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3908 Center Street, Houston, TX, USA
Cash-flow positive, but the margin over debt service is thin.
Investment potential
Your scenario · adjust the levers below or open advanced settings to see how returns change
$56,003
$4,667/mo · at 69% occupancy & $229/night
$2,334
$195/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
6.5%
Cash-on-cash
1.6%
DSCR
1.08
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$56,003/yr
Market avg: $56,003/yr · 69% occ · $229 ADR
Financing
$29,939/yr
Operating costs
$23,730/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 50 properties
$114–$358
Median $229
42%–91%
Median 69%
$33.5K–$99.3K
Median $51.2K
270–365
Median 361
This property · $56.0K
Comparable properties (50)
Cash flow potential Medium · Appreciation potential Medium
335 days available · 285 days booked ·
355 days available · 306 days booked ·
365 days available · 267 days booked ·
361 days available · 267 days booked ·
320 days available · 278 days booked ·
356 days available · 260 days booked ·
365 days available · 241 days booked ·
365 days available · 219 days booked ·
344 days available · 293 days booked ·
365 days available · 183 days booked ·
365 days available · 237 days booked ·
365 days available · 235 days booked ·
365 days available · 282 days booked ·
351 days available · 273 days booked ·
355 days available · 288 days booked ·
365 days available · 203 days booked ·
365 days available · 176 days booked ·
296 days available · 170 days booked ·
309 days available · 246 days booked ·
365 days available · 302 days booked ·
361 days available · 227 days booked ·
365 days available · 282 days booked ·
311 days available · 230 days booked ·
365 days available · 200 days booked ·
365 days available · 243 days booked ·
360 days available · 265 days booked ·
365 days available · 223 days booked ·
349 days available · 230 days booked ·
365 days available · 260 days booked ·
328 days available · 245 days booked ·
342 days available · 211 days booked ·
270 days available · 187 days booked ·
335 days available · 213 days booked ·
349 days available · 216 days booked ·
365 days available · 197 days booked ·
329 days available · 217 days booked ·
362 days available · 311 days booked ·
362 days available · 216 days booked ·
365 days available · 225 days booked ·
359 days available · 173 days booked ·
365 days available · 242 days booked ·
365 days available · 180 days booked ·
365 days available · 317 days booked ·
364 days available · 217 days booked ·
273 days available · 182 days booked ·
365 days available · 168 days booked ·
321 days available · 174 days booked ·
340 days available · 166 days booked ·
295 days available · 125 days booked ·
317 days available · 160 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
~$123.5K
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
$539.0K
Break-even purchase price
The deal already breaks even at or above the Zestimate, so you don't need a discount to make the math work. Buy at asking and the numbers still hold — rare enough in Houston to be worth moving on.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
1.08
DSCR at asking
The property covers its debt service at asking but sits below the 1.20 most lenders want to see, so expect a larger down payment or a rate buy-down to get it financed. There's no margin for a soft season.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$123.5K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $102.5K–$140.8K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $37.9K–$52.1K 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 +1.6%, DSCR 1.08, cash flow $2,334/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $375,000 | 8.4% | 1.44 | Positive |
| -22% | $390,000 | 7.3% | 1.38 | Positive |
| -15% | $425,000 | 5.2% | 1.27 | Positive |
| -8% | $460,000 | 3.4% | 1.17 | Positive |
| Asking | $500,000 | 1.6% | 1.08 | Positive |
| +8% | $540,000 | -0.0% | 1.00 | At break-even |
| +15% | $575,000 | -1.3% | 0.94 | Below break-even |
Break-even price
$538,980
~-8% under Zestimate. Where this property reaches 1.0 DSCR and neutral cash flow.
Discount needed
−$38,980
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$4,388/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $4,667 · peaks at $5,752 in Mar
Annual avg 66% · peaks at 76% in Mar
$195/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$145,000
Return on cash:18.9%
You qualify for STR financing
Your DSCR is 1.08 · 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
20.7%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
2.2×
total proceeds vs. $145,000 invested
Projected value at exit
$638,141
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+7.3 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $128,809 | $25,000 | $48,029 | $201,838 |
| Year 2 | $132,894 | $51,250 | $51,203 | $235,347 |
| Year 3 | $137,274 | $78,813 | $55,230 | $271,316 |
| Year 4 | $141,970 | $107,753 | $60,122 | $309,845 |
| Year 5 | $147,007 | $138,141 | $65,892 | $351,040 |
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 Houston agent who knows which properties actually cash flow — and which to avoid.
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Real Estate Investment Analysis & Market Insights
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.