0 Boston Luxury Apartments For International Students

Posted on April 12, 2011 by All Access Boston

Are you relocating to Boston from another country? We deal with a large clientele base of international students moving to Boston. Lately, we’ve found that there is a large influx of international students looking for luxury Boston apartments. Whether you’re driving in from Canada or flying in from France, All Access Boston is your source for Boston luxury apartments for international students.

Some may think that they are stuck living in the dorms as long as they are here on an I-20. This isn’t the case. While you may run into some difficulty when it comes to dealing with smaller landlords who require a U.S. based cosigner, most luxury buildings in Boston will accept international students with international cosigners. The process is actually quite simple with the help of an All Access Boston representative.

Whether you are coming to the U.S. to study at Suffolk, Babson, Northeastern, or any of the numerous colleges and universities that Boston has to offer, we can help you find luxury housing for international students. Of course, there are some luxury buildings in Boston that won’t take student tenants, but that’s why you are using an All Access Boston real estate agent. We know the Boston luxury market like no one else and can assist you in finding off campus housing. With one of our experienced representatives backing you up, your luxury apartment search will be a breeze.

Start your Boston luxury apartment search today. We can help you locate Boston luxury apartments for international students with ease. Contact one of our real estate professionals to begin.

0 5 Things To Bring On A Boston Apartment Showing

Posted on February 9, 2011 by All Access Boston

As we all know, the Boston apartment market moves quickly. An apartment may be available one moment and the next thing you know, it’s rented. There’s never much time to think things over. So what do you do if you’re searching for a Boston apartment and don’t want to miss out on the perfect rental? Starting your search early in the year is, of course, extremely important. If you really want to make sure you get that perfect apartment however, here are some things that will help insure that you’re first to the punch.

What to Bring:

1. Your Roommates:
This may seem pretty obvious, but there are still a ton of clients who schedule showings with us sans roommates. Obviously, everyone living in the apartment is going to want to see it before they sign a lease. Making an appointment to see apartments without your roommates may seem like a good way to get out there early, but if you’re just going to have to wait a week until they can come see apartments, odds are that the best options will have rented.
You need to get those roommates out with you the first time. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! If one of your roommates would rather go out on a date instead of seeing apartments (this happened), maybe they aren’t someone you want to count on. You need to be able to pull the trigger on the perfect apartment the day you see it. Waiting for slackers will only hurt you.

2. Your Checkbook:
You are going on an apartment showing for one thing…to find an apartment. If you aren’t ready to apply, then you are wasting your time. Going out to “get an idea of what’s out there” isn’t worth it. By the time you are ready to make a move, the things that were out there will have rented. You need to go out there with the attitude that you are going to find the right Boston apartment and sign on it. Of course, you can’t apply for anything without putting down a deposit. So, bring your checkbook and be ready to make a call.

3. A Concrete Idea of What You Want (and what you don’t):
Before you contact a real estate agent, make a list of the things that you need and the things that you want in your next apartment. These are two definitive categories as you may NEED to be near the T. You may WANT laundry in the unit. Your budget may not cover it though so be sure to differentiate.
Knowing what you don’t want is just as important. Let your Boston real estate agent know ahead of time if there are any deal-breakers. Do you refuse to live on a loud street? Make sure to let your agent know or you may spend a day seeing apartments that you couldn’t be paid to live in.

4. Parental Consent (including a full disclosure of what things will cost if they are paying):
Around this time of year, students get really amped up about the idea of living together. “What, Lindsey wants to get an apartment with Brittany and Dolph? OMG I want to room with you guys too!!!” Ok, Dolph probably isn’t living there.

Seriously, it's not happening.

In order to make sure that when you and your roommates go to see apartments that you aren’t wasting time, make sure that EVERYONE has not only gotten the OK to move off campus with their parents, abut that everyone agrees on a budget as well. Also, make sure everyone is 100% in (this is important to all of you and stringing you along is grounds for a serious de-friending, Facebook and all). Running into a snag two weeks in because someone backs out leads to headaches, broken friendships, and missed opportunities. Get things straight first.

5. Knowledge of Your Budget:
This works in two ways. Everyone wants to save money, but that doesn’t change what apartments rent for. If you cap your budget at $1,000 for a one bedroom apartment, you are really going to limit your options (and also be living in a studio). Once you follow step 3 (see step 3), you need to have a realistic idea of what this is going to cost. If you don’t know, ask your real estate agent. Can you afford it? Are you willing to stretch that $1,000 budget in order to make it happen? Be honest with yourself.
On the other side of the coin, if you go out on a Boston apartment showing like you sneeze out cash but in reality your bank account is tightening it’s belt, you are going to end up wasting your time. Do I want a $5,000 luxury apartment? Yup. Can I afford one? Not without “donating” a kidney. you need to look at your financial situation realistically and then mold your apartment needs around that.

Be sure to check out the section of our website dedicated to Boston apartment advice.

0 Finding A Boston Apartment For Your Child

Posted on December 13, 2010 by All Access Boston

Search Boston Off Campus Housing

Is your child going to be attending college in Boston? Are they already a student in Boston but have decided to move off campus? If you’re in either of these situations, you’ve probably had some sort of discussion with them about where they’re going to live. You may even be planning on viewing apartments in Boston with them. The fact is, you need to understand the Boston apartment rental market in order to help them best.

The most important thing you need to be aware of before you get into searching for your kid’s next apartment. Let’s put this in bold so it’s the first thing you see on the page. The Boston apartment rental market runs way ahead of schedule…it’s unlike anywhere else in the country. This is especially true of off campus housing because Boston students move around so often. What this means is that you need to be searching for apartments months ahead of your desired move-in date.

This doesn’t mean that you have to search so that you get a chance to see everything. It means that Boston off campus apartment availability will be on the market months in advance so you need to actually find and apply for an apartment before all the best are rented.

There’s a very good reason why I bring this up. With the Spring semester coming up on us, there are a lot of students coming into Boston for the first time who may not have been able to get a dorm room due to space. Also, some students opt out of the dorms mid-year and begin looking for their first off campus apartment now. The problem we have is that this flood of apartment hunters isn’t aware of this important facet of the real estate market because they are renting for the first time, OR, they were accepted to class late and didn’t have a choice but to begin hunting for apartments late.

Regardless, this creates an issue that really limits renter’s options. There’s really only one thing to do this time around and that’s get out to find an apartment and do it now. If you have to take a day off work, make it happen. I currently have a number of clients who need apartments but want to wait until next week to do it. I understand that they may have finals, but taking a few hours to see their options needs to be a priority. By next week their options could be slashed in half. Some may have only a couple options left depending on their apartment needs. Your off campus housing search needs to be a priority.

Now that we have that down, there’s really only one thing to do and that’s to start your Boston apartment search today and then (after an All Access Boston agent contacts you), get back in touch with them immediately to schedule a showing.

Don’t be left out in the cold this year. Let’s get your apartment hunt started and finished before the week is out. It will give you one less thing to stress out about during the holidays.

1 Moving to Boston 2011

Posted on December 6, 2010 by All Access Boston

Moving to Boston this Coming Year?

Its that time of year again… “Jingle Bells” is playing on loop at your local mall. Everyone is being extra nice to each other (probably to get better presents). Everyone is waiting for that first heavy snow when all of our cars will be plowed in (and we’ll immediately stop being extra nice to each other).

Its the holidays!

Now we know what you are thinking, “Oh no, I have to stress out about getting everyone I know a gift”. Don’t worry about it because the fact is, you have way bigger things to worry about. For instance, where will you be living on New Year’s Day? Hint: If you don’t know yet, that’s a major issue.

So what do you do? Ok, settle down. Santa knows when you’ve taken too many Xanax and he’s not a fan. This can all be settles very easily. In fact, you may be able to save a few bucks on your January 1st apartment rental. How? We’ll tell you.

So you need an apartment for January 2011 in Boston. Maybe you’re moving to Boston to attend class at one of the city’s fantastic schools like BU, Boston College, Northeastern, or Berklee. Maybe your current lease is up and you’re sick of living in your current apartment. Maybe you’re moving to Boston for work. Regardless of the reason, you probably know that having a roof and a mailing address is preferable to not.

Of course, you’re immediately going to contact an All Access Boston real estate professional to find you the perfect apartment and walk you through the rental process. On top of that, you might get a little holiday treat as there are some great deals on the Boston rental market at the moment.

With so many landlords moving forcing leases to end on August 31st of 2010, there was a glut of supply this past September in a year that saw a very low demand. More and more college students were staying home and commuting to class instead of living off-campus. Young professionals who were in a financial bind weren’t coming up with the money to relocate. As a result, vacancies abound. What comes naturally with Boston apartment vacancies? Rent decreases.

So here’s where you come in. You need an apartment in Boston for January and we’ve got the know how to find you the right place at the right price. Everyone loves a deal. How do no fee Boston apartments sound? Pretty good I’ll bet especially since you have to fork over a few hundred in various gift cards this month.

So, whether you’re moving to Boston or simply relocating to a new neighborhood, simply follow our “Contact” link to get in touch with one of our staff members. It’s easy as one form, a couple of e-mails, and a nice, relaxed apartment showing. You’ll be all set by the end of the week.

0 Spring Semester Boston Off Campus Housing

Posted on October 31, 2010 by All Access Boston

Fall is finally in the air. Yes, it took its sweet time getting here, but Boston has finally succumbed to colored leaves, crisp breezes, and hot apple cider. This is all well and good, but is it as much fun if you don’t have an apartment? The answer is an obvious no, it’s hard to get stoked on the change of seasons if your mailing address is more fiction than fact. If you’ve lived in a Boston apartment before, then you most likely signed your lease for September 1st. However, what if you were in on-campus housing for the fall semester and find yourself in need of spring semester off-campus housing? As always, you are in luck with All Access Boston…finding spring semester off-campus housing is just one of the many things we do all the time.

Off-campus housing is one of our specialties here at All Access Boston. Searching for spring semester off-campus housing can melt one’s brain if not done with the guidance of a trained professional (us). What do you look for? Where do you look? What do you wear on the showing? Allow me: an apartment, near your campus, pants. All Access Boston has apartments near every college in the Boston area (all 72-ish of them) and are ready to get you the spring semester off-campus housing you need to continue your scholarly pursuit.

The Spring semester is a bit of a misnomer (being that it starts in January), and the resulting lack of availability can produce cold sweats. Now don’t worry, we’re professionals. All Access Boston still has plenty of apartments available (many of them no fee), so let’s get going…call us today, we’ll make it hot.

There is one thing I have not touched on, so i’m going to. Consider the possibility of having two more years of undergraduate studies, then immediately transitioning into graduate school, then seamlessly enter the work force with a six figure salary. Life sounds good they way I describe it, doesn’t it? For these driven people, there is an option that makes more sense than renting. You guessed it, it’s totally buying. If you are guaranteed to be in Boston for a minimum of five additional years, it makes far more sense to build equity, improve your credit, and bask in the warm satisfaction of being a homeowner. All Access Boston has condos available for sale that will surprise you. You’ll be surprised that you can own your own place for what you’re currently paying in rent….and the best part, it’s yours! Think it over…give it a shot, you are gonna love it.

Whatever your spring semester off-campus housing needs, All Access Boston has you covered. Give us a call…you’ll like the way you live (I ripped off this saying).