Preparing to start a new semester means making tough decisions about what classes to take, whether to get a job, and what activities you want to make time for. One of the toughest decisions is deciding where to live. If you are trying to figure out whether to live in the dorm or in an off campus apartment, there are many things you need to consider before you make that decision.
Picking which neighborhood to apartment or house hunt in can be both exciting and stressful. With so many great Boston neighborhoods, the options can feel overwhelming. We compiled a list of neighborhood amenities to consider that can help make the search a little easier!
The holiday season is a very busy time of year, and there is no denying the convenience of online shopping. While online orders make getting all your gifts delivered a breeze, it can also put you at risk of box bandits stealing your packages. Read below for our tips on steps you can take to avoid having your holidays ruined by thieves!
Ever heard of a micro-apartment? It’s just what it sounds like — an apartment on a micro level, and they are growing in popularity. In many urban spaces, excess is out and minimalism is in. That is especially true in Boston. High real estate prices are certainly a big factor driving this trend, as high demand for living spaces close to the city is met with limited inventory and space. These sectioned off living units are a great option for individuals who prefer living on their own close to the city. Average rent prices in Boston can be high for 1 bedrooms and even many studio apartments near the city, but micro-apartments offer an affordable alternative for renters.
First time home buyers in Boston will undoubtedly be faced with many difficult and complex decisions on their road to purchasing a home. It can be hard enough deciding on whether to buy or rent in the first place, but once a person decides to buy, one of the biggest questions they’ll have to face is how they are going to come up with the money (assuming you don’t have $500,000 lying around in cold hard cash). For first-time home buyers looking to finance their home, they have an option for securing financing via a government-insured FHA loan or a conventional loan.
Shopping for a home can be fun, exciting, exhausting, painful and frightening all at the same time. As a potential homeowner, your aim is to end up with a home you’ll love at a price you can afford. With all the challenges and decisions that have to be made, it’s rare that a first time home buyer goes through the process without making at least one mistake. Being in the Boston real estate market for as long as we have, we’ve helped hundreds of first time home buyers achieve their dream of owning a home. These success stories did not happen without obstacles along the way, and with all this experience we’ve been able to identify a few key mistakes that we see repeated by first time home buyers time and time again.
Let’s face it, for many living in Boston, roommate living is not always ideal but necessary for lifestyle maintenance. People opt to share an apartment to either to save on rental cost or for convenience. However, over time, plans and ambitions may change, and your roommate may choose to go out on their own. This is never an easy thing to go through, especially when the departure occurs in the middle of a lease.
As Boston real estate prices soar, many people who aspire to own a home are priced out of the buyers market. In order to buy a home, you may need to have a good credit score and a large sum of money for a down payment.
For people who have a poor credit score, the dream of owning a home may seem out of reach. Nowadays, lenders are more stringent than ever when approving mortgages, and even with an FHA loan, you still have to have some sort of established credit to buy a home.
If your struggling with a poor credit score, there are a number of things you can do raise it. Some of these things can make an immediate positive affect in your credit scores, while some may require some time, patience and discipline. If you take these steps, you’ll be well on your way to improving your credit.
Experienced homebuyers know to always do their research on a property before closing on a house. Anytime you buy a home, you have to have the house inspected to see if there’s any issues before moving in. However, this often gets overlooked when someone who purchases a condo in a newly built apartment building. What could possibly go wrong? The place is brand new! Actually, there are a few things you should consider before moving in to that shiny new luxury complex.
