168 Prospect St

North Adams, MA 01247

$189,900C+

4 bd · 2.5 ba · 1,458 sqft · Built 1880 · MultiFamily · Active · 43 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $2,600/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$996
• Tax + insurance: −$300
• HOA: −$0
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$546
• Net cashflow: $758/mo
• Annual: $9,094/yr
• Cap rate: 11.08%
• Cash-on-cash: 17.10%
• DSCR: 1.76
• 1% rule: 1.37%
• Cash to close: $53,172

Investor read

• This is a 2 × 3-bed/2.0-bath units multifamily listed at $190k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $758 ($9k/yr) — positive. Per door: $379/mo.
• The deal already cash-flows at list — no discount required.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($3k rent vs $190k).
• It's been on market 43 days — a 3% lower offer ($184k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $184k (3.0% 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 $6k 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, crime 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.
• Zoned schools: Colegrove Park Elementary (math 8% / reading 37%, grade F, #753 of 938 statewide, top 81%, 235 students, 0% FRL); Drury High (math 16% / reading 24%, grade F, #308 of 343 statewide, top 91%, 493 students, 0% FRL) — zoned schools average 0% FRL vs 53% district-wide (53 pts lower); this property's tenant base skews higher-income than the district average.
• Watch-outs: built in 1880 — expect roof / HVAC / electrical / plumbing capex.
• Market conditions: 99 active listings in the ZIP; 1 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; 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.
• 4 sale attempts since 20y ago; this cycle's ask has dropped $10k (5%) from the opening price — seller is motivated, your offer sets the floor, not the list.
• Current owner paid $25k; list at $190k implies a 660% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• At projected returns (-3.0% appreciation + 3.0% rent growth), your $53k cash investment doubles in ~7 years — after that, you're playing with house money.
• Cap rate 11.1% 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 43 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% 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 1880 — 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 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.