43 Access Road 4 Rd

North Adams, MA 01270

$114,999C

3 bd · 1.0 ba · 600 sqft · Built 1900 · SingleFamily · Active · 81 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $1,194/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$603
• Tax + insurance: −$192
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$251
• Net cashflow: $149/mo
• Annual: $1,783/yr
• Cap rate: 7.84%
• Cash-on-cash: 5.54%
• DSCR: 1.25
• 1% rule: 1.04%
• Cash to close: $32,200

Investor read

• This is a 3-bed/1.0-bath single-family listed at $115k. Condition is rated poor.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $149 ($2k/yr) — positive.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($1k rent vs $115k).
• It's been on market 81 days — a 6% lower offer ($108k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $108k (6.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $4k of equity ($795 loan paydown + $3k appreciation (2.4% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 55/100 on livability (#242 in MA) — a working-class tenant base; expect higher turnover. Strengths: housing A+, cost of living A-; Watch: employment C-, health & safety D, crime F.
• Central Berkshire (rural): math 32% / reading 47% proficiency, ranked #206 of 302 in MA (top 68%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: Nessacus Regional Middle School (math 27% / reading 44%, grade F, #175 of 305 statewide, top 58%, 345 students, 0% FRL); Wahconah Regional High (math 47% / reading 62%, grade C-, #157 of 343 statewide, top 47%, 485 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 26% district-wide (26 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: built in 1900 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 6 active listings in the ZIP; 130 units permitted in Berkshire County in 2024 (10 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Berkshire County population projected at -24% by 2050 — secular population decline; favor cash flow + early exit over multi-decade hold.
• At projected returns (2.4% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $32k cash investment doubles in ~6 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 9, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$30k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.
• Cap rate 7.8% vs local median 5.8% in North Adams — top-decile yield for the area; either an underpriced asset or a hidden risk that comps aren't pricing in. Stress-test before assuming the spread holds.

Questions for listing agent

• It's been on market 81 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 6% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Have any recent inspections been done? Can we get a copy of the seller's disclosures and any deferred-maintenance estimates?
• Built in 1900 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• Schools are F-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
• Crime grade is F in this area — have there been break-ins, vandalism, or insurance claims at this property in the last 3 years? What carrier currently insures it and at what premium?
• What's the average days-on-market for RENTAL listings here right now (not sales)? A rising rental-DOM trend means longer vacancies and softer asking-rent achievability than the comps imply.

Repairs flagged (vision-AI assessment)

• Major: roof — visible rust and wear
• Major: exterior siding — dilapidated and in poor condition
• Major: kitchen appliances — dated and worn
• Major: bathroom fixtures — old and worn
• Major: flooring — worn and uneven tiles
• Major: paint — peeling and bare walls