Accepted a job at Marlborough (Shrewsbury, Westborough: apartment complexes, rentals, townhome)

[br0wn]

Hi,
I'm from New Jersey. I just accepted a job offer (Marlborough) starting end of January. My wife and I (a baby incoming very soon) are looking to rent an apartment/house nearby (can be upto 25 mins away driving). Ideal would be a 2 bedrooms and 1 or 2 bathrooms. Budget is around 1K to 1.5K a month (the max 1.5K would be including all utilities). We have been looking at rent.com but most apartment rentals have bad reviews. We like avalon apartment but they are too expensive. What we want is a nice apartment/house with safe neighborhood and possibly near the commuter rail (not really important actually). We are open to renting directly from a landlord too. Anyone have any suggestion? Thank you.

[scarletfire]

Have you tried Windsor Ridge in Westboro? They're older than Avalon but kept up pretty well and would be a short drive to the Southboro Commuter Rail. http://www.windsorcommunities.com/pr...D=25&Region=MA

Also, here are a few other good possibilities:

2bd 1.5ba townhome in Boylston w/washer&dryer. Nicely updated kitchen & bath. Private patio. $1400/month. Available Feb. I can email you pics if you'd like. Please feel free to PM me.

3bd 1 ba Cape home in Sudbury, attached garage, screen porch, private backyard, full basement, walking distance to town pool. $1250/mo, 7+ month rental (Note: This is on a busy road, but Sudbury's an excellent town to live in. No easy access to the commuter rail though).

[NY'er lost in MA]

The Avalon Community: at Flanders Hill (Westborough) is only about 10 minutes from Marlborough. They have some fairly large 2 bed units under $1500/month. I have driven by this location and it is in the middle of the woods- nice area, but only about 10 minutes to shopping in Westborough.

And it's under 5 minutes to the Southborough Commuter Rail Station.

Very good area...

[br0wn]

Scarletfire: Thanks. I saw the review for Windsor Ridge at http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate...sor-Ridge.html

Is it not as bad as it is depicted in the review?

PM sent to you regarding the other apts. Yes, we are willing to find a place at nearby towns. I guess what I am looking for is a suggestion where is a nice/safe place to look for or awful place to avoid.

Originally Posted by NY'er lost in MA

The Avalon Community: at Flanders Hill (Westborough) is only about 10 minutes from Marlborough. They have some fairly large 2 bed units under $1500/month. I have driven by this location and it is in the middle of the woods- nice area, but only about 10 minutes to shopping in Westborough.

And it's under 5 minutes to the Southborough Commuter Rail Station.

Very good area...

Yes, we were interested in this apartment before. But they are quite expensive. I contacted them, and they do not have 2br 1ba available (the others are 1.5K+ without utilities).

[NY'er lost in MA]

...have you called the Avalon Communities in Marlborough or Shrewsbury?

Also try Craigslist.

Good luck! Southborough, Westborough, Northborough, and Sudbury are all very nice areas/safe and surrounding Marlborough..

[scarletfire]

I agree with with Ny'er & I like these towns far better than Marlboro.

I just looked at a few of the reviews of Windsor Ridge. I wasn't aware of the parking issues there. I thought they gave you assigned parking and find it weird that they wouldn't. Most large complexes that I know of give you 1-2 assigned spots for your unit. The way it's described sounds like an awfully big hassle. My only other caution about Windsor Ridge is that if you choose that complex I'd try and get a unit that's closer to the Rt 30 side of the complex than Rt 9 because it gets rather loud over near Rt 9. I used to live in a street nearby there, but didn't live in the complex so can't share firsthand experience there. I've had a few family friends who lived there over the years and one colleague who lived in the metrowest when they first moved to town, and liked it fine. It's nothing fancy, just a decent complex with good highway access and it seems well kept up. But the parking issue would certainly concern me too!!

[scarletfire]

I've heard good things about Avalon as a place to live, except it seems like their entry units are quite small for the price. It is much newer than Windsor Ridge though.

[NY'er lost in MA]

If the community apartment complexes are mostly above your budget then hit Craigslist hard. It is possible you might find a nice owner in dire need of renting a unit and willing to negotiate. In scanning the listings briefly, there are a few that might fit your bill!

Best of luck

[br0wn]

Hi, thank you for the help. I'm checking craigslist now
Please keep posting suggestions if you know a good place though. I appreciate it much.

BTW, i saw few places with lead paint, and they will not rent to anyone with kids < 6 years old (MA's regulation). Since we are expecting a baby soon (due March), that will apply to us i guess? Even if it doesnt, how dangerous/bad it will be for us? I have no experience with lead paint at all.
Thanks.

[scarletfire]

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5054.html