Moving to a new city, especially one as vibrant as Boston, can be exciting. However, finding suitable accommodation, whether it’s a vacation condo for a romantic getaway or a college apartment in a brand new semester, can be a daunting task if you’re a newcomer. How would you even know whether the listing you found is a bargain or a scam if you don’t even know Boston’s neighborhoods well enough? So, we’re covering all the basics you need to survive in Boston’s rental market, with tips for finding a rental in Beantown.
Understanding Boston’s Neighborhoods
High-End Neighborhoods
Live with the elites by shopping for apartments in high-end neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, Charlestown, and Back Bay. These are some of the oldest settlements in Boston, so if you like cobblestone aesthetics and living a stone’s throw away from historic monuments like Bunker Hill, you’ll undoubtedly love these areas. Aside from these charming vintage houses, they also feature trendy restaurants and picturesque views that can make your commute more enjoyable. Take note that these neighborhoods also accommodate Boston’s most affluent, so their rent is often pricier and could mean stretching your budget.
Mid-Range Neighborhoods
Find more affordable housing by looking in mid-range neighborhoods such as Dorchester, which also happens to be the largest district in Boston. As a result, it’s also one of the most diverse, boasting a mix of locals and immigrants, so you’re bound to fit in somewhere. On the other side of town, places like Fenway-Kenmore, Mission Hill, and Roxbury are just as diverse but include a larger student population due to their proximity to Harvard University and MIT. If you’re looking for a shorter commute and affordable student housing, try to narrow down your search in these neighborhoods.
Lower-Cost Neighborhoods
Head to Hyde Park or South and East Boston for the most affordable housing the city has to offer. Renting in Boston does not have to be complicated but it’s important to perform due diligence before deciding to move, especially if you’re moving to a low-cost area with a potentially higher crime rate. Although rent in these parts of town tends to be lower because they’re mostly working-class neighborhoods, you can still find a picturesque waterfront property that overlooks downtown. In recent years, these areas have seen a lot of commercial transition, so you most likely won’t be far from a trendy restaurant or bar.
Common Rental Scams to Watch Out
Unusual Low Rent Fee
Avoid scammers by steering clear of rental prices that seem too good to be true. Sometimes scammers try to pry on unsuspecting tenants by posting fake listings with ridiculously low prices to attract more people to their posts and then run away with their money. That’s not to say you can’t find an apartment at a great deal, but if someone is claiming they have a property at a third of the usual price, there’s most likely something fishy about that listing. Check for staycation ideas if you are interested in visiting the area, especially from reliable creators and websites that talk about rent prices.
No Screening Process
Get your documents for thorough tenant screening and be wary of any landlord that deems it an unnecessary formality. As a requirement by most HOAs, one of the ways property owners protect their investment is by double-checking all the information you’ve shared, including your credit score, and employment history. Any landlord that’s more concerned about collecting your money than running a background check, is a definite red flag.
Security Deposit in Installments
Beware of potential property owners that are overly accommodating. Yes, it’s great to have an understanding landlord, but you should be wary when a property owner is willing to do so to their detriment. It’s standard practice for tenants to pay the first month’s rent and security deposit upfront, so if they’re willing to collect installments when they can easily find another renter, you could be walking into a trap.
Tips for Finding a Rental in Boston
1. Start Looking Early
Avoid the fall rush of Allston Christmas by starting your search as soon as possible. With college students accounting for 20% of the city’s total population, the last thing you want to do is get caught up in the hustle and bustle that comes with a new semester. Besides being physically tedious, if you don’t find a place early enough, you might find that all the affordable housing is gone. So if you don’t want to rush, you can scout for available apartments as early as January, or wait till June when there are more listings.
2. Use Local Websites
Narrow your search down by looking through Boston rental-specific websites. Although sites like Zillow cater to nationwide listings, it would be best to focus your search on websites where locals prefer to find great deals. For instance, Boston pads are specifically for apartments in Boston, which automatically limits your location. If you do fall back on popular listing sites like Craigslist and ApartmentFinder, remember to use the appropriate filters to find what you need.
3. Create a Tenant Resume
Save your landlords some of the hassle by creating a tenant resume. Like you trying to find the perfect apartment, your potential landlord also wants to find the best tenant. In other words, you can increase your chances of getting chosen by highlighting your best qualities. Think of it as a job application, where you’re trying to position yourself as the ideal tenant. The rental resume should include information like your good credit, non-smoking habits, positive past references, and any other positive trait that could help you stand out from the crowd.
Conclusion
Approach Boston’s rental market with more confidence when you know what neighborhoods to start your house search, and how to spot rental scammers. If you’re looking for more high-end aesthetics, stick to the historic grounds of Beacon Hill and Charlestown. However, if you’d like more affordable housing, working-class neighborhoods like Hyde Park and South End give you access to modest apartments; and if you want something in between head to Roxbury or Dorchester.
Either way, it’s essential to have an idea of how much rent goes for in these neighborhoods, so you don’t get lured by low prices. On that note, avoid rental scams by sticking with landlords that observe due process, and not the ones that try to cut corners in their screening process or security deposit. Remember, start looking early to avoid the fall rush, and use local websites to find the best listings. Also, you’ll make your landlord’s screening a lot easier if you create a tenant resume, increasing your chances of finding the perfect apartment and surviving Boston’s rental market.
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