first listed

8 events — show timeline

• 2026-06-11 Listed $185,000 GLVRMLS
• 2021-01-08 Sold (MLS) $105,000 GLVRMLS
• 2020-11-20 Pending — GLVRMLS
• 2020-10-28 Listed $110,000 GLVRMLS
• 2004-10-18 Sold (Public Records) $81,000 Public Records
• 2001-01-10 Sold (MLS) $21,000 GLVRMLS
• 2000-11-21 Listed $25,000 GLVRMLS
• 1999-01-12 Sold (Public Records) $82,000 Public Records

Property tax history

-1.9%/yr

Latest (2026): $2,368 · +0.7% YoY. Source: county tax records.