215 Palm Ave

Houma, LA 70364

$119,900C-

2 bd · 1.5 ba · 879 sqft · Built 1955 · SingleFamily · Active · 321 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,184/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$629
• Tax + insurance: −$169
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$249
• Net cashflow: $138/mo
• Annual: $1,656/yr
• Cap rate: 8.34%
• Cash-on-cash: 7.31%
• DSCR: 1.33
• 1% rule: 0.99%
• Cash to close: $33,572

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.5-bath single-family listed at $120k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $138 ($2k/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 $118k (1.2% below list).
• It's been on market 321 days — a 12% lower offer ($106k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $106k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $829 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 64/100 on livability (#165 in LA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A; Watch: employment D, crime D-, amenities F.
• Terrebonne Parish (other): math 32% / reading 46% proficiency, ranked #23 of 98 in LA (top 24%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases; 62% free/reduced lunch — lower-income household profile, screen leases tightly.
• Zoned schools: Legion Park Elementary School (math 17% / reading 32%, grade F, #384 of 646 statewide, top 62%, 283 students, 81% FRL); Houma Junior High School (math 23% / reading 49%, grade F, #84 of 218 statewide, top 41%, 729 students, 56% FRL); Terrebonne High School (math 38% / reading 41%, grade F, #80 of 265 statewide, top 32%, 1,386 students, 49% FRL) — zoned schools at 62% FRL track the district average.
• Watch-outs: flood insurance adds $66/mo; built in 1955 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 313 active listings in the ZIP; 8 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals lingering (median 46d on market — plan ~5-8 weeks vacancy on turnover, expect pricing pressure); 100% of comp listings sitting > 30 days — soft ceiling on asking rent; 300 units permitted in Terrebonne Parish in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• 6 sale attempts since 24y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $9k (7%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $94k; 28% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
• Climate carrying-cost: major flood risk; severe wind risk, 99% chance of damaging wind over 30y; extreme-heat days projected 7→21/yr by 2055 (HVAC capex compounding) — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 8.3% vs local median 4.0% in Houma — 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.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 321 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1955 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• What's the actual annual flood-insurance premium (NFIP or private), and is the property in a SFHA with mandatory coverage?
• 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.
• Schools are B-rated — typically a magnet for longer-tenancy family renters. What's the average tenant stay here, and is there a school-zone premium baked into asking?
• Crime grade is D 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.