Perils of renting in Davis Sq/Somerville (Boston Globe)?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Hi, is this consistent with your own observations about the rental market around Davis Sq? Could any real estate person comment on this?

"With the vacillations and the range in prices, “I’ve never seen a rental market like this in all my 20 years of renting real estate,” said realtor Irene Bremis."

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2009/09/the_summer_switchover.html

Comments

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

I was looking for new digs this summer, going from a roommate situation to a 2 bedroom for me and my new family. I found rents all over the place. Some landlords wanted to party like it was 2005, when property values were sky-high and landlords could ask for both kidneys for a security deposit and people would be carving them out with rusty butterknives.

But others had more... realistic expectations and I was amazed to find semi-decent places for under $1000. I ended up in a place in Winter Hill for $1000/month, heat/hot water/cooking gas/parking space included. It's not the greatest place ad a bit of creative decorating has been necessary, but all in all, I'm really happy with the place.

Congrats! On your new family and new place :)

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

If you have a car, Winter Hill is not bad. My main concern would be if it was too close to the big freeways (due to the fine particulate findings around there; especially if I had an infant or young kid). Interesting though, that there as such a variability in rental prices.

It looks like some landlords are out of touch with reality. I hope these are the same folks who watch FOX all day :)

Re: Congrats! On your new family and new place :)

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the congrats. The new place is tucked away from the expressway and the McGrath between Bway and Pearl/Medford St. Yeah, it was certainly interesting in the rent spreads, ranging from $875 to $1400 for apartments that weren't particularly different. For our place, it was a trade-off in that the apartment is on the top floor with slanted walls, but it'll work out ok, and I don't mind the exchange for the free heat and parking space, which will save us probably $1500-$2000 over the winter.

[djdreilinger.livejournal.com]

What you saw is exactly what prompted me to write the article—prices seemed, as you said, just all over the place. As w/ many articles, my initial question can be abbreviated as "wtf?!"