ASE-Certified Auto Repair
For Sale
$539,900
12 Carlton Street, Lowell, MA 01851
Commercial Sale, Lowell, MA
Property Size1,800 SF
Price / SF$299.94
Days on Market90
Property Features for 12 Carlton Street
General Information
Property type
Commercial Sale
Property subtype
Other
Zoning
NBBUS
Zoning description
Legal Conforming
Directions
Middlesex St to Carlton
Subdivision
Highlands
Standard status
Active
APN
M:141 B:1045 L:12 U:12,4980161
Taxes and HOA fees
Tax Year
2025
Tax Annual Amount
3937
Building Details
Year built
1987
Listing Agency:
Keller Williams Realty-Merrimack
(978) 692-3280
Listed By:
Claire Ryan
(978) 996-8287
Added: Jun 7
Changed: Sep 3
Last Checked: Sep 4 at 10:06AM
MLS# 73531444
Copyright © 2026 MLS Property Information Network Inc. All rights reserved. All information provided by the listing agent/broker is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
Investment Insights
Based on property information with market context.
This sale combines the real estate and operating auto repair business at 12 Carlton Street in Lowell. The approximately 1,800 sq ft facility includes two deep service bays, two vehicle lifts, and a 12,000-pound truck lift. The shop is ASE certified and equipped to handle gas, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles, with capabilities spanning routine maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs.
Recent improvements include drainage, insulation, electrical systems, doors, and lighting. A furnished second-floor area provides an office, bathroom, and storage. The property and business have served customers for over 23 years and include the shop’s equipment, tools, fixtures, inventory, and established customer base. Zoning is NBBUS, and the building was constructed in 1987.
Recent improvements include drainage, insulation, electrical systems, doors, and lighting. A furnished second-floor area provides an office, bathroom, and storage. The property and business have served customers for over 23 years and include the shop’s equipment, tools, fixtures, inventory, and established customer base. Zoning is NBBUS, and the building was constructed in 1987.
Key Highlights
- Approximately 1,800 sq ft auto repair facility
- Two deep service bays and two lifts
- 12,000 pound truck lift included
Financial Insights
Estimated NOI and Cap Rate
NOI = area × lease_rate × (100 − vacancy) / 100 × (1 − expense_ratio). Net Operating Income — what the owner takes home each year before mortgage payments and income tax. Effective rent (asking rent minus vacancy losses) minus operating costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance, management).
NOI / Yr
$29,688
Cap rate = NOI / list price × 100. Capitalization rate — annual return on a fully cash purchase, before financing. NOI divided by price. Higher means more income per dollar invested, but usually also more risk or older condition. 5–8% is typical for stabilized commercial property; double digits often signal distressed deals.
Cap Rate
5.50%
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates
Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality.
Typical U.S. stable-market ranges:
Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+)
Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand)
Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically)
Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher)
Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk)
Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5%
Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5%
Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term
Rules of thumb:
Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%).
Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C.
Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI.
Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$593,760
$593.8K
Cap Rate 7%
$424,114
$424.1K
Cap Rate 9%
$329,867
$329.9K
Market Conditions
NOI Build-Up for 1,800 SF
Vacancy — income lost from leasable area expected to sit empty during the year, subtracted from gross rent.
EGI (Effective Gross Income) — gross rent minus vacancy losses, the realistic income before paying operating costs.
OpEx (Operating Expenses) — recurring costs to operate the property (property tax, insurance, utilities, maintenance, management); excludes financing and capital improvements.
NOI (Net Operating Income) — income a property generates after operating costs but before financing and taxes.
Gross rent
$45.4K $25.20/SF
− Vacancy
−$2.9K −$1.64/SF
EGI
$42.4K $23.56/SF
− OpEx
−$12.7K −$7.07/SF
NOI
$29.7K $16.49/SF
Area
Lowell, MA
Vacancy
6.50%
Lease Rate
$25.20 /SF/Yr
Expense Ratio
30.00%
Simulate Cap Rate and NOI
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates
Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality.
Typical U.S. stable-market ranges:
Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+)
Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand)
Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically)
Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher)
Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk)
Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5%
Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5%
Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term
Rules of thumb:
Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%).
Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C.
Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI.
Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$593,760
Cap Rate 7%
$424,114
Cap Rate 9%
$329,867
Alternative Uses
Best Use
Retail
$424.1K
$371.1K – $494.8K
NOI $29,688 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 5.50%
Second Best
Industrial
$147.2K
$128.8K – $171.7K
NOI $10,304 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 1.91%
Theoretical Best
Office A
$633.5K
$554.3K – $739.1K
NOI $44,347 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 8.21%
Zoning and permitted uses should be independently verified with authorities.
Property Analytics
Property Profile
Current Use
Lease Details
2
Service bays
Turnkey business
Opportunity
Location Intelligence
Trade Area within ½ mile
1,989
Businesses Nearby
Well-served
Demand for This Use
Explore this area
Business Placement
Demographics for 01851, MA
32,691
Population
11,759
Households
2.8
Avg Household Size
34
Median Age
32%
College-Educated
79%
High-School Grad
3.2 sq mi
ZIP Area
10,216
Density / Sq Mi
$87,962
Median Household Income
$46,388
Median Earnings
$1,686
Median Rent
$432,100
Median Home Value
Market
Vacancy Rate% for Retail in Northeast region
Questions? Ask Rey
Realmo’s AI knows this listing — price, zoning, demand, history. Ask anything.
Similar Off Market Nearby
- Midas Muffler Shops — 460 Chelmsford St, Lowell, MA 01851
- Vitos Mobile Auto Glass Services — 450 Chelmsford St, Lowell, MA 01851
- Teek's Unique Auto Repair — 460 Chelmsford St, Lowell, MA 01851
- Flow Auto Glass Services — 47 Manufacturers St, Lowell, MA 01851, United States
- Byrne Autobody — 171 Tanner St, Lowell, MA 01852
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of property is this?
Auto shop - Established facility supports gas, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicle service.
Where is this auto shop located?
The property is located at 12 Carlton Street Lowell, MA.
What is the asking price?
The asking price for this property is $539,900.
What are key features of this property?
This property features: Approximately 1,800 sq ft auto repair facility; Two deep service bays and two lifts; 12,000 pound truck lift included
