Historic Auto Repair Building with Paint
For Sale
$169,000
521 MERCERON Street, Catawissa, PA 17820
COMMERCIAL - Catawissa, PA
Property Size1,091 SF
Lot Size0.22 Acres
Price / SF$154.90
Days on Market69
Property Features for 521 MERCERON Street
General Information
Property type
Commercial Sale
Property subtype
Other
Zoning
COMMERCIAL
Bathrooms
1
Full bathrooms
1
Rooms
Bathroom 1
Elementary school district
Southern Columbia
Middle school district
Southern Columbia
High school district
Southern Columbia
Directions
At light in Catawissa turn left up River Hill. Go 1/4 mile. Garage is on your left.
Subdivision
Catawissa
Standard status
Active
APN
08,04--005-01,000
Size
1,091 SF
Lot size
0.22 Acres
Taxes and HOA fees
Tax Annual Amount
1342
Building Details
Year built
1900
Listing Agency:
EXP Realty, LLC
(888) 397-7352
Listed By:
Charles David Yost · License #RS366045
(570) 764-3511
Added: Jun 17
Changed: Aug 4
Last Checked: Aug 24 at 6:06PM
MLS# C-1604
Copyright © 2026 Central Susquehanna Valley Board of Realtors. All rights reserved. All information provided by the listing agent/broker is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
Investment Insights
Based on property information with market context.
This historic commercial building is suited to automotive-focused operations, with a practical layout and long-running use as an auto body and repair facility. Included on site are a paint booth and an in-ground frame machine with two pullers, supporting collision repair and related work. The current owner’s cars, tools, supplies, and equipment will be removed before closing, though tools, supplies, and equipment are negotiable for a buyer who wants them.
The property is located at 521 Merceron Street in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in Columbia County. With a COMMERCIAL zoning designation, the space is intended for business use and offers flexibility for automotive services, contractor activities, storage, or other permitted commercial applications.
For buyers or operators looking for a turnkey automotive-capable site, the included paint and frame equipment can help reduce start-up work. The combination of a workable shop configuration and available repair infrastructure also makes the building a practical fit for contractors who need dedicated work areas and storage within a single commercial structure.
The property is located at 521 Merceron Street in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in Columbia County. With a COMMERCIAL zoning designation, the space is intended for business use and offers flexibility for automotive services, contractor activities, storage, or other permitted commercial applications.
For buyers or operators looking for a turnkey automotive-capable site, the included paint and frame equipment can help reduce start-up work. The combination of a workable shop configuration and available repair infrastructure also makes the building a practical fit for contractors who need dedicated work areas and storage within a single commercial structure.
Key Highlights
- Historic commercial building built in 1900 with flexible workspace for business use
- Generational history as an auto body/repair facility, suitable for automotive or motorcycle repair
- Includes a paint booth
Financial Insights
Estimated NOI and Cap Rate
NOI = area × lease_rate × (100 − vacancy) / 100 × (1 − expense_ratio). Net Operating Income — what the owner takes home each year before mortgage payments and income tax. Effective rent (asking rent minus vacancy losses) minus operating costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance, management).
NOI / Yr
$15,268
Cap rate = NOI / list price × 100. Capitalization rate — annual return on a fully cash purchase, before financing. NOI divided by price. Higher means more income per dollar invested, but usually also more risk or older condition. 5–8% is typical for stabilized commercial property; double digits often signal distressed deals.
Cap Rate
9.03%
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates
Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality.
Typical U.S. stable-market ranges:
Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+)
Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand)
Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically)
Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher)
Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk)
Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5%
Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5%
Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term
Rules of thumb:
Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%).
Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C.
Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI.
Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$305,360
$305.4K
Cap Rate 7%
$218,114
$218.1K
Cap Rate 9%
$169,644
$169.6K
Market Conditions
NOI Build-Up for 1,091 SF
Vacancy — income lost from leasable area expected to sit empty during the year, subtracted from gross rent.
EGI (Effective Gross Income) — gross rent minus vacancy losses, the realistic income before paying operating costs.
OpEx (Operating Expenses) — recurring costs to operate the property (property tax, insurance, utilities, maintenance, management); excludes financing and capital improvements.
NOI (Net Operating Income) — income a property generates after operating costs but before financing and taxes.
Gross rent
$22.9K $21.00/SF
− Vacancy
−$1.1K −$1.01/SF
EGI
$21.8K $19.99/SF
− OpEx
−$6.5K −$6.00/SF
NOI
$15.3K $13.99/SF
Area
Columbia County, PA
Vacancy
4.80%
Lease Rate
$21.00 /SF/Yr
Expense Ratio
30.00%
Simulate Cap Rate and NOI
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates
Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality.
Typical U.S. stable-market ranges:
Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+)
Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand)
Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically)
Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher)
Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk)
Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5%
Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5%
Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term
Rules of thumb:
Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%).
Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C.
Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI.
Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$305,360
Cap Rate 7%
$218,114
Cap Rate 9%
$169,644
Alternative Uses
Best Use
Retail
$218.1K
$190.9K – $254.5K
NOI $15,268 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 9.03%
Second Best
Industrial
$91.1K
$79.7K – $106.3K
NOI $6,376 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 3.77%
Theoretical Best
Office A
$365.8K
$320.1K – $426.8K
NOI $25,605 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 15.15%
Zoning and permitted uses should be independently verified with authorities.
Property Analytics
Property Profile
Current Use
Location Intelligence
Trade Area within ½ mile
131
Businesses Nearby
18k
Monthly Visits Nearby
Well-served
Demand for This Use
Explore this area
Business Placement
Foot Traffic Nearby
Shops & Services 70%
Groceries 30%
Dollar General
Shops & Services
6,570 visits/mo
0.5 miles
Weis Markets
Groceries
5,464 visits/mo
0.3 miles
Citgo
Shops & Services
4,503 visits/mo
0.3 miles
Sunoco
Shops & Services
1,960 visits/mo
0.4 miles
Demographics for 17820, PA
5,459
Population
2,705
Households
2
Avg Household Size
47
Median Age
27%
College-Educated
95%
High-School Grad
86.7 sq mi
ZIP Area
63
Density / Sq Mi
$68,304
Median Household Income
$46,158
Median Earnings
$774
Median Rent
$210,500
Median Home Value
Market
Vacancy Rate% for Retail in Northeast region
Questions? Ask Rey
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Similar Off Market Nearby
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of property is this?
Auto shop - Includes a paint booth and automotive repair equipment, offering flexible space for related contractors and storage.
Where is this auto shop located?
The property is located at 521 MERCERON Street Catawissa, PA.
What is the asking price?
The asking price for this property is $169,000.
What are key features of this property?
This property features: Historic commercial building built in 1900 with flexible workspace for business use; Generational history as an auto body/repair facility, suitable for automotive or motorcycle repair; Includes a paint booth
