Crazy Rents (Boston, Quincy, Malden: apartment complex, lease, credit score)

[MtPleasantDream]

^^ Many foreign born residents are students, H1B workers, or even "illegals". They have no political rights in the US and don't bother to participate.
Even green card holders can't vote.

[bostongymjunkie]

Admittedly did not read the entire article but much of this is not a new story. Immigrants have faced these challenges for decade upon decade. They turn things around by injecting themselves into community affairs, learning English, running for office, joining community groups, and acquiring political capital that gives their communities a voice. Lowell is a perfect recent example, but this is also the case in Boston over decades. If you don't participate, you sit on the sidelines. If you wait for someone to give you something, you'll probably be waiting a long time.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

Admittedly did not read the entire article but much of this is not a new story. Immigrants have faced these challenges for decade upon decade. They turn things around by injecting themselves into community affairs, learning English, running for office, joining community groups, and acquiring political capital that gives their communities a voice. Lowell is a perfect recent example, but this is also the case in Boston over decades. If you don't participate, you sit on the sidelines. If you wait for someone to give you something, you'll probably be waiting a long time.

Just nice to hear that it's affordable enough to be this sort of Ellis Island place still. Nice to know. Malden is a cool little city but I wish Boston Area towns were quicker to adapt representation. The incumbency bias in the state isn't a good thing.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Just nice to hear that it's affordable enough to be this sort of Ellis Island place still. Nice to know. Malden is a cool little city but I wish Boston Area towns were quicker to adapt representation. The incumbency bias in the state isn't a good thing.

It was somewhat affordable when they arrived. Not so sure about now.

[Moh1988]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

Just curious, if you know how costly it is and that it continues to rise, why would you choose to move here from midwest?

Job opportunities! There is no pharma in the midwest. 2nd,,, life is too short to stay in one place! Lived there for 11 yrs,,, that's more than enough!
I'm complaining about prices and everything, but we do like it here a lot. Maybe in few years, I get tired of how expensive everything here, and decide to move back.

[Moh1988]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Speaking as the owner of a rental unit; if I raised the rent by that much on a current tenant, that's my way of saying I want them to move out and I should not expect that they stay. If you stay put, that's your own problem.

This is not true for big corporations like Avalon. The rate we received last year was way below average for that area and complex. A friend of mine in Nedham was charged with 1K more cuz his deal was during Covid time.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by Moh1988

Job opportunities! There is no pharma in the midwest. 2nd,,, life is too short to stay in one place! Lived there for 11 yrs,,, that's more than enough!
I'm complaining about prices and everything, but we do like it here a lot. Maybe in few years, I get tired of how expensive everything here, and decide to move back.

That's sort of what I figured but in asking this question of lots of people I've learned that there are numerous reasons out there. That said, there are 50 states so no shortage of places to go. Boston can't be the cheapest place with jobs for you, no?

[Moh1988]

Originally Posted by massnative71

No. I mean you don't have to spend the kind of money some people are speaking of here. Let your own budget dictate what you spend, not what other people say you should have to pay for the "privilege" of living in Boston. You do need to have patience when looking in this market, but eventually you should find a reasonable landlord as long as you have some flexibility. Or better yet, move somewhere else that's not so ridiculously overpriced.

Agreed. For me it's not about the "privilage of living somewhere",,, it's where you could find a job and be happy with yourself or your family, in my case.
I pretty much spent 3 months trying to find another place similar to my current place where it's more affordable, but could not. Not in that area,,, so we just sucked it up, complained a lot, and renewed

[Moh1988]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

That's sort of what I figured but in asking this question of lots of people I've learned that there are numerous reasons out there. That said, there are 50 states so no shortage of places to go. Boston can't be the cheapest place with jobs for you, no?

I wish there are opportunities in 50 states! For what I do, which is discovery in Pharma,,, there is literally 3 towns,,, SD, SF, and Boston! Boston is the cheapest,,, and I like Mass way better than Cali.
Besides, it's also competitive,,, I was graduating without any experience,,, submitted 50 applications to more than 10 states,,, I only received offers from 3-4 places, and I picked this one.
Again, a year into it,,, love the place and the whole state,,, there is no place I'd rather be at the moment. It's ok to complaint tho

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

It was somewhat affordable when they arrived. Not so sure about now.

Still somewhat affordable even with inflation and everything. 94 apartments available under 2k. Immigrants will definitely pay that due to generational living and cooperative economics in general.

https://www.trulia.com/for_rent/Malden,MA/0-2000_price/

Immigrants arent gonna stop coming to Boston because of high costs, we were one of the most resilient immigrant destinations last decade behind like Miami and Orlando. and were were already extremely expensive