Sample report — AI-generated, for illustration only

This is an AI-generated sample analysis based on public records as of 2026-06-01. The property is shown by city and ZIP code only, and identifying details have been altered to protect privacy. The report may contain errors or be outdated, and is not legal, financial, or professional advice. Independently verify all facts before relying on them.

Sample report · Medford, MA · Triple-decker

Three-Family in Medford, MA 02155

The memo layer from a real run of the Fyts due-diligence pipeline, published as a sample. Everything below — the verdict, flags, and verifications — is the same analysis a buyer agent receives; the underlying research appendix is omitted here and some identifying details were altered (see notice above).

Proceed with conditionsAs of 2026-06-01

PROCEED WITH CONDITIONS - but only at a price far below the ask. As listed at approx. $1,850,000, this triple-decker does NOT cash-flow at current ~7% investor rates: PITI-plus runs roughly $128k-$137k/yr against at-best ~$95k-$120k of market gross (and likely less, given long-tenured, below-market tenancies), so the deal is meaningfully negative at the ask. It can plausibly work as a positive-cash-flow rental only if acquired near its comp/income-supported value (~$1.2M-$1.35M) with verified at- or near-market rents and the age-driven capex (lead, asbestos, knob-and-tube, plumbing, possible UST) priced in. Anchor hard to the comps and the rent roll, keep full inspection/appraisal/financing/lease-review contingencies, assign zero value to the speculative 4th unit, and be ready to walk if the seller will not move off the ask.

Fair value estimate

Comp- and market-grounded fair value in as-is condition is roughly $1.25M-$1.55M, with a most-likely midpoint near $1.35M-$1.425M (roughly $295-$365/sqft on ~4,250 sqft). This is corroborated from multiple directions: comparable 3-family homes in this part of Medford averaged ~$1.375M (2025); Medford multi-family median is ~$1.2M (YTD 2026); two structurally equivalent active 3-unit competitors are priced far below the subject (a comparable 3-unit listing nearby, ~3,500 sqft, approx. $1,420,000; another comparable 3-unit listing nearby, contingent, approx. $1,320,000); the FY2026 assessed value is approx. $1,095,000; and a third-party automated valuation estimate is approx. $1.00M. The approx. $1,850,000 ask sits roughly $300k-$600k (19-48%) above every credible anchor and ~54% above the Medford multi-family median - a thin, aspirational price point. INVESTOR LENS: Three 2-3BR/1BA units in this neighborhood plausibly command ~$2,650-$3,350/unit at market, i.e. ~$95,000-$120,000/yr gross potential (a nearby rental comp from a few years ago grossed only ~$78,000 with smaller units). The listing's emphasis on roughly two decades of continuous ownership and long-tenured rentals strongly implies long-tenured, below-market in-place rents (commonly 20-40% under market in MA), so actual current gross is very likely well below $95k until units turn over. Financing reality at current rates: at the $1.85M ask with 25% down (~$462,500), the ~$1.39M loan at an investment rate near 7% (30-yr fixed base ~6.53% + 50-75 bps investor premium) is ~$9,225/mo P&I (~$111,000/yr); add taxes (~$9.5k), insurance, water/sewer and maintenance and annual PITI-plus runs ~$128k-$137k. Even at top-of-band market rents of ~$120k gross (before vacancy/expenses), the property does NOT cash-flow at the ask - it is meaningfully negative. To reach roughly breakeven-to-positive cash flow at a ~7% investor rate and realistic ~$105k-$120k stabilized gross, the acquisition basis needs to be in the ~$1.2M-$1.35M range AND in-place rents must be at or near market, neither of which is established at the current ask.

Property snapshot

Address
Medford, MA 02155 (the address appears in two slightly different formats between MLS and assessor records - confirm the exact legal description before P&S)
Type
3-unit multi-family triple-decker (fee simple, not a condo)
Year built
1910s
Beds / baths
8 per MLS (roughly 2-3 BR per unit); assessor record shows 6 - discrepancy to verify · 3 ba
Living area
approx. 4,150-4,350 sq ft
Lot size
approx. 5,600 sq ft (approx. 0.12-0.13 acre lot)
List price
approx. $1,850,000
Assessed value
approx. $1,095,000
Annual tax
approx. $9,500 (FY2026 base tax plus CPA surcharge, at Medford's ~$8.63/$1,000 rate)
Last sale
Most recent recorded transfer was for a nominal amount (roughly $125,000) in the early 2020s - almost certainly a non-arm's-length transfer (estate/intra-family/nominal), not a market comp. Unverified aggregator figures of roughly $700,000 (late 2010s) and roughly $300,000 (late 2000s) appear in the chain but were not confirmed from the Registry of Deeds.
Owner
the current owner of record (per a deed transfer in the early 2020s; not independently confirmed at Registry - buyer's counsel must verify)
Parcel ID
Data aggregators show conflicting parcel identifiers for this property - confirm the correct parcel ID, MBLU, and assessed value directly with the Medford Assessor's Office (gis.vgsi.com/medfordma) before relying on any third-party figure.

Green flags(9)

  • FEMA Flood Zone X (minimal hazard); no federally mandated flood insurance, lowering carrying cost and a positive for a leveraged investor.
  • Municipal MWRA water and sewer - no private septic, so no Title 5 inspection or septic capital risk at this sale.
  • Strong, stable submarket: this part of Medford ranks well for safety (NeighborhoodScout data show comparatively low poverty and violent crime roughly half the national average), a plus for tenant demand and insurability.
  • Genuine amenity location: near a small neighborhood park and a short drive from the Mystic River waterfront, within a mile or so of an MBTA commuter rail station (roughly a 15-minute ride into Boston, with nearby-station accessibility upgrades completed in 2025), on a local bus route, with grocery options nearby.
  • Medford multi-family is the strongest local segment (fastest absorption ~14 days, 103% sale-to-list YTD 2026, +6.7% YoY median) - a liquid asset class to own and eventually exit.
  • Zoned to a Medford public elementary school (verify the specific assigned school with Medford Public Schools); district MCAS performance is generally above state average, a tenant draw for families.
  • Fee-simple 3-family with intact period features (high ceilings, hardwood floors, built-in cabinetry, and multiple covered porches) and a built-in future optionality: condo conversion is a viable repositioning path (no existing condo regime/6(d) constraints).
  • Medford is in full MBTA Communities (Section 3A) compliance and pro-density; ~850+ new units are in the ~2-mile pipeline, and stalled upzoning in this part of town could eventually raise as-of-right density near the commuter rail.
  • Off-street parking for 3 vehicles is scarce and valuable in this sub-area (the property fronts a busy multi-lane road), supporting tenant appeal.

Red flags(12)

high

Price is far above every credible value anchor and does not cash-flow at the ask. List approx. $1,850,000 vs comp-supported ~$1.25M-$1.55M, FY2026 assessed approx. $1,095,000, and a third-party AVM estimate ~$1.00M; ~54% above the Medford multi-family median.

Impact: A leveraged investor at ~7% would run ~$128k-$137k/yr in PITI-plus against ~$95k-$120k of market gross (less if in-place rents are below market), i.e. clearly negative cash flow. A lender appraisal near assessed/comp value would also leave a large equity gap to fund in cash.

Mitigation: Underwrite off actual rent roll and an income (cap-rate) approach, not the ask; order a certified MAI appraisal; anchor any offer to the $1.2M-$1.4M comp/income-supported range and make it appraisal- and financing-contingent.

high

The listing's emphasis on roughly two decades of continuous ownership and long-tenured rentals almost certainly means long-tenured, below-market in-place rents with strong MA tenant protections.

Impact: In-place NOI is likely well below a market-rent pro forma; raising rents or repositioning requires lease turnover, MA notice requirements, possible vacancy/relocation cost and time - directly undercutting near-term cash flow.

Mitigation: Make a verified rent roll, all leases, tenancy types and estoppel certificates a P&S condition; underwrite the base case on current (not market) rents; budget lease-up time and legal cost.

high

110-year-old building with multiple high-cost aging-system exposures: presumed lead paint, likely asbestos pipe/boiler insulation, probable knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized/lead supply plumbing, oil-fired steam heat, possible abandoned heating-oil UST.

Impact: Combined worst-case deferred remediation could approach $200k-$300k+ (deleading $18k-$45k+, asbestos $10k-$30k+, rewiring $40k-$75k+, replumbing $15k-$45k, UST remediation up to $50k-$100k+). Active knob-and-tube and a UST can also block standard insurance and lender approval.

Mitigation: Full systems inspection plus targeted lead, asbestos, electrical and GPR oil-tank sweep; obtain seller's UST closure/FP-292 records and insurance bindability confirmation; price the credible capex into the offer and hold an inspection contingency.

high

Lead exposure is acute: 1910s pre-1978 paint throughout a 3-unit rental, plus Medford's citywide lead service-line problem (~5,140 confirmed + ~4,660 unknown lines).

Impact: Strict MA deleading liability triggers if any child under 6 occupies a unit (deleading $18k-$45k+); likely lead and/or galvanized service line; a proposed Medford ordinance could force lead-line replacement at title transfer.

Mitigation: Use the statutory 10-day lead inspection window; get a water-line material determination from Medford Water Quality (781-393-2561) and a tap lead test; budget private-side replacement ($3k-$8k net of $1,000 city rebate); confirm transfer ordinance status before P&S.

medium

Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) with 1910s stone foundation and full unfinished basement; Medford community test average ~8.0 pCi/L (twice the EPA action level).

Impact: High likelihood of radon above 4 pCi/L across tenant-occupied units; a health and disclosure issue, though mitigation is inexpensive.

Mitigation: Radon test as a P&S contingency; if elevated, sub-slab depressurization mitigation runs only ~$1,000-$2,000 - negotiate seller credit.

medium

Attic-to-4th-unit 'value-add' is speculative (marketed with a conceptual rendering rather than approved plans) and not as-of-right. Medford's residential/ADU upzoning was withdrawn Dec 2025; converting the walk-up attic into a 4th unit on a small R-zoned lot likely needs a special permit/variance, and minimum ceiling-height, egress and fire-separation requirements could make it costly or unbuildable.

Impact: Any underwriting that relies on a 4th unit for NOI is at high risk of never materializing; ceiling-height, egress and code requirements could block it entirely.

Mitigation: Assign ZERO value to the 4th unit in the base case; obtain a written zoning determination from Medford Planning and a code-compliance/egress assessment before attributing any upside.

medium

Title, ownership and lien picture is unverified. Current owner, deed type, mortgages and liens were not confirmable from primary sources; address-format inconsistencies between MLS and assessor records and conflicting parcel IDs add ambiguity; the recent nominal-value transfer (early 2020s) is unexplained.

Impact: Chain-of-title or undisclosed-encumbrance surprises could delay or derail closing or impair marketable title.

Mitigation: Full title exam at Middlesex South Registry searching all recorded address variants and all owner names; order a Municipal Lien Certificate; resolve parcel ID and the nature of the recent transfer before P&S.

medium

Permit/condition history is opaque for a building priced near $1.85M: no online permit, code-complaint or violation records accessible; no dated system upgrades disclosed; an unconfirmed stove fire reported in the area in late 2025 may or may not be this property.

Impact: Possible unpermitted work, open permits, code violations or unremediated fire damage that the buyer would inherit.

Mitigation: Pull the full CitizenServe permit and code-complaint history from the Medford Building Dept; require the seller's 5-year insurance claim disclosure; confirm with Medford Fire whether any fire occurred at this address; verify legal 3-unit status and Certificate of Inspection (R-2 periodic inspection under 780 CMR 110.7).

medium

Building fronts a busy multi-lane road, with a history of serious crashes reported nearby.

Impact: Traffic noise, headlights and safety reduce front-unit desirability and the rent premium the location can command; possible Logan flight-path noise is an added quality-of-life unknown.

Mitigation: Discount achievable rents for front units; inspect for sound mitigation; verify flight-path exposure via Massport before underwriting top-of-band rents.

medium

Low-elevation (roughly 10-20 ft AMSL) Mystic basin site with stone foundation, active sump pump and full unfinished basement; nearby environmental concerns (an active gas station in the immediate area; a PCE remediation site in the wider neighborhood).

Impact: Ongoing basement moisture/sewer-backup risk (pluvial flooding not captured by Zone X) and potential off-site contamination/vapor exposure - both raise capex and insurance considerations.

Mitigation: Structural/waterproofing inspection of foundation and sump; consider voluntary water-backup insurance; commission a Phase I ESA (and Phase II if warranted) by a MA LSP covering the nearby UST and PCE sites.

low

Market timing risk on a premium-priced listing: 41+ days on market with no accepted offer (Medford multi-family typically clears in ~23-27 days), statewide closed sales declining and ~22% of listings cutting price.

Impact: Extended DOM at full price signals the market has not validated the ask; supports buyer negotiating leverage and elevated risk of further price softening.

Mitigation: Use DOM as leverage; anchor offer to comps; avoid escalation above comp-supported value.

low

Future tax and regulatory overhangs: Medford High MSBA debt-exclusion vote expected Spring 2027 (possible tax increase on top of the Nov 2024 override), and a statewide rent-control ballot initiative (Nov 2026) that would cap increases at 5%-or-CPI and would COVER a non-owner-occupied 3-family.

Impact: Potential future increases in carrying cost (taxes) and a cap on rent growth that would constrain the ability to raise below-market rents - both adverse to the cash-flow thesis on a non-owner-occupied hold.

Mitigation: Model a tax-increase scenario; track the 2026 rent-control initiative; note that owner-occupying one unit (<=4-unit owner-occupied exemption) would shield the building from the proposed cap.

Offer strategy

Treat this as an income asset and underwrite off a verified rent roll and a cap-rate/income approach, not the ask. Open near the comp- and income-supported range - roughly $1.2M-$1.35M - structured so that realistic stabilized rents (~$105k-$120k gross) cover PITI at a ~7% investor rate; do not chase the $1.85M ask or use an escalation clause above comp value. Make the offer explicitly contingent on (a) a full home/systems inspection with the statutory lead window, (b) financing/appraisal (a lender appraisal near assessed/comp value is likely and would otherwise leave a large cash gap), and (c) a rent-roll/lease due-diligence review. Use the 41+ DOM, the AVM/comp gap, and the quantified age-driven capex as leverage to drive price toward the low end and/or extract seller credits for radon, smoke/CO certification, and required R-2 inspection items. Assign zero value to the speculative 4th unit and condo conversion. If the seller will not move off a price that produces positive (or at least breakeven) leveraged cash flow on current/realistic rents, be prepared to walk - the deal only works at a basis well below ask.

Negotiation points(8)

  • Every value anchor is far below the ask: comps $1.25M-$1.55M, assessed approx. $1,095,000, AVM approx. $1.00M, this neighborhood's 3-family avg $1.375M, and Medford multi-family median $1.2M - the ~$1.85M ask is unsupported.
  • Structurally equivalent active 3-unit competitors are priced $400k+ lower (a comparable 3-unit listing at approx. $1,420,000; another contingent 3-unit listing at approx. $1,320,000) - use as direct evidence of overpricing.
  • 41+ days on market with no accepted offer in a segment that normally clears in ~23-27 days, in a softening statewide market - tangible leverage and evidence the price must come down.
  • Cash-flow math: at ~7% investor financing the property is materially negative-cash-flow at the ask; tie the offer to the price at which realistic stabilized rents cover PITI.
  • Likely below-market in-place rents from long-tenured, roughly 20-year occupancies plus the lease-up time/cost to reach market - discount the value accordingly.
  • Quantified deferred-capex exposure (lead, asbestos, knob-and-tube, plumbing, possible UST: $200k-$300k+ worst case) as a direct price/credit argument after inspection.
  • Attic 4th-unit and condo-conversion 'upside' is speculative and not as-of-right - refuse to pay for it; it carries zero base-case value.
  • Radon mitigation, smoke/CO certification and any required R-2 inspection items as seller-credit or seller-cure items.

Inspection focus(10)

  • Electrical: presence/extent of active knob-and-tube wiring, service capacity (>=60A), and panel/wiring condition across all three units - directly affects insurability and financing.
  • Heating/plumbing: condition of the oil-fired steam boiler, radiators and piping; asbestos pipe/boiler insulation (presume and test before any disturbance); galvanized/lead supply lines and water pressure.
  • Underground oil tank: GPR sweep for an abandoned UST and review of any closure/FP-292 records, given the oil-heat system and Ch. 21E liability exposure.
  • Stone foundation and basement: moisture intrusion, sump-pump performance, cracking/settlement at a low-lying elevation; structural integrity of the 1910s frame.
  • Roof envelope: the dual shingle/rubber (EPDM) roof, especially flat porch/rear sections; and the five covered porches for rot/structural decay.
  • Lead: paint (presume present) and water service-line material plus a tap lead test.
  • Radon: short/long-term test of the basement and lowest occupied levels.
  • Exterior envelope: aluminum/vinyl re-cladding may conceal rot in original wood; inspect underlying framing and the original windows for condition and energy performance.
  • Each unit's kitchen and bathroom (only 1 bath/unit) for deferred maintenance and code compliance; verify the legal unit count (assessor 6 BR vs MLS 8 BR discrepancy).
  • Smoke/CO compliance for a 3-unit R-2 building (likely needs interconnected/hard-wired or 10-yr sealed detectors per fire code).

Recommended contingencies(9)

  • Home/systems inspection contingency (7-10 business days), with full statutory 10-day lead-paint inspection window under M.G.L. c.111 s.197A.
  • Mortgage/financing commitment contingency (30-45 days post-P&S), sized for stricter 3+ unit investment underwriting.
  • Appraisal contingency tied to an income-based MAI appraisal, with deposit return if value comes in materially below contract price.
  • Title contingency with a full Middlesex South Registry exam (search all recorded address variants), Municipal Lien Certificate, and lien/mortgage/UCC clearance.
  • Rent-roll/lease due-diligence contingency: review of all leases, tenancy types, estoppel certificates, security deposits and any Section 8/affordability agreements.
  • Environmental contingency: Phase I ESA (and Phase II if warranted) plus a GPR oil-tank sweep and seller's 5-year insurance claim disclosure.
  • Radon test contingency with seller-credit/mitigation remedy if above 4 pCi/L.
  • Seller-delivered smoke/CO Certificate of Compliance and resolution of any open R-2 periodic inspection (780 CMR 110.7) or code-enforcement items prior to closing.
  • Insurability confirmation contingency (bindable coverage given knob-and-tube/UST/age risk) before removing financing contingency.

Open questions(14)

  • What is the actual unit-by-unit rent roll - current rents, lease terms, tenancy types (at-will/month-to-month/fixed), security deposits, and how far below market are the long-tenured units?
  • Are any tenants under Section 8/HAP contracts or other affordability restrictions that survive the sale and limit rent-setting?
  • What is the verified prior arm's-length sale price/date and full chain of title, and what was the nature of the recent nominal-value (early-2020s) transfer?
  • Who is the confirmed fee-simple owner of record, and are there any recorded mortgages, tax/IRS/municipal/mechanic's/judgment liens or AULs?
  • Is there an abandoned underground heating-oil tank, and are there MassDEP/FP-292 closure records or any open Ch. 21E release at or near the parcel (incl. the nearby gas station and PCE remediation site noted elsewhere in this report)?
  • Does active knob-and-tube wiring remain, and is the building insurable on standard terms at standard cost?
  • What is the water service-line material (lead/galvanized/copper), and is there a Medford transfer-time lead-line replacement ordinance pending?
  • What is the complete Medford permit and code-complaint history, are there open/unfinaled permits, and was the late-2025 stove fire reported nearby at this address?
  • What is the legal number of dwelling units (assessor shows 6 BR / MLS shows 8 BR), and is there a current Certificate of Inspection/Occupancy?
  • Is an attic-to-4th-unit conversion permissible (zoning determination) and adequate for code-compliant ceiling height and egress?
  • Has the list price actually changed over time (aggregator data shows conflicting historical list-price figures) and is there a prior/duplicate listing indicating longer true DOM?
  • What is the correct parcel ID and FY2026 assessed value/tax directly from the Medford VGSI assessor record, and are there any open betterments on the Municipal Lien Certificate?
  • What is the condition/age of the roof (shingle + EPDM), the five covered porches, the stone foundation, and the three kitchens/baths?
  • What is the achievable market rent for a 2-3BR/1BA unit on this busy-road-fronting block, net of any front-unit noise discount and Logan flight-path exposure?

This is research assistance, not legal/financial/real-estate advice. Verify all material facts with primary sources and a licensed MA attorney before acting.

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