157 Calhoun St · Battle Creek, MI 49017

$79,900

6 bd · 2.0 ba · 2,352 sqft · Other public records · 12 Days on market

Built 1901 4,356 sqft lot

---

Why this score? — see what drove the B- 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 +30.0/30.0
• 1% rule +10.0/10.0
• DSCR +10.0/10.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• Livability +3.7/5.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Schools +1.1/10.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Investor opportunity -- 1901 Victorian duplex, 2,352 sq ft, both units vacant, priced to move. Unit 157 features a dramatic arched bay living room, ornate turned-spindle staircase, updated kitchen with espresso cabinets, granite-look countertops, tile backsplash, LVP flooring, gas range, and a period clawfoot tub. Newer gas furnace (forced air), newer water heater, and roof replaced 2022 -- city-inspected and approved. 2 bed/1 bath per unit; 4 total beds. Unit 161 is mid-renovation with brand-new oak raised-panel cabinets staged on-site and original hardwood floors upstairs. Unfinished basement with washer/dryer hookups. Fenced rear yard with gravel parking pad. Stabilized rents projected at $700-$800/unit. Larger, more character, and better $/sf than any active competition. Cash or rehab loan preferred. Priced at $79,900 -- the math works.

Key facts

• Victorian duplex
• Espresso cabinets
• Updated kitchen

Tags

• VICTORIAN DUPLEX
• ARCHED BAY LIVING ROOM
• TURNED-SPINDLE STAIRCASE
• UPDATED KITCHEN
• ESPRESSO CABINETS
• GRANITE-LOOK COUNTERTOPS

Property features AI

Finance

• Other: Municipality: Battle Creek
• Financial info: Two-unit building
• HOA & community: Landlord/association pays electric, gas, water/sewer and trash removal

Exterior

• Utilities: Natural gas service; Water and sewer provided (landlord/association pays); Electric service (landlord/association pays); Trash removal included (landlord/association pays)
• Home design: Multi-family property; Built in 1901; 50 feet frontage
• Construction: Vinyl siding exterior; Basement foundation; Originally built in 1901
• Exterior features: Vinyl siding; Sidewalks; City/County paved street access

Interior

• Heating & cooling: Forced air heating; Radiant heating; No central cooling
• Interior features: Forced air heating; Radiant heating; No cooling system

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 6-bed/2.0-bath other listed at $80k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $775 ($9k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($2k rent vs $80k).
• Cap rate 17.9% vs local median 5.2% in Battle Creek — 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 73/100 on livability (#198 in MI) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: schools C-, amenities C-, crime F.
• Battle Creek Public Schools (urban): math 8% / reading 19% proficiency, ranked #510 of 540 in MI (top 94%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover; 75% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Market conditions: 155 active listings in the ZIP; 132 units permitted in Calhoun County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent runs 33% of the median local income ($61k/yr) — at the standard rent-burdened threshold; future hikes will face affordability resistance.

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $552 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $2k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Calhoun County population projected at -16% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $22k cash investment doubles in ~3 years — after that, you're playing with house money.

Negotiation context

• Only 12 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• 2 sale attempts 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.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1901 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $79,900

Questions for the listing agent

1. Built in 1901 — 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. 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?
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: 2.11% ✓
• Cap rate: 17.94%
• Cash-on-cash: 41.59%
• DSCR: 2.85
• GRM: 4.0

CMA / ARV

No comps found within radius.

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: 38.2%
• Equity multiple: 2.63×
• Total profit: $36,463
• Equity at exit: $11,913

10-year hold

• IRR: 44.7%
• Equity multiple: 5.27×
• Total profit: $95,451
• Equity at exit: $6,908

Cash invested: $22,372 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 62 Landlord-Friendly
• State Michigan: 62 Landlord-Friendly · EVEN
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

7-day pay-or-quit; mixed climate; Detroit/AA have some protections.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 49017

• Home prices YoY: -32.2%
• Active inventory: 155
• Price-to-rent: 4.0×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,684 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$419
• Tax from tax record: −$103 /mo · $1,235/yr
• Insurance: −$33
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$354
• Net cashflow: $775

Break-even live

Break-even rent $703

Max offer price $79,900

Occupancy floor 49%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $821	-5% $798	+0% $775	+5% $753	+10% $730
Rent	-10% $642	-5% $709	+0% $775	+5% $842	+10% $908
Rate	-1.0pp $816	-0.5pp $796	base $775	+0.5pp $755	+1.0pp $734

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: $19,975
• Closing costs: $2,397
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Listing history 11 events

1. 2026-06-21
   statusdays on market $79,900 Active 12 DOM
2. 2026-06-16
   status $79,900 Pending 10 DOM
3. 2026-06-15
   listing id $79,900 Active 10 DOM
4. 2026-06-15
   days on market $79,900 Active 10 DOM
5. 2026-06-14
   days on market $79,900 Active 8 DOM
6. 2026-06-13
   days on market $79,900 Active 7 DOM
7. 2026-06-10
   days on market $79,900 Active 5 DOM
8. 2026-06-09
   days on market $79,900 Active 4 DOM
9. 2026-06-08
   days on market $79,900 Active 3 DOM
10. 2026-06-07
    remarks 699-char remark
11. 2026-06-07
    listed $79,900 Active 2 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 MI · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $1,235 · $103/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $1,235 · $103/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 ≥97°F today · 16 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 3/10 Moderate 2 unhealthy d/yr today · 3 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $20,211
• − Mortgage interest: −$4,476
• − Property taxes: −$1,235
• − Insurance: −$400
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$1,617
• − Management: −$1,617
• − Depreciation: −$2,324
• Taxable income: $8,543
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$2,050
• After-tax cash flow: $7,254/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: Battle Creek Public Schools
• NCES district ID: 2600005
• Math proficiency: 8% ▼ -2.00%
• Reading proficiency: 19% ▬ 0.00%
• Median HH income: $31,697
• Composite: 10.73/100
• National rank: #9769
• State rank: #510 of 540 in MI

Livability — Battle Creek

• Score: 73/100
• State rank: #198
• US rank: #5031

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Battle Creek, MI
• County: Calhoun County · 91,590 people
• City population: 91,590
• Metro: Battle Creek, MI
• Population (ZIP): 21,295
• Household income: $60,885
• Rent vs Own: 25.3% rent · 74.7% own
• Severe rent burden: 697.0

Population outlook (Calhoun County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 130,157 people
• By 2030: 126,691 · -2.7%
• By 2040: 118,517 · -8.9%
• By 2050: 109,855 · -15.6%
• By 2075: 90,486 · -30.5%
• By 2100: 70,766 · -45.6%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (78%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 78% Black 9% Two or more races 8% Hispanic / Latino 6%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 4%
• Common ancestry: Slovak 3% Iranian 3% Romanian 2%
• Foreign-born: 3% · Canada, Philippines
• Languages at home: 95% English-only · Spanish 2% Other Asian/Pacific 1% Arabic 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Calhoun

• 2024 margin: R (+14.1) · D 42.3% · R 56.4% · Other 1.3%
• 2008→2024 swing: -23.4pp toward R · 2008: 9.4pp · 2024: -14.1pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+14.1 2020: R+11.1 2016: R+12.5 2012: D+1.6 2008: D+9.4

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -115.68%
• Current HPI: 243.5008
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: Battle Creek, MI
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.37%
• F500 in state: 28

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in MI)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Automotive Parts	3	$48B
▸Automotive	2	$372B
▸Chemicals	1	$45B
▸Automotive Retail	1	$29B
▸Healthcare / Medical Devices	1	$23B
▸Automotive Technology	1	$20B

Price history

+0.0% since first listed

2 events — show timeline

• 2026-06-05 Listed $79,900 MiRealSource-MiMLS
• 2026-06-05 Listed $79,900 REALCOMP

Property tax history

-4.1%/yr

Latest (2025): $1,235 · -31.2% YoY. Source: county tax records.