When real estate buyers relocate to Boston every summer to find housing they want to BUY as opposed to renting, there are some typical stumbling blocks.
The Best Neighborhoods
One such difficulty is finding something affordable in the good neighborhoods. If parents and students know little about Boston, they tend to want to find a Boston home in the best neighborhoods. Once a buyer has been a Boston resident for a few years they get braver and feel comfortable in the more affordable areas, like Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, Brighton, Allston and Dorchester. There may be 28 neighborhoods in Boston but for folks from out of town there are only 4, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, South End and The Fenway. Another alternative is Brookline which actually peninsulas down into the Fenway and Boston University areas.
The problem comes when the buyers don’t want to waste money on rent but cannot find anything affordable to buy in those areas. For instance, look for a 2 bedroom in Back Bay for under 500K. There are only 5 right now and there is something wrong with all 5. Last year at this time there were 10 available and there was something wrong with all 10 of those also.
If you are looking for a studio, there are 44 properties available under 300K but after you take out the garden units and the total junk, there may be 10 units left that are decent under 300K in BB, BH, SE and Fenway.
As a Realtor I am not supposed to say boo about safety and crime. The official stance of the Realtor is “Call the police for the crime stats”.
Well, I’m also a father and I CAN say “I would not allow my daughter to live here” without breaking any Realtor rules from the Real estate regulators. 
So it gets pretty simple. I refuse to even show garden level units if they are intended for young women. If I ever put my daughter into one of those and an attack happened it would ruin her life as well as ruining mine. I would curse they day I tried to save money instead of buying her an upstairs unit. Now the police will probably tell you there has not been a sexual attach for years in those areas, don’t listen, get her up on the 2nd floor.
On the other hand, I just sold a 2 bedroom, 2 bath basement unit to twin 25 year old brothers who were both over 200 pounds and 6 feet tall. I have no problem with that. If I had a son I’d be OK with him living in a basement unit. I try not to genderize my decisions but in this case the risk is too great.
My buyers do not have to worry. I ask for a list of MLS numbers that interest them and by the time they come to town I have culled only the best from the list. By doing this we eliminate a lot of running around. If you are coming to Boston looking for student housing or any other type of housing, call me and I will guide you through safely, efficiently and we can even have an enjoyable time of it.
Written By RE/MAX Destiny Accredited Buyers Agent Jeff Persons – 617-512-3443
Your comments will be appreciated!
Additional articles by Jeff:
A 20 Year Resident of Bostons Back Bay Tells Why He Likes Brookline MA So Much
A Boston Buyers Agent Says Skip the Spring Market, Wait Until Autumn
Dont Just Investigate Your Boston Condo, Investigate The Management Company Too
A Buyers Agent List of 5 Mission Critical Items to Check Before Buying a Condo
5 Worst Questions To Ask Your Buyers Agent
Boston Condos, Would You Let Your Daughter Live There?
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