Relocation to Boston! (Newton, Framingham, Brookline: apartment, rental, townhouse)

[mdeedub]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are looking at a possible move to Boston and I’d love to pick your brains about neighborhoods, housing availability, commutes, prices, etc.

Here is our basic info:
* The move would only be for one year
* We have a 9 month old boy (will be approximately 2 during the year we live there
* We have several pets including two large dogs so apartment living is challenging at best.
* My husband would be working at Beth Israel and would prefer no more than about a 30 minute commute.
* Budget will vary depending on if I work or not. We’d probably like to stay under 2500 but the lower the better (while still being safe) so I can stay home with our son.

[brightdoglover]

Budget?
A rental with two large dogs is very unlikely. It sounds like your husband might be doing a residency or something like that? Could you maybe leave the dogs with family or someone for that one year? The size isn't an issue, it's that there are very few places at any price that allow dogs. It's a city thing, I think. I finally moved out of the city specifically because I wanted dogs and had to buy/own to have them. It's a real problem with living in the area, and I don't mean just the city itself.
But Beth Israel! A great institution. He must be very talented to get a slot there, best wishes.

[mdeedub]

I didn’t put a budget because we have a decent amount of flexibility. We currently pay 1200 for our house but I am currently not working. Before living here we paid 2300 a month for a duplex and I had to work. The price range will just determine if I have to work for the year or if I can stay home. Id prefer to stay home with our son but it’s only a year and I imagine Boston to be expensive so we will do what we have to.

The dogs do make things more challenging but it’s not impossible. You are right that he’s doing medical training, this will be our 4th move for the purpose and we’ve always managed with the dogs. It does limit options for sure though!

[id77]

There are a few SFHs for rent somewhere like Newton or Brookline, which would keep you within 30 minutes, but you aren't going to be able to be very choosy as inventory will be low, and most of what is there will run ~$5,000/month and up.

[mdeedub]

That would definitely be out of our price range. We could probably manage as much as 2500 but that’s about all I’d want to do.

While we’d love to have a sfh we know it’s highly unlikely. I was hoping to get ideas on where I might find townhomes or duplexes if sfh’s aren’t an option.

[robr2]

$2500 for a SFH or even an townhouse/apartment within 30 minutes of BI is going to be near impossible. If you are going to have to work to afford that, keep in mind that you'll be paying $1500+ for childcare every month.

Have you considered staying where you are and letting him come to Boston on his own? He might be able to find an apartment with roommates for about $1000 or so.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by robr2

$2500 for a SFH or even an townhouse/apartment within 30 minutes of BI is going to be near impossible. If you are going to have to work to afford that, keep in mind that you'll be paying $1500+ for childcare every month.

Have you considered staying where you are and letting him come to Boston on his own? He might be able to find an apartment with roommates for about $1000 or so.

Actually that's a very good idea for OP, I think. Likely he'll be crazy busy and crazy tired with this year at BI and would probably do fine with a comfortable room to rest nearby BI. I wonder if the program has any housing, like a dorm-type studio or something. I'd do it that way but then, I'm old and tired!

[mdeedub]

Oh whoops I made a typo. We paid 3200 a month with me working. I think we could manage 2500 without me working.

We would not consider living apart for the year, especially since our son is so young. My husband is not a new intern so hours aren’t as bad as all that either.

[chicagoliz]

You might be able to find a pet friendly apartment rental in someplace like Jamaica Plain.

Alternatively, if you want a house, you might be able to find someplace in Framingham, and your husband could take the train. Or if he does drive, it wouldn't be too bad of a drive.

[Boston Shudra]

Maybe look around Brighton a bit? If you can find somewhere near the 65 bus, the commute to Beth Isreal would be pretty painless. The neighborhood is more affordable than Brookline with larger spaces and probably more short-term turnover than JP.