DSCR loans in Haverhill, MA

Market snapshot for Haverhill

For Haverhill, the latest five-year ACS shows a median gross rent of $1,668 (close to the Massachusetts median of $1,762) and a median owner-occupied value of $453,900 (about 19% below the Massachusetts median of $562,100). The gross rent-to-value ratio for Haverhill works out to 4.4% (twelve months of median rent divided by median value), on the low side, so the payment, not the rent, usually decides whether a file clears. The figure combines all rental types with all owner-occupied homes, so it is a screening number and not an appraisal.

Roughly 37.2% of occupied housing in Haverhill is rented, close to the Massachusetts median of 37%. Against a median household income of $88,326 (about 15% below the Massachusetts median of $103,960), 60% of renters report rent at or above 30 percent of income.

The kind of housing in Haverhill

Buildings with two or more units make up about 49% of Haverhill's housing, including 25% in two to four unit buildings and 12% in buildings of five to 19 units. With a median build year of 1964, older roofs, plumbing and electrical are the norm and inspection findings drive the numbers.

Roughly 5% of units in Haverhill sit vacant, and the share of rentals available for rent is 2.8% at the survey's snapshot.

Underwriting angles in Haverhill

At 4.4% gross, Haverhill is a tight market for DSCR math, and investors often turn to interest-only structures, higher rents on renovated units or small multifamily to make the ratio clear. With homes this old, a pre-offer inspection is not optional in Haverhill. With about 37% of households renting, Haverhill has enough tenants to support investors without being dominated by them.

Carrying costs in Haverhill

Tax drag is easy to underestimate. Haverhill owners report a median $4,772 in annual real estate taxes, about 20% below the Massachusetts median of $5,992, an effective 1.05% of median home value. Set beside the median rent, the tax alone consumes about 24% of annual rent.

The federal National Risk Index scores Essex County relatively high for overall risk, led by coastal flooding (very high), ice storms (very high) and riverine flooding (relatively high). That is a county-level view, so check the flood map for the exact parcel.

Many investors meet insurance too late, so get a quote tied to the Haverhill property's roof age and flood zone before you waive your inspection period.

Working the Haverhill rent math

For a rough fit test, treat $1,668 as the rent and $398 as the monthly tax. The payment cannot exceed $1,668 at a 1.00 ratio, so $1,270 is left after taxes for interest, principal, insurance and any association dues, shrinking to $937 if the lender wants 1.25.

Rental rules for Haverhill, MA

For Haverhill, treat local rental rules as an open question to close before you offer. Ask the city and Essex County about landlord registration, inspections and short-term rental permits, and check association documents too. State tax treatment of short stays, as it applies to Haverhill. Massachusetts has required short-term rental operators to register with the Department of Revenue since July 1, 2019, and applies the room occupancy excise to rentals of 31 days or less, with local taxes and fees added where a city or town has adopted them.

A Haverhill landlord must handle the deposit within 30 days after move-out under Massachusetts law. On rent control, Rent control is prohibited statewide by the Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act (c. 40P), which bars rent-control schemes except voluntary ones.

Where Haverhill sits among nearby places

Lawrence's median home value of $415,200 is the group's floor and Salem's $473,300 its ceiling, while Haverhill is $453,900.

Workforce and demand drivers in Haverhill

Self-employment accounts for 8.1% of Haverhill's workforce, so many local investors earn income that a standard payroll-based mortgage underwrites poorly. Around the edges, government workers are about 13% of employment, 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.

Northern Essex Community College, Northpoint Bible College and University of Massachusetts Lowell are the named colleges for the Haverhill area, a source of steady tenants but also of a lease cycle that follows the academic calendar. Wikipedia's entry for Haverhill notes interstate access via I-495 and air service through Lawrence Municipal Airport (Massachusetts) and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, a practical point for tenants and owners alike.

Putting a Haverhill file together

A good Haverhill file has four pieces: rent evidence, a tax estimate, an insurance quote and cash. Preview the ratio in the calculator, then apply or talk to us.

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• DSCR loans in Lowell, MA
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Source links

• FEMA National Risk Index
• Background reading: Haverhill, Massachusetts
• Massachusetts security deposit statute (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b), (1)(d), (2), (3), (4), (5))
• Mass.gov TIR 19-3 (Massachusetts)
• Room occupancy excise
• 2020 to 2024 ACS data used for Haverhill

All Haverhill statistics are ACS five-year survey estimates from 2020 to 2024. Deposit and notice summaries come from RedFlagLease (CC BY 4.0) and the linked Massachusetts sections. Last reviewed October 2026; the city and county have the final word on Haverhill rules.

Before you make an offer

For a Haverhill rental, request the current lease, the last tax bill and the insurance declarations page early, and confirm which utilities the tenant pays, because each one changes the monthly figure a lender compares with the rent.

DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.