How is Boston? Looking to move. (Natick, Harvard: real estate, condos, hotels) - Massachusetts (MA) - City-Data Forum

gmagg · 01-18-2007, 06:45 PM

To Readers:

I am looking to move to the city. I am 25 year old from Long Island (post college) in the real estate profession. I was looking to move to NYC but it is insanely expensive. I am looking into Boston, it seems more reasonable compared to NYC. Although I have been there a few times and I find it more attractive than NYC I do not know the lay of land. Any info would help. Is there opportunity there? Can you at least buy real estate for under 500k. Hows the social life.

smarty · 01-19-2007, 03:06 AM

This is the funniest post ever.

A real estate professional asking for real estate prices and opportunity?

How do you answer your question for NYC? I suggest going to realtor.com, yahoo real estate, zillow.com for prices. As to opportunity, isn't America the land of opportunity?

Social life is much tamer than NYC.

gmagg · 01-19-2007, 06:38 AM

I should have worded my post better- see I am in commercial real estate not residential. I'm not that familiar with the residential market there- seems like it is cooling though. What I really should have meant is what is living in Boston like- is it an easy place to transition into as far as social life.

im2005 · 01-19-2007, 06:48 AM

I think he answered your question as to how Boston is!

gmagg · 01-19-2007, 12:04 PM

I agree he did answer it-vaguely. I think I will visit and check it out for myself-soon. If it suits me and I can see making a living in Boston then its a go. If not, then I will consider elsewhere. This posting board is a good idea- but I'm looking for information about the place from someone whom lives here- not short insults. Especially ("Is there opportunity there, this is America it's the land of opportunity.") No kidding, but what is the job market like there? Demand in real estate professions? Appreciate the info though

.

smarty · 01-19-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmagg

I agree he did answer it-vaguely. I think I will visit and check it out for myself-soon. If it suits me and I can see making a living in Boston then its a go. If not, then I will consider elsewhere. This posting board is a good idea- but I'm looking for information about the place from someone whom lives here- not short insults. Especially ("Is there opportunity there, this is America it's the land of opportunity.") No kidding, but what is the job market like there? Demand in real estate professions? Appreciate the info though

.

I can only answer a vague question with a vague answer at 4am.

I am speaking out of my area. [Commercial real estate.] My understanding is office occupancy rate was really bad after 911 (I think ~60%). I heard it creep up a few years ago (to ~85%) and needed more space. Hence, more buildings. However, many office buildings recently finished. I have no idea what they are nowadays. I think it is slowing down because many companies moved out of the area. However, there are more than just office space in commercial real estate. Neiman Marcus is building in Natick Mall. Hence, there is still demand in Condos, Retail and Hotels. Hence, opportunity. Again, I am not in that trade and do not know what kind of growth/opportunity there is!! I suggest you read trade report, indicators and magazine. Check out monster.com to see if those commercial real estate companies are hiring. Set up an interview before coming up, this way either the expenses are paid for or can be deducted.

Residential real estate prices have level off or even lowered. However, Boston is unique in that it has over 100K college students willing to pay $40-50K a year to go to school. Within a 5 mile radius there are over 10 colleges. Prices will not drop significantly due to the rich parents. We have so many rich Long Island students here attending BU/BC/Harvard/Tufts/NorthEastern.

Good Luck.

One more thing about social life. You have to understand downtown Boston is like 1/10 of NYC. Basically ONE square mile. Very small. The same people own those clubs for years (just keep remodeling/changing names). Hence, very tame. Don't expect much activity after midnight.

gmagg · 01-20-2007, 10:14 AM

Smarty- appreciate the info. Boston's nightlife really is that tame! I would expect there to be nice places that cater to different types. See, thats what I think I would prob. like about Boston better instead of the rah rah club and party scene til' 4am in NYC. I'm not a huge late night person to begin with and enjoy more in the way of laid back places, but high end.

Tiger Beer · 09-28-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smarty

One more thing about social life. You have to understand downtown Boston is like 1/10 of NYC. Basically ONE square mile. Very small. The same people own those clubs for years (just keep remodeling/changing names). Hence, very tame. Don't expect much activity after midnight.

Is that accurate? Sounds really small!

holden125 · 09-28-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Is that accurate? Sounds really small!

DOWNTOWN Boston is about 1 square mile, but it's dense and there's a lot packed into that space. It's nothing like Detroit where everything is more spread out. There are also neighborhoods adjacent to downtown Boston with plenty to do. But even so, Boston proper (i.e. the "downtown" part of the city of Boston that has a Boston mailing address, as opposed the "neighborhoods" like Southie, JP, Dorchester, Brighton, etc.) is quite compact.

Nightlife doesn't quite shut down at midnight. More like 2. But the Boston area in general closes early. In some suburbs it's like the whole town's asleep by 9 pm.