215 Castle Dr · West Columbia, SC 29169

$224,900

3 bd · 2.0 ba · 2,010 sqft · SingleFamily public records · 97 Days on market

Built 1957 1,960 sqft lot ↓ 10% since listing

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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 +22.8/30.0
• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• DSCR +7.3/10.0
• 1% rule +4.6/10.0
• Rent growth +3.4/5.0
• Livability +3.2/5.0
• Schools +2.9/10.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks

If you're looking for an all brick, no HOA built home with a detached garage and concrete workshop featuring high ceilings and electricity, this property is full of opportunities!! Being sold "AS IS", it offers exceptional square footage and the chance to truly make it your own. The home features two fireplaces including a beautiful, large stone fireplace and paneling in the family room. An additional fireplace in the living room. The spacious kitchen includes an island, eat-in area and flows into a formal dining room and large laundry room. The primary bedroom offers an en-suite bath with a tub, separate shower and walk-in closet. An expansive addition provides a large flex space

Key facts

• 1,960 sq ft lot
• 2 parking spots
• Built 1957

Property features AI

Exterior

• Parking: 2 parking spaces
• Utilities: Well water (public well available); Septic sewer; Storm doors (energy feature)
• Home design: Single-story home
• Construction: Crawlspace foundation
• Exterior features: Full gutters; Uncovered back porch; Workshop; Rear chain-link fencing (chain link); Brick exterior above foundation

Interior

• Kitchen: Eat-in kitchen with island; Pantry; Formica countertops; Painted cabinets; Laminate flooring in kitchen; Island cooktop; Built-in microwave; Refrigerator; Dishwasher
• Bedrooms: Master bedroom on main level with private bath, walk-in closet, ceiling fan, and carpeted floors; Bedroom 2 on main level with carpeted floors
• Flooring: Carpet in bedrooms and living/great rooms; Laminate flooring in dining area and kitchen
• Bathrooms: Two full bathrooms
• Heating & cooling: Central heating; Central cooling
• Interior features: Attic with pull-down access; Two wood-burning fireplaces; Bay window in living room; Ceiling fans in master bedroom and great room; Utility room laundry
• Laundry & utility: Utility room for laundry

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 3-bed/2.0-bath single-family listed at $225k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $393 ($5k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $216k (3.9% below list).
• Recommended offer: $205k (9.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 63/100 on livability (#168 in SC) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: employment D+, schools D, crime F.
• Lexington 02 (suburban): math 30% / reading 38% proficiency, ranked #45 of 80 in SC (top 56%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Market conditions: Rents rising (+3.5%/yr); 127 active listings in the ZIP; 2 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 1,712 units permitted in Lexington County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• At $2,161/mo this rent would consume 45% of the median local household income ($57k/yr) (locally 1172% 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 $2k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $7k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Lexington County population projected at +26% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 97 days — a 9% lower offer ($205k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 3 sale attempts; this cycle's ask has dropped $25k (10%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1957 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Climate carrying-cost: major wind risk, 65% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→16/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.

Recommended offer $204,659 (9.0% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. It's been on market 97 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 9% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
2. Built in 1957 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
3. Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
4. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
5. 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?
6. 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?
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 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: 0.96% ✗
• Cap rate: 8.39%
• Cash-on-cash: 7.49%
• DSCR: 1.33
• GRM: 8.7

CMA / ARV

No comps found within radius.

Projected returns pro-forma

-3.0% appreciation · 3.48% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -4.4%
• Equity multiple: 0.83×
• Total profit: $-10,474
• Equity at exit: $33,533

10-year hold

• IRR: 5.7%
• Equity multiple: 1.43×
• Total profit: $26,996
• Equity at exit: $19,445

Cash invested: $62,972 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State South Carolina: 90 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+6
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

5-day notice; preempted; landlord-favorable.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 29169

• Home prices YoY: -15.8%
• Rents YoY: 3.5%
• Active inventory: 127
• Price-to-rent: 8.7×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $2,161 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,179
• Tax from tax record: −$41 /mo · $496/yr
• Insurance: −$94
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$454
• Net cashflow: $393

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,664

Max offer price $224,900

Occupancy floor 77%

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $520	-5% $457	+0% $393	+5% $329	+10% $266
Rent	-10% $222	-5% $308	+0% $393	+5% $478	+10% $564
Rate	-1.0pp $506	-0.5pp $450	base $393	+0.5pp $335	+1.0pp $276

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: $56,225
• Closing costs: $6,747
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 2 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
613 Finnegan Ln West Columbia, SC	3.0	2.5	1894	$2,300	$1.21	15d	1	0.79mi
133 Brewers Oak Ln West Columbia, SC	3.0	2.5	1600	$2,049	$1.28	3d	1	0.94mi

Listing history 19 events

1. 2026-06-16
   statusdays on market $224,900 Pending 97 DOM
2. 2026-06-15
   days on market $224,900 Active 96 DOM
3. 2026-06-14
   days on market $224,900 Active 94 DOM
4. 2026-06-13
   days on market $224,900 Active 93 DOM
5. 2026-06-10
   days on market $224,900 Active 91 DOM
6. 2026-06-09
   days on market $224,900 Active 90 DOM
7. 2026-06-08
   days on market $224,900 Active 89 DOM
8. 2026-06-07
   days on market $224,900 Active 88 DOM
9. 2026-06-05
   days on market $224,900 Active 85 DOM
10. 2026-06-03
    days on market $224,900 Active 84 DOM
11. 2026-06-03
    days on market $224,900 Active 83 DOM
12. 2026-06-02
    days on market $224,900 Active 82 DOM
13. 2026-05-31
    days on market $224,900 Active 81 DOM
14. 2026-05-05
    price $224,900
15. 2026-04-09
    price $244,900
16. 2026-03-11
    listed $249,900 Active
17. 2026-02-12
    status Active
18. 2026-02-04
    status Pending
19. 2026-02-02
    listed $249,900 Active

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

Tax reassessment forecast SC · Resets to sale price

• Current annual tax: $496 · $41/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $1,282 · $107/mo
• Expected delta: +$786/yr (+$65/mo · 158.5%)

ⓘ 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 2/10 Low
• 🌡 Heat 7/10 Severe 7 d/yr ≥108°F today · 16 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 6/10 Major 65% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 3/10 Moderate 2 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $25,937
• − Mortgage interest: −$12,598
• − Property taxes: −$496
• − Insurance: −$1,124
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$2,075
• − Management: −$2,075
• − Depreciation: −$6,543
• Taxable income: $1,026
• Est. tax owed @ 24.0%: −$246
• After-tax cash flow: $4,471/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: Lexington 02
• NCES district ID: 4502730
• Math proficiency: 30% ▼ -6.00%
• Reading proficiency: 38% ▬ 0.00%
• Median HH income: $42,532
• Composite: 28.78/100
• National rank: #6669
• State rank: #45 of 80 in SC

Livability — West Columbia

• Score: 63/100
• State rank: #168
• US rank: #15166

Category grades

Amenities C Commute F 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

• County: Lexington County · 232,571 people
• City population: 21,647
• Metro: Columbia, SC
• Population (ZIP): 21,647
• Household income: $57,122
• Rent vs Own: 46.7% rent · 53.3% own
• Severe rent burden: 1172.0

Population outlook (Lexington County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 322,999 people
• By 2030: 342,356 · +6.0%
• By 2040: 377,715 · +16.9%
• By 2050: 406,984 · +26.0%
• By 2075: 465,447 · +44.1%
• By 2100: 485,674 · +50.4%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (66%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 66% Black 16% Two or more races 11% Hispanic / Latino 10% Asian 3%
• Hispanic origin (detail): Mexican 6%
• Common ancestry: Serbian 2% Italian 2% Lithuanian 2%
• Foreign-born: 8% · Canada, China
• Languages at home: 88% English-only · Spanish 8% Other Indo-European 1% Chinese 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Lexington

• 2024 margin: Solid R (+33.5) · D 32.5% · R 66.0% · Other 1.4%
• 2008→2024 swing: +4.6pp toward D · 2008: -38.0pp · 2024: -33.5pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+33.5 2020: R+30.1 2016: R+36.7 2012: R+37.8 2008: R+38.0

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -53.87%
• Current HPI: 287.4791
• Rent YoY: ▲ 3.48%
• Metro: Columbia, SC
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 4.51%
• F500 in state: 2

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in SC)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Packaging	1	$7B

Price history

-10.0% since first listed

6 events — show timeline

• 2026-05-05 Price Changed $224,900 Consolidated MLS
• 2026-04-09 Price Changed $244,900 Consolidated MLS
• 2026-03-11 Listed $249,900 Consolidated MLS
• 2026-02-12 Relisted — Consolidated MLS
• 2026-02-04 Pending — Consolidated MLS
• 2026-02-02 Listed $249,900 Consolidated MLS

Property tax history

-12.0%/yr

Latest (2024): $496 · +6.0% YoY. Source: county tax records.