17-19 Bracewell Ave

North Adams, MA 01247

$149,900B

6 bd · 2.0 ba · 2,540 sqft · Built 1900 · MultiFamily · Active · 122 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $3,110/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$786
• Tax + insurance: −$305
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$653
• Net cashflow: $1,365/mo
• Annual: $16,385/yr
• Cap rate: 17.67%
• Cash-on-cash: 40.63%
• DSCR: 2.81
• 1% rule: 2.07%
• Cash to close: $41,972

Investor read

• This is a 2 × 3-bed/1-bath units multifamily listed at $150k. Condition is rated good.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $1k ($16k/yr) — positive. Per door: $683/mo.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($3k rent vs $150k).
• It's been on market 122 days — a 12% lower offer ($132k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $132k (12.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• Local home prices are declining (-3.0%/yr); year-one equity from $1k of loan paydown is wiped out by about $4k of value loss. Plan a longer hold.
• 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, schools F.
• North Adams (town): math 14% / reading 29% proficiency, ranked #291 of 302 in MA (top 96%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover.
• Watch-outs: flood insurance adds $56/mo; built in 1900 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 99 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.
• 9 sale attempts since 8y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $49k (25%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $105k; 43% above their basis — modest negotiation headroom, anchor on the comps not their cost.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $42k cash investment doubles in ~4 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Climate carrying-cost: severe flood risk — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate 17.7% 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 122 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 12% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Can we see the unit-by-unit rent roll, current vacancy, and any below-market leases? What's the average tenancy length?
• What capital expenditures (roof, boiler, parking lot, exteriors) have been made in the last 5 years, and what's planned in the next 2?
• Built in 1900 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• What's the actual annual flood-insurance premium (NFIP or private), and is the property in a SFHA with mandatory coverage?
• 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?