How Do I Find A Good Apartment In Boston?

If you’re ready to start apartment hunting in Boston, here are nine tips to keep in mind.

1. Know your neighborhoods.
2. Start early.
3. Be realistic about budget (especially near the T).
4. Visit the unit.
5. Be flexible on laundry.
6. Be cognizant of safety.
7. Consider heating and cooling.
8. Check for storage.

How do you find an apartment in Boston?

Best websites for searching for an apartment in Boston

1. ApartmentFinder.
2. Boston Pads.
3. Craigslist.
4. HotPads.
5. Padmapper.
6. Rentable (formerly Abodo)

Why is it so hard to find an apartment in Boston?

Scores of renters in Greater Boston are battling to find a place, any place, to live these days. Rents have surged to record highs after the COVID-19 pandemic sent rents to lows the area hadn’t seen in years, and a slew of factors are making Boston’s always-challenging apartment market even more frenetic.

How do I find an apartment in Boston without a broker?

Without a real estate agent or service, you can find an apartment through sites like Facebook housing groups, Facebook marketplace, and Craigslist. These websites are helpful but it may be time consuming to have to sort through all the options.

What is the best website to find apartment?

The Five Must-Check Apartment Sites for Renters [Updated in 2019]

• Trulia. A clean, clear website that helps those looking to buy, sell, or rent homes all over the nation.
• Zillow. If you have a smartphone, the Zillow app is a great accessory to add to your apartment-hunting arsenal.
• StreetEasy.
• Craigslist.
• Dixon Leasing.

Where can I find affordable apartments in Boston?

The city of nearly 700,000 has a mercifully convenient clearinghouse for those looking for affordable housing for either sale or rent. It’s called Metrolist, and users can search it via four affordable opportunities: lotteries and resales; available rental listings; and affordable properties.

How do I find a roommate in Boston?

Finding roommates in Boston is relatively easy using Cirtru, a trusted roommate finder, if you decide to move within or from outside the capital of Massachusetts.

Who qualifies for affordable housing in Boston?

priced between $250,000-$400,000. affordable to households with a combined income between $60,000 and $100,000.

What month do most apartments become available?

The lowest rental rates are found during the winter months—October through April—with demand and prices reaching their nadir between January and March. An apartment search should begin in the middle of the month prior to the target move month.

Why is renting in Boston so expensive?

High Real Estate Prices Pushing More People Towards Renting
Boston is currently experiencing an incredibly strong Seller’s Market. That means there is higher demand than there is supply of homes for sale in Boston. Some buyers are paying way more money than the asking price.

How do I avoid broker fees in Boston?

There are a couple other characteristics of brokers’ fees you should be aware of as you prepare for your Boston rental search.

1. They’re Typically Paid By The Tenant.
2. They Can Really Add Up.
3. Ask Your Landlord To Cover Them.
4. Avoid Working With A Broker Altogether.
5. Time Your Move-In Strategically.

Do I need a broker in Boston?

Most apartments for rent in Boston require a broker fee equivalent to the price of 1 months rent. At Places For Less we offer a large selection of apartments with no broker fee. We are able to do this because many landlords try to incentivize their apartments by paying the fee themselves, so that you don’t have to.

How much should you spend on rent?

PayProp notes that it is generally accepted that rent should equal no more than 30% of a tenant’s take-home pay – that is, their salary after tax and other deductions.

Why are apartments so expensive?

Since the demand for their apartments is higher, the complex can raise the price of rent to ensure only a few select people can afford it. Apartments are expensive because of amenities and the cost to run them as well as the increase in demand it provides for the complex.

Are StreetEasy listings legit?

StreetEasy is a brand and registered trademark of Zillow, Inc. Zillow, Inc. has a real estate brokerage license in multiple states. See a list of these real estate licenses.

Who qualifies for affordable housing in Massachusetts?

Am I Eligible?

1. Low-income households are typically eligible for the state-aided public housing if they earn no more than 80 percent of the area median income.
2. If you or a family member are 60 years of age or over or, you are a non-elderly/handicapped you may qualify for the elderly/handicapped housing program.

Is Boston MA affordable?

Living in the Hub is not cheap—Boston is among the most expensive cities in the US. According to Numbeo’s cost of living index, which factors the cost of consumer goods prices, including groceries, restaurants, transportation, and utilities, Boston’s steep price point earns it a score of 88.27 out of 100 in July 2020.

How many affordable housing units are in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts

What neighborhoods are in Boston?

BostonNeighborhoods

How can I find a roommate?

The 9 Best Roommate Finders on the Web

1. Craigslist. Let’s start with the obvious: Craigslist.
2. PadMapper. With its free, map-based interface, PadMapper makes it easy to find apartments in a particular neighborhood or even on a particular block.
3. RoomieMatch.
4. Roommates.com.
5. Roomi.
6. Roomster.
7. 7. Facebook.
8. Alumni Networks.

What is a livable salary in Boston?

Living Wage Calculation for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA