Working in Billerica but living in Boston? (Lowell, Cambridge: apartments, lease)

[NewtoMA2012]

Hey, I'm 23 years old and going into my second year out of school. I'm in a rotational job program and I will be working in Billerica from July to January. What is Billerica like? I would like to live in a fun urban area without a long commute. Easy access to downtown Boston would be a major plus. I'm considering Cambridge or Somerville but I don't know what areas I should be looking into because I've only been to Boston a few times.

Also I need a 6-month lease. I am a little concerned about this; any tips? What type of rent should I expect for a 1 bedrooom; 2 bedroom?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!

[ogre]

In Cambridge and Somerville, check out several areas near stops on the subway's red line. Davis Square in Somerville and Central Sq. in Cambridge are a couple of areas to start searching for the kind of area you're looking for.

Depending on how urban you want it, you may want to check out downtown Waltham. I'm suggesting this area just because I'm trying to think of areas a reasonable commuting distance from Billerica which could be considered fun and urban. The caveat with Waltham is that the only section which fits that description is the area right around downtown. That area does have a collection of young professionals, a bunch of restaurants, and a movie theater that often shows films that fall a bit outside of the mainstream fare at the megaplexes. Waltham would be less of a good fit, though, if you want a city landscape all around you beyond your local neighborhood.

Again depending on the particulars of what you're looking for, you might check out Lowell. Word is that there is a growing young professionals scene around downtown Lowell. Lowell has an urban feel, is more a small city than a town, and in fact is the closest place to Billerica that has anything that might be described as fun and urban. This depends on what you're looking for, because Lowell stands alone out a way from Boston, outside of the unbroken spread of urban character closer in toward Boston in places like Somerville and Cambridge, so, as with Waltham, whether Lowell would work would depend on whether you want the city all around you beyond your local area.

Regarding rents, for a 1br in the Boston area you can figure somewhere in the range of maybe 1,200/month at the very low end for anything in an urban area, with more places in the range of more like 1,400-1,600. It can be higher in an especially desirable area, and you might occasionally hunt up a bargain for 1,000/month or just above, though these are often going to be separate apartments in owner-occupied houses, an arrangement which has its pros and cons. (Personally I think mostly cons other than price, though it may depend on the particular arrangement.)

[wxjay]

I would avoid Lowell if I were you.

I would look into Somerville (Davis Square). That would be ideal for what you want and have easy T access to downtown Boston. Plus, to get to Billerica, the commute would be straightforward - Rte 2 to 128 to Rte 3. You could also take Rte 3 all the way up (depending on where in Billerica you work, this could be more direct actually). Commute time in the morning would be decently fine (probably 30 min, depending on when you left). Coming back will be alright except when you get close to the end of Rte 2, which always backs up.

The trick with Somerville (and really Cambridge for that matter), however, is parking. Finding off-street parking is hard and comes at a premium.

As an alternative, you might consider Arlington. You will be a quick bus ride in to either Davis or Harvard Square and can find a decently priced apartment. Since Arlington bans street parking overnight, most apartments will come with off street parking there. The disadvantage is that you have the walkability as well as Somerville for pubs and such, but again it is a short bus ride away.

[gf2020]

I assume you have a car?

I have an office in Billerica and several of the younger folks here live in Cambridge, Somerville and Waltham. It's a pretty easy reverse commute via 93 to 128 to route 3 or route 2 to 128 to route 3.

[NewtoMA2012]

Thanks for all the great help/tips!! Yep, I have a car. I'm glad the Cambridge, Somerville commute sounds managable. I'm going to look into the areas you all recommended. I'm completly new to renting in a city. Will I need to work through an agent? Are there any other sites I should be looking at in addition to Craig's list? Any other recommendations for dealing for the 6 month lease period?

Thanks again!

[wxjay]

You don't have to work with an agent, but there are places for rent that require you to pay an agent fee (i.e., the landlord hired someone to post their place and usually the landlord will make it a move-in requirement to pay half/all the fee = one month's rent. That is negotiable though).