The numbers for Brockton
| Measure | Brockton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Units in 2-unit buildings | 4,196 | 282,603 |
| Units in 3- and 4-unit buildings | 6,160 | 323,934 |
| All units in 2-4 unit buildings | 10,356 (rank 11 of 351) | 606,537 |
| Share of all housing units | 27.4% (rank 16 among the 30 places with 20,000+ units) | 20.0% |
| Units built 1939 or earlier | 31.6% | 30.5% |
| Units built 1979 or earlier | 81.4% | 67.4% |
| Households that rent | 42.6% | 37.5% |
| Median value, owner-occupied homes (all types) | $437,500 | n/a |
| Median gross rent | $1,641 a month | n/a |
Counts are housing units in buildings with 2, 3 or 4 units (Census table B25024), not buildings and not parcels; a three-family counts as three units. They are survey estimates with a margin of error (for large cities about 1 to 8 percent of the 2-4 unit count). The median value is what owners say their home is worth across all home types, not a sale price and not the price of a two- or three-family.
What this means if you own one in Brockton
With 81.4% of units built in 1979 or earlier but only 31.6% before 1940, a large part of the stock was built from the 1940s to the 1970s. The lead notice still applies to anything built before 1978, so check the build year instead of assuming either way. Three- and four-unit buildings (6,160 units) outnumber two-families (4,196).
The median owner-occupied value of $437,500 and median rent of $1,641 are both higher than Worcester's or Springfield's, while the renter share is lower, which fits a city where owners often live in the building.
Steps that apply in Brockton
- Fire department certificate. The Brockton Fire Department inspects smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before a sale or transfer (MGL c.148 s.26F and s.26F1/2). Ask for the date as soon as you have a closing date. See the smoke and CO certificate.
- Lead notice. For a building built before 1978, give the buyer the Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification before the buyer signs the purchase and sale agreement. See lead paint when you sell.
- Tenants and deposits. Deposits and last month's rent move to the buyer, who must notify each tenant in writing within 45 days (MGL c.186 s.15B). See selling with tenants in place.
- If an owner lives in a unit, the closing usually involves the owner-occupant's own move and an occupied-by-seller unit. Ask your attorney how the buyer's financing and the date you vacate your unit fit the closing date.