Buying a Two-Family or Three-Family in MA — Owner-Occupied Rules, Leases, and Due Diligence

A multi-family purchase is one of the smartest ways to build wealth—if you buy it like an investor, even when you’re living there. People often search “Massachusetts multifamily purchase attorney” or “Massachusetts investment property closing attorney” because multi-family adds leases, tenant rights, and operational risk to an otherwise “normal” closing.

 

Financing and owner-occupancy: get clear early

 

Owner-occupied loans can be favorable, but lenders may require you to occupy within a timeframe. A Massachusetts closing attorney helps keep the documentation consistent and on track, especially when rent income is involved.

 

Leases and deposits: you’re buying the paperwork too

 

If tenants are in place, your attorney should review:

• leases and amendments

• rent roll and payment status

• security deposits and last month’s rent (properly documented and transferred)

• utilities and metering

• landlord obligations (repairs, promised upgrades)

This is also where title and escrow matter. A clean South Shore title and escrow process helps prevent deposit disputes and misunderstandings at closing.

 

Due diligence beyond the inspection

 

Multi-family diligence often includes:

• building systems and safety compliance

• rental licensing/inspection history where applicable

• zoning conformity (especially mixed-use)

• any boundary/easement issues (searches like MA easement attorney, right of way attorney Massachusetts, boundary dispute real estate lawyer MA are common when red flags show up)

If zoning or permitted use is unclear, this can become a Massachusetts zoning attorney / Massachusetts land use attorney issue, especially for mixed-use, add-on units, or conversions.

Town-by-town reality on the South Shore

 

If you’re buying around Hingham or nearby—Norwell, Cohasset, Scituate, Marshfield, Duxbury, Hanover, Weymouth, Braintree, Quincy, Milton—you want a South Shore real estate attorney who understands local timing, registries, and the closing flow.