Buying In Lawrence, MA
Sell Your Commercial Property In Lawrence, MA
Own a commercial apartment building of five or more units in Lawrence? We purchase multifamily properties around Tower Hill, Prospect Hill, and the rest of Essex County, and we review every deal against a clear buy box.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Lawrence Submarkets: Tower Hill · Prospect Hill · North Lawrence · Methuen — Essex County, MA
The Lawrence Market
What Drives Rentals In Lawrence
Lawrence, MA is a renter-heavy Essex County city of 88,736 residents, with 71.9% of occupied homes rented, per ACS 2020-2024 data. Median gross rent is $1,662, just under the Massachusetts median of $1,762, and 28.9% of homes sit in buildings with 5 or more units. Owners who want to sell commercial property in Lawrence, MA are working with an old housing stock, a median year built of 1950, and a split tax roll that charges residential and commercial-industrial parcels different rates. This profile pulls Census, HUD and Massachusetts statute data together for a Lawrence landlord weighing a sale.
Lawrence General Hospital
Lawrence General Hospital reported 220 staffed beds in Hospital Fiscal Year 2024, per the state's CHIA hospital profile.Northern Essex Community College
NECC's Lawrence campus at 45 Franklin Street is one of two campuses; NECC enrolled 5,307 credit students in Fall 2025.New Balance mill facility
New Balance employs over 300 associates at its Lawrence design and manufacturing innovation site in a historic Merrimack River mill.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Lawrence
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
Local Market Data
Lawrence Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Lawrence
Renters occupy 71.9% of occupied homes in Lawrence, against 34.4% across Massachusetts, in ACS 2020-2024 tenure data. Buildings with 5 or more units make up 28.9% of Lawrence homes, or 9,210 units, versus 17.3% statewide, per ACS table B25024.
Lawrence housing is old: the median year built is 1950, and 77.5% of homes predate 1980, in ACS table B25034. Anyone who wants to sell commercial real estate in Lawrence, MA is selling into that renter-heavy, older base.
Rents and affordability in Lawrence
Median gross rent in Lawrence is $1,662, compared with $1,762 for Massachusetts, in ACS 2020-2024. 58.5% of Lawrence renters pay 30% or more of income on rent, and 29.7% pay 50% or more, per ACS table B25070. Rental vacancy is 1.4% in ACS profile DP04.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,677 |
| One-bedroom | $1,809 |
| Two-bedroom | $2,367 |
| Three-bedroom | $2,820 |
| Four-bedroom | $3,111 |
These are HUD FY2027 fair market rents for the Lawrence, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area.
Property taxes in Essex County
Lawrence taxed residential property at $8.64 per $1,000 and commercial-industrial-personal property at $18.06 per $1,000 of assessed value in FY2026, per the city assessor's online property database. Property with one or more dwelling units is class one residential under M.G.L. c.59, s.2A.
On a $2,000,000 apartment building at the residential rate, tax is 2,000,000 / 1,000 x $8.64 = $17,280. At the commercial-industrial rate, it is 2,000,000 / 1,000 x $18.06 = $36,120.
Massachusetts deed excise is $2.28 per $500, or $9,120 on $2,000,000, per the mass.gov tax rates page. Owners who sell commercial property in Lawrence, MA should weigh that excise against net sale proceeds.
Landlord rules in Massachusetts
Massachusetts caps upfront payments to first month, last month and a security deposit of one month's rent, under M.G.L. c.186, s.15B; deposits are due back within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
Nonpayment under a written lease takes 14 days' written notice to quit, under c.186, s.11; Section 12 covers tenancies at will.
M.G.L. c.40P, s.4 bars cities and towns from enacting or maintaining rent control, with a narrow voluntary exception.
What this means for a Lawrence owner
This guide helps you sell your apartment building in Lawrence with the $17,280 residential tax figure and the $9,120 deed excise in view.
Owners who sell commercial property in Lawrence, MA can run numbers first with the cap rate calculator. Skyline Capital Investments buys 5+ unit apartment buildings; see how to sell my apartment building.
Seller Notes
Lawrence Seller Checklist
More about selling in Massachusetts →Investing in Lawrence? See apartment syndications in Lawrence →
- Lawrence taxes residential parcels at $8.64 per $1,000 versus $18.06 commercial-industrial, so building class sets the bill.
- Owners who sell commercial real estate in Lawrence, MA owe $9,120 in deed excise on a $2,000,000 sale.
- Selling commercial property in Lawrence often means an older building; 77.5% of homes predate 1980.
Seller Guides
Selling In Lawrence? Common Situations We Handle
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Lawrence Property
The Massachusetts rules that shape any deal in Lawrence: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Lawrence Seller FAQ
How do I sell commercial property in Lawrence, MA?
Start with the rent roll, tax bill and building age. Lawrence taxed class one residential property at $8.64 per $1,000 of assessed value in FY2026, and Massachusetts deed excise is $2.28 per $500, or $9,120 on a $2,000,000 sale.
What does it cost to sell commercial real estate in Lawrence, MA?
Massachusetts deed excise runs $2.28 per $500 of price, so a $2,000,000 sale carries $9,120. Lawrence also assesses commercial-industrial parcels at $18.06 per $1,000, more than double the $8.64 residential rate, which affects a buyer's underwriting.
Does Lawrence have rent control?
No. Massachusetts General Laws chapter 40P, section 4 bars cities and towns from enacting or maintaining rent control, with a narrow voluntary exception. Lawrence landlords set rents under state tenancy rules, including the deposit and notice limits in chapter 186.
How much notice does a Massachusetts landlord give for nonpayment?
Chapter 186, section 11 allows 14 days' written notice to quit for nonpayment under a written lease. Section 12 gives the same 14 days for a tenant at will; ending a tenancy at will otherwise takes notice equal to the rent interval or 30 days, whichever is longer.
What are rents in Lawrence compared with HUD limits?
Lawrence median gross rent is $1,662 in ACS 2020-2024. HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for the Lawrence, MA-NH area is $2,367 for a two-bedroom. Owners planning to sell multifamily property in Lawrence can compare in-place rents against that benchmark before listing.
What if my Lawrence building has vacancies or deferred maintenance?
That is often where we add the most value. We buy buildings that need renovation, new management, or lease-up, and we account for that in our offer.
How does a sale to you work in Essex County?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We give feedback, then a written letter of intent if it fits, followed by diligence and a closing date that works for you.
Who buys occupied rental property in Lawrence?
We do. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit multifamily, and we buy apartment buildings with tenants in place, including properties with below-market rents.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Lawrence?
Most owners get clear feedback within 48 hours of sending the address, unit count, and a rent roll. Closing is typically set around your timeline, including extra time for a 1031 exchange.
Submit A Deal
Selling A Building In Lawrence?
A few details are enough to start. We respond to every Lawrence submission, including off-market and pocket listings.
