advice please on apt hunting for sept

[http://users.livejournal.com/__the_dude__/]

hi folks,

yes, sorry to say, another housing post. i'm currently in ann arbor MI but will be moving to the somerville/cambridge/medford/maybe even arlington area in sept to start a job in the alewife area of cambridge. i was all set to fly out the weekend of june 8-11 to look for sept housing when i noticed crazy high airfares and low hotel vacancies...and found out it's graduation weekend for MIT and harvard. urgh.

so my question to you locals: should i wait a weekend to avoid the craziness of two big graduations (tufts doesn't graduate that weekend too, does it)? or will i be able to drive around and look for apartments that i've found on craigslist (that's also assuming that landlords/realtors don't shut down for the weekend)? you might be able to tell from my questions that graduation here is a HUGE deal and you don't drive anywhere near the campus unless absolutely necessary (kinda like those GD football games at the big house...but i digress). more importantly, i suppose, is whether june 8-11 is a good time to find housing for sept 1 move-in, or do listings come up later/earlier...?

i read the post that the good apts are found by referrals from friends or, absent that, current tenants moving out, so if any of you happen to know of a 2 BR, 1-cat friendly apt "near" the red line for around $1500/mo, i would really appreciate hearing about it.

thanks in advance davis sq peeps!

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

My concern with the above is that June is way too early for looking for a September 1st move-in. It's been my experience (with 3 intra-Davis moves in the last 10 years) that landlords look for immediate 12-month signers no matter what month it is, and any available apartments in June would go to June signers. Your results may vary, and you might try posting your own CL ad seeking September move-in. But if I were you, I'd push that trip back by a full month, mid to late July.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

I second all of that. Most of the CL posts right now are summer sublets or desperate attempts to fill June.

[yangelina.livejournal.com]

This is not the right place for it, but I recognized you in your photo -
I saw my first show ever at Theater First last Sat. night and really enjoyed your protrayal of the Grand Duchess. She's such a sensational character and you did such a great job. Thank you for sharing your art!