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1945 N Howe St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
Priced too high to cash-flow with a loan — an equity or tax play, not income.
Investment potential
Your scenario · adjust the levers below or open advanced settings to see how returns change
$77,741
$6,478/mo · at 60% occupancy & $548/night
-$65,995
-$5,500/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
1.4%
Cash-on-cash
-16.7%
DSCR
0.24
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$77,741/yr
Market avg: $77,741/yr · 60% occ · $548 ADR
Financing
$86,487/yr
Operating costs
$57,249/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 50 properties
$288–$770
Median $547
32%–86%
Median 60%
$41.5K–$112.3K
Median $77.5K
195–365
Median 271
This property · $77.7K
Comparable properties (50)
Cash flow potential Low · Appreciation potential Medium
363 days available · 194 days booked ·
281 days available · 142 days booked ·
310 days available · 173 days booked ·
296 days available · 148 days booked ·
360 days available · 248 days booked ·
247 days available · 165 days booked ·
348 days available · 129 days booked ·
279 days available · 173 days booked ·
325 days available · 160 days booked ·
264 days available · 143 days booked ·
309 days available · 168 days booked ·
262 days available · 143 days booked ·
258 days available · 177 days booked ·
310 days available · 144 days booked ·
248 days available · 152 days booked ·
229 days available · 150 days booked ·
257 days available · 177 days booked ·
204 days available · 128 days booked ·
275 days available · 219 days booked ·
323 days available · 242 days booked ·
234 days available · 130 days booked ·
265 days available · 161 days booked ·
284 days available · 127 days booked ·
240 days available · 127 days booked ·
275 days available · 115 days booked ·
210 days available · 143 days booked ·
319 days available · 195 days booked ·
209 days available · 123 days booked ·
197 days available · 160 days booked ·
230 days available · 167 days booked ·
212 days available · 136 days booked ·
365 days available · 177 days booked ·
296 days available · 117 days booked ·
246 days available · 128 days booked ·
349 days available · 176 days booked ·
300 days available · 148 days booked ·
320 days available · 190 days booked ·
317 days available · 126 days booked ·
221 days available · 113 days booked ·
247 days available · 192 days booked ·
266 days available · 119 days booked ·
284 days available · 142 days booked ·
227 days available · 121 days booked ·
288 days available · 201 days booked ·
213 days available · 136 days booked ·
343 days available · 102 days booked ·
265 days available · 190 days booked ·
280 days available · 144 days booked ·
209 days available · 125 days booked ·
195 days available · 140 days booked ·
Revenue and occupancy reflect Chalet's modeled estimates from observed booking activity for comparable active listings. Individual results vary with management, seasonality, and pricing.
Who this property is for
The same property is a great buy for one investor and a trap for another. Here's the honest read.
1031 / high-equity buyer
~$356.8K
Year-1 tax shield
Buying with cash or low leverage removes the debt-coverage problem entirely, so the thesis rests on appreciation plus a large first-year write-off. At roughly 25% of purchase price, the shield is substantial enough to carry the deal on its own.
Price-disciplined buyer
—
Break-even purchase price
Even a deep discount doesn't get this deal to break even within a realistic range, so there's no price anchor to negotiate toward. A price-disciplined buyer should pass unless the revenue assumptions change.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
0.24
DSCR at asking
At asking price the property doesn't cover its own debt service, so it won't qualify for DSCR financing as modeled. If you need cash flow from day one, look at a mid-term-rental fallback or a different Chicago submarket.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$356.8K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $296.1K–$406.7K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $109.6K–$150.5K in estimated federal tax saved.
This only applies if you meet the IRS material-participation tests for short-term rentals and are not using a full-service property manager.
Estimate, subject to CPA review. Cost-segregation percentages shown here are illustrative and depend on an actual study of the property.
Some states do not conform to federal bonus depreciation, so your state may not allow the same first-year treatment shown above.
Chalet can introduce a cost-segregation partner — this is not tax, legal, or financial advice.
How cash-on-cash return moves with purchase price. The marked line is break-even (1.0 DSCR).
At this price: cash-on-cash -16.7%, DSCR 0.24, cash flow -$65,995/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $1,083,300 | -14.7% | 0.32 | Below break-even |
| -22% | $1,126,632 | -15.0% | 0.30 | Below break-even |
| -15% | $1,227,740 | -15.6% | 0.28 | Below break-even |
| -8% | $1,328,848 | -16.2% | 0.26 | Below break-even |
| Asking | $1,444,400 | -16.7% | 0.24 | Below break-even |
| +8% | $1,559,952 | -17.1% | 0.22 | Below break-even |
| +15% | $1,661,060 | -17.5% | 0.21 | Below break-even |
Break-even price
Out of range
This deal does not reach break-even within ±25% of asking.
Discount needed
—
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$12,676/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $6,478 · peaks at $7,781 in Aug
Annual avg 58% · peaks at 74% in Aug
−$5,500/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$418,876
Return on cash:1.5%
DSCR below 1.0 — but you can still qualify
Your DSCR is 0.24 · lenders typically require 1.0+.
Get matched with 2–3 vetted STR lenders, free.
What the deal returns over the hold — including the tax shield, which is the whole point for an appreciation buyer.
Levered IRR
4.5%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
1.3×
total proceeds vs. $418,876 invested
Projected value at exit
$1,843,461
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+5.4 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $372,104 | $72,220 | $66,009 | $510,333 |
| Year 2 | $383,904 | $148,051 | $1,180 | $533,135 |
| Year 3 | $396,557 | $227,674 | -$62,465 | $561,765 |
| Year 4 | $410,124 | $311,277 | -$124,909 | $596,492 |
| Year 5 | $424,672 | $399,061 | -$186,134 | $637,600 |
Projection, not a promise.
Assumes 5.0% annual appreciation, 1.5% rent growth (operating costs held flat), and that the property qualifies for short-term-rental tax treatment. The year-1 depreciation shield depends on a real cost-segregation study and your tax situation — consult a CPA.
Appreciation is the dominant driver of this return. When cash flow is negative, the deal depends on the property gaining value — it is not paying for itself from income.
Appreciation, rent growth, and financing rates are editable under Edit financials.
STR deals turn on local rules and demand that a generalist agent misses. Chalet matches you with a vetted Chicago agent who knows which properties actually cash flow — and which to avoid.
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Disclaimer
This page and the data presented are for informational purposes only. The information provided should not be construed as financial, legal, or investment advice. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.