Are rents going up or down??

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

So I just got a call from my landlord about renewing my lease. I haven't really been thinking about it so I haven't been tracking rents around Davis these days. My place is a one bedroom w/ dining room (so 4 rooms total). It's not in great shape but not in awful shape - I put in some sweat - guess I can't call it equity - last Summer repainting the whole place. Kitchen is old; bathroom is recent. It's right outside the Sq. so it's very convenient, etc. Rent is $1100. and I agreed to renew at that rate without haggling over it.

To anyone out there looking - does this seem in the ball park @ rents?

Comments

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Seems perfectly fine to me. I'm right outside the square and paying $1350 for a 2 bedroom with an open kitchen/dining room combo (bigger than your average EIK).

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Seems reasonable to me--bit on the low side, really.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

over on the gilman square side, I'm paying $1000 for 4 rooms (that were advertised as a two br, which it ain't.

[toodleskitty.livejournal.com]

I'm in Somerville near Charlestown. I've been paying $1100 for a year. This went up after a year of $975. Yeah... He had gotten taken by the mortgage scam, had to refinance and the reason for the increase was because his mortgage went up.

My landlord let me pay the increase in increments of $25 each month starting 9/1/07 till the $1100 and then it stayed there (I hope I explained that correctly).

My place is a bedroom, large living room, large kitchen, office, and small bathroom. So, $1100 seems right to me especially since you are near Davis Square (the Paris of the east coast).

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

I agree with "bikergeek" that's a bit on the low side.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

in general rent is going up- and will continue to do so as people default on their homes and have to go back to renting.

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Seems pretty good to me; I'm paying $1200 for three rooms (no DR for me!); the location is about 3 blocks up College; my kitchen is recently remodeled, also. I'm happy with it, although the rent is going up (by $50) in the upcoming year (starting in September).

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

Seems low to me. I'm paying $1200/mo. for decent sized living room, large kitchen (but no counter space and not-so-useful cabinets), dining room, and bedroom.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

It seems correct to me.

[voodoocheese.livejournal.com]

I'm about a ten minute walk from the T, 1.5 bed with eik.. but it's an attic franken-apartment for $1250. I'd say you've got a good thing going- especially if you have any amenities!

[sissychrissy1.livejournal.com]

Seems reasonable to cheap. My rent went up this year for the second year in a row, so the increase isn't a shock.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I pay 430 a month, 10 minutes from Davis. But, I got a great deal, and our landlord is amazing.

[jadia.livejournal.com]

There's this website I found a while back called Rentometer (http://www.rentometer.com/) which I think was started to answer questions like this. :) Last time I checked I didn't think there was enough data, but it may have gotten more since then. Anyway, I thought it was cool.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

thanks for posting that. it is a lot of fun and very useful, especially if you are trying to rent in a place that you've never been before (for example, when we came here, rents were double what we were used to so it was hard to judge what was reasonable and what was a ripoff)

[cemeterygates.livejournal.com]

That seems low to me. I'm near Porter in a 3bed for $1825.

Thanks

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reality checks @ rents.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Depends on the place, and the timing.

Last fall, our landlady tried to raise our rent from $1000 to $1100 for a decent sized, average condition one bedroom on Prospect Hill (next door to the Maya!), and when we moved out, she had to actually lower the rent to $950 or something before it got rented out. But that was after the September rush on apartments.