7861 Firwood Way NE

Duplex · 2 units: 3 bed / 1 bath ×2 unit split estimated · 2,398 sq ft

Overpriced

26 photos

Photos, via Realtor.com.

Asking price: $425,000
Monthly cash flow: −$528
Estimated rent: $3,550/mo
Break-even price: $325,737

Adjust the numbers See the full breakdown

From the listing

Turnkey Side-by-Side Duplex: Prime Location, Long-Term Tenants in Place. Solid investment opportunity in a highly desirable location! This side-by-side duplex offers long-term, stable tenants already in place - perfect for the investor seeking a low-maintenance addition to their portfolio. Each unit features its own separated garage for added tenant privacy and convenience. Both furnaces and AC units have been recently updated. Unbeatable location just minutes from major highways for an easy commute, with the scenic Mississippi River nearby for walking, biking, and outdoor recreation. Shopping and a great mix of restaurants are all just around the corner, making this a location tenants love to call home. Whether you're growing your investment portfolio or looking for house-hacking potential, this property checks all the boxes: strong location, updated mechanicals, and reliable rental history. Don't miss this opportunity - schedule your showing today!

Description from Realtor.com, MLS #7131871. Believed reliable but not guaranteed; confirm with the listing agent. View on Realtor.com ↗

First look

This is a Fridley side-by-side with two 3-bed/1-bath units, listed at $425K. Our numbers don't work at the ask: about -$528/mo cash flow at 20% down and a 4.9% cap rate. Break-even price is about $326K, so roughly $99K of negotiating room before it pencils. The listing gives no rents, no lease terms and no tax figure, and we couldn't match a county parcel, so taxes are unverified and could move the math. Ask for the rent roll, lease end dates and 12 months of expenses first. Worth a showing only if the real rents beat our ~$1,775 per unit estimate or the seller comes down.

Things to consider

Price doesn't work at today's rates Cash flow is negative at ask and break-even is about $99K lower. You'd need a price cut or rents well above our estimate.
Rents are unknown Long-term tenants often pay below market. The rent roll decides whether this works, and raising rents costs turnover risk.Listing says: “offers long-term, stable tenants already in place”
Taxes unverified No parcel match means the tax figure is an estimate. Investor reassessment could add to expenses.
Mechanicals updated, other systems unknown New furnaces and AC lower near-term capex, but roof, water heaters, panel and sewer line are unconfirmed.Listing says: “Both furnaces and AC units have been recently updated.”
Kitchens and baths are dated Cosmetic updates are mixed. Budget for refresh work on turnover if you want to push rents.From photo 5

From the photos

Based on 10 of the listing photos. Photos can hide as much as they show; an inspection is the real answer.

Condition and repairs

doneBoth furnaces and AC units recently updatedListing says: Both furnaces and AC units have been recently updated.

AI-assisted first read of the listing description and photos (Claude), checked against public records. Every rent and repair above quotes the listing; verify with the agent, leases and an inspection.

The numbers

Edit rents, costs and assumptions

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

The deal

Price: $425,000
Cash to close: $97,750
Price per unit: $212,500
GRM: 10.0

Each month

Cash flow: −$528/mo
Cash-on-cash: −6.5%
Cap rate: 4.9%
DSCR: 0.77×

Break-even

Price that breaks even: $325,737
Rent that breaks even: $4,227/mo

Long run

Year 30: property vs stocks: $1.22M vs $956K
Cash flow turns positive: year 12

Monthly

Monthly breakdown

Rent	$3,550
Vacancy (6%)	−$213
Collected	$3,337
Property tax Listing	−$605
Insurance Estimate	−$200
Water, sewer, trash Estimate	−$170
Lawn care ($120 × 6 mo ÷ 12)	−$60
Repairs (8% of rent)	−$284
Capital reserve (8% of rent)	−$284
Net operating income	$1,734
Mortgage (principal + interest)	−$2,262
Cash flow	−$528
Principal paid down (equity, not cash)	$288

Cash flow each year

Rents +3%/yr, costs +3.5%/yr. Red bars are months you'd cover out of pocket.

30 years

How those totals add up

If you buy this building$1,219,431

Your equity when you sell: $969,692
Rental profits, invested at 7%: $249,740

Same money in stocks$956,473

Cash to close, invested at 7%: $744,098
Monthly shortfalls, invested: $212,375

The building comes out $262,958 ahead after 30 years.

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.

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

This propertyStocks at 7%

Year 30 (loan paid off): property $1.22M, stocks $956K. The property wins.

Comparable rentals

Nearby rentals RentCast matched to each unit type, as of 2026-10-05. The estimate above is RentCast's, weighted toward the closest matches.

3 bed / 1 bath estimate $1,775/mo · range $1,475–$2,100

Address	Rent	Bd / Ba	Sq ft	Distance	Listed	Match
7224 Camden Ave N, Apt 140, Brooklyn Center 55430 off market	$1,695	3 / 1	1,250	1.8 mi	2026-02-01	86%
7212 Camden Ave N, Apt 217, Brooklyn Center 55430 off market	$1,695	3 / 1	1,100	1.7 mi	2026-06-24	84%
1121 1129 79th Ave NE, Spring Lake Park 55432	$1,375	3 / 1	1,050	1.8 mi	2026-04-03	84%
1121 79th Ave NE, Spring Lake Park 55432 off market	$1,455	3 / 1	1,050	1.8 mi	2025-11-06	84%
1619 73rd Ave NE, Fridley 55432	$1,395	2 / 1	2,100	2.5 mi	2026-10-05	84%
415 74th Ave NE, Fridley 55432	$1,390	2 / 1	—	1.0 mi	2026-07-22	83%
476 75th Ave NE, Fridley 55432 off market	$1,150	2 / 1	—	1.0 mi	2026-03-03	83%
708 66th Ave N, Brooklyn Center 55430	$1,975	3 / 1.5	1,300	2.6 mi	2025-11-20	83%
7349 York Ave N, Brooklyn Park 55443 off market	$2,390	3 / 2	1,525	2.5 mi	2026-02-19	83%
5900 3rd St NE, Fridley 55432 off market	$1,695	3 / 1	1,000	2.5 mi	2026-08-04	82%

On the maps, this property and comparable rentals. Comparable rentals and rent estimate: RentCast. Rents are asking rents from listings; check them against the actual leases.

Red flags and opportunities

Watch for

highNo rents or lease terms given. 'Long-term tenants' could mean old, below-market rents. Listing says: offers long-term, stable tenants already in place · AI review
mediumCouldn't match this address to a county parcel record, so taxes and unit count are unverified. Public record: County parcels: no match for 7861 FIRWOOD WAY NE
mediumListing never says who pays which utilities. Furnaces suggest separate heat, but confirm metering. Listing says: Both furnaces and AC units have been recently updated. · AI review
mediumTaxes and unit count are unverified because no parcel match. Tax bill is probably higher for an investor than the seller's. Based on: data: county.tax · AI review
low'Recently updated' is not dated. Ask for install years and invoices. Listing says: Both furnaces and AC units have been recently updated. · AI review

Opportunities

Separate garage per unit and separate furnaces support tenant-paid utilities and a simple operation. Listing says: Each unit features its own separated garage for added tenant privacy and convenience. · AI review
No rent cap in Fridley, so rents can follow the market if current rents are low. Based on: data: underwriting.rent_rule · AI review
Negotiating room: break-even price is roughly $40K under ask. Based on: data: underwriting.break_even_price · AI review

Questions for the agent

What are the current rents, lease end dates and deposits for each unit?
How long have the tenants been there, and when was the last rent increase?
Who pays gas, electric, water and trash, and are there separate meters?
What year were the furnaces, AC units, roof and water heaters installed?
What were the actual taxes, insurance and repairs over the last 12 months?
Is the rental license current, and has the city inspected the building?

Bottom line

Decent side-by-side with updated mechanicals, but at $425K it loses money on our numbers, so it only works with real rents above estimate or a price near $326K. AI-assisted summary

What the records say

Where each number comes from

Property tax / yr Listinglisting, tax year 2026. The tax the listing states. If the seller lives there it may be at the lower homestead rate; an investor owner pays the non-homestead rate, often 20–40% more on the owner's unit.	$7,264
Insurance / yr Estimateestimate. from units, square feet and age; get a quote	$2,400
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. base rate	8% / 8%

Price history Realtor.com

On the market since 2026-09-09 (26 days); last sold for $242,400 on 2018-11-06.

Date	Event	Price
2026-09-09	Listed	$425,000
2018-11-06	Sold public record	$242,400

From the listing Listing

Listed as	duplex side x side
Property tax, 2026	$7,264
County	Anoka
Parcel number	033024430013

As the listing states it (NorthstarMLS, via Realtor.com). We don't have county records here yet; check the tax, homestead status and special assessments with the county.

Crime, rental-license and vacant-building records are only available for St. Paul and Minneapolis so far. Check with Fridley on rental licensing before you buy.