Would Boston work for us in this situation?

[SpringMom3]

Originally Posted by movelady

I am a resident in the Boston area.

I just wrote a long response, but realized that it's totally irrelevant. I'll message you with all that stuff, instead.

Your question is irrelevant right now. You have more important things to think about. Your husband hasn't applied yet! You don't even know if he'll get an interview! Not to be a downer or anything, but you're getting ahead of yourself - this isn't the time to consider geographic factors and rank cities against each other. Once he's done interviewing (and he should interview anywhere/everywhere that's unlikely to directly cause you depression/illness), then you should ask this question about those cities.

First step: apply.
Second step: interview.
Third step: ask this question again if it will help him/you put together a rank list.

it's never too early to consider areas/possibilities and think out what can/cant work out.

[movelady]

Originally Posted by SpringMom3

it's never too early to consider areas/possibilities and think out what can/cant work out.

Good point.
I suppose all I had to go on (re: advice) was my own experience - the advice given to my entire medschool class was to apply broadly and then narrow things down once interview offers start coming in.

[mSooner]

His list is still too large--we are trying to decide what to cut and (hopefully) what places to decline interviews if he gets more than expected. The Boston program is a real reach, but it honestly is for everyone who applies. In most of the other programs on the list, the cost of living is doable...it's hard to know about Boston.

He focuses on the programs...I focus on how I'm going to raise 2 kids there and maybe continue working/telecommuting I've posted on a few other city data boards re: cities on our list that I don't know much about or find intriguing and the answers I have gotten have been immensely helpful. I cant see him declining an interview in Boston (heck, it would be a fun visit!), but now he knows it might be wise to ask where people are living, parking, how they are commuting, etc.

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by mSooner

How much would we have to worry about whether or not an apartment is deleaded?

Make sure it's deleaded or forget it. If there's one piece of advice you ever listen to, let it be this one.

[mSooner]

How common is it for apartments to be deleaded?

[donewithpretty]

Originally Posted by mSooner

How much would we have to worry about whether or not an apartment is deleaded?

The short answer is: a lot. It's against the law for a landlord to rent to a family with children unless the place is deleaded. You may find (as a friend of mine did recently) that a realtor says he or she has tons of listings, but when you show up with a kid or a pregnant belly, the answer is everything's taken. Deleading is expensive, so landlords don't want to be forced to do it.

At your price point, with the deleading issue, your choices would be very slim. If your husband ends up choosing Brigham and Women's, you'll need to contact a real estate agent and start on the apartment search months in advance.