#RealEstate - Greater Boston Real Estate Rental Market: Learn the Ins and Out in Advance

Welcome, Hunter I shall call you Ishmael. 

Hunting for an apartment is like hunting for a whale. I've often said to my clients---if you're here to hunt the White Whale, I won't go on that journey with you. I never have and never will. He doesn't exist to my mind. But if he does to yours, the least I can do for you, since the journey for finding him must be perilous, is teach you everything I know. Here's my guide.


The Boston Real Estate Rental Market: Learn the Ins and Out in Advance

Boston's Rental market moves lightning quick. Literally hundreds of real estate offices have thousands of agents who's sole function, day in and day out, is to move property. An apartment you view today could be rented by another party within minutes of you seeing it. Nothing to be done about it because a deal's a deal--and the first rabbit in the hole, gets the hole. All that work you did leading up to a second place finish means only you'll have more work to do---and trust me, it will be suck for you---because in my experience, which is informed by tens of thousands of observations, Nobody is delighted as much by their second choice as they are their first.

So, this writing, this article serious is my gift to you, Greater Boston. You've been so good to me over the years, here is for you now your backstage pass to Greater Boston's rental market. This article series will educate and illuminate you with a sufficient knowledge base and insight into this market we share. Upon this base you can stand well balanced and by this insight you will a vital competitive edge over your less-balanced and short-sighted competition during your housing search. In other words, this writing is an electronic emblem of my primary living function in this market---to be a 24/7 Beacon, a guide to serve and protect you as a special agent---who helps you always save time and money, and enables you to make a well-informed and highly crucial decision at this cross-roads you now stand at, but also to do it swiftly because as you may hear some of us say, Time is of the Essence. And money represents your life-force, if you think about it.

Topics Covered:

Size, Location, Price - The Three Principle Factors That Will Govern Your Apartment Search
Do it Yourself or Get a Real Estate Agent? - Where to Start Looking for Apartment
Super Agent Man or Super Waste of Your Time? - How to Tell if the RE Agent is Worth the Cost of a Phone Call
Real Estate Agent Fees Explained - An Explanation of No Fee, Half Fee and Full Fee Apartment
Looking for an Apartment With Roommates? - Get Your Ducks In a Row
Cats and Dogs and Snakes - Pet Friendly Apartment Searching
What to Do with Your Car - Off Street vs. On Street Parking in Boston
Boston Rental Market Timing - Know when to Start Looking
Preparing for an Appointment - What You Need on the Day of Showing
Upfront Costs and Lease Addenda - Make Sure Your Lease is Kosher

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - Upfront Costs and Lease Documents

Upfront Costs and Lease Addenda
Make Sure Your Lease is Kosher

So you've written a few major checks in the past few weeks. You have been approved for the apartment you want! Congratulations!! But you're not out of the woods yet. Yes, you have been approved. Yes, you've laid down a deposit, which now counts as your first month's rent. But you still have to sign the lease and perhaps pay more money, such as Last Month's Rent, Security Deposit and Finder's Fees.

Most leases are standard forms created by the Rental Housing Association (RHA). Typically you will see a Standard Fixed Term Lease, or a Simplified Fixed Term Lease. Sometimes you will see a Self-Extending Lease.

The difference between a Fixed Term lease and a Self-Extending lease is that a Fixed-Term lease is set to expire on a certain day if you do not respond positively to the renewal notice your landlord sends out. A Self-Extending lease is set to renew if you do not respond to your notice or otherwise inform the landlord that you intend to vacate.

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - Preparation for a Showing Appointment

Preparing for an Appointment
What You Need on the Day of Showing

Whether you are going it alone or working with an agent, here is a brief summary of what you need to  have with you on the day of your showings in order to be most competitive:

1. A Picture I.D.
2. A Student I.D. (if you are a student)
3. Verification of Employment (pay stubs or offer letter)
4. I-20 Statement (if international)
5. Current and previous landlord contact info (Student Housing Department # if student)
6. A list or summary of previously viewed properties, including address and price
7. A checkbook with clear funds at least equal to one months rent (if you do not have a bank account, then $500 cash for a quick temporary deposit, to buy you time to get a bank check or money order)

You should always expect that another party is interested in the property you like. Underestimating your competition can cost you your top choice and keep you looking much longer than you need. Be prepared in advance and go to every showing appointment ready to rent.

This article is From the How To Find An Apartment In Boston series.

Other Articles:

Size, Location, Price - The Three Principle Factors That Will Govern Your Apartment Search
Do it Yourself or Get a Real Estate Agent? - Where to Start Looking for Apartment
Super Agent Man or Super Waste of Your Time? - How to Tell if the RE Agent is Worth the Cost of a Phone Call
Real Estate Agent Fees Explained - An Explanation of No Fee, Half Fee and Full Fee Apartment
Looking for an Apartment With Roommates? - Get Your Ducks In a Row
Cats and Dogs and Snakes - Pet Friendly Apartment Searching
What to Do with Your Car - Off Street vs. On Street Parking in Boston
Boston Rental Market Timing - Know when to Start Looking
Preparing for an Appointment - What You Need on the Day of Showing
Upfront Costs and Lease Addenda - Make Sure Your Lease is Kosher

If you have any further questions about housing search matters that are not answered here, please feel free to contact me through my Housing Needs Analysis Form.

Have a great day!
-Robert Ortiz

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - Off Street vs. On Street Parking

What to Do with Your Car
Off Street vs. On Street Parking in Boston

Never should you let parking determine your housing search. I've had clients turn down seemingly all around perfect housing opportunities because off-street parking wasn't available at that location. In every case this happened, I learned afterward that while they did find a place with parking the apartment was inferior in quality to the one they could have rented without a spot. If your housing search is equivalent to a sucking chest wound, then your parking spot search is like a hang nail or a knee scrape. Dress the parking wound AFTER you secure appropriate housing.

Off-Street Parking

The difficulty level of finding an apartment that offers off-street parking approaches the difficulty level of finding a dog friendly apartment. Because off-street parking is rare, and because the demand for it is high, if you are going to get a parking spot it will surely cost you extra money. Even if the parking spot "comes with the apartment" the extra value is built into the monthly rent. This is true for all apartments with the exception of apartments located more than a 20 minute walk from a train line.

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - When To Start Looking for An Apartment

Boston Rental Market Timing
Know when to Start Looking

Fortunately for you, the Boston Rental Market is a heart with a regular beat. The same set of folks come  in and out every single year, to the beat of the same drums. This regularity makes it easy for you to know when to start looking for a new place to live.

Below is a list of months in the year, organized in order of popular moving date, along with the dates the apartments first go on the market.

#1 September 1st

Busiest moving day of the year. All year long, starting in December, you can find listings for September first. If you are an undergraduate student looking for off-campus housing you will want to start looking in December/January to rent a three bedroom or larger apartment. If you wait to February or March, you will be rummaging through left overs, the turkey carcass may even be picked so clean by then that you'll have to break up your groups in pairs and go looking for smaller units.

For undergraduate housing in the studio, ones and twos category, you can wait for February or 

March to role in before looking. For graduate students and professionals, you should start looking in May and June for decent September 1st housing opportunities.

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - Pet Friendly Apartment Searching

Cats and Dogs and Snakes, Oh My!

Pet Friendly Apartment Searching

Finding the right apartment for yourself is no easy task. Finding an apartment with a roommate or roommates is even harder. Finding an apartment for you, a roommate, and a pet may seem to be nearly impossible. A pet in Boston or Cambridge is considered both a luxury item and a liability. Landlords who allow pets in their apartments fall into three categories.


First Category - Landlord Doesn't Care 

Neither do they really care about you, nor do they care about the quality and condition of the apartment they offer you. All they care about is timely rent payment, and whether the market is hot enough to support this bastard attitude of theirs.

As long as the rent is paid on time, they would not care if a bull moose is living in the apartment with you. When you move out of the apartment, Fido may have destroyed the floor, FiFi may have shed eight pounds of dander, Fergie your roommate's anaconda may be living in the walls.



Landlord doesn't care. The next group of tenants will have to inherit that mess. You will see this first hand when you are the tenant inheriting the mess. The first category of pet friendly apartments is a complete "I don't care" scenario. When quality is no object, then this category is for you.

Hint: apartments in this category can be found by doing a cross-referenced search for Dog Friendly and No Pet Deposit.

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - How to Search For Apartments with a Roommate

Looking for an Apartment With Roommates?  

Get Your Ducks In a Row

Boston and Cambridge housing is expensive. Here you will find one of the most expensive rental markets in the country, in the world even. You are hard pressed to find even a studio bellow $1000/month. So even after you've done size, location, price adjustments you may still not be able to afford the Boston dirt.

So, there's the roommate option. No big deal. In addition to lowering your monthly housing payment, you can split the cost of utilities as well as share the burden of furnishing the apartment's common areas and splitting the cost of staple supplies like sugar, spices, paper towels and toilet paper.

But choose the members of your crew carefully. You will have to live with them and rely upon their ability to make rent and participate in common space cleaning. You will have to tolerate them for an entire year if they prove to be awful roomies.


Long before you go knocking on a real estate agent's door, you should hold a serious meeting with your prospective roommates and determine compatibility.

Have a group interview

1. Talk about location preferences
2. Discuss a policy on overnight guests
3. Agree on a cleanliness factor
4. Create a budget for common expenses.

 Know this in advance: the potential roommates who doe not participate in this group interview are the one's who will most likely stiff you down the road. Lose them right then and there!!

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - An Explanation of Finder's Fees

Real Estate Agent Fees Explained 
An Explanation of No Fee, Half Fee and Full Fee Apartments

In your housing search, especially if you are looking on Craigslist for an apartment, you may see apartments listed under Full Fee, No Fee and Half Fee titles. You may wonder :what is the difference between these places? There is a difference and it is important to know what this difference is.

What is a Finder's Fee?

For the service of locating an apartment and leasing it to you, a real estate agent charges a finder's fee equivalent to one month's rent. In exchange for this fee, the real estate agent should first consult with you regarding your housing choices. That is, lead you someway through a discussion about the Principle Factors: Size, Location and Price that govern your housing search and ask many questions that narrows the list of solutions to the most likeliest. And then properly secure the property for you.

If you are not sure of which Principle Factors you are willing to compromise on, you can ask your agent to help you explore all sets of options. For instance, you  may think you you want to live in the Back Bay or Harvard Square no matter what, but once you see what your money gets you there, you may find yourself willing to compromise on location. You'll likely make this compromise after you see what your money gets you in Allston or Brighton or Somerville or Medford.

Helping you discover what is actually good in the market is the trademark of a good real estate agent. In a sense he becomes your Jiminy Cricket. A voice that stands outside of your own voice but one that serves to help you make good decisions.

All real estate agents charge a finder's fee equivalent to one month's rent--the good ones give you more value of service than they charge in fee. Be advised that 99% of the property on the market for rent is rented through a real estate agent, less than 1% of the property available can you get without any agent of any kind being involved.

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - Is this Agent Good or Bad

Super Agent Man or Super Waste of Your Time? 
How to Tell if a Real Estate Agent is Worth a Phone Call

Hundreds of real estate offices in the Greater Boston Area. Thousands of agents. You may not know this, but its possible to get a real estate license within a week. College education is not prerequisite. Only the most basic math and verbal skills will earn you the moniker Salesperson. Its not necessary to know how to drive well or park well or talk well or even think well to earn that first-level junior broker's license. Of course to last longer than a month, you've got to up your rating in these categories. And of course senior brokers with full Brokers have much more experience and ability than Salespersons.

Of the Salespersons, both the Pareto Principle and The Law of Averages suggest that about 80% of these agents out there are going to be ho-hum average, 10% will be complete jack ass losers, deserve to be fed to the lions, because they make quite a poor name for themselves, which becomes a name that good agents have to apologize for.
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Only 10% of the thousands of agents out there are of the genuinely, all-around good rating. These folk are usually are booked solid all of the time. They are busy tending to years worth of repeat and referral network business.

When they do take on new clients, the best agents guard their time-value. They employ many layers in their client qualification screen.Yes, that's right---an agent can tell you to hit the bricks if he or she thinks you are what's called a stroker.  If you don't know what I mean, then don't worry---you're not one---I mean if you haven't been told to hit the bricks yet then you're not a stroker. If you have been told to hit the bricks---then, unfortunately, you are a stroker and you should work on that right away. Because there are many business-wise and legally sound methods a real estate broker has in the arsenal for separating the wheat from the chaff. Not needing your business in the slightest way is only one of the more powerful tools. Anyway, if you've been booted once or twice, then you know what I'm talking about---good brokers can be just as picky about theirs clients as clients want to be picky about their housing selection. Pickiness is the pride of excellence.

My office has this going down in what's called an Ex Officio fashion. Every week we somehow manage to generate  more than100 inbound new business inquiries for every agent here---every week!! Can you imagine that? And this is just new business leads---then there are our established friends, current and former clients. All told---there's only enough time in the in every week for each agent to host a maximum of 20 appointments. So, it just happens the way it happens. The Pareto Principle applies.

#RealEstate - Apartment Searching: Do It Yourself or Find a Real Estate Agent?

Do it Yourself or Find a Real Estate Agent?
Where to Start Looking for Apartments

It is true that you can find an apartment on your own without help from a real estate agent. However, if you use an agent you will significantly reduce the time and energy spent doing it yourself. You also reduce the likelihood of being taken for a ride by a slumlord. They are out there and we know who they are.

But, if you insist on being a Do It Your-Selfer, here are some tips you'll need along that path. If you are like most of the clients I've had over the years, you are going to want to see more than one place before you decide to rent one. You want to survey the market and see what your money will get you.

Broker's Guide for the Do It Your-Selfer

You may have specific needs and desires. You may have a limited budget. You may have a pet. Maybe not-so-good credit history. Maybe you're highly allergic to mold. Maybe you've had it up to eyeballs with New England snowfalls and have vowed you'll only use covered parking.

Whatever your specific scenario is, without extraordinary luck, your housing search will take you at least two weeks, and probably three weeks, to conduct on your own. And you will learn after one week of "looking" (i.e. combing craigslist, emailing landlords and subletters back and forth, etc.) that the first or second place you saw was, in fact, the right one. However, and this always happens, when you call the owner back you learn that it has already been rented.

#RealEstate - Size, Location, Price - Three Principle Factors of an Apartment Search

Size, Location, Price
The Three Principle Factors That Will Govern Your Apartment Search

A housing search in Boston is like a game of musical chairs. You played this game as a child, you may remember that music plays while you and your playmates walk in a circle around a set of chairs for a little while. In a coy fashion, because you think it is a game. Always there is one less chair than the number of people walking in circles. You walk eying the place where your butt may need to rest. Your anxiety level soon grows and the coyness on your cute little face disappears and is replaced by a rapacity. Some of you when you were younger literally licked your chops! This is you realizing its not a game, if it is--its that's second. First and foremost it is a training sequence for your mind to help it learn a vital evolutionary lesson--if you're not first, you could be last and if not last you could be left out.

And then it happens. The music stops playing! You scramble for the nearest chair fighting off one of your friends. Remember how vicious the fight becomes when the music stops playing. Little boys and girls will throw elbows and deliver smacks and claws to the surrounding faces. That viciousness of youth has followed you to Boston. Welcome Pilgrim and primitive viciousness too. Competition for housing is very much the same way as a seat in musical chairs. So what, your guide is aware, and the primitive function has been accounted, has been reduced and nearly eliminated. 

Whether you are Bill Gates or Joe Schmoe, the Three Principle Factors that govern your housing search are Size, Location and Price. Negotiating with the Boston rental market on price is not an easy task. It is one of the oldest real estate markets in the country and consequently the price per square foot of real estate here has already been settled. Of course, major catastrophe could resettle it---but barring the arrival of some version of the Four Horsemen, the Price is the Price is the Price is the Price and you pay it one way or another. And you know all the reasons why---how many layers of overlapping supply create overlapping demand in this market? It truly is one beauty Multifoliate Mystical Rose.
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The edges of negotiability have already been rounded by 400 years of negotiators using the exact same set of  negotiation tactics available to you now. On any given day, there are thousands of people looking for housing here. Its a matter of numbers first before words enter the equation. Likelihood is great, greater and greatest that even after 10 rounds of qualifying your need down to the rawest most essential truth of the matter, there's still 9 other folks exactly like you (maybe with just a few nano-meters of difference in your atomic structure, maybe).

So, Pilgrim---here this and don't be stung by it---No matter who you are or the money you are willing to spend, on any given day, there is likely to be many people wearing exactly the same shoes you are wearing, hunting the exact same type of housing, eying the exact same parcel. Musical chairs.

Therefore, steel yourself for the fight ahead. Prepare. Prepare to strike. Your strike must be swifter. Swifter not more powerful. Which means, you must cut the time cost down and strive to cut it down to nothing if you can. Accepting the truth and way is the first step to reducing time cost.

This acceptance is a good precondition that will carry you will into your housing search. More important than the ability to negotiate is the ability to compromise. You must, in advance of your search, decide what is most important to you. Ask yourself the following questions: Are you budget minded? Carrying around years of possessions? Dying to live in a certain location no matter the cost? Identify the most important of the Three Principle Factors governing your search---Size, Location, Price---single out one of the Three to be your favorite, which is it?

Good! With one factor set as control, the other two become subservient factors and are easily variable. You are ready to begin your search.

Realistic Examples of Compromise in Boston

Looking for a two bedroom apartment in the Back Bay? You are certain to find yourself in a compromise situation. A true two bedroom apartment (actually has a living room) in this location will range from $2000 to above $5000, depending on how many luxury features are present. The lower end of this range in this location of course will be ground level or basement apartments. A "normal" price range for two bedroom apartments, decent condition, in the Back Bay: semi-modern kitchen and bathroom, a responsive management company, upper floor with good light---ranges between $2500 and $3000.

Can't afford to pay this price? When Price works against you, reach for one of the following compromises:

1. Size Compromise -- Stay in the Back Bay and rent what is called at Split Two Bed. A Split Two Bed is really a One Bedroom apartment that has been split in two, converting the living room to the second bedroom. Prices for Split Two Beds (a.k.a. One Bed Splits, Realtor-Speak) in Back Bay/Fenway areas range from $1800 to $2500, depending on updates/floor level.
2. Location Compromise - $2500 and $3000 too much? Split apartment too small? Choose the size you want in "outbound locations" (e.g. Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, Jamaica Plain or Mission Hill) 2-beds in Allston/Brighton/JP/Mission Hill start as low as $1250, in Brookline/Cambridge as low as $1700.

To reiterate the how Three Principle Factors work with compromise, consider it this way:

1. You can have all the space you want in the location you want, as long as price is no object;
2. You can have all the location you want for the price you want, as long as you can get small;
3. You can have all the space you want for the price you want, as long as you get the heck of out Dodge ;)

But no matter who you are, you will find yourself making a compromise of some sort. Compromise ability is the gold ticket. Plan your compromise in advance and become most competitive during your housing search. The more competitive you make yourself in advance, the more happiness you will have with the search outcome.

Secret Tip: (Price Compromise Big Picture Outlook) You are never more than $200/mo (on a heavily tested average) away from having your desired size in your desired location. And if your crunch your personal budget wisely, you can quickly find an extra $200. Take first into consideration the following factors of Size and Location compromise:

Secret Tip: (Price Compromise Big Picture Outlook) Based on a heavily tested average, it is true that you are never more than $200/mo away from having your desired size in your desired location. Most of the time, it is only $200 per month that separates you from your own personal paradise (just under 7 dollars per day ;)  If you crunch your personal budget wisely---you will quickly find this extra $200. If you'd like to take this shot at giving Price a beat-down, consider first the Hidden Factors of choosing a Size and Location compromise:

Size Compromise Hidden Cost: You might choose getting small to fit in, which could include dealing with an overstock of furniture or clothes or supplies. The Size Compromise will require you to either sell what won't fit, pay for storage, or both. The cost of either of these actions will be close to the amount you save by not springing for the full-bird.

Location Compromise Hidden Cost: Moving outbound requires train and/or bus fare on a daily basis and distance from centralized activities which include social life and business networking events on top of added transit time just to maintain your regular work week. The Location Compromise immediately creates the potential for hours of idleness racked up each week you spend commuting. If you figure in a bare minimum net extra 1-hour commuting each day translates to nearly a 2-week "vacation" of time-value you give yourself by staying within walking distance of your daily pursuits. How do you value 2 weeks? (hint: its $200/mo.) 

Hidden Bonus: So, if you adjust your line of thinking on the matter you will realize there really isn't any need to Compromise either Size or Location on account for Price. Just work your budget and treat your own personal time honorably.

Here's one quick line item in your expense column you can eliminate by living closer to your work or school: The Gym!! Being able to walk to work/school on a daily basis also accounts for daily exercise and reduces the size of your fitness budget.



This article is From the How To Find An Apartment In Boston series.

Other Articles:

Size, Location, Price - The Three Principle Factors That Will Govern Your Apartment Search
Do it Yourself or Get a Real Estate Agent? - Where to Start Looking for Apartment
Super Agent Man or Super Waste of Your Time? - How to Tell if the RE Agent is Worth the Cost of a Phone Call
Real Estate Agent Fees Explained - An Explanation of No Fee, Half Fee and Full Fee Apartment
Looking for an Apartment With Roommates? - Get Your Ducks In a Row
Cats and Dogs and Snakes - Pet Friendly Apartment Searching
What to Do with Your Car - Off Street vs. On Street Parking in Boston
Boston Rental Market Timing - Know when to Start Looking
Preparing for an Appointment - What You Need on the Day of Showing
Upfront Costs and Lease Addenda - Make Sure Your Lease is Kosher

So there you have it, Ishmael, a complete guide to navigating these trouble waters. I hope it helps you on  your journey.

Regards,

Robert Daniel Ortiz

#RealEstate - How To Find an Apartment in Boston and Cambridge

Welcome, Hunter I shall call you Ishmael. 

Hunting for an apartment is like hunting for a whale. I've often said to my clients---if you're here to hunt the White Whale, I won't go on that journey with you. I never have and never will. He doesn't exist to my mind. But if he does to yours, the least I can do for you, since the journey for finding him must be perilous, is teach you everything I know. Here's my guide.


The Boston Real Estate Rental Market: Learn the Ins and Out in Advance

Boston's Rental market moves lightning quick. Literally hundreds of real estate offices have thousands of agents who's sole function, day in and day out, is to move property. An apartment you view today could be rented by another party within minutes of you seeing it. Nothing to be done about it because a deal's a deal--and the first rabbit in the hole, gets the hole. All that work you did leading up to a second place finish means only you'll have more work to do---and trust me, it will be suck for you---because in my experience, which is informed by tens of thousands of observations, Nobody is delighted as much by their second choice as they are their first.

So, this writing, this article serious is my gift to you, Greater Boston. You've been so good to me over the years, here is for you now your backstage pass to Greater Boston's rental market. This article series will educate and illuminate you with a sufficient knowledge base and insight into this market we share. Upon this base you can stand well balanced and by this insight you will a vital competitive edge over your less-balanced and short-sighted competition during your housing search. In other words, this writing is an electronic emblem of my primary living function in this market---to be a 24/7 Beacon, a guide to serve and protect you as a special agent---who helps you always save time and money, and enables you to make a well-informed and highly crucial decision at this cross-roads you now stand at, but also to do it swiftly because as you may hear some of us say, Time is of the Essence. And money represents your life-force, if you think about it.

Topics Covered:

Size, Location, Price - The Three Principle Factors That Will Govern Your Apartment Search
Do it Yourself or Get a Real Estate Agent? - Where to Start Looking for Apartment
Super Agent Man or Super Waste of Your Time? - How to Tell if the RE Agent is Worth the Cost of a Phone Call
Real Estate Agent Fees Explained - An Explanation of No Fee, Half Fee and Full Fee Apartment
Looking for an Apartment With Roommates? - Get Your Ducks In a Row
Cats and Dogs and Snakes - Pet Friendly Apartment Searching
What to Do with Your Car - Off Street vs. On Street Parking in Boston
Boston Rental Market Timing - Know when to Start Looking
Preparing for an Appointment - What You Need on the Day of Showing
Upfront Costs and Lease Addenda - Make Sure Your Lease is Kosher

#RealEstate - Greater Boston Rental Hot List

Real Estate Fees Explained:  All apartments rented through a broker are subject to a fee equal to 1 month's rent.
NO FEE: apartments you rent and the Landlord Pays The Fee For You.
HALF FEE: apartments you rent and You Split the Fee With the Landlord
FULL FEE: apartments you rent and You Pay The Whole Fee 

Fee status is a product of market conditions and market bear-ability, supply and demand and/or landlord's pricing strategy. 

Less desirable locations tend to have a greater supply of No Fee apartments than Highly desirably locations.  An exception to this, a Landlord in a Low-Demand area could decide not to Pay a Fee and Charge a lower monthly rent. Conversely the Landlord in a High-Demand area could decide to pay fee and charge a higher rent. 

Either way, all real estate agents in the Boston area work for a Finder's Fee equal to One Month's Rent 


How to Find An Apartment In Boston
a Squidoo Lens written by a Boston Real Estate Expert

The Greater Boston Rental Hot List
(updated 8/5/10)

More Listings Offline | For More Information and Consultation, Complete a Needs Analysis Form 

Studios
$895 - Mass Ave (600 Block), Boston - All Utils, Laundry onsite
$1050 - Radcliffe Rd, Brighton - Good Space, Sep Kit, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw inc
$1100 - Commonwealth Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Spacious, Mod Kit, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite
$1100 - Chestnut Hill Ave, Brighton - Cleveland Circle, Spacious, EIK, Hrdwd Floors, Ht/Hw Inc, Heated Pool, Laundry
$1150 - Brainerd Rd, Allston - Lrg Studio, Hrdwd Floors, Mod Kit, On-site Laundry
$1195 - The Fenway, Boston - Brand New! Front Facing, Lots of Windows, Ldry, Roof Deck, Elevator
$1195 - Commonwealth Ave (300 Block), Boston - Lobby Lvl, Hi Ceilings, Lrg Clst, Storage, Loft, Ht/Hw incl
$1200 - Beacon Street (200 Block), Boston - Lrg Studio, Hdw Floors, Ht/Hw In
$1250 - Farrington Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Spacious, Mod Kit, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite 
$1250 - Park Drive (200 Block), Boston - Lrg Studio w/Alcove, Renovated, Front View, Roof Deck, Ht/Hw incl
$1295 - Park Drive (100 Block), Boston - Lrg Studio, Ht/Hw incl, Across Park
$1395 - Marlborough St (100 Block), Boston - Fetching, Elegant,  HW incl, Laundry onsite
$1395 - Newbury St (300 Block), Boston - Mod. K&B, Alcove! Great Building! Ht/Hw Incl
$1475 - Park Drive (400 Block), Boston - Brand New! Granite, Stunning! Ht/Hw Incl
$1495 - Park Drive (400 Block), Boston - Brand New! Granite, Stainless Steel, Dw/Disp, Elevator, Laundry onsite
$1650 - Park Drive (400 Block), Boston - Brand New! State of the Art! Central A/C, Dw/Disp, Granite, Elevator, Ht/Hw Incl

1 Beds
$995 - Franklin Street, Allston - Modern K&B, Ht/Hw Inc, Lndry onsite, Prkg Incl, A/C, Huge Closets
$1050 - Mt. Hood Road, Brighton - Spacious Ground Floor, Excellent Location, Parking Avail
$1275 - Highgate St (1100 Block), Allston - Spacious, Mod Kit, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite
$1300 - Strathmore Road, Brighton - Large Rooms, Ht/Hw & Elc Incl
$1400 - Commonwealth Ave (1300 Block, Allston - Updated Condo, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw incl
$1400 - Commonwealth Ave (1400 Block), Brighton - Renovated Condo, Dish/Disp, Microwave, Balcony, Pool & Parking, Ht/Hw incl
$1550 - Marlborough St (100 Block), Boston - Top Floor, Sunny, Mod K&B, Hdwd Floors, Laundry Onsite
$1550 - Commonwealth Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Office Alcove! Spacious, Mod EIK, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite 

1 Bed Splits
$1300 - Commonwealth Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Large Rooms, Mod Kit, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite
$1695 - Park Drive (200 Block), Boston - Split Layout, Front, Parkviews! Renovated, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw, Laundry onsite

2 Beds
$1295 - Commonwealth Ave (1600 Block) Brighton - DW, Hrdwd Floors, Laundry onsite, Ht/Hw incl
$1300 - Franklin Street, Allston - Modern K&B, Ht/Hw incl, Laundry onsite, Prkg incl, A/C, Super
$1300 - Allston St - Hrdwd Floors, Large Rooms, Ht/Hw incl
$1300 - Allston St - Hrdwd Floors, Large Rooms, Ht/Hw incl
$1395 - Franklin Street, Allston - Modern K&B, Ht/Hw incl, Laundry onsite, Prkg incl, A/C, Super
$1400 - Brainerd Rd, Allston - Hrdwd Floors, Mod Kit, On-site Laundry
$1400 - Lanark Road, Brighton - Large Rooms, Ht/Hw incl
$1400 - Strathmore Rd - Large Rooms, Ht/Hw & Elec incl
$1500 - Commonwealth Ave - Large Rooms, Hrdwd Floors, Ht/Hw incl, Laundry on-site
$1550 - Commonwealth Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Spacious, Mod Kit, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite
$1550 - Dighton Street, Brighton Center - Updated 2bed, Spacious, Prking Inc
$1600 - Radcliffe Road, Brighton - Updated Condo, Ht/Hw, Hrd Floors
$1600 - Gerald Road, Brighton - Huge Rooms, Parking, T
$1600 - Corey Road, Brighton - Hardwood Floors, Ht/Hw Incl
$1600 - Selkirk Rd, Brighton - Spacious, Modern, Brand New EIK w/DW, Hrd Floors, Laundry Onsite
$1650 - Highgate St (1100 Block), Allston - Spacious, Mod Kit, Hrd Floors, Porch, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite  
$1650 - Chiswick Rd, Brighton - Spacious, Modern, Brand New EIK w/DW, Hrd Floors, Laundry Onsite
$1650 - Summit Ave, Brighton - Spacious, Updated, EIK w/DW, Hrd Floors, Porch, Laundry Onsite
$1700 - Newbury Street (200 Block), Boston - Grd Lvl, Large Front, Updated, Ht/Hw Incl, Laundry onsite
$1795 - Commonwealth Ave (400 Block), Boston - Roof Deck, A/C, Ht/Hw Incl
$2200 - Beacon Street (500 Block), Boston - Roof Deck, Park View, Sunny! Ht/Hw Incl
$3995 - Newbury St (200 Block), Boston - State of Art Luxury!! Penthouse, 2 Floors, 2 Bath, 2 Decks, W/D, Jacuzzi, Gas F/P, Central A/C, Prkg Incl.

3 Beds
$1600 - Union Street, Brighton Center - Large Rooms, Hwd Flrs
$1800 - Foster St, Brighton - 3bds, New Bath, Porch
$2325 - Commonwealth Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Grd Lvl, Spacious, Mod EIK, Den, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite
$2350 - Park Drive (200 Block), Boston - Brand New, Grd Lvl, Roof Deck, State of Art, Granite, Stainless Steel, Dw/Disp, All Utilities incl
$2460 - Farrington Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Spacious, Mod Kit, DW, Porch, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite  
$2500 - Gerald Road, Brighton - Mod K& B, Dw/Disp, LivR & DR, Porch, Hd Floors (could be 4 bed)

4 Beds
$2200 - Colwell Avenue, Brighton - Large, Equal Size Rooms, Hdwd Floors, EIK, Porch, Yard, Storage, 2 Parking Spots
$2400 - Quint Ave, Allston - Large Rooms, Ht/Hw Included

5 Beds
$3250 - Glenville Ave, Allston - Huged 5bd/2Bath, Duples, Modern, 2500 Sq Ft! EIK with Dish/Disposal, Pantry, Central A/C
$3000 - Gerald Road, Brighton - 5bd/2Ba, Duplex, Huge Rooms, EIK, LivR & DR, Parking, Hd Floors
$3300 - Strathmore Rd, Brighton - 5Bd/2.5 Ba, Hdw Fl, Parking
$3750 - Farrington Ave (1100 Block), Allston - Spacious, Mod Kit, Porch, Hrd Floors, Ht/Hw Incl, Ldry Onsite  


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