{"id":2442,"date":"2022-07-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/?p=2442"},"modified":"2024-05-30T15:05:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T19:05:41","slug":"moving-to-boston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2022\/07\/01\/moving-to-boston\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving to Boston: A Grad Student\u2019s Guide to Renting in Boston"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Moving, whether it\u2019s across the country or just a few minutes away, can be a really daunting process. Throw in the added factor of starting your graduate degree, and it can quickly become overwhelming. Luckily, those of us who have done it ourselves can offer a few tips to help you with moving to Boston!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Jesse Costa\/WBUR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When to Start Looking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s almost never too early to start looking into the housing\/rental market. As you begin applying to graduate schools, don’t be shy about researching housing. That way, you\u2019ll have some time to get acquainted with the regional market and what\u2019s realistic to expect within your budget, location, and timing of the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, you\u2019ll receive your graduate program acceptance letter with plenty of time to consider all the logistics of moving. Usually you’ll hear back sometime in late March or early April<\/strong><\/a> if you\u2019re starting in the fall semester. As soon as you put down your tuition deposit, it\u2019s time to really start looking! Boston is known for its concentration of great universities, so it\u2019s a very heavily student-populated city. This means that many leases tend to open up for new tenants to move in around August-September. On the other hand, the number of students in Boston makes the rental market incredibly competitive, especially in late summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For that reason, and to avoid moving on Boston\u2019s <\/a>busiest move-in weekend<\/a> <\/strong>(more on that below!), it\u2019s probably best to secure your lease sometime in May or June, with a move-in date at least a week before classes begin. That way, you can settle in to Boston before you start worrying about school work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Boston Globe staff Photo by John Tlumacki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Know Your Non-Negotiables<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For many students, the move to grad school has a few more considerations than the move to undergrad. Maybe you’ll be moving farther away, with family in tow. Or maybe you’ll be starting over in a new field, while also trying to support yourself in a new environment. For some, the adjustment to city life (and prices!) can be tough. Whatever your circumstances, be honest with yourself about what you need,<\/em> versus what you want, <\/em>from your living situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider first any hard limitations you might have, like budget and move-in date. Those will be the two major limiting factors on the rental units that are available to you. Keep in mind that Boston\u2019s rental market can have a lot of up-front costs. As someone used to renting in the Midwest, I was surprised at all the fees involved in Boston leases. Between broker\u2019s fees, security deposits, and landlords requiring first and last months\u2019 rent, the initial cost of moving to Boston can be several times the monthly rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All that said, there are certainly landlords who are willing to negotiate on some of these costs. They typically make these decisions based on your application, which includes information like your credit score and rental history. You can always look for units that don\u2019t require a deposit, or where the landlord is willing to accept only the first month\u2019s rent rather than first and last. Beware though, if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Rental scams are an unfortunate reality, so keep an eye out for signs that a listing is fake<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking about Location<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Aside from the financial considerations of moving to Boston, you\u2019ll want to think about day-to-day logistics. Think about where you\u2019ll need to be: Are you commuting to work and then school? Will you have a car, or rely on public transportation? Are you willing to sacrifice the square footage of the suburbs for the convenience of the city? If so, how far are you willing to walk, and what kind of access will you have to the MBTA<\/strong><\/a>? If not, do you plan to take the Commuter Rail<\/strong><\/a> into the city, or find parking near Boston Common? Once you know your transportation needs, it will be easier to compare neighborhoods and apartments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Insider Tips <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

An insider tip after a year of living in the city: Boston feels much bigger than it is! If you\u2019re worried about the <\/a>cost of the MBTA<\/a> <\/strong>subway (known locally as \u201cthe T\u201d) or bus fares, you should know that in the city center, anywhere within a two to three-three stop radius is usually no farther than a fifteen-minute walk. Boston is a beautiful city, so walking in the warmer months can save you some money. During the winter, though, it can get pretty cold, so living close to a bus or T stop is helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re planning to live outside the city for cheaper rent, you\u2019ll want to stick close to the commuter rail. From the commuter rail you can access the T\u2019s <\/a>Green Line, Red Line, <\/a><\/strong>or Orange Line<\/a>.<\/strong> All three of those lines bring you within a 10-minute walk from Emerson’s campus. <\/strong>Though, as a Green Line rider, I will say that the Orange and Red lines tend to be more reliable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about where many of our grad students live, check out our \u201cWhere to Live in Boston\u201d series<\/a><\/strong>. This page features popular neighborhoods like East Boston,<\/a><\/strong> Allston<\/strong><\/a>, Jamaica Plain<\/strong><\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding Housing Help<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Photo from Boston WBUR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for an apartment on your own, you\u2019re probably already familiar with popular online platforms like Zillow<\/strong><\/a> or Apartments.com<\/strong><\/a>. These are great places to start, but, as mentioned earlier, it\u2019s always a good idea to <\/a>verify that the listing is legitimate<\/a> <\/strong>before you give anyone your personal information, sign a lease, or pay a deposit. You can check that the listing matches the actual licensing of a property here<\/a>, or use this database<\/strong><\/a> to make sure that a realtor\u2019s license is valid before you decide to work with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though it will cost you added fees<\/strong><\/a>, working with a broker or real estate agent is a popular choice. Realtors and brokers can help you find legitimate units that meet your needs and is within budget.<\/strong> Not only will they be able to find apartments and schedule showings on your behalf, they can also help you navigate the application process, credit check, and leasing paperwork. In Boston, it\u2019s very common for landlords to work with their own brokerage service, so even if you find an apartment on your own, you may be asked to pay a brokerage fee to the agency that manages the apartment\u2019s leasing, without having really benefited from their service. All the more reason to find your own broker who can advocate for your needs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re an incoming grad student at Emerson, <\/a>Off Campus Student Services<\/a> <\/strong>has a great online portal with a variety of resources. Here you can find an apartment, meet roommates, or even list your own apartment when the time comes. There are also several Facebook groups (like this one)<\/strong><\/a> for those looking for roommates or housing in Boston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making the Move!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of when or where you move, you\u2019ll need to plan some logistics in advance. For example, you’ll need to decide when to pick up your keys from the rental agency and clarify if your landlord is responsible for pre-arrival cleaning. And of course, you’ll need a plan for where to park and moving trucks! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, a large part of Boston\u2019s rental market revolves around an academic calendar. Referred to as \u201cAllston Christmas\u201d<\/strong><\/a> by locals (whose sidewalks are left lined with discarded furniture), the last weekend of August\/first day of September is known as the city\u2019s biggest move-in day of the year. This often leads to a number of unfortunate setbacks for everyone (just Google \u201cStorrowing\u201d<\/strong><\/a> for an idea of the traffic jam you might encounter). To avoid getting caught up in the city-wide pandemonium, I would recommend scheduling your move sometime early or mid-August at the latest, especially if you\u2019re an incoming Emerson student. Graduate orientation and classes typically begin the last week of August<\/strong><\/a>, and speaking from experience, the last thing you\u2019ll want to be doing that weekend is moving.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Day-Of Parking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To ensure that you have parking near your building on the day of, you\u2019ll also want to check online with the city you\u2019re moving to. Boston<\/a> <\/strong>and <\/a>Cambridge<\/a> <\/strong>have varying rules, so be sure to check the correct city’s website. Online you can see if there are any existing street occupancy permits, and if not, purchase your own. While these parking permits are not required, it\u2019s worth the $50 to guarantee that you won\u2019t have to drag your sofa half a mile. The flights of stairs and tight corners you\u2019re likely to face in these old buildings will be challenging enough!<\/p>\n\n\n