Character Home, Income Potential
1953 Birmingham Cottage on a Deep Lot, Rented at $1,400 — $124,123
6
out of 10
HousesUnder150K Score
Property Merit 50% · Condition 25% · Price/Sq Ft 15% · Market 10%
| Category | Wt. | Score | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Merit | 50% | 7 | 1953 cottage, hardwoods, 0.36-acre lot, three covered outdoor areas, income signal |
| Condition | 25% | 6 | Updates mentioned but unspecified; no system dates; cosmetic evidence only |
| Price / Sq Ft | 15% | 5 | Listing $100/sqft vs zip median $102/sqft — near parity; thin 8-comp data |
| Price vs. Market | 5% | 4 | $124K vs $137K median — about 9% below, near parity band |
| Market Conditions | 5% | 7 | 45.7% price drops and 95.5% sale-to-list signal clear buyer's market; DOM 66 days |
The thing that stops you here is the math. This house is currently rented at $1,400 a month, and the mortgage at this price would run less than that. That gap is the whole story if you are buying this as an investment. But if you are buying it to live in, the lot might be the better argument.
A third of an acre is a lot of yard for Birmingham. The lot runs deep, and there are three covered outdoor areas spread across the property. That is more outdoor structure than most houses twice this price have. Whether that means a covered porch, a carport, a back patio arrangement, or some combination, the listing does not specify, but three covered spots on a deep lot means someone put thought into using this property from the outside in.
Inside, the house is 1,243 square feet of 1953 cottage. Hardwood floors throughout, ceiling fans in the bedrooms, some lighting the agent calls unique in the kitchen and dining area. There is a laundry room with extra storage. The bones are what you would expect from this era: modest rooms, a single bath, a layout that does not waste space. Updates are mentioned but left vague, and there are no system dates anywhere in the listing, so you would need to ask directly about the roof, HVAC, and electrical before getting serious. The condition score here reflects that uncertainty, not necessarily a problem, just an unknown.
The market context matters. Birmingham right now is leaning toward buyers. Nearly half of active listings have taken price reductions, and this house has been sitting 66 days. At $124K, it lands about 9 percent below the zip median, though that gap is modest enough that you should not read it as a steal. It is priced fairly for what it shows.
For someone who wants a 1953 cottage with real outdoor space and the option to either move in or collect rent from day one, this is a reasonable entry point into a market that is giving buyers room to negotiate.
