The numbers for Springfield
| Measure | Springfield | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Units in 2-unit buildings | 11,124 | 282,603 |
| Units in 3- and 4-unit buildings | 6,136 | 323,934 |
| All units in 2-4 unit buildings | 17,260 (rank 6 of 351) | 606,537 |
| Share of all housing units | 27.7% (rank 15 among the 30 places with 20,000+ units) | 20.0% |
| Units built 1939 or earlier | 36.7% | 30.5% |
| Units built 1979 or earlier | 82.6% | 67.4% |
| Households that rent | 50.4% | 37.5% |
| Median value, owner-occupied homes (all types) | $245,000 | n/a |
| Median gross rent | $1,144 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 Springfield
Two-families outnumber three- and four-unit buildings about 1.8 to 1 here, so buyers are often owner-occupants who will live in one unit and rent the other. Springfield's median rent is $1,144 and its median home value is $245,000, the lowest among our city pages, so repairs, deposits and lead work weigh heavily on what you keep.
Steps that apply in Springfield
- Fire department certificate. The Springfield 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 you used the city's lead program, read what you signed. Springfield's Office of Housing runs a federally funded lead-based paint hazard reduction program (Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program). Its page says funding is "granted through a forgivable mortgage and lien against the property for a 3-year period" and that owner-occupants must live in the property as their primary residence for at least three years. A lien and an occupancy requirement both matter at a sale: ask the Office of Housing (413-787-6500) and tell your closing attorney before you list.