(no subject)

[ladypeacey.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I haven't had much luck asking members of this community about rents in Somerville, particularly around Davis Square.

Can someone tell me if the rents are always 1200+?

If so, can someone tell me a nearby area where the rents would be lower and a bit more reasonable?

Comments

[smacaski.livejournal.com]

I assume you mean for a 1-bedroom apartment. In which case, yeah, that sounds about right. Arlington is probably a bit cheaper, same with Medford, although each of those has the disadvantage of not being near the T (but they do have excellent bus routes). I'd also look into Union Square.

[ladypeacey.livejournal.com]

I am open to a studio apartment.

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

Try Malden? I know someone who has a great deal on a nice sized studio that's a 5 minute walk from the Malden Center T. I believe she pays between $800 and $900/month, but it might be slightly lower.

[elements.livejournal.com]

I second looking at Arlington and Union.

I have a friend who lives in a fantastic building in Arlington Center, a minute from the 77 bus and the bike path and Spy Pond, and right by tons of restaurants. She pays $1050 for a 1-bedroom. I have often seen stuff there advertised for less, including both 1-beds and studios under 1000 (usually the cheapest are smaller studios around 850-900).

Many of these places don't allow pets, though, FYI, if that matters to you.

Sometimes places a little farther afield from Davis proper, like Ball and Teele or "west Somerville" ie stuff between Curtis and North streets can be more reasonable, too.

If you have good credit, check out John Lowenstein of Red Line Real Estate. He often has good leads on good value apartments, but his landlords demand good credit.

Union square

[maffematician.livejournal.com]

I had a one-bedroom (not a studio) in Union Square in Somerville until two years ago. It was 955/month with heat and hot water included. Electricity was my expense. Cute place, small (bigger than a studio), good for one person.

Union Square is a big bus hub, and once you get used to the bus schedules you can get to Davis, Central, and Lechmere all very easily.

Get this - by catching an early CT2 bus before the traffic gets bad, I could get from that Union Square apartment to my job in the fenway in 30 minutes, door to door.

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Try East Somerville - about 2 miles from Davis, but only half a mile from the Sullivan Square (Orange Line) T station and there's a bus to Davis. Union Square is also a good option, and there may be some more affordable places between Union and Inman squares on the Cambridge/Somerville line but it's a long time since I looked at rents so I'm not sure.

That's also were all the criminal activity takes place...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

But it's always a trade-off....

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

rather than painting my own picture, here's more specific crime information by ward for 2009:
http://www.somervillema.gov/spd/pdf/Year2009.pdf

and 2008:
http://www.somervillema.gov/spd/pdf/YEAR2008.pdf

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

You can find 1BRs in Union Square for under $1000.

(But I lucked out last fall and found a lovely 2BR in Davis/Ball Sq. for $1000, "marked down" from $1200. On Craigslist.)

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

No useful information, just want to send some icon-love your way.

~Sor

[kit23.livejournal.com]

Do you know if there are any other apts like your available? I am looking to move into Davis sq. Thanks so much!

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

"Like mine"? Well -- mine is the 3rd floor of an owner-occupied house, so it's not like there are several more cheap units in the building going begging, if that's what you were wondering. :-}

As stated, I found it on Craigslist after about 2 weeks of looking (last Sept, starting after Sept 1). It was posted by a realtor (who turned out to be a family friend of these particular landlords, so that was how the plum deal happened); I could give you her name, if you're interested to see what else she might know about.

[kit23.livejournal.com]

That would be great! Thank you so much for your advice. Right now I'm in temporary housing, 3rd floor owner-occupied house also. My email address is kit2323@gmail.com if you prefer direct email.
Thanks!

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't mind posting here, maybe some other folks will be interested!

Her name was Kelly Bruno (KellyBruno@comcast.net; 617.648.5031). I think she had used to work for ZIP Realty but was striking out on her own as of last fall.

The other realtors who showed me stuff in the area also came via Craigslist postings (http://boston.craigslist.org/search/aap/gbs?query=somerville+davis&minAsk=800&maxAsk=1000&bedrooms=), so I suggest chasing those down. Really.

[arrowintwolakes.livejournal.com]

Another vote for Union Square. I have a friend who has a studio and pays under $1k there. Plus it's a really cool neighborhood anyway. GREAT farmer's market there.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

My 1-br apartment was $950 up until I moved out last year. I don't know what it is now. It wasn't the best apartment...but you couldn't beat the location at Hancock and Summer!

[findingthegirl.livejournal.com]

I have a gorgeous two and a half bedroom apartment right in Union Square for $1350. We were looking all over Somerville this time last spring and $1350 was the cheapest we could find for what we needed [two bedrooms, public transportation accessible]. Union Square is an amazing place to live with a great Farmers Market on Saturdays and cool art events throughout the summer. It may not have as many trees as the surrounding streets of Davis Square, but I'm really glad we chose to live here. There are a ton of bus lines that go all over the place and it's about a 20 minute walk to Central and Harvard Squares. Plus, if you can wait, we'll be getting a green line stop within a few years.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I have a 2 BR for 1225 + heat/utilities just over the Medford line in Winter Hill not too far from Magoun Square (but when I had a roommate it was 1300).

I've seen ads for 1 BR apartments in the area for 1000 or so, often with heat included.

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Yeah, pretty much. It's why we had to move out of the area a while ago.

I live in Malden, on the Orange line and a few mile drive/bike ride from Davis (5 miles, actually). We pay 1200 for a 1500 s/f 3 bedroom. Malden is not awesome, but until Davis and Somerville come down to affordable w/o roommates for a family of 3, this is where we call home.

The upshot to Malden is that it's closer to Boston and the beaches.

[no1onthecorner.livejournal.com]

There are studios in Medford in the $900 range that are 20-25 min walk from Davis - I can find a few on craigslist pretty quickly.

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

See...and I paid 1100 in Medford by Teele Square for a whole HOUSE until I moved in 2005. For some reason, a 900 dollar a month studio just doesn't seem like an awesome deal, even if it was only me living there.

I guess if you don't plan on being there for more than a year or two and you're more concerned about being out than being comfortable when you're home, it makes sense. But...

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

For a 1 or 2-bed, rents near and near-ish Davis Square tend to be in the 1000-1500 range. It's not a cheap place to rent! Right now I'm in a (rather large) 1-bed that I share for 1360.

As has been said, you might do better price-wise in Union or Winter Hill, or even in the Magoun Square areas. Of course, there aren't as many transportation and entertainment options right out your front door, but that might not matter to you. Also, if you're willing to go to Cambridge, you could check out East Cambridge and maybe Central Square (or outside of Central, really). If you don't mind being pretty far away from the subway, look in Arlington or Medford. Good luck!

Check out Winter Hill!

[heidila27.livejournal.com]

We lived in Somerville both on Highland Ave and then moved to Winter Hill until about a year and a half ago. We had a 2 bedroom in for $1250 plus utilities that was enormous. A friend of mine lived almost across the street and had a really good sized 1 bedroom for $950.

Do be conscious about where you are looking. I would take anything that's not between Medford and Broadway, or right on Broadway. The area off of Main Street (Heath Street etc). that borders Medford can be rough around the edges. My best friend had her apartment broken into twice when she lived there.

We however loved our neighborhood (a little side street between Medford and Broadway), were accessible to 3 buses within 5 minutes and had no problems! We were also walkable to Magoun Square which has a couple of great restaurants, a CVS for emergencies etc.

We're currently in Malden (which I saw some other folks mention), and while it is both a quick commute to Boston and reasonable, the city itself leaves a lot to be desired. It's not at all comparable to the cute, neighborhoody feel of Somerville. If you are looking for that kind of atmosphere and Somerville is out of reach, I second the recommendations for Arlington!