rvaccha

Hi,

I will be completing my MBA in May and relocating to Boston over the summer. I will be starting a job in consulting. I will not be travelling very often.

My office is located in the John Hancock tower on Claredon Street.

I am looking for a one bedroom apartment, preferably in a doorman building. Some of the features/amenities that I am looking for include:

a) Safe neighborhood
b) New/newer/recently renovated building
c) Doorman
d) Washer/Dryer in Apartment
e) Modern heat/air system
f) Proximity to public transportation

Basically I am looking for a modern mid/high rise building, since I am living alone and prefer the convenience of a doorman for packages, in house maintenance etc.

**I will be going to Boston this weekend (April 06) thus would like to visit some of the apartments if possible.

Any suggestions will be welcome.

Thanks a lot,
Andy

TKT

I'll asume you know that Boston rents are VERY expensive and the area is not car friendly.

That being said, ideally I would look for a place in which you could easily walk to work, which would mean the Back Bay or the South End. Both have luxury aparments, although I don't know if they would have all the amenities you mention.

rvaccha

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I am not planning on owning a car.

Is there any good website or forum which can help me identify rental offices/apartments in the Back Bay, South End or any other suggested neighborhoods?

Thanks

djkbooks

If you want to live in the city, I would recommend Back Bay, South End (not to be confused with South Boston), which is a really up and coming area, or Beacon Hill (if you can afford it).

BostonPhoenix.com and Boston.com have the most extensive classifieds. You don't mention where you're relocating from, but it's important to ask whether heat/air are included in the rent. If not, double check the annual quotes with the utility companies.

You might want to consider a sublet or short term lease, as there may be something significant you didn't think of the first time, or you may decide your priorities are different than you thought.

If you can swing it, have a look at condos for sale.

I'd start with a good map of Boston, the classifieds, and walk around, too, looking for "for rent", "for lease", "for sale" signs.

rvaccha

Hi,

I am relocating from Philadelphia. I definitely dont want to invest in a condo since I am likely to move again in a few years.

I just put another post asking for a good overview map of Boston that can help identify the major areas. I am not driving, so I just want a map that can help me identify the various areas and their proximity to each other.

Thanks,
Andy

escargot

I suggest you work with a realtor who knows the area well. We are in the South End and love it - there are many buildings with and w/out doormen with units for rent in the South End, Back Bay, etc adn you can walk to work and if/when you need a car, join ZipCar and it is easy in town to grab one and go - for a weekend drive or whatever.

The key is to find a realtor who is knowledgeable about each area, knows everything from safety to comfort, to price - there are also units you could rent that may be a T stop or two away that would make a price difference (up or down) -

Sometimes those buildings that have doormen the price goes up vs those that do not, but are still a professionally managed building.

When I've needed to over the years I have always worked with the Coldwell Banker office on Newbury Street in Boston - they also have a specific division for rental properties that they have listed and are aware of others - I would recommend them to anyone, they have always been "right on target" for renting or purchasing for my family and friends -
I would call them and see if Matt or Helen are around and if they can not help you can refer you to who can and perhaps someone can give you an hour or two when you are in town, show you some things and give you the lay of the land.

You also can look on Craigs List, etc - but from out of town, I would like to see you get the parameters and areas down straight first with someone who knows the city well.

rvaccha

Hi escargot,

Thanks for your message. Is there any way that I can email you? my email is [email protected]

Thanks,
Andy

escargot

Andy

you've got mail

rvaccha

Thanks

Ackislander

Doorman buildings are less common in Boston than in NY. Much of Boston is a lot more like the area from Society Hill to Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia than it is like anything in Manhattan -- large numbers of rowhouses converted to apartments.

There are incredibly convenient if somewhat soulless rentals in various high rise buildings in the Prudential Center, right next door to where you will be working. A rental or sublet here would be great since there is a supermarket on one side, a Trader Joe's on the other, and a heck of a lot of restaurant, shopping, and entertainment in between.

I have never known a consultant who didn't travel much (good luck!) but you will certainly be working many hours (my son is 3 years out of a Chicago MBA and still working 90 hours a week). It is better to have a place that is near by while you are at this stage in your career than to find somewhere less convenient but more poetic.

Rumrita1

Take a look at this site to see firsthand reviews of apartments.

http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/MA-Boston.html

BostonGal

The South End is definitely a great place to live. While one poster said it's an up and coming neighborhood - I have to disagree. I think it's been a fantasic place for a while
I agree with the poster about the lack of concierge/doormen here in Boston. But there are some, you just have to look really hard, as they're more common with owner-occupied buildings.
I really love the South End, except for the difficulty in getting there. The orange line Back Bay stop is the only easy access besides the Silver Line, but you're working so close to the neighborhood, so it might not be an issue.
Back Bay would be a better location, especially since you're new to the area because it's so easily accessible but I'm not sure I know of any building with doormen except for the ugly Prudential residence buildings...

Good luck this weekend!

wyatt92

The poster called South Boston up and coming, not the South End.

I agree, doorman buildings are pretty scarce in Boston. Your best bet is to look at the luxury hotel/condo buildings that have sprouted up. Ritz Carlton Boston Common may have rentals.

As for location, either the Back Bay or the South End. That way you can walk to work.

Now that I think about it, there is a new luxury apartment building near Fenway Park called Trilogy. I think there may be a doorman, it's 2 T stops to where you'll be working. www.trilogyboston.com

AustinTraveler

Here's a relocation website that may help you out:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/boston/

gail

The weekend of 4/6 is Easter weekend - that will mean likely you will not have Sunday to view apartments, although some may have rental offices open.

rvaccha

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. So far, I have made appointments at the Avalon at Prudential Center, and Trilogy Apartments at 180 Brookline Avenue.

Does anyone know anything about these
apartments?, especially Trilogy, as I will be new to Boston thus dont know how good, convenient, safe the location is.

I have left a message for an agent at Coldwell Banker...what other options do I have?

Any leads will be welcome, I guess I am open to brownstone type buildings as well.

Thanks a lot,
Andy

Cookiew

Andy, pretty much any place you will look at in the South End, Back Bay, wherever, will be very accessible by a wonderfully extensive transit system consisting of busses, the subway, trolley lines, and commuter rail links. You will have no worries about accessibility for sure! Hopefully your pockets are very deep though! Brownstones are everywhere for example on Marlborough St next to the Public Gardens so you should be shown these almost automatically. Another area to consider is Jamaica Plain which is an ecclectic section of Boston, very cosmo, friendly community, earthy, kind of like an affordable Cambridge but I use the word "affordable" loosly! If you don't run into something you like in the South End or Back Bay, try JP!

wyatt92

I live near the Trilogy. The area is pretty quiet except when there are Red Sox games. It's a brand new building, looks very nice from the outside. There are some shops and eateries on the first floor (love west elm!) and across the street is the Landmark Center which has a movie theater, Best Buy, Staples, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.

It is close to 2 T lines, Kenmore Square and the Fenway stop on the D train (both Green line). 2 blocks from Fenway, lots of bars and restaurants in the area. Probably about a 20 minute walk to the Hancock. If the weather is bad, you can walk to the T and go 2 stops to the Copley stop which is close to the Hancock. I'd definitely live there.

The Avalon is in the heart of the Back Bay and is close to everything and about a block from the Hancock. I think you have a good start.

rvaccha

Hi,

I have also made an appointment to look at 91 Sidney (www.91sidney.com)

How is that area? What about living in Cambridge, does that make sense? My brother attends Harvard College so I guess I could meet him more often

He is a Freshman thus does not know much about Boston, outside of his college area, thus he cannot help me much!

Thanks,
Andy

capxxx

You can also try Craigslist for apartment and office rentals.

boston.craigslist.org