Southern Californian couple moving to Vermont...help! (Burlington, Colchester: apartment complexes, rentals)

[mirrorrim]

My husband just got a great job working at Burlington airport. We are in our mid 20s. We are completely lost when it comes to the area and finding a place to rent.

I've lived in San Diego my whole life and we love the beach lifestyle, easy access to entertainment, and outdoor activities. We are not prepared at all for Vermont winters, but I hope switching from a surfboard to a snowboard will help us deal with the snow and cold.

I've read a lot of threads on here, more or less worrying me about the huge cost of living with the very crappy housing situation (cost of living I can deal with, but usually I get a good place to live in return!). My husband is willing to commute 25 mins to get to work. We don't want to be near (or at least negatively affected by) any of the apartment complexes filled with partying university students.

We'd like to spend no more than $1400/month (including utilities) and not live in a dump. Is this possible? What areas or apartment complexes do you recommend? Thanks for any help!

[vter]

There are not that many apartment complexes. Most apartments are in old homes that have been carved up.
That said..there is a nice new apt complex called the Farmstand on Allen Road in South Burlington. It's far enough away from the University that students would not be a problem. I believe they are managed by Larkin Realty.
Other than that I'd suggest you focus on Williston, Essex or Colchester for housing.
As for surfing, you can always go ice surfing!

YouTube - what Vermonters get up to when it's cold

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by mirrorrim

We'd like to spend no more than $1400/month (including utilities) and not live in a dump. Is this possible? What areas or apartment complexes do you recommend? Thanks for any help!

You'll probably have better luck renting a house, or a large apartment in a house. Try the 7 Days classifieds for rentals, then Mapquest driving distances to the Burlington airport:

http://classifieds.sevendaysvt.com/home.htm

[68vette]

Sheryl makes a good point. Look outside of Burlington or even Chittenden County. The furher out you go the more home or apartment you will get. With utilities, it is hard to estimate on what a starting point is for rent. Everyone is different. Some people can get away with 200-300/month while others can almost double that. It depends on what you use for phone, cable, internet, electricity. Also find out if heat is included or not. This can have an impact on utilities, especially with the price of oil going up and up. As a starting point look in the 1000-1100 price range. If you want to be in or around Burlington, you need to look now. The schools are just about out and people tend to move more this time of year. This is when the rental stock is at it's highest. If you are not moving yet, try to find a place before mid summer. Late July is when the students start to roll back in town and rent everything again.

[globalwoman]

Get a good, warm down comforter -- you are going 180 degrees in climate. I lived in the Adirondacks, SE of Burlington for 6 years.

I am familiar with the area immediately around UVM. A friend grew up on a dairy farm in Colchester--they have been there for generations. My ex's son relocated to the area of the Shelbourne Museum, where his wife was hired, about two years ago.

[Starryskye80]

I hope you will be ok renting a dingy studio or one bedroom for only $1400...

[mirrorrim]

Update 3 years later...

We ended up renting a 2bed/2bath at Keen's Crossing. It was the only place that was available and seemed decent just based on photos (we had no time to scope anything out beforehand). It was fine, but a year later we moved into the brand new Stonewood apartment complex. Loved it. Both places were roughly $1400/month. Now we own a house!

[Raisinet]

Any regrets on trading California for Vermont?

[joe moving]

haha... I am impressed. I would have thought you were going to say you got sick of the cold and moved back. What brought you here?

[nebloke]

Originally Posted by mirrorrim

My husband just got a great job working at Burlington airport. We are in our mid 20s. We are completely lost when it comes to the area and finding a place to rent.

I've lived in San Diego my whole life and we love the beach lifestyle, easy access to entertainment, and outdoor activities. We are not prepared at all for Vermont winters, but I hope switching from a surfboard to a snowboard will help us deal with the snow and cold.

I've read a lot of threads on here, more or less worrying me about the huge cost of living with the very crappy housing situation (cost of living I can deal with, but usually I get a good place to live in return!). My husband is willing to commute 25 mins to get to work. We don't want to be near (or at least negatively affected by) any of the apartment complexes filled with partying university students.

We'd like to spend no more than $1400/month (including utilities) and not live in a dump. Is this possible? What areas or apartment complexes do you recommend? Thanks for any help!

You will love living there for a few years while discovering a whole new world but the weather will eventually drive you out especially coming from San Diego. You are going from some of the best weather in the country to some of the worst weather in the country. Winters are very long and brutally cold, summers are very short, and you are going to miss the sun a lot.

But enjoy the change and the experience, Vermont is one of the most beautiful places on earth.