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87 Romney St, Charleston, SC 29403, 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
$80,641
$6,720/mo · at 54% occupancy & $579/night
-$25,819
-$2,152/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
3.5%
Cash-on-cash
-8.9%
DSCR
0.58
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$80,641/yr
Market avg: $80,641/yr · 54% occ · $579 ADR
Financing
$62,081/yr
Operating costs
$44,379/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 50 properties
$319–$951
Median $580
30%–85%
Median 55%
$42.1K–$158.1K
Median $75.1K
151–341
Median 254
This property · $80.6K
Comparable properties (50)
Cash flow potential Low · Appreciation potential Medium
330 days available · 187 days booked ·
264 days available · 154 days booked ·
251 days available · 169 days booked ·
233 days available · 142 days booked ·
312 days available · 145 days booked ·
248 days available · 134 days booked ·
300 days available · 132 days booked ·
220 days available · 153 days booked ·
292 days available · 132 days booked ·
266 days available · 114 days booked ·
296 days available · 170 days booked ·
308 days available · 123 days booked ·
291 days available · 149 days booked ·
328 days available · 149 days booked ·
234 days available · 145 days booked ·
302 days available · 135 days booked ·
289 days available · 137 days booked ·
311 days available · 124 days booked ·
288 days available · 131 days booked ·
227 days available · 185 days booked ·
217 days available · 161 days booked ·
205 days available · 130 days booked ·
264 days available · 153 days booked ·
211 days available · 123 days booked ·
245 days available · 172 days booked ·
254 days available · 129 days booked ·
321 days available · 167 days booked ·
274 days available · 128 days booked ·
322 days available · 95 days booked ·
171 days available · 130 days booked ·
175 days available · 141 days booked ·
207 days available · 104 days booked ·
251 days available · 115 days booked ·
228 days available · 110 days booked ·
172 days available · 116 days booked ·
278 days available · 145 days booked ·
283 days available · 198 days booked ·
323 days available · 121 days booked ·
244 days available · 96 days booked ·
237 days available · 101 days booked ·
240 days available · 108 days booked ·
151 days available · 118 days booked ·
217 days available · 103 days booked ·
254 days available · 132 days booked ·
341 days available · 164 days booked ·
261 days available · 143 days booked ·
182 days available · 112 days booked ·
266 days available · 121 days booked ·
253 days available · 134 days booked ·
173 days available · 80 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
~$256.1K
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
$605.6K
Break-even purchase price
Break-even is ~42% below the Zestimate, a discount sellers in Charleston rarely accept. Treat the number as a walk-away line rather than an opening offer.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
0.58
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 Charleston submarket.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$256.1K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $212.6K–$291.9K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $78.6K–$108.0K 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 -8.9%, DSCR 0.58, cash flow -$25,819/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $777,600 | -4.6% | 0.78 | Below break-even |
| -22% | $808,704 | -5.3% | 0.75 | Below break-even |
| -15% | $881,280 | -6.6% | 0.69 | Below break-even |
| -8% | $953,856 | -7.8% | 0.63 | Below break-even |
| Asking | $1,036,800 | -8.9% | 0.58 | Below break-even |
| +8% | $1,119,744 | -9.9% | 0.54 | Below break-even |
| +15% | $1,192,320 | -10.6% | 0.51 | Below break-even |
Break-even price
$605,600
~42% under Zestimate. Where this property reaches 1.0 DSCR and neutral cash flow.
Discount needed
−$431,200
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$9,099/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $6,720 · peaks at $9,324 in Mar
Annual avg 55% · peaks at 67% in Mar
−$2,152/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$300,672
Return on cash:8.7%
DSCR below 1.0 — but you can still qualify
Your DSCR is 0.58 · 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
11.1%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
1.6×
total proceeds vs. $300,672 invested
Projected value at exit
$1,323,249
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+6.2 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $267,099 | $51,840 | $68,934 | $387,873 |
| Year 2 | $275,569 | $106,272 | $44,325 | $426,166 |
| Year 3 | $284,651 | $163,426 | $20,943 | $469,020 |
| Year 4 | $294,390 | $223,437 | -$1,192 | $516,635 |
| Year 5 | $304,833 | $286,449 | -$22,063 | $569,219 |
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 Charleston 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.