From the tropics to cold MA (Boston, Somerville: relocation, budget, apartments)

[Anna27298]

Hi everyone! I have just been offered a promotion that involves relocation to MA. I currently live in Central America..and have never lived in the USA before. I have been to our head offices in MA a few times and love it there...but I know it´s not the same visiting than living somewhere. I´m extremely nervous as I don´t really know if the offer they´re making me is good enough...of course a significant salary increase...but living costs in MA are way higher than here, so I´m having trouble figuring that out...with the taxes that get taken off your salary and everything...Anyway, I still need to study all those issues...What I need help with is with finding a nice place to live...my husband and I don´t want to buy because we don´t intend to stay permanently, only a maximum of 3 or 4 years...so we want to rent. I will be working in TAunton, but I´ve heard that it´s not a really nice place to live in...so I will appreciate any suggestions of (not so far away) towns that might be nice and not too expensive to live in. Thanks!!!

EDIT: We don´t have any kids, so school system is not important...We do have 4 dogs..so if it could be a pet-friendly town it would be even better. Thanks again!

[puffle]

Originally Posted by Anna27298

Hi everyone! I have just been offered a promotion that involves relocation to MA. I currently live in Central America..and have never lived in the USA before. I have been to our head offices in MA a few times and love it there...but I know it´s not the same visiting than living somewhere. I´m extremely nervous as I don´t really know if the offer they´re making me is good enough...of course a significant salary increase...but living costs in MA are way higher than here, so I´m having trouble figuring that out...with the taxes that get taken off your salary and everything...Anyway, I still need to study all those issues...What I need help with is with finding a nice place to live...my husband and I don´t want to buy because we don´t intend to stay permanently, only a maximum of 3 or 4 years...so we want to rent. I will be working in TAunton, but I´ve heard that it´s not a really nice place to live in...so I will appreciate any suggestions of (not so far away) towns that might be nice and not too expensive to live in. Thanks!!!

EDIT: We don´t have any kids, so school system is not important...We do have 4 dogs..so if it could be a pet-friendly town it would be even better. Thanks again!

Welcome to my world. We are looking for rentals and have four dogs as well. I can only tell you from my researching this year that finding a rental that will take four dogs is a total uphill battle. We did find a few but weren't very nice. A single family house for rent by owner is your best bet wherever you land. If you can give a few of your dogs to a friend or family member you would have a little better chance. We are probably giving two of ours to my Dad with the hope that we will be able to bring at least one back with us. Apartments have a two dog limit also.

[Anna27298]

Thanks for answering Puffle!!

Are you serious about giving up your dogs??? I don´t think I could do it...I have no one to leave them with. I lived alone a few years before getting married (which is not common here...usually girls live with their parents until they marry)...and they have been like my children, they are very spoiled and needy, and I don´t think they would survive if I leave them with someone else. They are really small though...Chihuahuas...together, the four of them don´t even add up to 20 pounds.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by Anna27298

Thanks for answering Puffle!!

Are you serious about giving up your dogs??? I don´t think I could do it...I have no one to leave them with. I lived alone a few years before getting married (which is not common here...usually girls live with their parents until they marry)...and they have been like my children, they are very spoiled and needy, and I don´t think they would survive if I leave them with someone else. They are really small though...Chihuahuas...together, the four of them don´t even add up to 20 pounds.

Anna, Believe me, I know how you feel. Like I said, I have been looking since last October off and on to find a suitable place that everyone else is looking for plus I have a teenager. I never even let it enter my mind not taking all for but my brother convinced me that it has been jeopardizing my family finding a place and suggested I give away ALL FOUR!! Can you tell he is not an animal lover? I cried the next day at the thought of doing that and looking at their little faces thinking of not seeing them again or when I visit California. I have small dogs too and owners don't care. They assume the worst and don't want to take the chance. Have you looked into how much transporting four dogs will be from where you are? Where are you by the way? I am not trying to discourage you, just trying to prepare you for your search.

[MovingForward]

Anna: It can be done. Don't leave your pups behind! What is your budget? I will do some sleuthing for you.

[MovingForward]

Options: Norton, Lakeville, Middleboro--good places to begin to look for a place to live. And if you don't mind a 40-minute commute (or thereabouts), try Plymouth:

PRICE REDUCTION!!! PETS WELCOME!!! (broken link)

Or Kingston:
Single house, waterviews, Avail. Sept 1 (broken link)

Kingston / Indian Pond (broken link)

Or Attleboro/North Attleboro:

Pristine Unit in Woods Edge (broken link)

But--honestly?--I'd seriously consider Providence or some Rhode Island town nearby--you'll get a LOT more for your money, it's not really that long of a commute (Providence is only one hour from Boston itself), and you're MUCH more likely to find a place that will accept your pups. Providence is a very cool place to live (and something Puffle might want to think about, too!).

UNIQUE, ENORMOUS, 2 bed on first floor TONS OF CHARACTER near HOPE ST (broken link) (East Side is GREAT area of Providence)

***** CUTE HOME ***** (broken link)

All utils inc! Great condition & loc. Hardwood, porch, w/d, parking... (broken link)

Beautiful 1 1/2 Bed West End - includes some great extras! (broken link)

Fantastic Value: EASTSIDE SMARTHOUSE: HI-SP WEB>SATELLITE TV- XM-RADIO (broken link)

Pets ok, heat and hot water included.. 225.00 wkly (broken link)

Kingston / Indian Pond (broken link)

Adorable 3 - 4BR right behind Julians... even has a yard! Pets O.K! (broken link)

[puffle]

Originally Posted by MovingForward

Options: Norton, Lakeville, Middleboro--good places to begin to look for a place to live. And if you don't mind a 40-minute commute (or thereabouts), try Plymouth:

PRICE REDUCTION!!! PETS WELCOME!!! (broken link)

Or Kingston:
Single house, waterviews, Avail. Sept 1 (broken link)

Kingston / Indian Pond (broken link)

Or Attleboro/North Attleboro:

Pristine Unit in Woods Edge (broken link)

But--honestly?--I'd seriously consider Providence or some Rhode Island town nearby--you'll get a LOT more for your money, it's not really that long of a commute (Providence is only one hour from Boston itself), and you're MUCH more likely to find a place that will accept your pups. Providence is a very cool place to live (and something Puffle might want to think about, too!).

UNIQUE, ENORMOUS, 2 bed on first floor TONS OF CHARACTER near HOPE ST (broken link) (East Side is GREAT area of Providence)

***** CUTE HOME ***** (broken link)

All utils inc! Great condition & loc. Hardwood, porch, w/d, parking... (broken link)

Beautiful 1 1/2 Bed West End - includes some great extras! (broken link)

Fantastic Value: EASTSIDE SMARTHOUSE: HI-SP WEB>SATELLITE TV- XM-RADIO (broken link)

Pets ok, heat and hot water included.. 225.00 wkly (broken link)

Kingston / Indian Pond (broken link)

Adorable 3 - 4BR right behind Julians... even has a yard! Pets O.K! (broken link)

Moving Forward,,I think it's great that you supplied some options for Anna. It is a hard task cross country let alone over seas. But, apartments that advertise pets ok at the most will only accept two dogs at the most and sometimes pets ok means cats only. Believe me I have probably done more searching for places in Ma. with four dogs than most. But Anna will hopefully find that tolerant landlord that won't have a problem. Please know that I am not trying to be negative as I know others were not trying to do when advising me on the realities of pet friendly places. All we can do is plug along and not give up.

[MovingForward]

Well, some do and some don't. The only way to find out is to contact the people who have the property for rent. All of the listings I provided accept pets--how many, size, etc. are accepted depends on the landlord.

[Anna27298]

MF....you're so cool!! Thanks so much for providing all the suggestions and taking the time to help me out!! Proves that MA people are not rude at all. I had not considered Providence, because I had heard that it was kind of dangerous, like the crime rate was high?? I guess it probably has less crime than where I live in right now...so that shouldn't worry me so much. I might sound kind of silly to you guys...but the only things I've heard/seen about Providence were from a show that used to be on TV some while ago called PROVIDENCE... LOL....but it did look like a really nice town.

I did a google search on Lakeville and it looks like a great quiet and clean town...loved that one too. I was in Plymouth once and I love it there...it is kind of far away though...but the house there looks perfect for us. Thanks again Moving!!!

Puffle...thanks for your advice too, I know you're not trying to put me down. I will try to stay positive, because I will definitely not leave without them...I just can't. I live in Guatemala right now...and yes, it is very expensive to bring my four babies all the way to MA...but you gotta do what you gotta do. I feel kind of bad for putting them through this...the stress of the move can be hard on them too....having to travel as cargo on a plane for 8 hours. My husband and I were thinking about flying to Miami and then driving all the way to MA, to reduce the flying time to 2 hours only...that's how much we love them!!!

[eevee]

it will obviously be hard, but I think you can find a place for your 4 dogs, especially since they're small dogs. I know someone who rents in Somerville w/ 3 toy poodles and someone else that rents w/ 2 large pit bulls. some advice to help your search

1) if you are currently renting, get a recommendation letter from your LL about your dogs. your LL should try to hype up the dogs' good points

2) maybe consider using a dog daycare if you plan on working full time. some dogs can get yippy/yappy when left alone, especially the small ones, and the extra noise could discourage LLs from renting to you. maybe if you promise the dogs won't be left home alone, that would help (my friend w/ the poodles had to do this b/c one of her dogs would howl when she was at work. the longest they are alone is about 2 hours every weekend). and of course, if your dogs are quiet throughout the day, make sure the LL points this out in his recommendation!

3) depending on your budget, try renting a single family home. or try renting a owner occupied house (preferably a 2 family so there's one less neighbor to deal w/). if you find a reasonable LL, they may be likely to look past the number of pets you have (extra points if your LL is a dog lover! my friend w/ the pits has a LL that owns a rottweiler mix and took pity on his situation)