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239 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA, USA
Priced too high to cash-flow with a loan — an equity or tax play, not income.
Investment potential
Your scenario · adjust the levers below or open advanced settings to see how returns change
$73,535
$6,128/mo · at 63% occupancy & $509/night
-$33,636
-$2,803/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
2.8%
Cash-on-cash
-11.4%
DSCR
0.47
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$73,535/yr
Market avg: $73,535/yr · 63% occ · $509 ADR
Financing
$63,141/yr
Operating costs
$44,031/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 15 properties
$253–$725
Median $509
18%–85%
Median 63%
$47.9K–$105.2K
Median $79.4K
176–365
Median 270
This property · $73.5K
Comparable properties (15)
Cash flow potential Low · Appreciation potential Medium
251 days available · 195 days booked ·
303 days available · 161 days booked ·
176 days available · 130 days booked ·
209 days available · 152 days booked ·
365 days available · 184 days booked ·
220 days available · 178 days booked ·
338 days available · 122 days booked ·
365 days available · 227 days booked ·
365 days available · 262 days booked ·
226 days available · 104 days booked ·
214 days available · 142 days booked ·
244 days available · 145 days booked ·
270 days available · 155 days booked ·
301 days available · 71 days booked ·
362 days available · 169 days booked ·
Revenue and occupancy reflect Chalet's modeled estimates from observed booking activity for comparable active listings. Individual results vary with management, seasonality, and pricing.
Who this property is for
The same property is a great buy for one investor and a trap for another. Here's the honest read.
1031 / high-equity buyer
~$260.5K
Year-1 tax shield
Buying with cash or low leverage removes the debt-coverage problem entirely, so the thesis rests on appreciation plus a large first-year write-off. At roughly 25% of purchase price, the shield is substantial enough to carry the deal on its own.
Price-disciplined buyer
$492.7K
Break-even purchase price
Break-even is ~53% below the Zestimate, a discount sellers in Cambridge rarely accept. Treat the number as a walk-away line rather than an opening offer.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
0.47
DSCR at asking
At asking price the property doesn't cover its own debt service, so it won't qualify for DSCR financing as modeled. If you need cash flow from day one, look at a mid-term-rental fallback or a different Cambridge submarket.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$260.5K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $216.2K–$296.9K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $80.0K–$109.9K in estimated federal tax saved.
This only applies if you meet the IRS material-participation tests for short-term rentals and are not using a full-service property manager.
Estimate, subject to CPA review. Cost-segregation percentages shown here are illustrative and depend on an actual study of the property.
Some states do not conform to federal bonus depreciation, so your state may not allow the same first-year treatment shown above.
Chalet can introduce a cost-segregation partner — this is not tax, legal, or financial advice.
How cash-on-cash return moves with purchase price. The marked line is break-even (1.0 DSCR).
At this price: cash-on-cash -11.4%, DSCR 0.47, cash flow -$33,636/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $790,875 | -7.9% | 0.62 | Below break-even |
| -22% | $822,510 | -8.4% | 0.60 | Below break-even |
| -15% | $896,325 | -9.5% | 0.55 | Below break-even |
| -8% | $970,140 | -10.5% | 0.51 | Below break-even |
| Asking | $1,054,500 | -11.4% | 0.47 | Below break-even |
| +8% | $1,138,860 | -12.2% | 0.43 | Below break-even |
| +15% | $1,212,675 | -12.9% | 0.41 | Below break-even |
Break-even price
$492,745
~53% under Zestimate. Where this property reaches 1.0 DSCR and neutral cash flow.
Discount needed
−$561,755
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$9,255/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $6,128 · peaks at $7,588 in Mar
Annual avg 59% · peaks at 75% in Aug
−$2,803/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$305,805
Return on cash:6.2%
DSCR below 1.0 — but you can still qualify
Your DSCR is 0.47 · lenders typically require 1.0+.
Get matched with 2–3 vetted STR lenders, free.
What the deal returns over the hold — including the tax shield, which is the whole point for an appreciation buyer.
Levered IRR
8.9%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
1.5×
total proceeds vs. $305,805 invested
Projected value at exit
$1,345,839
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+5.9 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $271,659 | $52,725 | $62,735 | $387,119 |
| Year 2 | $280,273 | $108,086 | $30,202 | $418,561 |
| Year 3 | $289,511 | $166,216 | -$1,212 | $454,515 |
| Year 4 | $299,416 | $227,251 | -$31,489 | $495,178 |
| Year 5 | $310,037 | $291,339 | -$60,612 | $540,763 |
Projection, not a promise.
Assumes 5.0% annual appreciation, 1.5% rent growth (operating costs held flat), and that the property qualifies for short-term-rental tax treatment. The year-1 depreciation shield depends on a real cost-segregation study and your tax situation — consult a CPA.
Appreciation is the dominant driver of this return. When cash flow is negative, the deal depends on the property gaining value — it is not paying for itself from income.
Appreciation, rent growth, and financing rates are editable under Edit financials.
STR deals turn on local rules and demand that a generalist agent misses. Chalet matches you with a vetted Cambridge agent who knows which properties actually cash flow — and which to avoid.
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Real Estate Investment Analysis & Market Insights
Disclaimer
This page and the data presented are for informational purposes only. The information provided should not be construed as financial, legal, or investment advice. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.
70 York St, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$65,323/yr
Daily Rate
$437
Occupancy
0.8%
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Revenue
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Daily Rate
$435
Occupancy
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Daily Rate
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Occupancy
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