0 Boston Off Campus Housing Search

Posted on May 11, 2012 by All Access Boston

Congratulations college students on another semester finished. Hopefully, you made it through with most of your hair. Now, it’s time to find that apartment for next semester. If you’ve lived in Boston for awhile, you are aware that off campus housing for September 1st starts renting in January. That isn’t to say you’ve missed the bus completely, but now it’s time to hustle.

Here’s the issue…over the last few weeks you’ve said to yourself, “Hey, self, I should get a group of my new favorite friends together to live with next year because my old friends are lame. I mean, who still listens to Vampire Weekend? I hate Josh.”, or something like that.

The next thing you did was go online to search for an apartment in Boston and of course you ended up on the best website for Boston off campus housing, AllAccessBoston.com. You signed up, found a few apartments you liked…maybe you even exchanged a few emails with a real estate agent. Then you disappeared off the face of the Earth into the dark land of finals.

As finals went on you forgot all about your apartment search. Eventually, you passed everything and hopefully saved the school while getting back at the evil dean in some Van Wilderesque moment. Then of course, it became time to celebrate. The next week ended up being a blur of parties, after-parties, and walks of shame. But wait, didn’t you need an apartment?

So, two to three weeks have passed by since you looked at those great Boston off campus housing options on AllAccessBoston.com and do you know what happened? They rented. That’s what happened. Uh-oh. Alright, new game plan. Get yourself back onto AllAccessBoston.com and let’s start your Boston off campus housing search in earnest. There are two very simple avenues we can choose. You can find a number of listings that interest you and click the “Request A Showing” button on each, or, you can respond to the e-mail that your assigned real estate agent sent you. You can even just call our office at 617-981-6900 and yell “HELP” into the receiver. We’ll take care of you all the same.

What’s important is that you get moving on your apartment search now. Soon you’ll be off on vacations, finding a summer job, or holing yourself up in your home so that no one can interrupt your 3 month Call of Duty binge. The priority needs to be your next apartment though. Let us help you get that taken care of before all of your options are gone. Once we get your Boston off campus housing search squared away, you are free to enjoy your summer without a care in the world.

0 Apartments On Mission Hill

Posted on January 2, 2012 by All Access Boston

New Years Day has come and gone and that means that very soon there is going to be a rush for apartments on Mission Hill. Boston’s rental market has some trends that can always be counted on and one of those is the early year push for big bedroom apartments on Mission Hill. Right about now you should be corralling your friends for your four or five bedroom apartment, weeding out those who “aren’t sure yet”, and getting a game plan going regarding your budget and desired apartment features. Does it sound too soon to you? That’s because I’m right and you’re wrong.

Seriously though, in the next two months, landlords who own Mission Hill apartments are going to be asking their current tenants whether they want to stay or not. Once those calls are made, the listings go out to us and the race is on. With students from Northeastern, Mass College of Art, and more all looking to find the perfect apartment on Mission Hill, listings rent and they rent fast. For example, I know a landlord on Mission Hill that just developed a few new houses a couple years back. These apartments are some of the nicest on Mission Hill. I had people calling me about them in November. That’s nuts, but that’s how competitive the Mission Hill apartment market is.

Like this but with a house in the background.

I’m going to look into my crystal ball of stuff I know from years of experience and give you a look into the future of how your Mission Hill apartment search is going to go. You are going to decide that you want to live on Mission Hill with a group of your friends. That day, 10 to 15 people will say they are definitely in…maybe you can rent out an entire three story house. Sweet! The next day all but maybe two of those people will return your calls. Don’t be discouraged. Those other people will wait until the last minute and end up living in a dump while you get the pick of the litter. Revenge!

Next, you will sit down with your chosen group of friends to decide on a budget for your apartment on Mission Hill. Everyone will say they’re good for at least a grand. That night they’ll call their parents. They’ll return the next day suddenly not as ballin’ as previously promised. That’s OK. If you are renting a four bedroom Mission Hill apartment, you don’t need to be spending 4k. Plan to be around at least $3,500 for a decent apartment. Odds are one of your parents will end up coming along on the showing. They’ll see what short money gets them and start to be a bit more flexible in the wallet.

Next, you’ll spend an inordinate amount of time searching through the myriad of brokerages and Craigslist ads online. This is where we’re going to detour from your predetermined course. Instead of doing that, you’re simply going to visit www.allaccessboston.com and deal with an agent who knows apartments on Mission Hill like the back of their hand. We’ve all lived in this city a long time and that means spending a few fruitful years up on the Hill ourselves. We also have the contacts you need to see every Mission Hill apartment option available. We’ve got you covered.

Finally the big day comes and it’s time for your Mission Hill apartment showing. As previously stated, someone’s Mom insists on coming along. You will see some apartments that have great potential as you decide where the Beruit table goes and other important factors. Mom, however, will be somewhat bothered by the state the current tenants have the apartment in. You will gently remind her that this is Mission Hill and there are a lot of students. Some are neat and tidy…most aren’t. Picture the place empty and clean even if their is laundry and pizza boxes everywhere.

After seeing all of your options, you’ll all agree that there was that one you liked the best…and you want to see it again just to be sure. No problem. Everyone starts deciding which room is theirs before even filling out an application. You’ve made your decision, you really want this Mission Hill apartment. Now, here is the fork in the road where many people choose poorly. If you want to rent this apartment on Mission Hill, you need to fill out applications and put down a deposit for it. If you decide to “think things over”, someone else is going to rent that apartment out from under you. After all, if you thought it was the best option, then other people will too.

To avoid this unfortunate blunder, make sure all of your roommates are exactly on the same page before you go out on your showing. Renting apartments in Mission Hill is like the Wild West. Fastest draw wins. If someone isn’t on board and hesitates, you all run the risk of losing out. Don’t let that happen.

So now you know what to expect when you go to rent your apartment on Mission Hill this year. You know how to handle the process and what pitfalls to avoid. You’ve got a couple of weeks before the Mission Hill rental race begins. Start finding your roommates today!

1 Fenway Center Apartments Project

Posted on December 21, 2011 by All Access Boston

If you’re like me, you have spent a good amount of time in the Fenway area. In fact, I’ve spent so many days (and nights) doing everything there is to do in the Fenway, that I can honestly say I know it like the back of my hand. I bet I could walk blindfolded from the Blandford T stop down to the Sausage Guy on Lansdowne and on to Guitar Center without missing a step. That’s about to change a bit however, but in a very good way. Enter the Fenway Center project…

Recognize that place? Probably not, and not just from the fact that it’s a rendering with little detail. Let me put it into perspective for you. That’s Fenway Park in the bottom left corner. Yup. What you’re looking at a rendering of the Fenway Center development once it is completed (targeted for 2014). “But what are those big buildings”, you ask. They are the core of the Fenway Center project. Fenway Center is a 1,172,970 square foot mixed-use development stretching between Kenmore Square, Fenway Park, and The Longwood Medical Area. We’re not just talking about another luxury complex here ‘ala Trilogy or 1330 Boylston, we’re looking at a massive renovation to the Fenway area that will make one of Boston hottest areas even better.

Ok, hold on. Your head might have just exploded from that information. I don’t blame you, mine did too. The first thing I thought was, “massive architectural undertaking in Boston, the land of construction nightmares?” Nooooooooooooo. Hold your horses there Negative Nancy. The first thing to keep in mind is that the Fenway Center development is not a City of Boston venture. This is backed by firms who want things done now and they want them done right. The Fenway Center project is going to make life better in ways you haven’t even thought of yet…because I haven’t told you. I will, but first you can take a look at their projected dates of completion in the graph below.

Why the Fenway Center is good for you:

Wait…did you see that first part? Construction of Yawkey Way station? That little bit right there is going to make life a lot easier for a lot of people. Let’s say you’re commuting in to work in Longwood Medical. Instead of having a little rail station with 17 trains a day stopping, thanks to the Fenway Center project, you will have access to a full Commuter Rail station with over 40 stops per day. Oh, and just because the Fenway Center project is awesome like that, the station will be solar powered. There will of course be increased shuttle activity to the Longwood area as well. What if you aren’t a Commuter Rail kind of guy and you just happen to want to take the B Line inbound from Allston when the Sox have a home game. Suddenly you won’t be smothered to death by all the fans who park a neighborhood away and then pile into the Green Line. Everyone wins.

Why the Fenway Center is good for everyone:

I’m sure I don’t have to spell out the upside of the 330 apartments that will be a large part of the Fenway Center Project. If there’s one thing that Boston and Fenway in general need it’s more housing. The demand is always there, but the apartments aren’t. While I’m sure these homes will be leased before their ready to move into, they will still hopefully make a bit of a dent in the demand for apartments near the Longwood and Fenway areas.

Then of course there’s the 370,000 sq.ft of office space and 150,000 sq. ft. of retail space. The Fenway Center project will be a shot in the arm for the Boston economy. Think about the amount of jobs that building this development will create. Now factor in the space for new business and you’ve got one hell of a economic growth spurt. …and just in case you were about to say, “Dave, what about the environment? This development will cause icecaps to melt and birds to fall from the sky”. Nope. Not only is the lot the Fenway Center project mostly parking lot at the moment, but they are adding 30,000 sq. ft. of park space. Trees for everyone!

I could go on, but to really get the full picture of what the Fenway Center project has in store, check out this pdf. Some of the numbers may throw you for a loop, but you can really get the gist of what the Fenway Center is all about and hopefully get as excited about it as I am.

2 Apartments in Allston MA for September

Posted on July 28, 2011 by All Access Boston

Still looking for that last minute September apartment rental? If you need a one bedroom apartment in Allston, you need to be out on a showing THIS WEEK! I am not over-exaggerating when I say that apartments in Allston are renting faster than we can get applications filled out. Properties are renting by the truckload and there is no time to hesitate.

We still have a small amount of no fee apartments in Allston, but they will be rented within the next week or so. We want to help you find a no fee apartment in Allston, but you need to make a move and contact our team TODAY!

There has been a smaller than normal supply of apartments in Boston to begin with this year. A large amount of tenants chose not to relocate this year in order to save money. This all boils down to less options for renters. We all know that September apartments start renting much earlier in the year. By this time there is usually slim pickings anyway, but this year is especially tough.

We’ve got the no fee Allston apartment for you. Contact an All Access Boston real estate agent today for the keys!

0 Allston Apartments For September

Posted on July 7, 2011 by All Access Boston

Allston apartments for September are the hottest thing going in the Boston rental market. Almost a third of our calls this past week have been from clients looking for an Allston apartment for September. What does this mean for you? Well, if you are apartment hunting in Allston and haven’t found the “right” place yet, you better get moving.

While this part of town usually moves a little earlier in the year, a combination of a slow economy and local landlord’s unwillingness to pay full fees have kept the Allston rental market relatively cool in 2011. Some larger management companies have long lists of availability (hint: pay the fee). This abundance of Allston apartments for September allows you some leeway to negotiate a bit off of the rent, but don’t wait long.

By this time next week, most of the All Access Boston team will have a blood/caffeine level somewhere around 50%. We’ll need to because there is an endless amount of clients looking to move to Allston whether it’s for school or to save a bit of money by moving a bit further from the center of Boston (sidenote: you still aren’t getting a two bedroom apartment in the Fenway for $1,500 slow economy or not). If you want a shot at the best selection of Allston apartments for September, contact an All Access Boston real estate agent today.