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555 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78701, 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
$59,976
$4,998/mo · at 67% occupancy & $369/night
-$7,964
-$664/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
4.8%
Cash-on-cash
-4.2%
DSCR
0.80
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$59,976/yr
Market avg: $59,976/yr · 67% occ · $369 ADR
Financing
$38,854/yr
Operating costs
$29,086/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 50 properties
$178–$514
Median $371
27%–90%
Median 67%
$35.1K–$117.0K
Median $54.4K
168–365
Median 274
This property · $60.0K
Comparable properties (50)
Cash flow potential Low · Appreciation potential Medium
325 days available · 234 days booked ·
365 days available · 238 days booked ·
361 days available · 199 days booked ·
353 days available · 231 days booked ·
343 days available · 227 days booked ·
365 days available · 186 days booked ·
312 days available · 225 days booked ·
365 days available · 244 days booked ·
244 days available · 217 days booked ·
307 days available · 166 days booked ·
331 days available · 171 days booked ·
303 days available · 212 days booked ·
268 days available · 236 days booked ·
270 days available · 214 days booked ·
256 days available · 205 days booked ·
256 days available · 212 days booked ·
325 days available · 186 days booked ·
257 days available · 218 days booked ·
269 days available · 223 days booked ·
243 days available · 208 days booked ·
324 days available · 147 days booked ·
343 days available · 129 days booked ·
259 days available · 141 days booked ·
182 days available · 148 days booked ·
268 days available · 139 days booked ·
355 days available · 139 days booked ·
319 days available · 110 days booked ·
225 days available · 172 days booked ·
259 days available · 150 days booked ·
204 days available · 152 days booked ·
275 days available · 113 days booked ·
218 days available · 176 days booked ·
248 days available · 115 days booked ·
279 days available · 132 days booked ·
211 days available · 161 days booked ·
224 days available · 162 days booked ·
274 days available · 95 days booked ·
266 days available · 107 days booked ·
341 days available · 279 days booked ·
168 days available · 124 days booked ·
274 days available · 171 days booked ·
281 days available · 185 days booked ·
226 days available · 113 days booked ·
171 days available · 122 days booked ·
206 days available · 133 days booked ·
347 days available · 95 days booked ·
291 days available · 143 days booked ·
296 days available · 98 days booked ·
204 days available · 129 days booked ·
329 days available · 93 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
~$160.3K
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
$515.9K
Break-even purchase price
Break-even is ~20% below the Zestimate, a discount sellers in Austin rarely accept. Treat the number as a walk-away line rather than an opening offer.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
0.80
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 Austin submarket.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$160.3K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $133.0K–$182.7K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $49.2K–$67.6K 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 -4.2%, DSCR 0.80, cash flow -$7,964/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $486,675 | 1.2% | 1.06 | Positive |
| -22% | $506,142 | 0.4% | 1.02 | At break-even |
| -15% | $551,565 | -1.3% | 0.94 | Below break-even |
| -8% | $596,988 | -2.8% | 0.86 | Below break-even |
| Asking | $648,900 | -4.2% | 0.80 | Below break-even |
| +8% | $700,812 | -5.5% | 0.74 | Below break-even |
| +15% | $746,235 | -6.4% | 0.69 | Below break-even |
Break-even price
$515,887
~20% under Zestimate. Where this property reaches 1.0 DSCR and neutral cash flow.
Discount needed
−$133,013
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$5,695/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $4,998 · peaks at $6,494 in Mar
Annual avg 61% · peaks at 68% in Mar
−$664/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$188,181
Return on cash:13%
DSCR below 1.0 — but you can still qualify
Your DSCR is 0.8 · 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
15.2%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
1.9×
total proceeds vs. $188,181 invested
Projected value at exit
$828,179
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+6.7 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $167,169 | $32,445 | $51,339 | $250,953 |
| Year 2 | $172,470 | $66,512 | $44,275 | $283,257 |
| Year 3 | $178,154 | $102,283 | $38,123 | $318,560 |
| Year 4 | $184,249 | $139,842 | $32,899 | $356,990 |
| Year 5 | $190,785 | $179,279 | $28,615 | $398,680 |
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 Austin 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.
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