Apartment questions - Finding an affordable apartment in Back Bay? (Boston: hardwood floors, real estate)

[HoneyRyder]

I am looking to buy a tiny loft or studio apartment in Back Bay. I don't care if it's tiny, it just has to have hardwood floors and be clean. I don't want to pay more than $800/month for rent. I found a lot of listings on a website from East Coast Realty...does anybody have experience working with this company? Should I go through them or through some other source? Are these listings legit - or are they filled with hidden charges and do not include any utilities?

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by HoneyRyder

I am looking to buy a tiny loft or studio apartment in Back Bay. I don't care if it's tiny, it just has to have hardwood floors and be clean. I don't want to pay more than $800/month for rent. I found a lot of listings on a website from East Coast Realty...does anybody have experience working with this company? Should I go through them or through some other source? Are these listings legit - or are they filled with hidden charges and do not include any utilities?

I looked on Boston.com and only saw one listing in BB < 800 - and it was a summer sublet. I found 4 listing < 900. there were about 30 between 900 & 1000. I would guess that most of these do NOT include utilities.

I looked at East Coast Realty .com and saw nothing less than $900 at all.

Back Bay is the priciest neighborhood in Boston, one of the priciest in the USA per sq foot anyways. Less than $800 will be hard to find, you're making the realtor work for the money, that's for sure.

Why do you need to live in BB when you really can't afford it? There's plenty of nearby neighborhoods just as nice better in some ways than the floofy BB. You might have better luck if you expand your horizons a bit. Consider Fenway, Allston, Cambridge, or the South End. And if you can't pay $800 plus utilities, you need to find a roommate.

[HoneyRyder]

Hey Bostonian...I am not opposed to living in another area, I just want my own place. Go to Boston Apartments - Boston Real Estate Apartment Rentals, Massachusetts Apartments Real Estate Apartment Rentals and Sales, Boston Real Estate Rentals, Massachusetts Rentals, Massachusetts Apartments in Boston, Apartments, Boston Real Estate Sales, B and search for studios (drop down menu) or check off "Just Lofts" and put the max price as $1000...there are a bunch that come up that aren't listed on East Coast Realty's website that are not for them. Are they for real? Yikes...

Thanks for your help btw!

[HoneyRyder]

w w w . b o s t o n a p a r t m e n t s . com (NO SPACES) if the above link does not work for you!

[HoneyRyder]

I chose back bay b/c it's where my work is and they seemed cheaper than a lot of other ones (according to the website in the OP)

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by HoneyRyder

I chose back bay b/c it's where my work is and they seemed cheaper than a lot of other ones (according to the website in the OP)

Well you're right HR - I do see some listing in BB for $800. I just see a lot more for a little more. So yeah, I'd say those are legit. Call 'em up. back Bay is a very nice place to live. I suggest you start there. Then when you get to town if you want to cut expenses give giving up the regal unnecessities, by all means!

Keep in mind though a "fee" means you pay the realtor 1 month's rent for finding you the apt.

[RemiJP]

It's nice to live in Back Bay, my boyfriend and I had a studio for $975 on Hemenway. It was a bit of a rowdy neighborhood though during the school year, with Berklee and the colleges of the Fenway nearby.

Personally, I've never felt comfortable with realtors. To me, it signified a hands-off landlord - if they aren't willing to show the place themselves, what will happen when I need his/her assistance? Also, paying first month's months rent, last month, plus a security deposit, and a realtor fee (which can be as must as 1 months rent) just wasn't practical. If you're working in Back Bay, the South End and the Fenway are also within walking distance.

[HoneyRyder]

I called up the realtor and he said that many of those listings were outdated...he did say however that there were apartments there but "I was not going to like them" and they were in "undesirable locations" .... He is going to try to find me something though but he said that I would probably like a place that was around $1000. A rowdy neighborhood would not be good for me! I have to be in at work in the AM every day and can't stay up all night

[WannaGoHome]

Back Bay is fantastic. We live on the public garden side and it's quiet and close to everything. That being said, it is expensive and finding a good deal is difficult. We scored a good deal (relatively) by getting into a summer sublet that had an option to renew on September 1st. The new renew rate is $100 more. That's a lot when you're on a budget, but we still got a great deal. I think $800 is going to be difficult, but craigslist can be your best friend. Are you local? BB can get rowdy once you are closer to Gloucester-ish and further out (Hereford/Mass Ave.), etc. Stay closer to the garden and it will be a lot more quiet. And stay off of Newbury/Commonwealth. More expensive and a lot noisier. Marlborough is great (biased). Beacon is good too, just get a place that's on the back side of Beacon, away from traffic. Cheers! and good luck!

[HoneyRyder]

Hey everybody....thanks for all of the tips. I am looking at an apartment I found on craiglist which is in a brownstone "centrally located between back bay proper and kenmore square" - is this a good location for professionals or do you think it will be rowdy with all college students?