Welcome to Boston, guys! It’s school time! Renting a house is a very important topic for students who have just arrived in Boston. The housing situation in different areas will also affect your choice. In this article, we will introduce you to the different areas of Boston student housing situation, to help you find the best house for you!
Choosing Area
The first thing you need to know is where you want to live in Boston!
Fenway/Kenmore
The most famous are Fenway Park and the Boston baseball team Red Sox. In addition, the Museum of Fine Arts and Boston Symphony Hall, Boston Latin School, NEU, and Harvard Business School are also located in this area.
Back bay
Boston’s Back Bay area can be regarded as one of the most expensive areas in Boston. There are two famous fashion streets— Newbury Street and Boylston Street. The Prudential Center and the John Hancock Tower are located in this area.
Jamaica Plain (mission hill)
The main feature of this area is that the main public transport is cable buses. There are many young families, art lovers, Democratic Party supporters, and many Hispanic residents. This city’s green and environment is good. Besides, there are more independent houses.
South End
The South End is close to the central location of Back bay and Downtown. It is also one of the preferred locations for investment. The South End has many Victorian red brick buildings, as well as many five-star hotels, art centers, and nearly 30 large and small parks. It is the residence of white-collar workers and families.
Downtown
Downtown is the central location of Boston, where City Hall and many corporate headquarters are located, as well as many famous tourist attractions. Residences on this side range from historic apartment buildings to modern glass-walled towers that have been developed in recent decades.
Allston
There are many universities around, such as the Harvard Business School and Harvard University stadium and courts to the northeast, and Boston University to the southeast, so the population of the city is mainly young students.
Brookline
Brookline is a typical Jewish quarter. Its education system has produced countless outstanding people, and President Kennedy grew up in the region.
Brighton
It has officially come under Boston since 1874. This area has metro Green Line C and D lines. There are many shops and the population is mainly young people. In addition, the housing type is mainly apartments and multi-family rooms.
East Boston
The easternmost part of Boston, near Boston Logan Airport, is populated by Italian, South American, and Southeast Asian immigrants. There are many renovated apartments, and more and more young white-collar workers are moving there.
Tips
North of Boston, Malden, a favorite area for Chinese students, was named the best place to raise a child in Massachusetts in 2009. Malden has the convenience of a big city and the charm of a small town. It is also very convenient to get to Boston from here, taking the T train in half an hour.
South of Boston, Quincy, the favorite area of Chinese students, as the largest gathering place of Chinese in Massachusetts, life has great convenience. In addition to many Chinese supermarkets and Chinese restaurants, the city websites and public facilities are provided in Chinese. Every year, on the day of major Chinese festivals such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, there are also very lively activities in Quincy City, attracting countless visitors to.
Choosing House Type
Condo VS Apartment
For renters, there is not much difference between a Condo and an Apartment. The full name of Condo is Condominium, and the building type of it and Apartment is very similar to the new residential apartment housing in China.
Apartments, generally speaking, are divided into ordinary apartments and senior apartments. The advantage of ordinary apartments is affordable, and has a certain location advantage, but the disadvantage is relatively old, and limited supporting facilities; Senior apartments on the other hand, the advantage is new, complete facilities, but the price is relatively high.
House
A House stands the detached villa (single villa). Sounds luxurious, doesn’t it? In fact, in general, renting a House is cheaper than renting an Apartment, but in most cases, you need to rent the whole House. But then you can live with your best friends, and comparing with living in an apartment, you don’t have to worry about disturbing the neighbors if you have a weekend party.
⭐Tips
In my personal experience, apartments are more convenient. The most important reason is that the facilities and security are generally much better. Almost all apartments have the 24-hour security and security cameras. Meanwhile, driving friends will also take into account that the Apartment generally has its own parking lot, which is much more convenient and safer than street parking.
Choosing Room Type
Studio
The bedroom, living room and kitchen (sometimes semi-open) are integrated, and the bathroom is separated. So the Studio is actually more like the Loft concept.
1B1B
One bedroom and one living room, the biggest difference from the above is that the rooms are separated. Both are very suitable for individuals or couples to live together, with high privacy. 1B1B is generally more expensive, but the bedroom alone can effectively isolate the smell of the kitchen. This is important if you use the kitchen a lot.
1 Split
The type of two bedrooms with no living room is very popular on the East coast of the United States. It is very suitable for students to live in. It is not only to ensure each other’s privacy, but also to eliminate the use of the living room. 1 Split is only available in regular apartments and is relatively more affordable. 2 Split, as the name suggests, is three rooms without living rooms.
2B2B, 3B2B, 4B2B, etc.
These are applicable to the situation of shared accommodation. The first B refers to the Bedroom and the second B refers to the Bathroom. Sometimes there will be a Master room in an Apartment or House and a Bathroom in a larger room, and it is important to realize that everyone in the other room will have to share the rest of the Bathroom. Note: 0.5B means a Bathroom with a toilet only.
⭐Tips
If you are the lively person, you can rent a set of 2B2B, 3B2B and so on with good friends. After all, a person living alone in a foreign country will inevitably feel lonely. Having friends chatting, binge-watching and catching Final is still happier than living alone in a whole room. But one of the bugs here is that if your and your roommates’ personalities are incompatible… Then the next year of living together will be a real death wish.
Furnitures
Furnished
The house with its own furnitures can be checked in if they are more complete. However, that situation is relatively few. Generally, it happens from the students who choosing to sublet the house due to the early departure of the house for some reasons.
Unfurnished
The house is unfurnished and needs to be bought by oneself. Generally, the houses on the market are unfurnished, and I personally do not recommend choosing a house with furniture for health reasons. The purchase of affordable furniture is usually from Ikea, Amazon, Walmart, second-hand. The first three can use online shopping to send goods to the door and the goods usually need to be assembled after delivery.
⭐Tips
Large furniture in order to be able to carry into the door, sometimes need to disintegrate and then assemble twice. For those cheap furnitures that changed hands several times is basically equal to falling apart, so it is recommended not to consider buying it.
Booking Process
If you want to own your own home as soon as you arrive in the United States, you need to consider booking a house remotely.
Application
After seeing a house, students need to apply for a house reservation. When applying for house reservation, students will receive the electronic application form from the real estate agency and fill in the relevant contents; Submit I-20, passport page scan, visa page scan, admission letter and deposit at the same time. The deposit is one month’s rent.
Landlord Audit
After receiving the student application form and materials, the landlord will review the student’s situation. If the landlord agrees to rent the house to the student, the landlord will collect the deposit and ask the real estate agency to draft the rental contract or draft it by himself or herself; If not, return the student deposit.
Sign the Contract
After the landlord agrees to rent, the student will receive the e-rental contract drafted by the landlord or the real estate agency and other relevant statements. Students sign first, landlords sign later. When the contract is signed, the deposit is automatically converted to the first month’s rent. In addition, the student will also pay the following money, the last month’s rent, the deposit (usually one month’s rent) and the agency fee. The deposit will be returned when the landlord checks out.
Check in
The rental contract shall take effect after the electronic contract is signed. On the day of check-in, students will be accompanied by the staff of the real estate agency to pick up the key from the landlord, and may need to go to the real estate agency to pick up the key by themselves, or may need to sign a paper rental contract again (according to the landlord’s requirements). The content of the paper rental contract is the same as that of the electronic version.
⭐Tips
After we confirm the house we want to rent, according to the specific requirements of each landlord, there will be some small differences in some specific procedures, but basically follow the above four points.
FAQ
Allston and Brighton stand out as exceptional choices. These neighbourhoods are not only rich in cultural diversity and brimming with a youthful energy but also are strategically positioned near several major universities. This makes them a magnet for students who seek convenience without sacrificing the vibrant, creative spirit that characterises student life.
In navigating the costs of student accommodation in Boston, it’s crucial to approach with a clear understanding that the investment is not merely in a place to stay, but in a lifestyle that fosters growth, learning, and community. The range of the cost is about from ＄1900 to ＄3500.
Most housing options do offer the flexibility for short-term family stays, aiming to ensure that students can maintain those vital familial bonds even while away from home. However, it’s advisable to consult with your housing provider about their specific guest policies, as they can vary.
If you are interested in US student housing information. Please check following blogs!
