505 S Elm St

Shenandoah, IA 51601

$123,000C-

2 bd · 1.0 ba · 1,051 sqft · Built 1900 · SingleFamily · Active · 52 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,334/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$645
• Tax + insurance: −$164
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$280
• Net cashflow: $244/mo
• Annual: $2,932/yr
• Cap rate: 8.68%
• Cash-on-cash: 8.51%
• DSCR: 1.38
• 1% rule: 1.08%
• Cash to close: $34,440

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $123k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $244 ($3k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $123k).
• It's been on market 52 days — a 3% lower offer ($119k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $119k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $850 of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• Location reads 76/100 on livability (#206 in IA, #3,757 nationally) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: cost of living A+, housing A+, health & safety A+; Watch: crime D-, amenities F, commute F.
• Shenandoah Community School District (town): math 64% / reading 69% proficiency, ranked #190 of 289 in IA (top 66%) — acceptable for families but not a draw, mixed tenant base, ~2y average lease.
• Zoned schools: Shenandoah Elementary School (math 77% / reading 57%, grade B+, #273 of 616 statewide, top 51%, 375 students, 39% FRL); Shenandoah Middle School (math 61% / reading 74%, grade A-, #133 of 246 statewide, top 56%, 296 students, 38% FRL); Shenandoah High School (math 61% / reading 68%, grade B-, #211 of 336 statewide, top 70%, 259 students, 38% FRL) — zoned schools at 38% FRL track the district average.
• Watch-outs: built in 1900 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 24 active listings in the ZIP; 25 units permitted in Page County in 2024 (0 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Page County population projected at -12% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• 3 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 $42k; list at $123k implies a 196% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 52 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1900 — 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 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.
• 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.