Dooralytics
St. Paul › Payne – Phalen

591 Payne Ave

Saint Paul, MN · Payne – Phalen (Railroad Island) · Listing office ↗ · Find the listing ↗

Cash flows
Asking price
$275,000
2 units · $138K per unit
Monthly cash flow
$149
at 20% down, 7%
Estimated rent
$3,300/mo
rough estimate
Break-even price
$302,931
where cash flow hits $0

Adjust these numbers in the calculator See the full breakdown

The numbers

Down payment %
Offer
Management
Interest rate %

Default: 20% down (no PMI), offer at asking, self-managed, 7.00% for 30 years, buyer pays closing costs (3%).

Estimated rent per unit Estimate

  • 3 bed / 1.5 bath (est.)$1,650 $1,400–$1,900
  • 3 bed / 1.5 bath (est.)$1,650 $1,400–$1,900

Rough screening estimate from bedroom count only ($750 + $300 per bedroom, ±15%). Not comparable-rental data; a RentCast estimate replaces it for the top candidates. Confidence: low.

Rent rules: Capped at 3%/yr for sitting tenants.

Price
$275,000
Monthly cash flow
$149
Cash to close
$63,250
Cap rate
7.0%
Cash-on-cash
2.8%
DSCR
1.10×
GRM
6.9
Price per unit
$137,500
Price that breaks even
$302,931
Rent that breaks even
$3,107/mo
Cash flow turns positive
year 1
Year 30: property vs stocks
$1.39M vs $481K

Monthly breakdown

Rent$3,300
Vacancy (6%)−$198
Collected$3,102
Property tax Public record−$480
Insurance Estimate−$219
Water, sewer, trash Estimate−$170
Lawn care ($120 × 6 mo ÷ 12)−$60
Repairs (8% of rent)−$264
Capital reserve (9% of rent)−$297
Net operating income$1,612
Mortgage (principal + interest)−$1,464
Cash flow$149
Principal paid down (equity, not cash)$186

Cash flow each year

Rents +3%/yr (St. Paul's cap for sitting tenants), costs +3.5%/yr. Red bars are months you'd cover out of pocket.

30 years: this property vs. the same money in stocks

This propertyStocks at 7%

Year 30 (loan paid off): property $1.39M, stocks $481K. The property wins.

How those totals add up

Year 30
If you buy this building
Sale priceValue grows 3% a year from the price$667,497
Minus 6% selling cost−$40,050
Minus loan still owedTenants' rent paid down all $220,000 of principal by year 30$0
Plus rental profits, invested at 7%$348,462 of profit by year 30, before investment growth$763,339
What you'd walk away with$1,390,787
If you put the same money in stocks
Cash to close ($63,250) invested at 7%$481,475
Monthly shortfalls ($0 total by yr 30) investedThe money you'd have put into the building while it lost money$0
What you'd walk away with$481,475
Building minus stocks$909,312

Future dollars. At 3% inflation, divide year-30 figures by about 2.4 for today's buying power. Rental profits are assumed invested, not spent.

Red flags and opportunities

Watch for

  • low$432 in special assessments on the payable 2026 tax bill (often street, sewer or code-enforcement charges). Ask what they're for, whether they continue, and whether the seller pays them off at closing. Public record: Ramsey County parcel 322922240018: special assessments (payable 2026) = $432.50

Opportunities

  • The seller bought for $90,000 in Sep 2010, so they can take a lower offer and still come out well ahead. Public record: Ramsey County parcel 322922240018: last sale 2010-09-10, $90,000

Questions for the agent

  • Can we see the current leases and a rent roll, with move-in dates?
  • What did water/sewer/trash, heat and electric cost the owner over the last 12 months?
  • How old are the roof, boiler or furnaces, water heaters and electrical panels?
  • Is the building licensed as a rental for this many units, and when was the last city inspection?
  • Any special assessments pending, and will the seller pay them off at closing?

Standard questions worth asking about any building.

What the records say

Where each number comes from

Property tax / yr Public recordRamsey County record, payable 2026 (non-homestead)$5,760
Insurance / yr Estimateestimate. from units, square feet and age; get a quote$2,625
Water, sewer, trash / mo Estimateestimate. $85/unit/mo, owner-paid$170
Heat / mo Assumptionassumption. tenants pay heat; confirm with the agent$0
Lawn care / mo Assumptionassumption. $120/mo for 6 months, spread over 12; no snow removal$60
Repairs / capital reserve Rulerule. built 1889: +1 pt capital reserve8% / 9%

County record Public record

Recorded astwo family dwelling - side/side
Living units2
Year built1889
Market value (2026)$263,900
Property tax, payable 2026$5,760
Special assessments$432
Homesteadno
Last sale2010-09-10 · $90,000

Source: Ramsey County parcel records.

City rental certificate (CofO)

Residential 2 Units: 2 unit(s), B, status pending, renews 2027-06-28.

Nearest highway

I 94;US 10, about 449 m away.

Crime in Payne – Phalen

1,694 incidents in the last 12 months (51 per 1,000 residents), −10% vs. the year before. St. Paul police incidents, excluding proactive visits and community events.

Status history