North End
Five Tips for Finding a Boston Apartment
Apartment tips 101
You have decided to find a new apartment in the Boston area. Now what? Where do you start? Finding the best Boston rental property depends on your price point, your social preferences and your transportation options.
Tip #1-Planning for your move.
Before you start looking at individual properties, make a list of the “must have” items for your new home. Decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you must have in your new home. Do you need a garage? Do you need extra large closets? Do you prefer an upper floor or a lower floor?
This step should include all of the minimum requirements for Boston apartments or homes you will consider renting. It is a good idea to set budget limits during this planning stage, too. Also, define your move in window, which is your planned range of moving dates.
Tip #2-Choose your neighborhoods.
Select two or three neighborhoods that fit your lifestyle. Read local real estate blogs or reviews online to find a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle. Talk to friends at work or people who you have classes with to get their recommendation. Do some research. To get you started, here are a few pointers.
If you want to live near Boston Common, you might consider the Back Bay condo region. For $1800, you can get an apartment with paid utilities and easy access to the Copley T station.
If you want to live on the waterfront, looking for Boston apartments in the North End near the harbor are going to be more along your liking. Keep in mind that these areas are beautiful, but may be a little pricey for some college students and “twenty-somethings” just starting out in a new career.
South End real estate is affordable and offers many choices for shopping and dining. There are great places to eat and bars that offer a fun nightlife atmosphere. If you need easy access to public transportation, South End and Allston apartments are great choices.
Somerville, in the Davis Square area, is known as a “hip and happening” neighborhood. Most residents are in their mid-twenties to early thirties. This is a safe, affordable neighborhood with access to public transit. It has an artsy kind of atmosphere.
Tip #3-Contact a real estate agent or rental guide.
Working with a Boston rental property professional can save you time and money. Property managers, real estate agents and professional lease consultants all have insider information. These professionals can use your list (from step one) to find properties that fit your budget and your lifestyle. Working with a professional is faster than searching internet and newspaper ads. A lease consultant can put you in contact with decorators and give you tips on negotiating rental rates.
Tip#4-Look at several properties before you sign a lease.
Look at several apartments and then chose two or three that fit your lifestyle. Re-visit those locations at a different time of day. Sometimes a neighborhood is peaceful and quiet during the day and energetic and lively at night. If safety is a factor, consider Newton, MA real estate offerings. This suburb was named one of the safest communities in the nation! You can check with local law enforcement to ask how frequently they are called to a particular complex.
Tip#5-Negotiate your lease.
Remember that everything is negotiable. Whether you choose a neighborhood that is hip and energetic or friendly to young families, negotiate a price and terms that you can live with. With some planning and guidance, you will find a great apartment in Boston to call home.
Boston Restaurants love Valentine’s Monday!
As Valentine’s day falls on a Monday this year, restaurateurs in Boston are expecting a little extra love –and income– as eateries that usually don’t operate on Mondays open their doors for happy couples. Even though the holiday falls on 
a Monday this year, couples will still celebrate the preceding weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
While state statistics and local restaurateurs say that unemployment and a down economy have kept families out of restaurants in recent years, an extra holiday opening can really help a restaurant’s bottom line.
Frank DePasquale, owner of Mare Restaurant in the North End says “Valentine’s Day is probably one of the biggest days in the restaurant business.” Mare will open its doors on Monday after spending weeks getting geared up for the romantic holiday. Unlike some other Boston restaurants, Mare will not be offering a fixed-price menu on the big day, instead offering patrons more choices in the still-difficult economic times.
Owner of Gargoyles on the Square in Somerville, James Conforti, states Mondays are normally the slowest day in the restaurant trade; people are often out of cash after a weekend of spending. He will be opening his Davis Square restaurant to serve what he hopes, and expects, to be a huge crowd due to Valentine’s, adding that it also “pumps up our whole weekend and I expect Sunday night will be crazy.”
Charles Draghi, owner of Bay Village Italian restaurant, Erbalence, says this long Valentine’s weekend will help restaurant owners through a tough New England Winter. After the usual holiday rush between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, business tends to be slower. Corporate sponsored holiday parties help restaurants stay afloat; however those big holiday parties require more purchasing than usual, causing bills due in January and February. Draghi says Valentine’s day, which is celebrated for four days this year, will provide a boost in revenue to pay those bills.
Contact Phoenix Realty to view Boston apartments, Boston homes for sale, or luxury buildings in the Boston area if you would like to be a part of Boston’s fine dining experiences year-round.
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