Looking for a new home!

[davisdenizen.livejournal.com]

I have to move sometime in the next few months. I'm looking for an apartment in the Davis Square area. I have lived here for the last 23 years and I would very much like to stay. I consider this my neighborhood and I like the people here.

I've lived in my present apartment for 13 years, the one before that for 10 years. I am a quiet and pleasant tenant and I always pay my rent on time. I've worked for the same employer for the last two decades and I have an excellent credit rating. I have no pets, I don't smoke, and I will respect and take care of your property.

My current landlord is renovating my apartment for himself to live in and has asked me with great regret to find another place to live. He's given me several months' notice so I'm flexible about when I can move.

I am looking for a studio or a one-bedroom apartment, preferably on the first floor of a house. Here's what I'd love to find, but I'm more than willing to look at other options:

An eat-in-kitchen with room for a kitchen table and chairs
Hardwood floors
Storage area
Laundry access

I've always lived in owner-occupied houses and I'm hoping for a situation where the property owner either lives in the house or takes an active interest in maintaining it. Ideally, I'd love to deal directly with the owner when looking at places, but I am open to working with brokers, as well.

If you know of anyone looking for an excellent, responsible tenant, I'd love to hear about it. I'm looking for a good landlord charging a fair rent and it would be great to maybe even communicate with folks who haven't yet put their apartment on the market.

I'd love to hear your suggestions in comments or you can message me privately or contact me at newhomeindavissquare at gmail dot com. I have put up a Craigslist ad, too.

Comments

[samcoren.livejournal.com]

Good luck! It might help to post your price range...since you haven't been apartment hunting in over a decade you're likely going to encounter some serious price shock.

[davisdenizen.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Believe me, I've been experiencing the price shock ever since I started looking at Craigslist when I learned I had to move. That's one reason I am putting up my own ads and hoping to deal with reasonable landlords directly. I know I'll have to pay much more than I'm paying now, I just hope there may be someone out there who wants a good tenant and will offer a fair rent. I understand and accept that the market is different, but even within that new continuum there may be something below the highest extremes of rent being asked.

It's because of that that I'm not putting in a price range -- I want to be flexible: if a place is wonderful, I will be willing to pay a bit more. Thanks for commenting and please keep me in mind if you hear of a good place!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Not to sound like your mom or your nosy know-it-all friend or whatever, but have you considered buying a condo instead of renting? If you have good credit, it should be possible, even with not much savings.

I do have a place, but it's a 2-bedroom, and I'm planning to sell, not rent. Hence my bias. ;) But good luck with your hunt.

[davisdenizen.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right, of course. I have considered it for the first time in my life, given current rents, and I will continue to plan to do that in the future. I think it may take me some time to be able to buy, longer than the few months I have to find a new place to live. I wish I could look into buying your place, but for now, please do keep me in my mind if you hear of anyone who is looking for a good tenant.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

If cost is a factor, I strongly suggest you investigate the City of Cambridge's affordable housing program. The median incomes there are high enough that people I would consider "middle class" could afford to buy a very respectable condo there.

[davisdenizen.livejournal.com]

Thanks for replying. I have been investigating options, including the one you suggest, though I have a feeling I may fall between the cracks, income-wise, but I really do want to stay in Somerville. This is my town!

[davisdenizen.livejournal.com]

Thanks to all who have left helpful comments on this entry. I don't expect anyone to have an instant solution to my problem, but if, sometime over the next few months, you do have an apartment you're planning to put on the (rental) market or if you know/hear of anyone with an apartment to rent, I would be grateful if you would consider contacting me. I really do want to stay in the neighborhood I've called home, even though it will cost a lot more than it has. Living in Davis Square is worth it!