MAqee9898 wrote:Does anyone know where the best and most affordable place to live that is close to BC law? I want a studio or 1 bedroom and willing to pay up to 1400 a month but all I am finding are broken down places or apartments that are way to expensive. I don't mind having up to a 45 minute commute driving. I don't mind living in the suburbs, I prefer it to be honest especially since I'm coming from the Bronx and would love the change of atmosphere. Thank you!
Someone mentioned it a couple pages back, but Cleveland Circle (a neighborhood in Brighton) is the way to go, friend. My top recommendation as a former resident. Reasonable rents, nice places, and access to public transit. BC also sends shuttles out to Cleveland Circle because so many students live there. It's not downtown, but I wouldn't say it's suburb-y either. There are a few restaurants, bars, a CVS, a grocery store that's fairly walkable. You could certainly do worse.
Watertown is suburby and very affordable, but you get what you pay for. The last person I knew who lived there was literally run out of their apartment by bedbugs. So your mileage may vary.
Jamaica Plain (usually you'll hear people say JP) is another great neighborhood, very suburby with reasonable rent and near a beautiful pond and Arboretum. It's typically reasonable in price. It would be a significantly longer commute for you than Cleveland Circle and your public transit options would be limited.
Dorchester and Roxbury and both reasonably priced neighborhoods, but some people have safety concerns in different parts of them. I would not sign a lease without visiting a place there in person just to get the vibe. The upside is that there are such a diversity of people (young, old, irish, cape verdean, families, students) in these neighborhoods and that they're very public transit friendly!
Don't bother with South End, Seaport, Financial District, Mission Hill, Back Bay, etc. The rent is too damn high.
The other thing to know is that the overwhelming majority of leases renew in September in Boston (not sure if this is the same for other cities?) so what you're seeing now is slim pickings and not what will be available. In May or so landlords will have a better sense of whether or not their tenants are staying and you'll have much better options. Don't lock yourself into anything now, and don't panic.
