Considering moving to Framingham (Boston, Cambridge: rent, car insurance, how much)

[vargas]

I may be relocating to MA within a few months. My job will be located in Framingham, but I would really like to live in the city. I am married with two pets a peke (15lbs.) and a amstaff (65lbs.) no children; I currently live in Memphis TN so the cost of living is extremely less compared to MA. Please let me know what type of neighborhood I should expect for approx. $1200.00-1500.00 a month. I currently own a 3800 sq. ft. home and pay 1650.00 a month including taxes (gotta love the south). A one bedroom or studio will be fine. We have two cars. I need sound advice please help....

[holden125]

What kind of neighborhood to expect totally depends on how much you want to be in the center of the city. If you want to be in the very heart of Boston your price range would get a smallish 1-BR or studio, parking would be almost certainly on the street and very tough, and the dogs would pose a major problem as few landlords allow them, especially the bigger one.

However, if you go a little bit outside the urban core of Boston proper and Cambridge and Brookline, prices drop significantly and parking becomes almost standard. I don't know how familiar you are with the Boston area, but the outlying neighborhoods and closer in suburbs like Watertown can be more dense and urban than "the city" in some other areas. The dogs will still create a challenge, but you can find places in Watertown, parts of Newton and Belmont, or Waltham in your range that give you easier access to downtown Boston and a pretty quick ride out to Framingham. You may also want to look in Brighton Center and Oak Square, which have bars and restaurants, reasonably priced housing, and decent parking availability, but those are in the city of Boston and the car insurance will be higher than in the other towns.

[vargas]

Thank you I really appreciate that advice. I will be in the area fr Jan. 13th-19th. I will focus my efforts in those locations. How is the public transportation? Could I take only one car?

[VlyRoadKid]

I don't know much about that area, but if you lived in say, Newton, you'd still be on the MBTA's line, so parking wouldn't matter--you could avoid the drive. I find Framingham almost as upsetting to drive in as Boston! Towns like Wayland.

Here's a link to info about Framingham itself:

Framingham, Massachusetts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And here's a short article about housing conditions in Boston, target to younger people (with links to tips for tenants):

Housing | The Boston Housing Market

Good luck!

[ogre]

I'll second the suggestion to look in some of the close-in suburbs. Many are urban in character, and physically appear to be outlying sections of the Boston.

Now, about those dogs . . . in addition to the fact that there are landlords that don't allow pets, I would suggest that you check the ordinances of any city you consider moving to, regarding the AmStaff. Some cities in the Boston area, including Boston itself, if I recall correctly, have BSL, and they might consider the AmStaff a Pit Bull. Here is a link to a Pit rescue organization in the local area, which might be able to provide some guidance on BSL in local cities: PittieLove Rescue, Inc. Home.

[PerceptiveHomes]

Are you looking to just rent or to buy?? Right now there are some really nice homes on the market in the Framingham area that would be a steal with the market the way that it is. When the market turns around you would have a lot of equity in these homes as Framingham is close to all major routes.