Advice on moving to Boston (rentals, townhouses, neighborhoods)

[Daniel O'Marah]

I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on how to get everything (work, accomodation etc.) sorted out, for a move to Boston? I'd preferably wanna be somewhere which didn't cost too much.

I'm a 16-year old living in Scotland at the moment, though I'd probably be around 17 or 18 by the time I got around to moving. Seeing how I'm Irish, I guess South Boston would be the best place? Or am I just generalising from The Departed?

As for qualifications, I got a '1' and four '2's on my Standard grades, which is roughly equivalent to an A and four Bs on English GCSEs, which is roughly equivalent to a High School Diploma, I think I heard? As for work, I have a lot of Kitchen experience. I'm actually the 'Assistant Manager' at the small cafe where I work for now, and am earning around £5,000 ($7,600) a year, so i could save up a good amount of cash before I moved, if that would help?

Anyway, so there's my life story more or less. Any help would be appreciated.

[RemiJP]

I can't help you with details of getting a work visa (which I think you'll need). But in terms of affordable neighborhoods, I recommend Allston or Brighton, simply because there are many, many college students in those areas and you should have no trouble finding roommates around your age. South Boston traditionally has many people of Irish decent, and potentially young people moving to the US like yourself. Most young people in Boston pay between $400-800 a month for rent. Expect to pay at least two months rent when you sign the lease. Good luck!

[bgrasser]

Check out the Boston Globe on line for jobs, and Craigs list for housing
in the Boston area.All the best to you.

[Daniel O'Marah]

Alright, thanks for the advice guys.

[ogre]

Regarding that range of 400-800 for rent that RemiJP quoted, keep in mind that this is what you would be paying if you shared a place with roommates. Even with roommates, 400 sounds low. You might find that, but it would take some searching. Keep in mind also that rent usually does not cover all utility costs. The additional monthly costs for utilities will vary depending on the property, and how many roommates you're sharing costs with, but you could be looking at somewhere around an additional 100 per month in addition to rent.

South Boston (known locally as Southie) is beginning to be discovered by young professionals who move into city neighborhoods and turn them into areas characterized by townhouses, art galleries, and coffee shops. Southie is now only in the beginning stages of this transformation, but it's possible that the area may be headed toward losing some of its old Irish character. I don't know enough about Dorchester to know the neighborhoods where you would find this, but many neighborhoods in Dorchester are known to be Irish-American enclaves, and to be neighborhoods where Irish immigrants often settle.

It's possible that you might want to look at neighborhoods in Boston's Allston and Brighton sections as well. Many neighborhoods in those sections have large student populations, so you'd be able to find many young people looking for roommates, and live in an area with a lot of people approximately your age nearby. It depends on you, because these neighborhoods can get noisy due to student parties, so if you're planning to work full time right away and want a quieter neighborhood so you can get a good night's sleep before work, you might want to focus more on Southie or Dorchester. If a student-oriented neighborhood with lots of young people sounds right for you, then you might also want to check out the Fenway and Mission Hill neighborhoods.

One last piece of advice: If you believe you might be moving here before turning eighteen, check very carefully about each landlord's policy about renting to minors. You might find the selection of rentals available to you in the U.S. to be limited until you turn eighteen.

Good luck with your plans.

[Daniel O'Marah]

Sounds like Dorchester's the place for me then. Once again, thanks for the advice guys.

[lrfox]

^Not all of Dorchester, some parts. Dorchester is a massive area filled with MANY neighborhoods (some beautiful, some no so much so). Unfortunately, I don't know enough about the specific neighborhoods in Dorchester to offer you further advice on the area. I do know that many people who have a limited knowledge of Boston think Dorchester is a bad and dangerous place because there are a few neighborhoods within the "Dorchester" umbrella that have had issues with crime. Do NOT let nay sayers scare you away unless they can provide you with some reasoning as to why a certain part is bad. Like I said, parts of Dorchester are great, and others are not, hopefully someone can add to that.

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by Daniel O'Marah

Sounds like Dorchester's the place for me then. Once again, thanks for the advice guys.

There's a LOT of really bad sections of DOT dude. Like PPs have said, there is a lot of good DOT too but I don't think those nice parts of DOT are particularly cheap. And a young guy coming from another country is really not advised to start in DOT.

Southie could be fine. You could probably rent a room from some nice old Irish folks who would love you to death. There's a lot of young Irish in Southie. Some pubs have so much brough I feel like I'm in another country.

Other than the Southie plan, sharing a shack with some college kids in Allston, Fenway, or Brighton would be a good plan too. And you might start in the Youth Hostel at Hemenway. Great neighborhood, decent place for low $$.

A studio apt in any decent section of Boston will cost at least $900 per month. Boston is the third most expensive city in the US. Rommates are probably your best bet.

[Jimrob1]

Well Daniel O' Marah you certainly are the adventurous one, and it is good you are planning ahead as it appears you are. There are many Irish in Massachusetts as I am also, however I no longer live there, but visit often. Yes Boston is extremely expensive and the housing tops the list of expenses. I would agree with the others that have commented. Roomates or renting a room. I think for someone so young it might be good for you to hook up with someone in South Boston. There are many Irish people there that would love to rent you a room. By doing so you would also have the familiarity of your homeland and somewhat of a support system as you acquainted yourself with the USA. If you go the roomate route I am sure if it is $400 a month, there will surely be 3 or 4 others as your roomates. Yes one does have to include in their expenses beyond rent the cost of utilities, such as the heat every winter. No two ways about it Massachusetts is expensive, but if it is what you want to do, I am sure you will find a way. I am not sure either about entry requirements or work permits into the USA. I am sure on city data there is a forum that would be able to answer that question for you. Look on the World or immigration forums and ask a question or so about living and working in the USA. Best of Luck Daniel.

[Padraick.]

i grew up in south boston, and it is a very irish place, but with recent gentrification the prices are getting far more steep. i just recently moved out to allston with 5 of my friends and i am paying 360 a month for a three bedroom place split between 6 people. i would say definitely check out allston or brighton due to the number of young people, and there are a lot of restaurants on comm. ave, and brighton ave., just small places where you could get a job. good luck!