Housing advice from Boston-area residents?

[jh1230]

Hello!

So, I only seem to use LJ when I'm feeling whiny, or I need something.  No real comment, just an observation.

Bottom line is this: I AM CURRENTLY CONSIDERING MOVING TO THE BOSTON AREA, probably quite soon (like, beginning of Oct?), in order to help myself find a job thereabouts.  On my search, I have found many openings in many different

Comments

[usernamenumber]

Somerville and Cambridge are both great places with lots of awesome stuff going on, especially if you find a place near a square, but with crap parking laws and very few driveways. Seriously, I paid about $300/year just in parking tickets while living in Somerville.

May I suggest Arlington as a place worth looking at. If you can find a place near the minuteman trail you have easy walking/biking to Alewife and Davis, plus sane parking.

I'm currently in Belmont (near Watertown) on the 73 bus line, which has me an 8min bus ride from Harvard Sq, and in a much nicer place than I'd be able to get for the same money anywhere else.

[lisefrac]

pleasefortheloveofgod, not Somerville. At least not if you want me to ever come visit you.

[jh1230]

Hm...I didn't know Somerville was so bad for parking. Good to know.

Now, I'm not even sure yet whether I'd bring my car...So maybe now is a good time to pose the corollary question: How do you feel about the necessity/utility of a car in the Boston area, and does it vary by suburb/neighborhood/what have you?

[lisefrac]

Well, our public transit is pretty shitty, so I'd suggest having a car. Having a car is not really a problem anywhere but Cambridge and Somerville. I used to live in Watertown, and while they make you get your car off the streets in winter, the parking regulations aren't otherwise problematic. From Watertown (depending on what side of it you're on) you can also take the 73 or 70 bus into the city fairly easily, too.

If I were going to start over again, I'd probably choose Watertown or Belmont to live in, honestly. Belmont is a little pricier, because it's also a ritzier neighborhood, but there are some gorgeous parts of Watertown, too. I highly recommend the Cushing Square area, which is where I used to live, and near where BCOS (where usernamenumber et al live) is. It's highly walkable and close to the #73 bus, if you're so inclined. The neighborhood, on either the Watertown or Belmont side, is largely two-family homes, so you'd probably end up in an apartment or house that someone was renting out while they lived upstairs/downstairs.

[lisefrac]

And, and regarding rent prices, Matt and I paid $1600 + utilities (in 2004-2006) for a 2-3 bedroom apartment in Watertown, which was a two-family home where our landlord's parents lived downstairs. There was a driveway we both shared, which was handy when we needed to get cars off the streets. So the prices are definitely comparable to Camberville.

[in_water_writ]

So, I know captainecchi hates visiting Somerville, but I love living here. I believe it's more affordable than Cambridge. Yes, the parking situation is not great, but we live here with no car and have no problem. On the very rare occasion that we need a car for non-MBTA-accessible excursions, J has a zipcar account that has been useful and more cost effective than a full-time car

[in_water_writ]

PS- In Somerville, some residences have driveways. If you decide to bring your car, I highly suggest trying very hard to find an apt with off-street parking. It will probably cost more, but I would never want to put up with the headache of trying to find Somerville street parking.

[laurion]

Let me give a brief opinion on each of the above

[hanasaseru]

Believe me, whether or not you have a car will be a huge factor in where you want to live. I would definitely not recommend Newton at all if you don't plan on having a car. Watertown has more limited public transit, a commute could become a real pain from there without a car