Realtor in Camberville

[apricot3.livejournal.com]

Finally I'm getting away from the room-share section of Craigslist, Huzzah!!
However, I've noticed that the rest of the renting sections aren't helpful for where/when I'd like to be for the price. Reluctantly, I guess this means my BF and I need a realtor. Right?

I'd prefer some East Cambridge action, but we all know this comm is the place to go for all answers :)
Are there agencies/people who cover the entire Camberville area, or should we go with several people in different locations? My assumption is that you're not Locked In with someone unless you sign on a lease- but does it make sense (or headaches) to talk to a bunch of realtors at once?
We're fine with looking on our own if any of you can suggest any non-CL sites to go through, especially since we've got months to find something.
Our price range is low, 1,000-1,250, which I realize is hard to come by for a nice one or two bedroom, but I've lived here long enough and seen a lot (and lived in several) 2brs for around that price, so I know it's not impossible, just not very easy. Hoping to be under a 15 min walk from the redline (or Lechmere) with ample street parking too, so Teele/Ball/NoCa would be great. All I've seen listed is Winter Hill, which is just too far off the T for us. Since I'm soooo ready to move, I'd even be down for moving in with someone and sharing everything until they move out at the end of the summer, but that's a whole other thing and not ideal, obvi.

We're looking for Aug/Sept, so I'm wondering if we've just started to look too damn early...
Honestly I don't even know where to start with this, I've never dealt with a realtor before. Can anyone suggest either a way to secure a 1.5-2 br on our own or a nice place to go through?
Any and all non-snark pointers would be super yay :)

Comments

[no1onthecorner.livejournal.com]

You're probably a little early - there will be some places listed now for Aug/Sept, but if you don't find anything now, there should be more this summer. It's been a few years so it might have changed, but the last time I was looking, we were looking in early June for September 1, and realtors told us that we were too early for a lot of listings (with more available 30-60 days before move-in date). Checking craigslist regularly seems like the best bet for finding things in a low price range.

For a realtor, we had a great experience with John Lowenstein at Red Line Real Estate; I'd definitely recommend him. Realtors' fees are usually 1 month's rent, but for some apartments the landlord will pay all or half of the fee.

We had several realtors show us places - a lot of the craigslist ads are placed by realtors, so when you call about one, they could have others to suggest. Mostly when we talked to a realtor, they had several places to show us right away, but rarely followed up at a later date if we didn't take any of those places.

[satyrgrl.livejournal.com]

I second this. We've used John Lowenstein twice, each time getting an apartment that was perfect for us and kind of a steal. He is excellent at helping you figure out exactly what you want and what your priorities are.

And you are early for August/Sept. I assure you, more things will open up when people start graduating!

[katers5636.livejournal.com]

I've used him too, and he found me and my roommate a steal. I've also used Boston Rental Exchange, located in Davis Square. I highly recommend both.

[apricot3.livejournal.com]

Yay, glad to hear you all had great experiences with him! I'm guessing that such an aptly named company would be showing everything from Kendall to Alewife? That's perfect :)
We'll definitely get in contact with him closer to May!

Does Boston Rental Exchange also have offices around the city?

[katers5636.livejournal.com]

No, they only have the one office, but it's literally across the street from the T station. They were so very helpful when I moved from out of state - they even handled getting the parking permit for my moving truck. I can't say enough about them!

Both Red Line and Boston Rental Exchange showed me all QUALITY places, which is more than I can say for Apartment Rental Experts (they were just awful for me) or Maven.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

most realtors won't even talk to you if you try to start looking more than 2 months in advance.

perhaps there are landlords on the list who will. good luck!

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Competition! My boyfriend and I are also probably looking for a decent 1-2 bed in that price range and area. It does seem to be a bit early to be looking. May will be easier. We're also thinking about Inman and Union Squares... though we love the Davis area, those might be slightly cheaper.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

We went through a realtor. But we also had a situation where my husband was couch surfing and I was still in Illinois.

It was expensive, but I absolutely love the apartment we're in now, and it never made it to Craigslist. Obviously, mileage varies.


One thing I did notice- you have to be -fast- on looking for apartments. We'd see a listing we liked, call about it and find that it had just been leased. Personally, I don't think it hurts to ask, and if you're flexible on your move date, then... why not?

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I agree that it is a little early for most realtors. I also think that listing with realtors seemed to fall out of favor in the gogo 2000's but maybe its back.

When we rent out our place in Inman Square we rely mostly on word-of-mouth, sometimes supplemented with posting on some university sites. I think we used Craigslist once. FWIW, we rent a fairly nice one bedroom right near Inman Square for $1250+. Never had any trouble renting it for that price- always had lots of choice of good tenants. Unless its changed since I have looked, Davis and Inman are in the same basic price-point, and Porter is close to it as well. Teele may save you a bit.

So in short, I'd try to get access to listings at the various universities, which may involve knowing someone who attends them to get you the listings.

[elements.livejournal.com]

I third John Lowenstein. Also, have you looked into Arlington? Lots of decently priced stuff right on the 77 bus. I have a friend with a very nice 1-bed literally 2 min from Arlington Center & less than 1 min from a bus stop for $1050.

[greyling.livejournal.com]

Definitely go with a realtor that comes recommended by people you trust; rental realtors around here can be a zoo.

When I first moved to the area and didn't know anyone, I wound up craigslisting for a rental apartment (not just a shared room) - the experience was horrid! My typical experience would be that I'd have one very promising phone call, then the realtor would come pick me up, whiz me around 5-6 places that did NOT at all fit the description of what I was looking for, making vague, uninformed statements in reply to all of my questions and constantly trying to pressure me to sign a contract NOW. I found their behavior extraordinarily unprofessional, and I developed rampant distrust for them personally given the psychological games they played to time-pressure me. It felt like I was dealing with a sketchy used car salesman, or worse; on at least one occasion, I tracked down the landlord of the apartment I was interested and the two of us realized that the real estate agent was actually lying to both of us. She'd been hoping that once we signed our lease, she'd run away with the commission and leave the two of us to deal with the "miscommunication."

I felt like I was playing a game wherein the salesmen were (understandably) trying to make the most money as fast as possible; they weren't interested in listening to what I was interested in or doing an extensive search. If they can pressure you into signing a lease after a 1 hour whiz around a few apartments, then they earn their commission (usually 1 month's rent, at least 1k I'd guess?) in a total of about 2 hours' work - 1 hour to drive you around, 1 hour to make sure all the apartments will be free.

It's pretty standard to be 'locked in' to a real estate agent in that, once you see an apartment with a particular agent, if you later rent that apartment, they will chase you down and make you pay their fee - even if you decided 2 months later that that was the apartment you liked and you saw it with a second real estate agent. But being 'locked in' is generally only apartment-specific; you can feel free to see other apartments with a different realtor. Just make sure you don't see the same apartment twice with two different people - you will be responsible for both fees!

realtor: highly recommended

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Oxford Street Realty
1644 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
617-354-3535

I went through these folks and got a totally fabulous apartment in North Camb. The agent I worked with is Jackie White. Very nice, very professional. Listens to what you need and is thorough in helping you find it. She could advise you about available price ranges for whatever size of apartment, and would know whether you're looking too early.

Good luck!

[darlucky.livejournal.com]

We had a great experience with Aaron at Maven Realty. They are on Highland Ave right near Davis.

He didn't mess us around and only showed stuff we'd be interested in, and showed us places on his computer before we left to see them so not to waste our time. Can't say the same about the 2 other realtors that showed us places.

Agree it's too early but can't hurt to reach out to find out when they will start getting stuff.