543 E 3rd St · El Paso, IL 61738

$125,000

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,154 sqft · Other public records · 226 Days on market

Built 1926 $108/sqft · 6% above area Est $195k · 36% under ↓ 32% since listing

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Why this score? — see what drove the D 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).

• ARV discount +15.0/15.0
• Cash flow +8.9/30.0
• Livability +3.4/5.0
• Schools +3.1/10.0
• 1% rule +3.0/10.0
• DSCR +2.5/10.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Appreciation +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Welcome to your dream family home nestled in the heart of a charming small town! This inviting residence comes with modern updates and timeless warmth, making it the perfect place for families of all sizes. Partially remodeled, it features a brand-new water heater and stylish vinyl flooring gracing the main level, ensuring both comfort and convenience. Walk out of the kitchen to a freshly constructed deck perfect for summer time barbecues Step inside to discover three spacious bedrooms, each bathed in natural light. The expansive loft offers a delightful playroom for children or an ideal space for family gatherings. Enjoy the convenience of a well-appointed full bath, designed for both functionality and style.Outside, the property showcases a generous lot, perfect for outdoor activities and entertaining. With a two-car garage, you'll have ample storage space and protection for your vehicles. Don't miss the opportunity to call this beautiful home your own-experience small-town living at its best!

Key facts

• Built 1926
• Listed 226 days

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath other listed at $125k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-100 ($-1k/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $107k (14.2% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $100k (19.7% below list).
• Recommended offer: $100k (19.7% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 68/100 on livability (#472 in IL) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: crime A+, cost of living A+, housing A+; Watch: amenities F, commute F, health & safety F.
• El Paso-Gridley CUSD 11 (town): math 31% / reading 38% proficiency, ranked #183 of 620 in IL (top 30%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Market conditions: 11 active listings in the ZIP; 35 units permitted in Woodford County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).

Forward outlook

• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $864 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Woodford County population projected to shrink 3% by 2050 — rents likely to lag national; underwrite the cash flow, not the appreciation.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 226 days — a 12% lower offer ($110k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 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.
• Current owner paid $85k; 47% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: built in 1926 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.

Recommended offer $100,359 (19.7% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
2. It's been on market 226 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 20% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
3. Built in 1926 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
4. Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
5. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
6. The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?
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: 0.80% ✗
• Cap rate: 5.33%
• Cash-on-cash: -3.45%
• DSCR: 0.85
• GRM: 10.4

CMA / ARV

• ARV (median comp): $194,842
• List price: $125,000
• Delta: -35.85%
• Verdict: UNDERPRICED
• Comps: 20 within 1.0 mi

Projected returns pro-forma

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

5-year hold

• IRR: -22.0%
• Equity multiple: 0.24×
• Total profit: $-26,622
• Equity at exit: $18,638

10-year hold

• IRR: -15.9%
• Equity multiple: 0.11×
• Total profit: $-31,288
• Equity at exit: $10,808

Cash invested: $35,000 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 43 Moderately Tenant-Leaning
• State Illinois: 43 Moderately Tenant-Leaning · D+7
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

Chicago RTLO is among the strongest tenant ordinances in the Midwest; downstate is more landlord-friendly.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 61738

• Active inventory: 11
• Price-to-rent: 10.4×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $1,004 medium
• Mortgage (P&I): −$656
• Tax from tax record: −$186 /mo · $2,229/yr
• Insurance: −$52
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$211
• Net cashflow: $-100

Break-even live

Break-even rent $1,131

Max offer price $107,249

Occupancy floor —

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: $31,250
• Closing costs: $3,750
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Listing history 21 events

1. 2026-06-18
   days on market $125,000 Active 226 DOM
2. 2026-06-17
   days on market $125,000 Active 225 DOM
3. 2026-06-16
   days on market $125,000 Active 224 DOM
4. 2026-06-15
   days on market $125,000 Active 223 DOM
5. 2026-06-13
   days on market $125,000 Active 221 DOM
6. 2026-06-12
   days on market $125,000 Active 220 DOM
7. 2026-06-09
   days on market $125,000 Active 217 DOM
8. 2026-06-08
   days on market $125,000 Active 216 DOM
9. 2026-06-07
   days on market $125,000 Active 215 DOM
10. 2026-06-05
    days on market $125,000 Active 213 DOM
11. 2026-06-04
    days on market $125,000 Active 211 DOM
12. 2026-06-02
    days on market $125,000 Active 210 DOM
13. 2026-06-01
    days on market $125,000 Active 209 DOM
14. 2026-05-31
    days on market $125,000 Active 208 DOM
15. 2026-05-31
    days on market $125,000 Active 207 DOM
16. 2026-03-11
    soldstatus $85,000
17. 2026-03-10
    soldstatus $85,000 Closed 1010-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1010 chars)

    Welcome to your dream family home nestled in the heart of a charming small town! This inviting residence comes with modern updates and timeless warmth, making it the perfect place for families of all sizes. Partially remodeled, it features a brand-new water heater and stylish vinyl flooring gracing the main level, ensuring both comfort and convenience. Walk out of the kitchen to a freshly constructed deck perfect for summer time barbecues Step inside to discover three spacious bedrooms, each bathed in natural light. The expansive loft offers a delightful playroom for children or an ideal space for family gatherings. Enjoy the convenience of a well-appointed full bath, designed for both functionality and style.Outside, the property showcases a generous lot, perfect for outdoor activities and entertaining. With a two-car garage, you'll have ample storage space and protection for your vehicles. Don't miss the opportunity to call this beautiful home your own-experience small-town living at its best!

18. 2026-02-17
    historical Contingent - Continue to Show 1010-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1010 chars)

    Welcome to your dream family home nestled in the heart of a charming small town! This inviting residence comes with modern updates and timeless warmth, making it the perfect place for families of all sizes. Partially remodeled, it features a brand-new water heater and stylish vinyl flooring gracing the main level, ensuring both comfort and convenience. Walk out of the kitchen to a freshly constructed deck perfect for summer time barbecues Step inside to discover three spacious bedrooms, each bathed in natural light. The expansive loft offers a delightful playroom for children or an ideal space for family gatherings. Enjoy the convenience of a well-appointed full bath, designed for both functionality and style.Outside, the property showcases a generous lot, perfect for outdoor activities and entertaining. With a two-car garage, you'll have ample storage space and protection for your vehicles. Don't miss the opportunity to call this beautiful home your own-experience small-town living at its best!

19. 2026-01-21
    price $108,000 1010-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1010 chars)

    Welcome to your dream family home nestled in the heart of a charming small town! This inviting residence comes with modern updates and timeless warmth, making it the perfect place for families of all sizes. Partially remodeled, it features a brand-new water heater and stylish vinyl flooring gracing the main level, ensuring both comfort and convenience. Walk out of the kitchen to a freshly constructed deck perfect for summer time barbecues Step inside to discover three spacious bedrooms, each bathed in natural light. The expansive loft offers a delightful playroom for children or an ideal space for family gatherings. Enjoy the convenience of a well-appointed full bath, designed for both functionality and style.Outside, the property showcases a generous lot, perfect for outdoor activities and entertaining. With a two-car garage, you'll have ample storage space and protection for your vehicles. Don't miss the opportunity to call this beautiful home your own-experience small-town living at its best!

20. 2025-12-09
    listed $125,000 Active 1010-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1010 chars)

    Welcome to your dream family home nestled in the heart of a charming small town! This inviting residence comes with modern updates and timeless warmth, making it the perfect place for families of all sizes. Partially remodeled, it features a brand-new water heater and stylish vinyl flooring gracing the main level, ensuring both comfort and convenience. Walk out of the kitchen to a freshly constructed deck perfect for summer time barbecues Step inside to discover three spacious bedrooms, each bathed in natural light. The expansive loft offers a delightful playroom for children or an ideal space for family gatherings. Enjoy the convenience of a well-appointed full bath, designed for both functionality and style.Outside, the property showcases a generous lot, perfect for outdoor activities and entertaining. With a two-car garage, you'll have ample storage space and protection for your vehicles. Don't miss the opportunity to call this beautiful home your own-experience small-town living at its best!

21. 2025-10-31
    listed $125,000 Active 199-char remark

    Show marketing remark (199 chars)

    Three bedroom two car detached garage huge yard need some fixing up and tender love and care. Asking $125k willing to negotiate. Taking offers once sold as soon as possible. Text or call 309-265-5695

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

Tax reassessment forecast IL · Partial reset (capped growth)

• Current annual tax: $2,229 · $186/mo
• Projected year-2 tax: $2,533 · $211/mo
• Expected delta: +$304/yr (+$25/mo · 13.7%)

ⓘ 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 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥104°F today · 18 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low 100% chance of damaging wind over 30 yrs
• 🫁 Air quality 2/10 Low 1 unhealthy d/yr today · 2 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $12,043
• − Mortgage interest: −$7,002
• − Property taxes: −$2,229
• − Insurance: −$625
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$963
• − Management: −$963
• − Depreciation: −$3,636
• Taxable loss: −$3,376
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$810
• After-tax cash flow: $-396/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: El Paso-Gridley CUSD 11
• NCES district ID: 1700326
• Math proficiency: 31% ▼ -7.00%
• Reading proficiency: 38% ▼ -14.00%
• Median HH income: $61,542
• Composite: 31.02/100
• National rank: #6089
• State rank: #183 of 620 in IL

Livability — El Paso

• Score: 68/100
• State rank: #472
• US rank: #9747

Category grades

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

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: El Paso, IL
• Population (ZIP): 4,444

Population outlook (Woodford County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 39,897 people
• By 2030: 40,038 · +0.4%
• By 2040: 39,745 · -0.4%
• By 2050: 38,585 · -3.3%
• By 2075: 34,769 · -12.9%
• By 2100: 27,616 · -30.8%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (95%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 95% Black 2% Two or more races 2%
• Common ancestry: Lithuanian 3% Iranian 2% Italian 2%
• Foreign-born: 2%
• Languages at home: 97% English-only · German/W. Germanic 2%

Political lean MEDSL · Woodford

• 2024 margin: Solid R (+42.0) · D 28.2% · R 70.3% · Other 1.5%
• 2008→2024 swing: -15.4pp toward R · 2008: -26.6pp · 2024: -42.0pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+42.0 2020: R+40.2 2016: R+41.8 2012: R+39.2 2008: R+26.6

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▼ -131.17%
• Current HPI: 130.3388
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: —
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 1.59%
• F500 in state: 60

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in IL)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Insurance	4	$201B
▸Consumer Goods	4	$87B
▸Industrial Machinery	3	$64B
▸Healthcare	2	$55B
▸Retail / Pharmacy	1	$148B
▸Agriculture / Food	1	$86B

Price history

-32.0% since first listed

6 events — show timeline

• 2026-03-11 Sold (Public Records) $85,000 Public Records
• 2026-03-10 Sold (MLS) $85,000 MRED as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2026-02-17 Contingent — MRED as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2026-01-21 Price Changed $108,000 MRED as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2025-12-09 Listed $125,000 MRED as Distributed by MLS Grid
• 2025-10-31 Listed $125,000 Fizber.com

Property tax history

+3.1%/yr

Latest (2024): $2,229 · +9.3% YoY. Source: county tax records.