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The Investor Scorecard

How I grade a deal in under five minutes.

Before I fall in love with a property, I score it A to D on the three things that actually move the numbers: condition, location and market, and how easily it rents. Here is the exact scorecard, so you can size up a deal the same way I do.

The A-D Property Scorecard

Read left to right. Most deals are a mix.

No property is a clean A across the board, and that is fine. The point is to see the grade on each line honestly, price the gap, and decide whether the deal still pencils. An A location can carry a C condition. A D condition can be the whole opportunity, if the price reflects it.

Lexie De Stefano
Deal Scorecard
ATurnkeyBuy, hold, sleep easy
BSolid PerformerLight polish, steady returns
CValue-Add PlayReal work, real upside
DHeavy LiftDeep discount required
Condition
The physical house: systems, structure, and deferred maintenance
Rent-ready day one. Roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical are recent. No deferred maintenance. Nothing between closing and a tenant or resale.
Solid bones, minor list. Mostly updated. Cosmetic touch-ups or one aging system to budget for, but nothing structural.
Dated, needs a budget. Kitchen, baths, or a major system due for replacement. A defined renovation scope, not a mystery.
Heavy rehab or full gut. Structural, code, or major-system issues. Not habitable as-is. Only works with a contractor and a contingency.
Location & Market
Objective market data for the area, never who lives there
High-demand, proven. Strong price history, low days-on-market, low vacancy. Walk or short drive to transit, jobs, and retail. Easy exit.
Stable and steady. Reliable appreciation, average days-on-market, reasonable access to transit and amenities. Predictable demand.
Transitioning market. Slower appreciation, longer days-on-market, thinner amenity and transit access. More vacancy risk to plan for.
Soft market. Flat or declining values, long days-on-market, high vacancy, thin resale pool. The numbers have to carry the whole deal.
Appeal to Tenants
The unit itself: layout, features, and how fast it leases at market
Leases itself. Modern layout, updated kitchen and bath, parking and in-unit laundry. Commands top-of-market rent and fills fast.
Broad appeal. Functional layout, some updates. Rents at market with a normal time to lease. Wide pool of interested renters.
Needs an edge. Older finishes or a less efficient layout. Rents below market, or needs upgrades to compete. Longer lease-up.
Work required to attract anyone. Deep discount to market rent expected. Plan for real capital and real vacancy before it performs.
1

Grade each line, not the whole house

Score condition, location, and appeal separately. The mix tells you what kind of deal this really is and what strategy fits.

2

Price the gap

Every letter below an A has a dollar cost: rehab, longer vacancy, or a softer exit. Put a real number on it, then check the deal still works.

3

Match the strategy to the grades

A/A/A is a hold. A strong location with a D condition is a value-add or BRRRR. That is where I earn my keep, finding the angle.

A note on how this scorecard works

This tool evaluates the property and objective market data only: its physical condition, measurable market performance, and the features of the unit. It never scores the people who live in an area or who might rent a home. Every buyer, seller, and tenant I work with is served equally under the Fair Housing Act, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, or any other protected characteristic. In Virginia, Maryland, and DC, that protection also includes source of income, such as housing vouchers.

Equal Housing Opportunity