5256 4th St

Melrose, IA 52569

$78,000B+

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 910 sqft · Built 1977 · Other · Active · 38 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $924/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$409
• Tax + insurance: −$46
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$194
• Net cashflow: $275/mo
• Annual: $3,306/yr
• Cap rate: 10.53%
• Cash-on-cash: 15.14%
• DSCR: 1.67
• 1% rule: 1.18%
• Cash to close: $21,840

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath other listed at $78k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $275 ($3k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($924 rent vs $78k).
• It's been on market 38 days — a 3% lower offer ($76k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $76k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $8k of equity ($539 loan paydown + $8k appreciation (10.0% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 57/100 on livability (#919 in IA) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A-; Watch: crime C-, schools F, amenities F.
• Albia Community School District (town): math 68% / reading 77% proficiency, ranked #117 of 289 in IA (top 40%) — strong family-tenant draw, lease renewals of 3-5y typical.
• Market conditions: 26 active listings in the ZIP; 13 units permitted in Monroe County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• At projected returns (10.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $22k cash investment doubles in ~2 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 5, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$39k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 38 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1977 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• Schools are F-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.