Once you find likely listings, start using Google Reverse Image Search on images you like. Between that and maps, you can often figure out exactly what's what. Bear in mind that real estate agents have no qualms whatsoever about listing a place that lacks closets in a room as still having multiple bedrooms. The city assessor's office has none of that nonsense going on. If it lacks the standards by code to be a bedroom, then it's listed as not having that bedroom.
Let me walk you through my process with a couple of random listings that fit your criteria:
$1675 1BR/1BA in Davis Square (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/(undisclosed-Address)-Somerville-MA-02144/2126765536_zpid/). No written address is given, but from the map, it shows that the apartment is at Winter Street and College Avenue, in a large pastel-coloured building with either dark green or dark blue trim. A Google reverse image search yields no other matching listings, but Google Street View panning down the street shows no such building. Zillow says that the listing is live for 82 days. That seems dubious, it's a bit below market price. Between the age of the listing and the lack of other corroborating listings, I conclude that it's a listing that doesn't actually exist, but is rather put up to get people to contact Apartment Rental Experts (surprise, surprise) to be told, "We're sorry, it just rented yesterday, but we have something really great, just like it, that costs a little bit more."
19 Cherry Street, $1900 1BR/1BA between Davis and Porter Squares (http://hotpads.com/rentals/19-Cherry-Street-2-Somerville-MA-02144--mtqnxwg8w5kq). The photos are gorgeous, and they don't look to be faked given the assessor's database (http://gis.vgsi.com/somervillema/Parcel.aspx?Pid=6039). The owner is a lady named Alma Keefe, who lives in Malden. A quick Googling of that name reveals that she is an older lady who owns no other property that can be quickly found. (She is associated with a couple of other addresses on various background check websites, but she's not listed as an owner of record, or a recent seller, on any of them.) So presumably she owns this one property and wants to not cope with having to screen tenants.
The HotPads listing tells you to call Kim Mulligan, whose telephone number is 508.493.1090. Doing a quick reverse lookup on that telephone number informs you that the number goes to the South Shore Real Estate Academy (http://southshorerealestateacademy.com). It turns out that she teaches classes there for future real estate brokers. Thus, she knows the legalities involved quite well. It also turns up a link to Realty Direct.
The MLS lists this property — it's not exclusive to Ms. Mulligan — but it does reveal that she is the originating broker (http://mlslistingsmassachusetts.com/idx/mls-71701317-19_cherry_unit_2_somerville_ma_02144). Thus, she's probably your best bet if you want this property. I would, if I wanted to live in Somerville:
Spacious apartment in a quiet building near Porter Square and a short walk to Davis Square. Building is very well maintained and boast classic built in woodwork details such as pocket doors and decorative windows. All rooms are of large size: Full kitchen with pantry, formal dining room with built in hutch, nice size living room, bedroom, and bonus room which could be used as a large office/den/sitting room with built-in shelving units. Prospective tenant to pay full fee to be split with the cooperating broker. No pets. No smoking. Verifiable income and decent credit required.
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RE: Renting from abroad is a special challenge.
Date: 2014-06-24 05:26 am (UTC)Let me walk you through my process with a couple of random listings that fit your criteria:
$1675 1BR/1BA in Davis Square (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/(undisclosed-Address)-Somerville-MA-02144/2126765536_zpid/). No written address is given, but from the map, it shows that the apartment is at Winter Street and College Avenue, in a large pastel-coloured building with either dark green or dark blue trim. A Google reverse image search yields no other matching listings, but Google Street View panning down the street shows no such building. Zillow says that the listing is live for 82 days. That seems dubious, it's a bit below market price. Between the age of the listing and the lack of other corroborating listings, I conclude that it's a listing that doesn't actually exist, but is rather put up to get people to contact Apartment Rental Experts (surprise, surprise) to be told, "We're sorry, it just rented yesterday, but we have something really great, just like it, that costs a little bit more."
19 Cherry Street, $1900 1BR/1BA between Davis and Porter Squares (http://hotpads.com/rentals/19-Cherry-Street-2-Somerville-MA-02144--mtqnxwg8w5kq). The photos are gorgeous, and they don't look to be faked given the assessor's database (http://gis.vgsi.com/somervillema/Parcel.aspx?Pid=6039). The owner is a lady named Alma Keefe, who lives in Malden. A quick Googling of that name reveals that she is an older lady who owns no other property that can be quickly found. (She is associated with a couple of other addresses on various background check websites, but she's not listed as an owner of record, or a recent seller, on any of them.) So presumably she owns this one property and wants to not cope with having to screen tenants.
The HotPads listing tells you to call Kim Mulligan, whose telephone number is 508.493.1090. Doing a quick reverse lookup on that telephone number informs you that the number goes to the South Shore Real Estate Academy (http://southshorerealestateacademy.com). It turns out that she teaches classes there for future real estate brokers. Thus, she knows the legalities involved quite well. It also turns up a link to Realty Direct.
The MLS lists this property — it's not exclusive to Ms. Mulligan — but it does reveal that she is the originating broker (http://mlslistingsmassachusetts.com/idx/mls-71701317-19_cherry_unit_2_somerville_ma_02144). Thus, she's probably your best bet if you want this property. I would, if I wanted to live in Somerville: