37-39 Melrose St

Adams, MA 01220

$189,900A-

6 bd · 2.0 ba · 3,656 sqft · Built 1900 · MultiFamily · Pending · 11 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $3,600/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$996
• Tax + insurance: −$316
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$756
• Net cashflow: $1,532/mo
• Annual: $18,380/yr
• Cap rate: 15.97%
• Cash-on-cash: 34.57%
• DSCR: 2.54
• 1% rule: 1.90%
• Cash to close: $53,172

Investor read

• This is a 2 × 3-bed/1.0-bath units multifamily listed at $190k. Condition is rated fair.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $2k ($18k/yr) — positive. Per door: $766/mo.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($4k rent vs $190k).
• Only 11 days on market — expect competitive offers; lowballing is unlikely to land.
• In year one you build about $14k of equity ($1k loan paydown + $13k appreciation (6.7% local appreciation)).
• Location reads 71/100 on livability (#131 in MA) — a middle-class / working-renter tenant base. Strengths: health & safety A+, housing A, cost of living A-; Watch: amenities F, commute F, employment D-.
• Adams-Cheshire (rural): math 14% / reading 31% proficiency, ranked #285 of 302 in MA (top 94%) — low school quality limits family demand, transient renter base, plan for 1-2y turnover.
• Zoned schools: Hoosac Valley Elementary School (math 27% / reading 42%, grade F, #577 of 938 statewide, top 65%, 374 students, 0% FRL); Hoosac Valley Middle School (math 8% / reading 28%, grade F, #264 of 305 statewide, top 87%, 288 students, 0% FRL); Hoosac Valley High School (math 22% / reading 37%, grade F, #270 of 343 statewide, top 80%, 324 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 36% district-wide (36 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: 62 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 (6.7% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $53k cash investment doubles in ~2 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• By year 3, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$35k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.
• Cap rate 16.0% vs local median 3.7% in 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

• 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?
• 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?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• Schools are D-rated, which usually means shorter tenancies and higher turnover. Who's the typical renter profile here, and what's been the actual vacancy rate?
• 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.
• What's the recent tenant-quality profile in this submarket — average credit score on applications, eviction rate, late-payment / NSF rate, and stable-employment percentage? A property-management company in the area should have these aggregated.

Repairs flagged (vision-AI assessment)

• Major: roof — The roof appears to be in poor condition with visible damage.
• Major: exterior siding — The exterior siding appears to be in fair condition with some discoloration and wear.
• Major: flooring — The flooring in the kitchen and living areas appears to be in poor condition with visible wear and tear.
• Major: interior walls/paint — The interior walls and paint appear to be in poor condition with visible wear and tear.
• Major: windows — The windows appear to be in poor condition with some broken panes and visible wear.
• Major: HVAC/mechanicals — The HVAC and mechanical systems appear to be in poor condition with visible wear and tear.