Apartment Rentals
Featured Luxury Building: Archstone Watertown Square
Are you looking for the perfect luxury apartment that’s convenient to the city without all the hustle and bustle? Look no further! The luxury apartments at Archstone Watertown Square are a great fit for the Boston professional searching for a little peace and quiet during their downtime.
Situated less than a mile from the MassPike, these apartments are extremely convenient to downtown Boston (less than 10 minutes away). However, location isn’t the only benefit that Archstone Watertown Square has to offer – each apartment features almost any amenity you could ask for. For instance, each unit is equipped with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, in-unit washer and dryer, extensive closet space, custom-tiled kitchens and baths, and more! Additionally, the building itself offers great features to residents such as a fitness center, a media-screening room, and on-site parking.
If you’re searching for the perfect balance between the excitement of living in downtown Boston and the tranquility of living in the suburbs you should check out the apartments at Archstone Watertown Square. Or if you’re searching for a luxury apartment closer to downtown Boston contact a Phoenix Realty agent today to help with your search!
Featured Neighborhood: Boston’s Seaport District
Boston’s Seaport District may be the city’s hottest neighborhood at the moment. The area has seen significant commercial and residential development in recent years. The waterfront now has some of Boston’s best restaurants as well as some of the nicest luxury lofts and apartments. One obvious indicator of Seaport District’s surging popularity is simply the number of people that can be seen there on any given day. The area is much more crowded than it used to be, which is especially noticeable along the waterfront and Boston’s beautifully renovated Greenway.
The attractiveness and prestige of the Seaport District is only expected to grow further. This type of rejuvenation is reminiscent of New York’s famously cultural SoHo neighborhood. The Seaport District, like SoHo, is being invaded by developers who are turning the area’s spacious warehouse and industrial buildings into posh designer lofts. The parallels with the SoHo revival can also be seen in the Seaport District’s exploding art scene. Luxury buildings such as FP3 included a full art gallery in the lobby that constantly exhibits works by notable artists.
The Seaport District’s proximity to Downtown Boston, the Mass Pike, 93, multiple MBTA lines, and various bus routes makes it easy for residents to get anywhere in the city. Living in the Seaport District also offers many beautiful panoramic views of the waterfront and skyline. Simply put, the Seaport District is Boston’s hippest place to live right now. If you are interested in buying or renting real estate in Boston’s Seaport District, contact Phoenix Realty today!
Taste of Allston
Despite the dreary weather 
this past weekend the Murr Center at the Harvard Athletic Complex was host to the fourteenth annual Taste of Allston. Restaurants from around the area came together to provide people with a sample of the types of food there is to experience in this neighborhood.
Just walking down Brighton Avenue it’s clear that Allston is home to a diverse mix of restaurants. Within just fifty feet you can smell Asian cuisine being prepared at Shabu Zen; classic pub food from the White Horse Tavern; Italian cuisine from Carlo’s Cucina Italiana; and even Mexican food at the Sunset Grill.
The 2011 Taste of Allston this past Saturday was a demonstration of the wide variety of food and culture you can find in the area. It featured food from all over the world – China, Korea, Brazil, Russia, Italy, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Colombia, France, Thailand, India, and of course classic all-American favorites. The event also featured tastings of international and domestic beers and wine, a silent auction, and live music. The proceeds from the event were donated back to the community through Allston Village Main Streets, a community-based public-private partnership aiming to revitalize the Allston commercial district.
To become a part of this distinct and vibrant community contact a Phoenix Realty agent to find your perfect Allston apartment.
Best Allston/Brighton Ice Cream Spots
According to meteorologists June is going to be a month for the record books – the unrelenting high temperatures in the Midwest and Southern parts of the country are beginning to spread to the Northeast. If you’re living in an Allston apartment without central air, or even an air conditioning wall unit, you may have to just crank those electric fans and literally sweat it out. To help beat the heat in the coming months here are a few frozen dessert spots in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood you should definitely check out:
1. Chill – This spot features deliciously creamy frozen yogurt as well as a multitude of hard ice cream flavors. There are usually only a handful of frozen yogurt flavors (original, strawberry, banana, and coconut); however, the many different toppings help enhance “fro yo” experience.
2. Athan’s European Bakery & Café – This hidden gem is locally famous for its gelato. If you’re looking to add a little “European” flavor to your frozen dessert this summer, you’ve got to try Athan’s. They make their gelato in their own workshop – from scratch! Each is unique in flavor and texture.
3. Mixx Frozen Yogurt – The delicious, creamy texture of the different types of frozen yogurt is just part of this spot’s appeal… What really sets it apart from many other places is the expansive list of flavors (and the fact that you can mix any of the flavors together). You could have strawberry, cheesecake, and cookies and cream all at the same time! This place is perfect for those of us who are more indecisive when it comes to our frozen yogurt.
4. 3 Scoops – If you’re living in a Brighton apartment you’ve got to check this place out. With over 47 flavors on their list there’s always something for everyone! And with the portion sizes you can guarantee the best “bang for your buck.”
If you’ve just moved to a Boston apartment for the summer and are starting to miss your small town ice cream shop from home, try one of these spots. Maybe you’ll find yourself with a new favorite ice cream shop! If you’re in the process of weaning yourself off of your hometown ice cream and making the move to an apartment in the city for the summer, contact a Phoenix real estate agent today to help with the search process!
Making Your Boston Home “Green”
A very “hot” topic these days is how people can lead more of a “green” lifestyle. Little changes you make at home can really make a difference. Here are some tips to help make your Boston apartment or Boston home a little bit greener and help reduce your carbon footprint:
“Energy Star” Appliances. Since appliance consumption accounts for about 18% of household energy bills this is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of energy that you consume. Energy Star appliances use 10%-50% less energy than standard appliances.
Set your thermostat. In colder weather, grab a sweatshirt and turn down the heat a few degrees. Each degree below 68°F during colder weather saves up to 5% m
ore heating energy. Similarly, during warm weather turn on a fan and set the heat a few degrees higher.
Conserve water. Install a low-flow shower head and toilet in your bathroom to save water. In addition to certain products, behavioral changes can help save you money on your water and heating bill – such as taking shorter showers, turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth, and using cold water when doing your laundry.
CFL Bulbs. By using Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) you use 66% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs. Using CFLs can also help you save money – CFLs last 10 times longer than regular light bulbs, which can save up to $30 during the lifetime of the bulb.
Reduce plastics. The production and disposal of plastic is considered one of the main contributors to global warming. Try to reduce your use of plastics throughout your everyday life. For instance, bring reusable bags to the grocery store and use a reusable water bottle instead of drinking from plastic bottles.
Shop smart. Finally, be aware of what you’re buying when you go to the store – many cleaning products are toxic to you and the environment. Use alcohol as a solvent instead of the toxic butyl cellosolve found in many carpet cleaners and window cleaners. Or, you can skip buying these products altogether and make your own cleaning supplies (this can help save money as well as helping the environment).
Breaking a Rental Agreement Due to Unlivable Conditions
Finding the right Boston rental property can be a pretty overwhelming process. After a seemingly endless search for the perfect place, you think you’ve finally found a good fit. Then you meet with the landlord, sign a lease agreement, get your set of keys and before you know it… It’s move-in day. During the moving process you discover a few unpleasant surprises that you didn’t notice during the original tour – or maybe the living conditions have significantly deteriorated since you moved in due to circumstances out of your control. Now you want to break the rental lease as a result of the uninhabitable living conditions. How do you go about doing so? Here are some general tips for breaking a rental lease due to unlivable conditions:
- First you should research the minimum housing rental standards in your area of residence to prove that your property is unlivable.
- Take pictures of the living conditions which make your situation unlivable. Some reasonable conditions include toxic mold, infestation, holes in the ceiling or floor, flood or fire damage, etc.
- Set up a meeting with your landlord. Either bring him pictures or have him walk through your apartment. If there is time and your landlord is willing to correct the problem then you might not need to break the agreement.
- If your landlord disputes your complaint, have a third party – this person depends on the property code of your state – to check out your apartment and determine whether or not it is habitable. If this third party deems the property uninhabitable, your landlord must follow your specific state’s property code and let you out of your lease (a copy of your state’s property code can usually be found online).
- If your landlord still refuses to let you out of the lease agreement set up a meeting with your local housing authority for advice on how to get out of the lease. Make sure to bring the pictures of the unlivable conditions as well as a copy of your lease agreement.
- If you are still unable to completely break your lease agreement you may be able to reduce your rent payment until the uninhabitable living conditions are corrected.
To prevent against this exhausting process make sure to thoroughly examine your new apartment before signing any type of contract. Or better yet, hire a real estate agent to help with the search – contact an experienced Phoenix Realty agent to get your apartment search off on the right foot!
Featured Listing: Newton MA Real Estate
Today’s featured listing is located on Newton MA real estate in Chestnut hill. The building this specific unit is in has some great Boston apartments for rent, so take a look at the full Newton MA Homes listing for more details.
This unit has a fully equipped gourmet kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, gas-range stove, and ceramic tile in the foyer and kitchen. The closets are large and expansive, and the unit has wall-to-wall carpeting. The unit is also pre-wired for cable, and has a full size washer and dryer. There is also central air conditioning, a personal alarm system, and a private patio / balcony.
Some building features include a great fitness center, resident lounge with kitchen, outdoor swimming pool, underground garage parking, study with fax and copier, on-site concierge, and large landscaped courtyard. The location of this Newton apartment is also within walking distance to the Green D Line train.
If you’d like to schedule a viewing of this Newton MA real estate property, or are searching for other Boston apartments for rent, contact Phoenix Realty to help you today!
Featured Boston Apartments for Rent: Archstone Boston Common
Looking for a classy Boston Apartment?
Here’s a great find in a perfect location.
Spacious floor plans, high-ceilings, and private balconies are just the beginning of the class of Archstone Boston Common Apartments. We know you’ll find your perfect living experience with options for one and two bedroom rentals as well as studio apartments. Stainless steel kitchen appliances and granite vanities compliment the hardwood floors and wall-to-wall carpeting. A state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor pool, massage room, gaming parlor, and Click! Café Internet Lounge makes living the life easy. We should also mention the 24/7 front desk service!
Located in the Downtown Crossing area of Boston gives you access to ample public transportation, restaurants, and entertainment. You’re just a minutes’ walk away from the Boston Common, historic Boston sites such as the Old South Meeting House, and theaters such as the Charles Playhouse. These enticements make Archstone Boston Common a place where great Boston apartments are just waiting for you to discover.
This is a great example of the Boston Rental Properties we have available. Click here to view the listing or contact a Phoenix Realty agent to schedule a viewing.
Bed Bug Myths Debugged
10 Need-to-Know Myths to Protect Your Boston Apartment
Your parents used to say “don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Now that you’re moving into your own Boston apartment, it’s time you give this advice another thought! As reported in the NBC New York news story, “Beware of Bed Bugs: Cases Set to Surge This Summer,” bed bug complaints in New York City apartments are up 8 percent from last year with over 13,000 bed bug complaints in 2010. Jeffrey White, a research entomologist for bed bugcentral.com anticipates worse bed bug outbreaks this year than last. Boston apartment residents are lucky that our city hasn’t shown up on the Top Ten Worst Bed Bug Infested Cities, but the bed bug problem persists even here.
You need to know the myths and facts about bed bugs in order to identify and fight these bugs. We’ve compiled a list of 10 bed bug myths to help you protect yourself and your Boston apartment from the Back Bay to the West End.
Myth 1: Bed bugs only show up in dirty apartments and on dirty people.
Bed bugs aren’t attracted to dirt; they’re attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide and heat. They feed on blood and can infest any location regardless of how clean it is. Bed bugs have been known to show up anywhere from South End to North End apartments. You can bring bed bugs home with you merely by coming into contact with a person or location contaminated with bed bugs.
Myth 2: Bed bugs only live in beds and mattresses.
Bed bugs spend 90 percent of their time hiding and can live almost anywhere: on furniture, walls, clothing, carpets, or pictures. Don’t think that just by throwing away your mattress will solve your bed bug problem because they often spread to areas around your bed as well: within the cracks of furniture, along the baseboards of walls, inside electric outlets, laptops, and even cell phones!
Myth 3: Bed bugs are too small to see.
So you’re sitting in your Brookline or Charlestown apartment; can you spot a bed bug? Adult bed bugs are relatively easy to spot; they are reddish-brown and 3mm–5mm in size. Recently hatched larvae tend to be harder to see at 1mm–2mm in size. Until the larva feed on blood, they remain a pale white.
Myth 4: I have bite marks, but my partner doesn’t. I can’t have bed bugs!
Bites can differ in size from person-to-person based on individual allergic reactions to the bites. Bites may leave no marks, small bumps, or even large welts. If your partner doesn’t have bite marks but you do, your Boston apartment could still harbor bed bugs.
Myth 5: Bed bugs are killed by the cold.
Houses heated to 70 degrees Celsius for 3 hours only kill about 78% of bed bugs on average. Cold temperature treatments don’t fare much better. In fact, bed bugs can survive for a long time in below freezing temperatures. Overall, the cold treatment is unreliable even during a Boston winter. Although hot steam treatments work, you must remember that you may not be killing all of the bugs that are hiding.
Myth 6: Bed bugs transmit diseases.
Many scientific research studies have found that luckily bed bugs don’t transmit diseases; however, scratching bed bug bites can lead to secondary infections. Make sure to get medical attention if your bites appear infected.
Myth 7: You can feel a bed bug biting you.
Bed bugs inject their saliva before feeding on blood so you won’t feel their bite. However, like a mosquito bite, bed bug bites can be itchy later based on how allergic you are to their saliva. Also, beg bugs are generally more active at night and may bite you while you are sleeping.
Myth 8: You can kill bed bugs with any insecticide.
Although bug bombs may kill a number of bed bugs, their use generally causes the bed bugs to scatter and actually make your Boston apartment’s infestation worse. Directly spraying bed bugs with insecticides may kill the ones you hit; however, you can’t count on getting all of them with a direct spraying. Also, many insecticides will not work on all the stages of the bed bug life cycle.
Myth 9: Bed bugs are resistant to all pesticides.
Not all pesticides kill bed bugs, but many pesticides do. Consult a professional exterminator to determine which methods will work best for your situation.
Myth 10: Leaving bed bugs alone in an empty house will kill them.
Adult bed bugs can live for a year or more without feeding so ignoring the problem will only make it worse.
Understanding these myths will hopefully make you more aware so that you can effectively deal with any buggy Boston real estate situation. Your best bet is to consult with a professional exterminator to prepare an integrated pest management solution, which involves a regiment of spraying, vacuuming, steaming, laundering and sealing in order to kill and prevent the infestation of bed bugs. We hope you sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite! Now, let’s hear your bed bug stories!
Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum Celebrates Four Years
The Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum has two exciting events to share with those who reside in Brighton, MA apartments and Allston, MA apartments during this dreary winter season.
On Saturday, February 26, the museum will hold a fourth anniversary party at 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue, the address of the museum. There will be a wine and cheese reception held from 1pm- 3:30 pm for Allston and Brighton residents alike to enjoy.
Additionally, the Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum’s latest art exhibit, “Renew” will run through April 9th, so neighborhood residents should stop by to explore the gallery. “Renew” will show 55 art works by eight local artists, featuring landmarks and properties that are architecturally or historically significant through paintings, photographs, and mixed media presentations.
The Boston museum was opened on February 24, 2007 just outside of Brighton Center to mark the official start of Brighton’s year long Bicentennial celebration. The Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum was planned and organized by the Historical Society as a permanent institution to provide creative interpretations of the history of one of Boston’s most diverse and interesting neighborhoods.
The museum has two major exhibitions, including a permanent exhibition in Gallery A that highlights the historical themes that have contributed to the rich history of Brighton and Allston. The gallery is organized around six main themes: Early History, Transportation, Agriculture & Horticulture, Industry & Commerce, Suburbanization, and Institutional History. The second gallery, Inner Gallery, designated “The Winship Gallery” was established for accommodating a series of rotating exhibits.
The Brighton-Allston neighborhood has lots of great attractions and amenities to offer its residents; if you would like to find the perfect Allston apartment or Brighton home, please contact Phoenix Realty. One of our knowledgeable agents would be happy to assist you in your search for the perfect new home!
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