looking for a new apartment in Somerville, or nearby

[pennylane291.livejournal.com]

I had hoped to live here for a very long time, but my landlord wants to renovate. And the rents have gone up tremendously since I was last looking. If anyone hears of a reasonably priced place, could you let me know. I'm female, in my 40's, very clean & organized, artist/designer, quiet, friendly & communicative. Would prefer to live alone, but I do have a potential roommate for a 2 bedroom. I am looking for August 1, though I could go earlier.

Comments

[blacktigr.livejournal.com]

Not to discourage you, but we had to look outside the Somerville city limits. Try East Somerville?

[cthulhu-shuman.livejournal.com]

Could you give a price range?

[pennylane291.livejournal.com]

$1300 - 1600 for a 2 bedroom. I'm paying $1300 now for a shared 2 bedroom.
Would need it to be much less for a 1 bedroom - but I'm not counting on that.
I wish salaries increased at the same rate as rental properties. I'm extremely
responsible and would be happy to help out the homeowner in any way that
I can.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure you're going to be able to find anything at those prices. We were paying $1600 for a 1 bedroom with an office. The landlord sold the building, and the new owners wanted $2300 for the same apartment.

Not sure if they ever got it, but everyone told us what a 'steal' we had at 1600/mo. Granted we were really close to Davis Square, but even in Winter Hill, where we live now, prices are really high.

[whowehavetofear.livejournal.com]

Wow, our apartment in Union Square is $1350 for two and a half bedrooms. I don't look forward to the day we have to start looking for a new place.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

I am sad to say that next time we move, it'll probably be out of Somerville. :(

[ifotismeni]

man, these are similar to downtown boston prices! somerville has gotten so expensive :(

[thegreenyear.livejournal.com]

oh my god, I wish I were you. I'd be thrilled to find a one bedroom for that price.

[lheena.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, start saving money now. My roommate and I are moving out of our way, way too small 2 bed to a 2.5 bed that's in medford (still only a mile and a bit from Davis - right now we're in Magoun) and it's $1700-- but it was the only one. I've been looking for months, and somebody north west of powderhouse was charging $1900 for a 2 bed the size of a postage stamp. My realtor said that the landlord wanted to charge $2400 because of 'how close to Davis it was', and they talked him down because it's not september yet.

:[ It's misery. Even East Somerville is is looking Not Good.

[aynatt.livejournal.com]

Wow, how did you manage to find a 2 bedroom for $1300? My ex and I lived in a place right in Davis square 7 years ago, and we were paying $1400 for a one bedroom place.

My studio apt. (one room plus separate kitchen), just went up to $1250, near Inman Square.
Good luck!

[mulaked.livejournal.com]

I wish salaries increased at the same rate as rental properties.

[axedmoon.livejournal.com]

Seriously.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

You still might be able to get a 2 bedroom for $1600. If you can consider 3rd floor, I think your chances are still okay.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

the third floor in my building, all the way out at Clarendon Hill, is $1750.

[wintahill.livejournal.com]

I think anything close to Davis Sq is going to be difficult to find in you price range. Rents have gone up a lot all over the Boston area in the last few years and Somerville is no exception.

As other posters mentioned the East Somerville area and parts of the Union Sq and Winter Hill areas seem to have the most affordable rents over all in the city right now.

There is a cool map I found created by a guy at Google that maps rental prices per bedroom in the Boston area. It might be helpful for targeting your apartment search. http://www.jefftk.com/apartment_prices/index

Don't get discouraged and keep looking, good apartments at affordable prices won't last long so you need to keep checking every day.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

did you see the post for an apartment that just showed up? in magoun square, $1600 month, two bedroom.... might be a good fit for you...

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Ooops, should have read before I posted :).

[pennylane291.livejournal.com]

Thank you, everyone for your responses & support! I have several veiwings lined up, mostly in Medford, but also the one mentioned above in Magoun. I haven't seen anything in my range in Union - I would really love to stay here. But I have been looking in Winterhill as well.

[lheena.livejournal.com]

Having just done this entire song/dance for months, there's two things - a: if you can afford a realtor, I can't recommend Evangeline at Maven Realty enough. After going to 4 showings that had between 30-80 people at them a piece, I gave up and went the realtor route, and ended up with a gorgeous place at $1700/mo.

the other thing is that you're going to find the price you want (less than $1600) in and around Magoun square (sometimes), east of Rt 28 (although the neighborhood's a little meh-- mostly just is a bit more run down), and up near Wellington station. My landlord is turning my apartment into a school, otherwise I'd put you in touch with them!

[pennylane291.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll keep her name in case I give up too, and go that route. I'm hope more things will open up as August & July get closer. In Philly, giving notice was typically 2 months - is the standard one month here or 2? I have seen a few places listed for Union, Winter Hill & Magoun - its just getting that call/email back to see it. Otherwise it might just have to be Medford or Arlington, though I prefer things to be more city-like...

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

It looks like the person who posted just after you might have something!

[davisdenizen.livejournal.com]

I was in the same situation exactly as you are, earlier this year. I just want to encourage you to keep at it and look for what you really want. I was discouraged by everyone and told I'd never find anything around here. There are no guarantees, but after several months of looking, I did find something here at a reasonable price that mostly matched my wish list. Don't give up!