Expert: Nicholas Cifuentes - 11/3/2007

Question
We live in NC and are thinking of moving to Boston.  The problem is when we look for apartments we are a bit confused by some of the wording.  A lot of ads say Hot Water Free and that scares me.  You have to pay for hot water?  I am not a dumb southern hick, I have just never heard of that before.  I would also like your opinion on what areas of Boston or suburbs of Boston would be safe and AFFORDABLE for us and our one year old son.  Keep in mind that we pay $500.00 a month and live in a nice three bedroom two bath house with well water, so we don't consider $1300.00 for a 500 sq. ft. apt affordable.  If we have to move thirty or forty five minutes away that's fine, we just need to know where to move to.

Answer
Alright, let's do this.  Moving to Boston -- I have your solutions.  I have rented all over this city and will give you the rundown.  The hot water free thing is something that is just thrown around here, unless it says you have to pay for water, it is ALWAYS FREE.  REaltors just do that to stress certain elements of a listing.  When you rent, Heat and Hot WAter are always free, unless it tells you otherwise.

Now, being a young couple with a child, I think your options are varied.  And it also depends on your income.  Now, coming from the South, you will be payed more up here...I lived in Charleston for a year, so I know how that works.  You will be payed more, but things cost a bit more as well up here.  

If you want to live near the city and still get more square foot for the dollar  -- you have two options I think. Charlestown, which is right next to Beacon Hill and the West End, is a budding area, sustaining some new development and a growing place for a young family.   Also, which i think would be perfect for you, and for the price and footage you want is Somerville.  It is about 4 miles outside of the city, but accessible by T and Car, and areas such as Davis Square and surrounding parts are very nice.  Also, another very nice area that will give you some nice footage for your dollar is Newton and Brookline areas -- there surrounding Boston College, but a very nice area, and something I would look into if I were you.

*Davis Square
*Newton, Brookline
*Charlestown

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Also nice and cheap to live is Quincy and Saugus areas.  

If you want to move further away, places like Framingham and Hopkinton are nice areas too.  

But, as in city, there is always your bad parts, Dorchester, Roxbury, Malden, things like that -- keep away from.  

What you should do is contact an area housing/rental agent, and tell them what you are looking for..and suggest you want to see the areas above what I mentioned....they are right in your price range, and you don't lose out on size or scenery.