So you are on your way to Boston to attend college. While you’re getting ready for your new classes, you also have to consider where you will live. Will you being living in Boston University housing, or find a nice quiet neighborhood nearby and commute to classes? Will you be living alone, or share your BC apartment rentals with other tenants?
Apartment hunting in Boston can be an easy and enjoyable experience if you know what you are specifically looking for and perform the proper research. When searching for college housing, you’ll find that many college students prefer the Boston neighborhoods of Allston and Brighton. These places are close to numerous colleges including Harvard and Boston University.
So if you are searching for Allston apartments or Brighton rentals, use these helpful tips to find the apartment that’s right for you.
- Write down all your preferences in an apartment. Are you looking for a place with off-street parking, laundry facilities in the building, or is pet-friendly? Make sure to always ask the landlord concerning all apartment amenities, including available public transportation.
- Always ask when can you move into the apartment. Some apartments may not be ready because the current tenant’s lease period is not over yet or the apartment may be undergoing construction. Choose an apartment that will be move-in ready before you start classes so you don’t have to worry about moving and unpacking while trying to study.
- Pick an apartment that fits into your finances. This might mean you are not choosing the most fanciest place with top-notch amenities. But if you will be paying for both your college tuition and a place to live, you need to make sure you can afford it.
Hunting for Boston college apartments won’t be a hassle if you research for one that’s right for your preferences and for your budget.
Dorchester was founded about the same time as Boston, and was still a mostly rural area when annexed by Boston in 1870. The town today is a diverse area that retains a pleasant suburban feel, nicknamed Dot by local residents. For students looking for Boston college housing, there is plenty to choose from. In Dorchester there are apartments near the University of Massachusetts Boston campus. Many health care students attend Laboure College.
The Boston subway Red Line stops in Dorchester, as well as several bus routes. It’s easy for students living in Brighton rentals to reach their campus and Boston cultural attractions without a car. The Neponset River crosses the Dorchester area, with Pope John Paul II Park covering 65 acres along the shore. This park offers walking trails and picnic facilities close to the Neponset River Greenway, a great place for students living in Northeastern University apartments to relax and unwind.
The John F Kennedy presidential library and museum is in Dorchester. Close by is Old Harbor Park, a favorite area connected to HarborWalk. Allston apartments are close to HarborWalk. Franklin Park is one of several public parks within Dorchester, close to Fenway apartments. Dorchester Park was established in 1891, and is now in the National Register of Historic Places.
For outdoor summer fun, Boston college housing students living in Dorchester can head to Malibu Beach. Malibu offers a playground and protected swimming area with a great view of the harbor. The South Bay Shopping Center on Allstate Road has several shops and restaurants, and is convenient to students looking for Brighton apartment rental.
Over the years, apartment searches in Boston have become more than just walking the neighborhood, eyes vainly searching for the elusive read and white sign posted in the window of an available apartment for rent. More and more people are utilizing the Internet to conduct apartment searches in their nearby neighborhoods.
Where To Begin?
Choose popular apartment search websites that disclose as much information as possible about the apartment rental, the landlord, and about the lease agreement. Sites that have mapping features are ideal and can make your Boston university housing search easier.
When conducting apartment searches in Boston, you need to consider several factors to make your search a success. Start by deciding if there are certain neighborhoods you want to live in. Base your decision on the types of transportation you want to use to get to college classes, downtown shopping areas, and recreational spots. Will those Allston apartments get you to your classes quicker, or would a Fenway apartment have the best public transportation?
Once you decide on a location, decide on the size. A one-bedroom or a studio pad? Also consider whether you will be living alone or have other people also renting the same apartment to cut down on costs.
Continue to narrow down the search results, using factors such as price and features. Is there onsite laundry facilities and parking? How close are the grocery stores and other eateries? Use your personal preferences in the search results until you have a list of apartments that would work out great for you.
Always keep a lookout for the ever-present scammer. It may be someone using legitimate rentals of Boston college apartments but has different contact information to get your money. Or it could be a landlord painting a picturesque perfect apartment that is actually a rundown, decaying mess.
Always check out the apartment before signing the lease agreement. Even if there is a photo of your Brighton apartment rental, you never know how long ago that photo was taken and changes could have been made that can have an effect on your decision.
As if final exams weren’t bad enough, most working college students face an added pressure when spring rolls around: filing taxes. While filing taxes is not as much of a hassle for broke college students as it is for more established professionals (college students have few, if any deductions to make) it still can be very difficult, as many students are still new to the whole concept. If you are a college student living in the Boston area, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the Brighton apartments, Northeastern University apartments or Allston apartments. You are going to need to get your taxes done, and you probably won’t have mom and dad to help you out this time. These tips should help to keep you on the straight and narrow:
Get a Head Start
Not doing anything for spring break? Start working on your taxes now! The last thing you need is to get to April 15th and still be scrambling to finish them up. If you’re heading home for spring break, take advantage of your parents’ expertise. If you’re going to be stuck in Boston College housing take advantage of the quiet and get those taxes out of the way.
Deductions
If you aren’t claimed as a dependent, you might be able to make a deduction for your college tuition. There are all kinds of education tax credits available for students. These may even wipe out any taxes that you owe.
Figure out Residency Qualifications
If you are living in the Boston University apartments for part of the year and spending summers in another state, you’ll have two states trying to get their hands on your money. Take a little time to find out if you are qualified to be considered a resident in your home state.
Many attractions cause people to fall in love with Boston. The mid-sized city is pedestrian friendly, and it has a mixture of history, stunning architecture and culture. With so many attractions, you may have trouble deciding what to do, but art enthusiasts can’t go wrong by spending an afternoon, day or more at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Permanent collections in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston include sections on ancient Egypt, Asia and Oceania, the Americas and Europe. The MFA has collections of jewelry, musical instruments, prints and drawings and textiles and fashion arts. There is a modern art section, too. The MFA has programs for children.
The MFA has amenities including a coat check, strollers, an ATM machine and visitor guides in seven languages. You can choose from dining options ranging from a coffee shop to a sandwich and soup cafeteria to a full-service restaurant. Courtyard dining is available during the summer. The MFA has three gift shops.
The MFA is located in the heart of downtown Boston. You can get there on the Green Line “E” train or the Orange Line train “Ruggles.” Students in university housing, such as Boston University apartments, Brighton apartments and Allston apartments, are within a stone’s throw of the MFA. If you’re coming to Boston from out of town, the MFA partners with local hotels to offer hotel packages that include MFA entry.
The museum is open 10:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.-9:45 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and 10:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Regular admission is $22 per person, children under six years get in free and children from 6 to 17 years get in free on weekends and public school holidays, and after 3:00 p.m. on weekdays. Your admission ticket is good for return trips within ten days of your first visit. Entry is free after 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and on Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day and the MFA Fall Open House. Members get in free.
Once becoming a resident of Boston, one of the most interesting places to spend time is the House of Blues Boston. Here you will find a music culture so deeply rooted in America, it spans centuries. Listen to Rhythm and Blues while you swing to the down home Rock and Roll. Stop in and listen to Martin Sexton, Brit Floyd or Mutemath. The line up of shows for spring activities will offer plenty of evening activity after a busy day.
Politics and boating are hot topics in this college town. Boston has its conglomerates but it is filled with quaint establishments ringing of history and culture. The House of Blues Boston is an intricate part of this community and its history. People meet and chat while musical notes float on the air of food and conversation. The House of Blues Boston welcomes visitors and residents, new and old to this city that plays host to education and culture.
Brighton Apartments are placed in a convenient setting. Close to shops and local places to eat. These apartments are within steps of the busy after hour spots including the House of Blues Boston. Starting out in the city of Cambridge, the House of Blues Boston is the place for meeting friends. Sit and listen to the mix of jazz, rock, and blues. Talk about the day’s activities and make plans for the future.
Not far away you will find Boston University Apartments and Fenway Apartments; favorites with students attending college in the area. Northeastern University Apartments offer many variations on apartment living, very convenient with great opportunities for social activities. Apartment Allston are lovely rentals with many additives; apartments with fireplaces, wood flooring and great locations. This quaint town with redbrick streets that whisper the first Congress is meeting is a wonderful place to live and study. Brighton Apartments are located in a great area granting easy access to transportation and college facilities.
You’ve probably heard about all the wonderful things that homeowners can do to “go green” and save money on their utility bills, from putting in a tankless water heater to adding rooftop solar panels. Those answers are fine for someone who has a house, but what if you live in a Boston apartment? From the Allston apartments to Boston University apartments, it doesn’t matter where you live–there are things you can do to save money and go green.
So if you’re living in Boston university housing, you’re probably wondering what you can possibly do to go green. How about unplugging unused appliances and electronic devices? Some estimates indicate that as much as 10% of the average household’s energy bill is the result of the drain of appliances that are off, but plugged in. Try grouping your devices onto power strips and turning those strips off at night. Turning off lights in rooms that you are not in can also help trim the energy bill.
Odds are if you’re living in a Fenway apartment, your landlord isn’t going to let you change to more energy efficient windows, but he may let you put up your own window treatments. Nice energy efficient drapes can keep your apartment cooler in summer and warmer in winter. One thing landlords will usually help with is repairs, and fixing a leaky faucet can save you a lot on your water bill.
Finally, most modern apartments like Allston apartments or Brighton rentals will have a programmable thermostat, but if they don’t it’s worthwhile to get permission and install one. The added control can save you big on your heating bill. It can be difficult to go green while living in an apartment, but it’s not impossible!
Just as the snow melts away and Boston’s scenery turns a forest green, residents and visitors alike shed their parkas and look for activities to do. It’s springtime, the weather is nicer and people want to get out of their house. Of course, budget can be a factor, accordingly, here are a few springtime activities sure to break the winter chill, but not the bank.
1. Fenway Park
Get out of that stuffy Fenway apartment and take in a Red Sox’s game. Nice weather, ballpark food and baseball make for an awesome springtime outing.
2. Boston Public Library
Whether you live in Boston University housing or Allston apartments, the Boston Public Library is open for your convenience. Checkout a book and read it in Copley Square, or simply take a tour of the historic building.
3. Visit a University
Boston is home to several universities, many of which are prestigiously known around the world. MIT, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University and Harvard are all practically a stone’s throw away from anywhere in Boston, even Kenmore, or Brighton.
4. Go Apartment Shopping
Even if you are happy with your current residence, looking at potential apartments can be an enjoyable springtime activity. Kenmore apartments as well as Brighton apartments are affordable. While Brighton rentals may not be your scene, perhaps college apartments in Boston are what you are looking for. Regardless, shopping around in the springtime can be a fun and exciting activity.
5. Enjoy Great Food
Boston is well-known for its great restaurants. There are lots of good places to eat around the city, but since the weather is nice, how about taking your order to the waterfront or local park? Enjoy the weather while it lasts!
Spring is almost here, and with it comes the need for spring cleaning. If you live in Boston College Housing, Boston University Housing, Fenway Apartments, Brighton Apartments or Northeastern University Apartments, you may also be required to clean your apartment based on the terms of your lease. There are a few easy things you can do in a short amount of time to get your apartment in tip-top shape this spring.
Windows
Cleaning the windows will instantly brighten up your apartment. Use a good glass cleaner, or if you are on a budget, vinegar and newspaper are an old-school method that does the job nicely. Clean the windows thoroughly, then go back over with a clean paper towel or sheet of newspaper to remove streaks.
Walls
Wipe down walls with warm soapy water, and use a stain remover on any marks or stains. This is a great way to freshen up your apartment if you lack the time or money to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls.
Floors
Rent a carpet shampooer for your carpets if you have them. If you have hardwood, tile or linoleum floors, use a bucket of warm soapy water with a clean mop and remove all dirt. Let the area dry well. This will brighten up your apartment instantly.
Clutter
Remove all clutter from surfaces and put belongings in their places. Shred old paperwork and throw away or recycle old newspapers, magazines, phone books and other items. This makes your apartment seem larger and cleaner. Use accent pieces sparingly and decorate with a few well-placed throw pillows or rugs.
There are many things you can do with very little time or money investment to clean your apartment. Enjoy your spring!
When you’re thinking about brining a pet to live in your boston apartment there are several things to consider. The first, and probably most important, is how long are you away from home each day? This will help you choose the right pet for your particular living situation. Puppies and dogs need exercise and a chance to visit the great outdoors several times each day, so if you work long hours or are a student with a large class load, a dog or puppy may not be the best choice. Of course you can always hire someone to come by and walk the dog at least once a day while you are at work or school, but most college students have a limited budget and may not be able to afford this service.
Animal lovers have lots of options for pets in Brighton apartments, even if a dog isn’t the best choice. Cats love attention, but need a lot less of it to be content. Food, fresh water and a clean litter box are all you need to keep your cat happy in your Allston apartment. If you do need to be gone for a few days, having a friend come by once a day to take care of your cat’s needs is easy to do.
Check with your Boston apartments’ landlord about the apartment pet policy. Most apartments require a pet deposit or only allow small animals like fish or birds in their units. Pets are fun, but they can be costly when you start adding up pet deposits, food and veterinary care. Make sure you can support a pet before you bring one home.
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So you are on your way to Boston to attend college. While you’re getting ready for your new classes, you also have to consider where you will live. Will you being living in Boston University housing, or find a nice quiet neighborhood nearby and commute to classes? Will you be living alone, or share your BC apartment rentals with other tenants?
