Boston, MA Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 30% of Boston's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.
Homes in Boston that pencil right now
A sample of active Boston listings whose DSCR clears 1.25 using short-term rental income projections we accept as a direct lender. These are spread across the price range, not ranked, and current as of August 2026.
$349,000DSCR 1.313 bed · 1 bath · 755 sqft
- STR revenue
- $48,281/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,465/mo
On the market 80 days · Listed by Jasen Daniel Real Estate
Scout this home & market: 3-bed condo in Boston
$399,900DSCR 1.441 bed · 1 bath · 410 sqft
- STR revenue
- $60,766/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,806/mo
On the market 60 days · Listed by All Things Real Estate, Inc.
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Boston
$412,000DSCR 1.672 bed · 1 bath · 477 sqft
- STR revenue
- $67,380/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,693/mo
On the market 17 days · Listed by Tony's Realty
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Boston
$475,000DSCR 1.592 bed · 2 bath · 916 sqft
- STR revenue
- $78,375/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,283/mo
On the market 191 days · Listed by Maloney Properties, Inc.
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Boston
$499,000DSCR 1.301 bed · 1 bath · 587 sqft
- STR revenue
- $62,799/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,221/mo
On the market 116 days · Listed by Commonwealth Standard Realty Advisors
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Boston
$529,000DSCR 1.321 bed · 1 bath · 414 sqft
- STR revenue
- $67,142/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,403/mo
On the market 68 days · Listed by Gibson Sotheby's International Realty
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Boston
$550,000DSCR 1.271 bed · 1 bath · 470 sqft
- STR revenue
- $68,884/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,611/mo
On the market 11 days · Listed by William Raveis Real Estate - Brookline
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Boston
$579,000DSCR 1.382 bed · 1 bath · 673 sqft
- STR revenue
- $72,609/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,517/mo
On the market 61 days · Listed by Coldwell Banker Realty
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Boston
$699,900DSCR 1.303 bed · 1 bath · 1,712 sqft
- STR revenue
- $80,823/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $4,158/mo
On the market 29 days · Listed by Allison James Estates & Homes of MA, LLC
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Boston
As of August 2026, we analyzed 1,582 active for-sale homes in Boston, Massachusetts. The typical listing is priced at $893,000 and is projected to generate about $67,640 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 29.9% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — below the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Boston #171 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Boston sit a median of 60 days on the market, and 27% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a steadily paced market, which shapes how much room there is to negotiate.
For a DSCR loan — which qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — Boston runs tighter once operating costs are accounted for: many listings need a below-median price, a stronger short-term-rental setup, or more money down before the income covers the payment. It's a market where running the numbers property-by-property matters.
What actually works in Boston
Cash-flow is the exception rather than the rule in Boston right now: 77 of the 1,143 Boston homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $863,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250k–$350k | 6%1.04 | — | — | — | — |
| $350k–$500k | 28%1.01 | 23%1.10 | 17%1.14 | — | — |
| $500k+ | 1%0.70 | 3%0.70 | 7%0.78 | 6%0.78 | 22%0.87 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Boston in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 1,582 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $893,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $67,640 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $296 |
| Median occupancy | 64% |
| Median beds | 2 |
| Median size | 1,206 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 29.9% |
| Median days on market | 60 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 26.9% of active |
As a user of this system, you agree to all Scout Terms & Conditions and Home & Mortgage Conditions.
Would a Boston rental qualify for a DSCR loan?
Pre-filled with Boston's median price and projected short-term-rental income — change any field to match a specific property.
Advanced
On a 5-minute call with you, we can use Scout to run real numbers on real properties.
Estimates for educational purposes. Final terms subject to credit, property & program approval.
5 senior bankers · 47 statesPressure-test the market before you trust the median.
We’ll help you compare the market-level signal with the exact property, local costs, rental rules, and financing structure.
Thinking about an investment property in Boston?
Send the address or your target buy box. We’ll run the property with today’s assumptions.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text Chad: 858-353-8331.