Real Estate Investing in Otis, Massachusetts (01253)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Berkshire County • Population: 903 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01253 (Otis, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 41.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 30.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Otis, MA (01253)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $535,947
Avg Monthly Rent $1,476
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $102,596
% Renters 18.0%

Market Analysis: 01253 Otis

Investors eyeing 01253 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $536K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 01253 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader MA picture, 01253 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The demographic picture in 01253 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Otis averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Otis:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,476/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Pittsfield, MA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
67 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.3%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Pittsfield, MA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 01253

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+10.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$163,686/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $377,524 $1,640 3.1% +8.3% $188,762
3BR $557,701 $2,120 2.7% +10.0% $185,900
4BR $654,746 $2,750 3.0% +10.5% $163,686

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$557K$496K$434K$373K$312K$250KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01253 Compare?

Metric 01253 Otis Pittsfield, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $535,947 $535,947 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,476 $1,476 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01253? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01253 (Otis, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Berkshire County

Manage rentals here? List your business →
Posto Property Management
Town Of Egremont, MA

Posto Property offers premium vacation rentals in the Northeast. summary from their website

Short-term rentals
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Leading Edge Property Management
City Of Pittsfield, MA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Pittsfield, MA metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
2/2
67 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $535,947
Monthly Rent $1,476
Price-to-Rent 30.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
41.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01253

Population: 903

💰 Median Household Income
$102,596
This area
$102,596
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.4%
This area
40.4%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.0 years
This area
53.0 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
41.4%
This area
41.4%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.8%
Other/Mixed 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
👶 Under 18
10.4%
This area
10.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 01253

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
9.1:1 Avg Class Size
$48,129 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Farmington River Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
129 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$48,129 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
C
Bard College at Simon's Rock
312 students · 13.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Otis, MA?

Otis, MA home values average about $536K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,476/mo in monthly income.

How strong is tenant demand in Otis, MA?

Tenant quality in Otis, MA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $1,476/mo.

Is Otis, MA suited for a house hack?

House hacking in Otis, MA is a challenging. With home values around $536K and rents at $1,476/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is Otis, MA landlord-friendly?

Otis, MA falls under MA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How much rent can I charge in Otis, MA?

Expect rents around $1,476/mo per month in Otis, MA. With home values at $536K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 01253 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 01253 ranks in Pittsfield, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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