young family relocating to work in Lexington with tiny budget, where to live? (Lowell: apartment complexes, rental market)

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

Thanks for the explanation. I'm guessing "any legal reason" really means legal in the sense of not getting caught. If you systematically refuse to rent to people with children it doesn't matter that the excuse you're using is legal, but it probably makes enforcement difficult. It does surprise me how prevalent it is, though, because Massachusetts is a fairly tenant-friendly state.

Correct. Where landlords get caught with their pants down is if a woman living in an apartment with lead paint gets pregnant. Then they have to delead the apartment because they know they will lose the lawsuit if they refuse to do so or refuse to renew the lease.

[kingeorge]

One more thing to consider. Many areas you will be looking at, if you can find anything decent at all, will need two car lifestyle to survive, and thrive. Winters are no joke, and your pay cut should not impact quality of life for your kid and wife.

Areas with good amenities you can walk to, are very expensive, and even there, it can get too cold, too snowy, and too icy to safely navigate stroller, and run errands on foot. Parents need car during the winter times. Not to mention play spaces, playdates, and some indoor activities for your baby, so it can socialize, and not be cooped in for 3-4 month a year. Weather is harsh. It makes saints grumpy, let alone mere mortals.

Please take in an account not just your passion and excitement about your new start, but what quality of life you can offer to your kid and your wife at this time as well.

Good luck.

[Thomas144]

I would look in Waltham.

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by JoeTurcoHomeSelling

1400 a month is a little tough, but chase your dreams it can be worth it! I would suggest looking in Bedford, Lincoln and Concord. Yes, other areas might give you a little bit more but the traffic getting to lexington will be brutal for you.

Are there specific apartments you're thinking about when you mention those 3 towns? Obviously as a real estate agent you know that Lincoln and Concord are 2 of the wealthiest and most expensive towns in the state and Bedford is well above average too. These seem like odd suggestions without additional info.

[495neighbor]

I agree with Parsec. Unless OP is able to find a vacancy in one of the rare mixed moderate income developments in one of these towns, their budget is far too low for any of these towns.

I would recommend the OP look in Maynard. It is trending Mommy/Daddy hipsterish and arty as far as suburbs go and not too bad of a commute to Lexington.

If able to up budget by a hundred or two, Melrose would tick all your boxes. The gym, the cool eating places and cafés, the parks, diversity in neighboring Malden, good commuter rail and other public transportation options and a doable commute by car to Lexington.

Natick is getting hipster and arty. It is a little farther out than you probably want to live, but doable commute wise to Lexington. You would have to bring your budget up to live there though.

[MidwestRedux]

While there is a chance that you might find something in your budget in one the towns near Lexington that others have mentioned, you will have better options if you are willing to put up with a longer commute.

Towns that come to mind are Marlborough, Nashua, NH, Tyngsborough, Salem, NH, Dracut, Peabody, Salem, MA, etc. All of these places will leave with a 30-45 minute+ commute (and the associated costs of the commute) but will also give you a chance of finding a halfway decent place in a halfway decent town.

[Ninotchka P]

I second Maynard and Waltham as places to look. I really like Maynard's feel.

[gf2020]

Framingham, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Billerica, Chelmsford are all good suggestions. You're looking to rent, you don't need to be worried about schools, these towns will serve you fine for now.

[charolastra00]

Budget is too low for a 2 bedroom (and honestly, most 1 bedrooms especially if needing deleaded) in Waltham. Maynard rentals have also skyrocketed lately.

OP - is $1400 inclusive of utilities? Because that will make a big difference as well. Where are you moving from?

Lowell might tick your boxes, with a decent commute and somewhat urban feeling. There are sketchy areas, but it seems to be gentrifying and there are lots of activities for families with UMass-Lowell right there.

[mp775]

Don't forget that a long commute is itself an expense. Public transportation is decent in Lexington, and there are commuter shuttles from the Alewife Red Line station. Shifting some car budget to home budget might open up more options for you.