Suggestions, again (Boston, Newton, Waltham: fit in, real estate, apartment complex)

[puffle]

Hi Everyone,

One of my last posts stated that we had decided on Marblehead, it just looks Marblehead doesn't want us or should I say, our dogs. No, we are not giving away our pups under any circumstances, but now need advise on other areas we may have to consider instead like Newton. What part of Newton should be avoided, such as busy commercial areas, heavy traffic, etc? Is Newton Centre a good spot for a family w/dogs? It is so big, I just don't have a clue where to begin other than our rental limits. I also here that Newton North is better than Newton South..ugh! Same questions goes for Needham. The more details and reasons why the better. I am exhausted from searching. Just wish we could get a break w/the pups.

[NY'er lost in MA]

what do you mean Marblehead would allow your dogs? Having trouble finding a rental there? Elaborate Puf...

[baystater]

Newton highlands where my GF is from is a little busy (at least in my perception) but never felt like things were congested. My brother is also near the highlands and he really doesn't complain about traffic or it being to busy. Granted he did live in Waltham before this. Now that place is busy and you're luck if you find a parking spot at all.
good luck puffle I sure you'll find a pet friendly town close to Boston sooner rather than later.

Oh here check this link out. Hope it will help.

The Villages of Newton, Mass.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by puffle

Hi Everyone,

One of my last posts stated that we had decided on Marblehead, it just looks Marblehead doesn't want us or should I say, our dogs. No, we are not giving away our pups under any circumstances, but now need advise on other areas we may have to consider instead like Newton. What part of Newton should be avoided, such as busy commercial areas, heavy traffic, etc? Is Newton Centre a good spot for a family w/dogs? It is so big, I just don't have a clue where to begin other than our rental limits. I also here that Newton North is better than Newton South..ugh! Same questions goes for Needham. The more details and reasons why the better. I am exhausted from searching. Just wish we could get a break w/the pups.

what if you check the boston globe, and real estate for dog friendly. I never would betray my pets, why I did end up in the sunshine state. near newton is also Roslindale, west Roxbury. Needham is the Ritz! Chestnut hill is also nice.
Frankly, I would not wish to live with people who do not like dogs! like where will you work etc.? see, if you rent, have your pets, it is Happiness. When you buy you still will have your dogs! and so be it! to the snobs in Boston!
and do not forget the Boston Terrier. if you rent I would not worry. that is the 128 rte If you go to Boston there are many options. even Dedham, and Norwood the same 128 rte with trains to Boston! West Roxbury, Roslindale on the Centre street Parkway Holy Name line are great. may be the dog friendly place. even J.P. on the Centre Street. I do think, as my dogs say think outside the cube? Why, they saw me reading dogs may sail on the QE2 in style. Just my puppy get a job! some towns have money from way back, even if you do, they are close . Wellesley is one and Dover. Not that I ever lived there, but did know people with money, and they were very unhappy. You just do not fit in, ? Dogs are the best!! Yes dogs are friends, people?

[puffle]

Originally Posted by NY'er lost in MA

what do you mean Marblehead would allow your dogs? Having trouble finding a rental there? Elaborate Puf...

I meant that all the rentals I have found on Craigslist,Boston.com, and Wicked Local do not want dogs even though I have TWO letters of reference and how spotless I have left places, with having dogs. All of the agents I spoke to said that their clients do not want pets, especially dogs. These are all two family homes, which I am not crazy about. I did find a side by sid duplex in Acton that will take us and even put an electric fence around the perimeter which is very large. The only drag there, for my husband, is having to take the trash to a dump? Don't they have any private trash pick up services in the boonies? URGHHHH!

[wheelz]

Originally Posted by maggiekate

what if you check the boston globe, and real estate for dog friendly. I never would betray my pets, why I did end up in the sunshine state. near newton is also Roslindale, west Roxbury. Needham is the Ritz! Chestnut hill is also nice.
Frankly, I would not wish to live with people who do not like dogs! like where will you work etc.? see, if you rent, have your pets, it is Happiness. When you buy you still will have your dogs! and so be it! to the snobs in Boston!
and do not forget the Boston Terrier. if you rent I would not worry. that is the 128 rte If you go to Boston there are many options. even Dedham, and Norwood the same 128 rte with trains to Boston! West Roxbury, Roslindale on the Centre street Parkway Holy Name line are great. may be the dog friendly place. even J.P. on the Centre Street. I do think, as my dogs say think outside the cube? Why, they saw me reading dogs may sail on the QE2 in style. Just my puppy get a job! some towns have money from way back, even if you do, they are close . Wellesley is one and Dover. Not that I ever lived there, but did know people with money, and they were very unhappy. You just do not fit in, ? Dogs are the best!! Yes dogs are friends, people?

I tried reading this 3 times... Whatever you are taking, either take more and get it over with or share it so we can understand you.

[NY'er lost in MA]

Originally Posted by puffle

I meant that all the rentals I have found on Craigslist,Boston.com, and Wicked Local do not want dogs even though I have TWO letters of reference and how spotless I have left places, with having dogs. All of the agents I spoke to said that their clients do not want pets, especially dogs. These are all two family homes, which I am not crazy about. I did find a side by sid duplex in Acton that will take us and even put an electric fence around the perimeter which is very large. The only drag there, for my husband, is having to take the trash to a dump? Don't they have any private trash pick up services in the boonies? URGHHHH!

I wouldn't give up yet. Have you considered posting on Craigslist as 'dog friendly house needed' ? You also might try calling the Chamber of Commerce or some other town resources. If they have a local paper, check there too.

[findingmesomeday]

Originally Posted by puffle

I meant that all the rentals I have found on Craigslist,Boston.com, and Wicked Local do not want dogs even though I have TWO letters of reference and how spotless I have left places, with having dogs. All of the agents I spoke to said that their clients do not want pets, especially dogs. These are all two family homes, which I am not crazy about. I did find a side by sid duplex in Acton that will take us and even put an electric fence around the perimeter which is very large. The only drag there, for my husband, is having to take the trash to a dump? Don't they have any private trash pick up services in the boonies? URGHHHH!

Puffle, Acton is a nice town with a great school system. A *lot* of smaller towns here, including mine, have no trash pick up. If your husband really doesn't want to go to the dump, you can hire a private hauler. They're not that expensive, but you will save the $$$ if you go to the dump once a week. Our dump is almost a social area--you wave and say "hi" to everyone. It also has a swap area where people drop off things they no longer want and pick up things they might want. Even though this is an affluent town, you wouldn't believe how popular the swap is. I've found first edition books (which I then sold on Ebay or Craigslist for $$$$), beautiful silver, crystal, furniture, etc. My youngest thinks it's the coolest toy store she ever saw!

If your kids swim, Acton has a great US swim team, a local rec team and a HS team and is one of the few HS around with its own pool. I'd love to live in Acton but it's way to $$$$ to buy a house.

As for Newton, just be aware you will get less house for your rental money since it's closer in. Newton North is in danger of losing its accrediation because the facility to put it nicely.......is a dump! The town has had some trouble passing tax overrides, etc., to do the necessary renovations.

There are some great areas in Newton but I'd chose Acton over Newton.

Again, I suggest Needham. I really think you'll find most of what you are looking for there.

[sue629]

There are a couple of sites you can try where you may find a rental that will accept your dogs??? rent.com is showing a small apt building in M'head that is called Landfall apts. you may want to contact them if you have your heart set on M'head. The ad says they're pet friendly. On sublet.com someone is advertising a small house for rent in Marblehead that will take pets, the other site is move.com. You may also want to contact the Marblehead Reporter, which is the local newspaper in town and have them send you a copy of the paper. They will have for rent properties listed. By owner apts may work out for you but you will have to do alot of talking and guaranteeing that the dogs are nondestructive, not noisy etc. In Swampscott, the town next to M'head, also nice, also has a new High School, there is an apartment complex that is advertising that they are pet friendly. Swampscott is very similar in ways to M'head, except it does not have the walking down town, commercial area, but it does have a great beach area where walking dogs is a favorite past time. Shopping is close by. It's also closer to boston if that is where your husband is working and it has a train into Boston. Go to craigslist.org and type in marblehead and then swampscott. Available apartments will come up by owner. you may want to contact them and talk them into accepting your pets, guaranteeing them that you have references for the dogs and offer a hefty deposit for them in case of damages. Someone sitting on a vacancy for awhile may consider it. I think your choices of where to live may come down to who will take your pets, once you get settled into a place and begin to know the town you end up in you may find more options for yourself and your family and you can find something else that may be more suitable to your liking. No matter where you look it will be difficult to place 4 dogs. Not impossible but difficult. and its not that the towns are antidogs, its that landlords would prefer renting to non
pet owners for many reasons. If you want your son to start school at the beginning of the school year, end of August, you will have to make an all out effort to find an apartment that will take your pets. That more then anything will determine where you end up moving. Newton may have more choices for you, only because it is a city and made up of many different areas and not a small town with limited choices. If you want to come to the Northshore for the beaches and that style of life then Swampscott, Salem and Beverly will have more apartment complexes to choose from and because they have alot of apartments, they will tend to be pet friendly rentals, though many will have a limit of 2. Bostonapartments.com will show management companies that rent their own apartments that will be mostly in a large apt. complex, with a swimming pool, and many will take a dog or 2. 4 dogs will be an issue whereever you go. If you can buy, even a small house, moving with pets will be a nonissue. Any of the more affluent towns that you have been asking about will provide mostly a good-decent education for your son, alot will depend on his motivation, his ability to take advantage of what the schools offer etc. Newton south is a huge HS, Marblehead High is alot smaller as is Swampscott High, you have to consider what type of student/person he is when looking at schools and the towns you want to move to.

[surfingatwork]

Originally Posted by puffle

I meant that all the rentals I have found on Craigslist,Boston.com, and Wicked Local do not want dogs even though I have TWO letters of reference and how spotless I have left places, with having dogs. All of the agents I spoke to said that their clients do not want pets, especially dogs. These are all two family homes, which I am not crazy about. I did find a side by sid duplex in Acton that will take us and even put an electric fence around the perimeter which is very large. The only drag there, for my husband, is having to take the trash to a dump? Don't they have any private trash pick up services in the boonies? URGHHHH!

RE: private trash pickup. yes there are private trash pickup services in the boonies (if ya think acton is the boonies then i can't even imagine what you would think of my town - it has less than acton) you'll need to get the yellow pages out and call around. most towns that do not have trash pickup will have private services. BTW, my DH goes to the dump every week with our trash. Ya get used to it (or should i say he'll get used to it).

Oh I forgot to add I would spend sometime checking out pet friendly apartment sites. that's where you'll find rentals that allow pets not craigslist. good luck. BTW, I have two fur babies myself so I know exactly what you're going through.