Temporary residents touring the area: Conveniently-located cities under $2k/month? (Worcester: rentals, condo)

[User159]

Thanks to everyone who posted for all of the suggestions so far.

Originally Posted by redplum33

Unfortunately, I think you may have difficulty getting what you want. Mostly due to the 6 month lease.

This will be our fourth home we've rented in the last two years, and the 6 month lease definitely reduces the options.

On the upside, we've found that many of the corporate-run apartment complexes have accommodated 6 month leases. We lived in one of these apartments in the Phoenix area, though we almost went with a house that the owner agreed to rent for 6 months when I offered her more in monthly rent than the asking price (rents were pretty low in that exurb, so it wasn't really a stretch).

In Traverse City, Michigan, we took over someone's lease for 5 months, with the landlord's approval.

In the Atlanta area, we're renting a house in a "top school district" family neighborhood from an owner who didn't get his house in rentable condition during the prime summertime family moving season and thus hadn't had much interest in it when we inquired; he realized we'd be moving out right about time to put it on the market this summer. So, it's been a little bit of everything.

Again, thanks for the suggestions so far, and if anyone has any others, please send them along!

[Mikequig]

I'd recommend checking out Amesbury/Newburyport area. You have easy access to both route 95 and 495. Both towns are good sized communities with walkable downtowns and lots of great events and restaurants. Easy access to beaches in Maine, New Hampshire, and Plum Island. You can get to Boston or Portland in under an hour off peak travel time. Apartment complexes like The Heights in Amesbury may be a good place to check with for a short term lease (Amesbury Apartments for Rent | The Heights Amesbury). Best of luck!

[GeoffD]

For a 6 month May to October rental, your best bet is a ski resort where a ton of housing units sit mostly empty in the summer. Loon/Waterville Valley is 2 hours of easy interstate highway drive to Boston. Other than fall foliage season in October, it's a buyers market for a 6 month seasonal rental. A garage with plug-in electric might be more difficult to track down but you'll have your pick of a whole spectrum of vacation home options with most handled by property manager/rental agencies who should have a ton of inventory.


I imagine there are also beach-oriented seasonal rentals where a 6 month rental is kind of expected. Those are likely to be mostly taken for the summer in mid-March.

[in_newengland]

I was going to say Amesbury because for a small town, there are a lot of apartment complexes. But also Northampton or the general area because you might get a six month lease while the students are gone. The rents are inflated due to students but they leave around May and come back in September. You might also get something starting in the summer and ending with the end of the first semester/December. It's 2 hours from Boston and there's a lot going on.

[huff100]

I would suggest
1. Portsmouth NH/Southern ME towns
2. Providence RI (Highly suggest because there is a ton to do and not too far from Boston)
Then the following-
3. Portland ME
4. Brattleboro VT
5. Northampton MA
6. Mystic CT
7. Northshore MA (Essex, Ipswich, Newburyport, Salem, Gloucester area)-highly recommend this area, my husband and I wanted to live here but commutes would have been too far.

[tovarisch]

Have to agree with the Northampton idea, because ---- I live there! Feel free to ask me specific questions if it becomes a top choice.

[bizcuit]

Originally Posted by huff100

I would suggest
1. Portsmouth NH/Southern ME towns
2. Providence RI (Highly suggest because there is a ton to do and not too far from Boston)
Then the following-
3. Portland ME
4. Brattleboro VT
5. Northampton MA
6. Mystic CT
7. Northshore MA (Essex, Ipswich, Newburyport, Salem, Gloucester area)-highly recommend this area, my husband and I wanted to live here but commutes would have been too far.

Portsmouth would be great, but it's going to be expensive.

[BostonBornMassMade]

I’d say Northampton Amherst or Worcester.

Worcester puts you right between Hartford Boston and Providence so you can get a feel for MA CT and RI, it’s a little off major free ways but it’s pretty close. And your not far from Northern New England at all.

[wmass]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

I’d say Northampton Amherst or Worcester.

Worcester puts you right between Hartford Boston and Providence so you can get a feel for MA CT and RI, it’s a little off major free ways but it’s pretty close. And your not far from Northern New England at all.

Of all the places to sample in New England, I don't think Worcester should be on the short list.

[redplum33]

I still don't understand why a couple with 2 cats needs 2-3 bedrooms. And when trying to stay under 2k, it really makes no sense. Ditto with the garage.

This area is more expensive than most other parts of the country. One way or another, the OP will need to sacrifice something. If he insists on 2-3 beds with a garage, he won't be in a desirable area.

A 1 (or maybe 2) bed apartment would open up so many options. He will need to decide what's more important - a desirable location or unnecessary bedrooms and a garage.

Having said that, I would suggest that the OP look into Bristol, RI. It's a nice town - especially in the summer. It's also home to the oldest and largest 4th of July parade in the country. It's halfway between Providence and Newport, and approximately 30 minutes to either (without traffic). Boston is an easy trip at about 1 hour 30 minutes. Cape Cod is relatively close also. And NYC is within 4 hours.