Apartment Needed

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone!

I'm an MIT alum who just graduated from law school. I'm looking for an apartment for Oct. 1st (maybe Sept. 15th). I'm 25 (almost 26), I don't smoke, drink or do drugs, and I am currently working as a teacher's assistant in a 4th grade class while I wait for my bar results and search for a law job. I am vegetarian.

I'm looking for an apartment in the Porter/Davis area, hopefully for under $600 a month. I have a car, need it to get to work, and need parking for it. I would like to be within walking distance of the T if possible. I am looking to move in with housemates who do not smoke or do drugs, who are clean, who are respectful about noise and use of common space, who are emotionally stable and have good communication. I need a room that has a closet, and which is big enough for my bed (extra long twin), a large desk, two chairs, and some floor mats. There must be a sunny room for some plants. Wireless internet is also a must.

The apartment must be in safe, clean condition with working fire alarms and safe fire escapes, and if there is a basement, it must be dry (a plus if we can store stuff there). There must be a washer/dryer in the building, and the electrical system in the apartment must support A/C. I like my rooms to be around 75 degrees F, and it would be difficult for me to live in a place where the temperature is routinely kept below 65 (my hands and feet turn white). I need a non-sketchy landlord, and an apartment with a good, secure lock on the door. I will be getting up around 6:45 for work, and so I will also be going to bed early on the nights where I have work the following morning.

If anyone knows of any openings available, please respond to this post, or email me at the address provided in my LJ info page. Thank you.

[Edit] Thank you for the plethora of comments. Apparently under $600 is an unlikely option- oh well. Thought I'd give it a try. I'm willing to look up to $800. Pets are OK, too.

Comments

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

wow.

[lemononmylips.livejournal.com]

word.

[ifotismeni]

sorry =/ my apartment fits all of those criteria, including car parking, but we just filled the room at it costs nearly $900. i don't think you're going to find a space like what you're looking for in the immediate davis/porter area in that price range.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Well, my situation is pretty similar to what he's looking for. but it's kinda a frat-house yuppie environment. Also our house is like 150 years old.

Maybe you should wait till that law salary starts coming in and buy a condo at Wellington or Lechmere?

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

By the way, absolutely not trying to hate.. just my 2 cents

[ifotismeni]

yea, i think he can easily find what he's looking for if he's willing to shell out about $200 more a month. $600 or under you're going to be making a lot of concessions.

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

See edit above. I thought I'd give it a try. You never know...

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

I'm interested anyway. More info?

[jessperado.livejournal.com]

seriously wow.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

And I would like a pony... for free.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

The boarding costs will kill ya.

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

Pony!

[pandaposse.livejournal.com]

I can understand why you're trying to put all the specifics -- you might want to comment on whether or not you will live with pets while you're at it. Just a suggestion.

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yes, pets are OK (added in an edit).

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Um ... good luck. You may also want to try looking at places like Craig's List, etc. to get an idea of what's available (because it's not that, not this late in the game especially).

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm doing that, too.

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

As others have said, that is a lot to ask for $600/month. (We need a housemate for 10/1, but our rent is $700/month and we don't cover all of your "musts.") It's definitely a good idea to look at craigslist to get a better idea of the pricing/options, etc.

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm doing that, too.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Boston. You're going to hate it here. :)

[jenaflynn.livejournal.com]

What the Christ?
Temper your expectations. For $600 you're hard pressed to find much around davis as it is, and with a laundry list of requirements, you're never going to get a match, unless you shell out for your own place. Ease your requirements, and up your dollar amount.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

"Temper your expectations. "

Especially the dry basement part. And I hope $800 is not expected to include keeping the heat at 75 degrees.

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

No, the $800 is for rent.

Hey, I figure I can start high and bargain down, no? /grin/

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

From 2003 to 2006 I lived in a 3 bdr (plus living room and kitchen) apartment within a 5 minute walk of the Porter Sq T station. On street parking was pretty easy to find, it had a smallish closet, the room was 9x10 which was big enough for a queen bed, desk, 2 book shelves, a mini fridge and a dresser. Basement was dry-ish, but I would have recommended not storing things in cardboard boxes. Landlord was reasonable, it had free washer/dryer in a room off the hallway. All of us had a window AC in our room.

Best part? Rent was $530 a month each. So it does exist. It's just really hard to find.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

As a counterpoint, I think it's fair to say that both the housing market and the value of the dollar have changed since 2003.

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

True. The price is probably more a function of the fact that the landlord never increased the rent. From what I understand, 2006-2007, the rent was still $530 each.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Don't listen to those haters, I pay $400 a month for a pimp spot.

[cranbonite.livejournal.com]

I don't know, folks, my boyfriend's apartment fits most of those criteria, is half a mile (<10 min walk) from Davis, and is $2200 for 4 bedrooms...in other words, $550/mo each. Same with my own place (5 min from Alewife and $500), though I got kind of a ridiculous deal paying less than half rent of a 2br. I also looked at numerous places in that price range and not far from Davis or Porter and ended up settling for a place that was a bit over six hundred but utilities are included.

It can be done, and although if you have a cat like I do, it's very hard, it's far, far from impossible.

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

Our house fits all of your requirements except that it's $725 a month (including heat & hot water). However, we just found a roomie. If she doesn't work out, we'll let you know? You sound really neat, and you know what you want in housing, which I find to be a big plus. :)

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) I'll keep you in mind, too.