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With access to amazing universities, cultural events, and bars ‘where everybody knows your name’, Boston is understandably a desirable place for renters to move to. There really is something for everyone here, whether you’re an avid sports fan, music aficionado, or an American-history buff. Whilst it’s easy to be charmed by all that the east coast hotspot can offer though, there are a few things that prospective residents should consider.
Of course, before signing a rental agreement anywhere, there’s several things that should be checked beforehand. We’ve compiled a handful below, as well as some tips specific to aspiring Bostonians.
Get your timing right
Greater Boston is home to more than 50 universities and colleges, including the prestigious Harvard and MIT facilities. This is undoubtedly great for Boston and neighbouring Cambridge, but does come at a cost for anyone hoping to settle there. When you consider the quarter of a million students enrolled to study here, you can start to see how finding rental property can be problematic.
With this in mind, it pays to act at the right time. Some local realtors advise searching a full five months beforehand to get a headstart on your move. Boston Magazine even recommend that the only two months that provide much scope for signing a lease are July and September. Make sure that you pay attention to student term times to give yourself the best possible chance to secure a property.
Make sure that you’ve budgeted enough
Around the advent of the 20th century, Boston saw an unprecedented increase in its population thanks to a huge wave of European immigrants trebling the amount of residents. Boston’s housing market wasn’t quite ready back then, and is perhaps struggling again now that Boston has established itself as a growing worldwide hub of education and finance.
It’s a great place to be, but there’s limited spaces, making Boston an expensive place to rent. Online rental experts, Zumper found that “the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Boston, MA is currently $2,750”, and that “this is a 34% increase compared to the previous year”. Sites like Zumper are invaluable for gauging the prices of a particular neighbourhood. By familiarising yourself with up-to-date rental prices, you’re more likely to know if you’re getting a good deal or not.
Get an idea of what’s actually on offer
Different cities offer different living situations. Zumper’s Boston findings show that one-bedroom apartments are the most common property type available to renters in Boston, with studio apartments the least common. If you’ve got your heart set on a studio apartment then, it might be worth considering another city. In an area that house so many students meanwhile, it’s no surprise to see one-bedroom accomodation so heavily featured.
Visit at different times of the day
No matter where you’re looking to move to, it’s always a good idea to check out the neighbourhood on several different visits. That quiet little area you looked around at lunchtime with a realtor, could be a hotspot for crime and anti-social behaviour come nightfall.
How an area changes after dark isn’t the only consideration you should make however. If your potential new home is close to a main road for instance, you might find unbearable traffic congestion at peak commuting times.
Keep an eye out too for what facilities are nearby. A nearby school may mean that certain times of day see the streets loaded with parked cars. A local football of baseball team may also bring the same issues, as well as hordes of rowdy fans on weekends.
Now that you’re armed with a few pointers on renting in the Boston area, you’ll hopefully find things a little easier. At the very least you should feel more prepared, so slip on that Celtics jersey, grab those old Cheers DVDs, and with a little luck, you could soon be living as a Bostonian.