Back to St. Paul

852 Jessamine Ave E

Duplex · 2 units: 3 bed / 1 bath and 2 bed / 1 bath unit split estimated · 1,915 sq ft

Saint Paul, MN · Payne – Phalen (Railroad Island) · View the listing ↗

Cash flows

Photos courtesy of Lakes Area Realty - South - Broker, via Realtor.com.

Asking price
$260,000
2 units · $130K per unit
Monthly cash flow
$115
at 20% down, 7%
Estimated rent
$3,025/mo
medium confidence · 11 rentals within 1.5 mi
Break-even price
$281,527
where cash flow hits $0

Adjust the numbers See the full breakdown

First look

This is a 1889 up/down in Payne-Phalen at $260K, and the listing gives no rents, no lease terms and no mention of heat or utilities. Our model shows about $115/mo cash flow and a 6.9% cap at the ask, so the price works modestly, and only if rents hit our estimates. The agent says the home 'will shine vacant', and the photos show lived-in rooms with tenants' belongings, so ask whether the units will be delivered empty. That matters because St. Paul caps rent increases at 3% for sitting tenants. Ask for the rent roll, heat setup, roof and electrical age, and what the $432 assessment is for. It's worth a showing only if the rents are real and the systems are sound. Price it for the rehab the 'before & after' language implies.

Things to consider

  1. Thin margin at asking price Our model gives roughly $115/mo cash flow and a break-even price of $281,527, so any added repairs, heat costs or vacancy erases much of the cushion.
  2. No rents or lease info in the listing Cash flow depends on our estimated rents. Sitting tenants are capped at 3% a year, so a below-market rent roll would be hard to correct.
  3. Rehab scope is unknown The listing hints at work needed but gives no kitchen, bath or mechanical photos, so budget conservatively before offering.Listing says: “The before & after photos show the POSSIBILITIES in this rare gem of a home.”
  4. Investor tax bill and assessment Taxes are $4,703 non-homestead plus $432 in assessments. These are real carrying costs to confirm at closing.
  5. 1889 construction Expect older wiring, plumbing and a possible stone foundation. A full inspection should come before any offer.

From the photos

Listing photo 1
1 of 7Check

Exterior siding looks intact and the porches look serviceable, but the roof is not clearly visible and its age can't be judged

Listing photo 4
2 of 7Concern

Enclosed front porch with single-pane-looking windows appears dated and cluttered; check the sash, enclosure and floor condition

Listing photo 7
3 of 7Plus

Hardwood floors, tall trim and tin-style ceilings appear in decent condition and give character

Listing photo 7
4 of 7Check

Radiator or baseboard hot-water heat appears present at the window wall, suggesting boiler heat even though county data says central; confirm the system type

Listing photo 10
5 of 7Concern

Plaster wall in the hallway shows scuffs and possible patching; check for moisture or settling

Listing photo 1
6 of 7Check

No photos of kitchens, bathrooms, basement, mechanicals or electrical panels, so the big-ticket systems are unseen

Listing photo 3
7 of 7Check

Only one entrance to the front porch is clearly visible, so confirm that the units have separate entries and meters

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

Condition and repairs

  • neededUnspecified cosmetic or condition work implied by before/after photosListing says: The before & after photos show the POSSIBILITIES in this rare gem of a home.

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

Down payment %
Offer $
Management
Interest rate %
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
$260,000
Cash to close
$59,800
Price per unit
$130,000
GRM
7.2

Each month

Cash flow
$115/mo
Cash-on-cash
2.3%
Cap rate
6.9%
DSCR
1.08×

Break-even

Price that breaks even
$281,527
Rent that breaks even
$2,876/mo

Long run

Year 30: property vs stocks
$1.28M vs $455K
Cash flow turns positive
year 1

Monthly

Monthly breakdown

Rent$3,025
Vacancy (6%)−$182
Collected$2,844
Property tax Public record−$392
Insurance Estimate−$209
Water, sewer, trash Estimate−$170
Lawn care ($120 × 6 mo ÷ 12)−$60
Repairs (8% of rent)−$242
Capital reserve (9% of rent)−$272
Net operating income$1,498
Mortgage (principal + interest)−$1,384
Cash flow$115
Principal paid down (equity, not cash)$176

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

How those totals add up

If you buy this building$1,278,868
Your equity when you sell
$593,223

Sells for $631,088 (value up 3% a year), minus 6% selling cost ($37,865). Rent paid down $208,000 of loan.

Rental profits, invested at 7%
$685,645

$316,917 of cash flow over 30 years, plus what it earned invested.

Same money in stocks$455,213
Cash to close, invested at 7%
$455,213

$59,800 put into an index fund instead of the down payment and closing costs.

The building comes out $823,655 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 $1.28M, stocks $455K. The property wins.

Comparable rentals

The closest rental listings with each unit's bedroom count, as of 2026-10-06. The estimate is the median asking rent of every rental we found nearby (the count is shown for each); houses are left out. Asking rents from Realtor.com rental listings, not signed leases.

3 bed estimate $1,725/mo · range $1,325–$1,850 · 11 rentals within 1.5 mi

AddressRentBd / BaSq ftDistanceListedType
736 Geranium Ave E Apt A, Saint Paul $1,600 3 / 1 — 0.3 mi 2026-08-28 Multi family
Ross Ave Unit 1090, Saint Paul $1,910 3 / 1 — 0.8 mi 2026-09-02 Apartment
586 Reaney Ave E Unit 586U2, Saint Paul $1,614 3 / 1 1,100 0.9 mi 2023-06-04 Apartment
595 Minnehaha Ave E, Saint Paul $1,155 3 / 1 830 0.9 mi 2025-01-03 Apartment
1124 Minnehaha Ave E Apt 1, Saint Paul $1,750 3 / 1 832 1.0 mi 2026-03-25 Apartment
691 Bedford St Unit A, Saint Paul $2,052 3 / 1 1,050 1.1 mi 2025-09-24 Apartment
1056 3rd St E, Saint Paul $1,695 3 / 1 925 1.3 mi 2026-09-17 Apartment
1056 3rd St E, Saint Paul $1,695 3 / 1 925 1.3 mi 2026-08-20 Apartment
283-289 Bates Ave, Saint Paul $1,249 3 / 1 900 1.4 mi 2026-04-29 Apartment
880 Wilson Ave, Saint Paul $1,425 3 / 1 — 1.4 mi 2026-07-21 Apartment

2 bed estimate $1,300/mo · range $1,150–$1,500 · 25 rentals within 1.5 mi

AddressRentBd / BaSq ftDistanceListedType
914 Lawson Ave E, Saint Paul $1,490 2 / 1 1,055 0.2 mi 2026-08-31 Apartment
734 Sims Ave, Saint Paul $1,695 2 / 1 1,834 0.5 mi 2026-07-31 Duplex triplex
1360 Payne Ave, Saint Paul $1,199 2 / 1 695 0.7 mi 2026-02-13 Apartment
904-906 Burr St, Saint Paul $999 2 / 1 900 0.8 mi 2025-01-11 Apartment
1270 Magnolia Ave E Apt 205, Saint Paul $995 2 / 1 800 0.9 mi — Apartment
1267 Cook Ave E, Saint Paul $995 2 / 1 800 0.9 mi 2025-01-03 Apartment
953 Desoto St, Saint Paul $950 2 / 1 650 0.9 mi 2026-02-12 Apartment
1039-1041 Arkwright St, Saint Paul $1,445 2 / 1 1,100 1.0 mi 2026-09-19 Apartment
1310 Maryland Ave E, Saint Paul $1,226 2 / 1 900 1.0 mi 2026-04-29 Apartment
1348 Ames Ave, Saint Paul $1,275 2 / 1 800 1.1 mi 2025-12-18 Apartment

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

Red flags and opportunities

Watch for

  • mediumUnit may need to be delivered vacant, so the seller's tenant situation is unclear, and no rents are disclosed Listing says: Property shows immense potential and will shine vacant-ideal investor or owner-occupant opportunity. · AI review
  • mediumRental license is only 'Pending', so confirm it is valid and transfers for two units Based on: data: city.rental_license · AI review
  • 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 282922220168: special assessments (payable 2026) = $432.50
  • lowListed 64 days with vague, promotional wording and no income figures Based on: data: listing.days_on_market · AI review

Opportunities

  • Price is about 9% above county market value, but the rehab angle may justify negotiating down Based on: data: county.market_value · AI review
  • Garage and fenced yard add tenant appeal and rent support Listing says: You will also have your very own garage. · AI review
  • Original woodwork and stained glass support character-driven rents once refreshed Listing says: The windows, antique stained glass and that wonderful old wood trim makes this home a dream come true. · AI review

Questions for the agent

  • Is the property occupied, and will it be delivered vacant? What are current rents and lease terms?
  • Which utilities are on separate meters, and is there one heating system or two?
  • What are the ages of the roof, boiler or furnace, water heater and electrical panels?
  • What is in the upgrade list in the supplements, and who did the work and when?
  • What is the $432 special assessment for, and will the seller pay it off at closing?
  • Why has it sat 64 days, and has the price changed?

Bottom line

Marginal at $260K: the numbers only work at our estimated rents, so verify the rents, the systems and the vacancy situation before offering. AI-assisted summary

What the records say

Where each number comes from

Property tax / yr Public recordRamsey County record, payable 2026 (non-homestead)$4,704
Insurance / yr Estimateestimate. from units, square feet and age; get a quote$2,507
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%

Price history Realtor.com

On the market since 2026-07-30 (67 days); down $4,000 (1.5%) from the first ask of $264,000; last sold for $194,000 on 2021-02-26.

DateEventPrice
Price changed$260,000
Listed$264,000
Sold$194,000
Relisted$194,000
Removed$194,000
Price changed$194,000
Listed$200,000
Sold$59,000
Listed$59,000
Sold public record$121,000
Sold public record$51,900

County record Public record

Recorded astwo family dwelling - up/dwn
Living units2
Year built1889
Market value (2026)$239,100
Property tax, payable 2026$4,704
Special assessments$432
Homesteadno
Last sale2021-02-26 · $194,000

Source: Ramsey County parcel records.

City rental certificate (CofO)

Residential 2 Units: 2 unit(s), A, status pending, renews 2028-11-02.

Nearest highway

I 35E;US 10, about 1886 m away.

Crime in Payne – Phalen

1,695 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.