Relocating from Detroit to Boston (Worcester, Springfield: real estate, apartments, city hall)

[minusach]

Hello,
I just got a job at MGH main campus and I am planning to relocate from Detroit to Boston in the month of October. Can you recommend any areas close by to rent an apartment. I dont have a car, so I guess I can walk or rely on public transport to get to and from work. I am looking for a place which is safe. Is it true that landlords charge 1st and last month's rent and also security deposit too? Also is boston downtown safe?
thanks a lot.

[CityGirl52]

Hi,

Go to removed, I really like it a lot, it won Best of Boston a few times, it's a "good" site to browse the many apartments. Click on Rental Apartments and on the side just plug in what area you want to live in. Where you have a job already, it sounds like a good one too, at that MGH, that's quite an opportunity for you, best wishes on your new venture and the best of luck to you as well as a big congratulations, the MGH is such a prestigious hospital, I know you're going to really like it there a lot. I know 3 people that work there and they are extremely happy about it.

Go to the site I mentioned above as a thought. I think as a suggestion, you could take a peek at Cambridge, or Quincy just a little south of Boston and if you do end up out of the Boston area, make sure you have access to the MBTA, go to this site mbta dot com and click on red line, you'll see the different "T" stops that you'll need to get used to, also if you do go to the South of Boston to live, we call it the south shore, it was always just a tad less in rents than the north shore, it's expensive all over of course, but you might want to see if you can get an apartment just a little less than the ones right in downtown Boston at first, especially where you're starting out in the job right now and it's all new, and as far as the rents are concerned, it's going to be to your advantage if you can get right in to your own condo or a house as soon as you can, some how, some way, it's manageable and can be accomplished if you play your cards right around here with your job, salary and the way things fall in to place. Go in to the Boston dot com site and plug in Real Estate then you'll see Rentals on that page, plug that in too and you'll see a ton of apartments pop up for you. You can check them all out to see what type you'd want and which particular area you'd like to be in. Quincy and Cambridge to me I think are both extremely convenient to the MGH because they're both directly on the MBTA's Red Line train and all you'd have to do is get right off at the Charles St/MGH stop and walk to Fruit St. for the MGH entrance and you're there; unless of course there's an entrance for employees, I'm sure you'll find that all out. It would be ideal where you're starting out in the Boston area to get used to the Red Line any way as your first experience. Others might not think it's a good idea, but I do. I saw some really cute apartments on both those sites and in both those places, which is a good thing! If you wanted to take a look at one of the Boston neighborhoods, then I would suggest for an easy walk to work, or even a bus or train, Take a peek at the Italian section of Boston's North End, you would love it there if you could get something, you'd be a hop, skip and a jump from the MGH, less stress in the winters to get home, you could just walk home or ride your bike for that matter. Here's another good site to check out, it's Fiorelli Realty dot com. Click on Apartments and you'll see some of them, see if you can try to get heat included, that would be ideal for you right now. The best thing for you to do is to come to Boston and actually view the apartments for yourself. Don't make any plans with realtors over the phone or online at all. Some of them are sharks so just beware of them, they can be "cute" as we say in Boston, you know what I mean? Don't let any one pull anything on you. I think where you show you live in Detroit then you know exactly what I'm talking about. In any case, you're going to find a great place. Take a look in Newton too or Brookline, navigate that MBTA dot com site it'll show you exactly how to get in to the MGH if you do decide to live here. I really think you'll be happier living as close to the MGH as possible with just a few stops away, that would be ideal. You don't want to have to deal with any type of stress over the winter months and that's when you'd really feel it if you were further away.

Good luck and again best wishes with your new adventure, you're going to love Boston!

[CityGirl52]

Sorry I didn't answer a few questions you had. YES quite a lot of landlords in MASS and basically all over New England now charge people the 1st and last months rent and a security deposit. They of course have contracts for you to read and sign, notice I said read and sign, that part is important, get copies of it too, they're usually for a year, then you can decide if you want to stay another year or not and sign again, whatever. It's funny I never had to sign one in my life, I'm so spoiled, actually I lucked out because when I first moved away years ago like you and got my apartment, I rented an apartment dirt cheap and I mean dirt cheap, it was the cutest and I mean cutest little apartment! I still think about that place, neat dinner parties around this little tiny table in the kitchen, I have good memories of living there. It was in one of the neighborhoods of Boston, I lived there for 8 years with no lease, the rent never went up, it had a gaslog stove for heat, and it was the warmest little place, I loved that little 4 room joint! Safe, and just priceless. I don't think that type of place even exists these days. Landlords are way too busy renovating and doing up apartments so they can get there money out of you, so they can turn around and pay their mortgages! Sometimes you luck out though, you never know, you could luck out, but I don't know now a days? There's no way you'd find one like that one.

Boston's downtown is basically safe. Use your head though, you know what I mean? Late at night if you're leaving a restaurant alone or a bar or cafe? Make sure you're getting in to a Boston Licensed Taxi, here's the only five cabs you should be opening the back door to of and that's it. As a suggestion, plug these numbers in your cell when you actually get here. The Legitimate Boston Licensed Taxis are: Boston Cab, (617) 536-5010
City Cab, (617) 536-5100
ITOA, (617) 825-4000
Metro Cab, (617) 782-5500
Town Taxi, (617) 536-5000

Taking the "T" has always been safe, I never had a thing happen to me in all the years living in the city of Boston, you have to use your head though and think sensible, try to not be alone too much late at night walking around, especially in dark areas, you don't want to get mugged or jumped or anything like that. I was always just a little leary late at night myself, that's about it. You kind of still need to be cautious and vigilant of course that goes for broad day light as well you know! Going anywhere in a group you're fine because in numbers you're stronger, there's never anything to worry about then. Just be on your guard when you're in a restaurant or bar these days because there's a couple that the police lately are trying to get big time! It's been on the news in the last few days, that this guy and girl are pulling "cute" moves, they're swiping women's pocketbooks left and right, so just be careful that way. I think the cops might even have these two jokers by now. If they don't? They will, trust me, probably by the time you get to Boston in October they'll be history. The Boston cops don't waste time. Still be on your guard though, there could be copy cats out there pulling more fast ones with newer ideas. So still hold on to your bag for dear life and all that, I don't even use one any more and I'm hardly ever in the City the way I used to be. I can't stand pocketbooks any way! Don't leave it if you have one not for one split second, especially out in public, that's a fact around here these days. Don't think about putting it on the ground, or even on a chair beside you any where, you can't do that any more. Keep it right with you on your lap with your hand on it, just hold on to it good; no matter where you are. 9 times out of 10 it's of course due to drug addicts thinking of these schemes they get caught all the time though, no matter what it is, people are wiser to them now more than ever. They think they can run rampant in our society, it doesn't matter what city or town you're in either, they're out there, so just don't let them get to you in any way shape or form because you're number one they aren't.

Be cautious of your surroundings at all times no matter where you are, it doesn't matter where you live either, in the city, out of the city, in suburbia, in the country, or out of state, it's just the way our society is now and it's the way all of us have to live every single one of us, young, old and in between. It's a fact of life now.

[minusach]

Wow!, thanks a lot for all the advice. I will surely look into the websites you mentioned.

[CityGirl52]

I just noticed the website was removed. The good real estate site to check out is removed, it's the one that won Best of Boston a few times, it's a "good one" to remember!

GOOD LUCK finding just the right place, and you WILL find it, there's a lot of pretty nice renovated ones around the city now. There's not as many skeevy ones as there used to be when I lived in the city, some of them were pretty gross, I never had that trouble but I've heard stories from friends and they weren't in the neighborhoods around the city they were previously mentioned here somewhere, the gross skeevy apartments that you have to watch out for were loaded with rodents and bugs located right in the heart of Beacon Hill, I remember the stories well from friends. They said never again and they were out of there in two seconds flat. So try to make sure you get what you pay for if you can. Also, try to get "heat included" they're out there; you just have to do your homework with it all.

[Mike313]

Originally Posted by minusach

Hello,
I just got a job at MGH main campus and I am planning to relocate from Detroit to Boston in the month of October. Can you recommend any areas close by to rent an apartment. I dont have a car, so I guess I can walk or rely on public transport to get to and from work. I am looking for a place which is safe. Is it true that landlords charge 1st and last month's rent and also security deposit too? Also is boston downtown safe?
thanks a lot.

minusach -

Good luck with your move here to MA. I, too, am a native Detroiter who moved to the Bay State (30 miles outside of "Bahston") a few years back.

Boston, like all of MA, is a cultured area with deep ties to it's long and colorful history. There are, put simply, a lot of things to do here.

Nonetheless, and as a courtesy to a fellow Michiganian, I'll share some of my experiences. A move here from the mid-West is not without a certain degree of shock. The cost of living in MA is greater than the cost of living in MI, and the high cost is not reflected in higher salaries. The further you can get away from Boston proper, the less costly your housing will be, on average. As to 1st, last and security on a rental unit, unless you know the building's owner, you can expect that to be the standard anywhere in the country.

Having a car in MA is more costly per mile than in MI. The cost of a drivers license alone will set you back on your feet. And the way auto insurance is controlled here is somewhat confusing. Getting around is a nightmare for anyone coming from an area whose roads are established in a grid-like manner (most MA roads are paved-over horse paths and usually without signs telling you where you are); Boston drivers are not known for their courtesy; and, if any one of the roads (i.e., I-95) becomes blocked, add several hours to the commute. Public transportation can be accessed from numerous areas away from Boston; Google this to discover what cities/towns would be good places to move to and have access to public transport.

Personal safety in Boston is on the decline (beware of your surroundings and commute with a group if possible). This is a trend that will not likely turn itself around quickly; the powers-that-be, . . . well, Google this and see for yourself.

Seasonally, the Spring warm-up in MA comes quite a bit later than in MI, it does seem to stay a bit warmer later into the Fall; and, when it comes, Winter can be brutal. Though July 4th week is noted to be the hottest time of the year, it seems that the hottest week of the year occurs a few weeks later in MA. Though Detroit is in the same time zone as Boston, sunrise and sunset occur nearly 60 minutes later in MI. The earliest sunset in Boston is roughly 4:15 PM.

I don't mean to come down on the negative side. Living in MA can be a great experience. But it is different here and I hope to cushion the shock for you. Again, good luck with your move.

[minusach]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to reply to my post. I guess MA will be a lot different from MI.

[Dragondog]

Southeastern Mass (Plymouth, Cape Cod) the south shore of Boston, and Cape Ann have a mild marine climate- meaning late springs and warm to mild autumns into late November. The rest of Mass. is about the same as Michigan.

Drivers here are a bit crazy-take note. Housing costs are very pricey from Worcester east, also costs are high in Fall River and New Bedford (but less then Boston) Western Mass (around Springfield) is the most affordable.

Much to do here- and yes a long history with much culture.

[minusach]

Hi Guys,
I read in one of your other posts, that if you are looking for an apartment in South Boston, then it should be towards the east side of broadway. What are East 6th and 7th street like in South Boston. Is that a good area? Is it walking distance to downtown?
Really do appreciate the help.
thanks

[CityGirl52]

It's ideal to walk from East 6th or East 7th St. in South Boston to downtown Boston. I walked from there in nice weather for years in to the Financial District all the time. You're going to really like that walk; it's a piece of cake. In fact, from those two streets? You figure, it's only 15 minutes a mile when you walk and from here it's a little over 2 miles from the neighborhood to get in to the South Station area (that's it!) It would be a little longer to the MGH of course; but on a nice sunny morning or as the sun sets on your way home from working all day? It's still a straight walk up or down Congress through the Post Office Square area, past the Quincy Market and City Hall, cut up through Government Center to pick up Cambridge St. and you'll be down at the MGH or back in Southie in no time. Get those sneakers out, you can do it!

If not, you can always take the MBTA (Subway or BUS) City Point bus or the Bayside bus in to Boston. Go to MBTA dot com for schedules. You could then take the red line train from South Station to Charles St. station and walk from there instead to get to the MGH, especially if it's bad weather, and living in New England? This will be the way you'll be going most of the time, trust me on that!