TransnationalElite

Thank you for your response!

No problem about evidence of income as we will have a contract stating salary and we are transferred on an L1 visa.

How much did you end up paying in realtors fees? From forums it seems to be about 1-3 months rent - true? Did you get the kind of place you were looking for? What kind of budget did/do you have?

We have changed timeline now to go in mid September to find a place for mid October. Might have to pay from 1st October but we will do that if need be. From your recent experience, would you think most places will be gone by then?

We're thinking of finding somewhere along the I-495 since places that interest us just outside the city don't offer much space to rent value and ones coming close to our budget are quite crummy looking. Also, it will probably keep travel time and costs down.

We're trying to find a 2-3 bedroom place, in an educated, decent, friendly neighbourhood. Husband will be commuting to Westford. I may or may not find a job (tech sector), and we have a 2 yr old who will need to go to kindergarten. If, I were not to find a job, then it would be nice to be in a place where I could socialise with other SAHMs or women on a career break.

Bob

Realtor fee, one month is bog standard, up to 3 months in Boston, especially for a house. Out in Wesford and it might be half a months rent.

You don't say what your budget is, so no one can really help, but then suggestions have already been made.

If you're coming over on H1/4, then you won't be working. If it's a company transfer, once you get a EAD you'll be allowed to work.

2 year old won't be going to kindergarten. Day care can budget $1-1.5K a month for part time care.

Plenty of towns have free kids groups, lots of stuff at the libraries and a bunch of mums do tea on the FB metrowest group as well as meetup.com groups.

ubernathan

It was 1 month's fee. We had to pay 1.5 months' (realtor fee, 1/2 deposit) to lock in the deal. By moving we have to pay another 1.5 months' (1/2 deposit, first month's rent). Make sure you know how to transfer the initial money while you're there. The money is refunded if the contract fails though no fault of your own, but the goal is to make sure you have a financial commitment for the landlord to take the property off the market -- you can't just walk away after that. This is also where a realtor is useful -- I was much more comfortable handing $500 cash to one than J Random Landlord.

We did get what we wanted, albeit in an area we'd not considered -- that's where the realtor really helped. We were looking for a 2 or 3 bed apartment in cambridge/somerville/brookline with a budget of $3000. It will be cheaper further out -- consider getting somewhere near a commuter rail station (you'll probably be too far out for the T). It makes getting into Boston much easier, which I'm sure you'll want to do.

I do not know. It may be that your requirements and students don't intersect (ours did somewhat) The rental market seemed very lively. Call some realtors now.

Make a list of 'must haves' and a list of 'would be nice'. Use the first couple of viewings for calibration. Good luck!

TransnationalElite

Thank you! and Sorry... I think ideally we'd like to stay under 2K/month and we've realised that that means we won't be living very close to Boston in a nice enough neighbourhood anyway.


Hubs is on L1, we'll be L2. Don't think getting an EAD will be too much hassle.

So when do children start kindergarten in the US? Here they start at 2/2+ Kindergarten here is like play group? with creative activities, outings, games, sports, stories etc.

I can't seem to find the FB metrowest group... any links please or the exact group title?

TransnationalElite

The only T worth being close to for us is the Alewife station on the Red Line. So will delve in to looking around that area again.

Good to know about the fees. Thanks!

How did you guys handle the transfer? Could we put it on the Amex?

Will look around for some realtors to call and discuss our requirements and timing of visit then.

Cheers!

ubernathan

Alewife is a bit of a commuter hub -- connect from the light rail. We looked there but decided it was too isolated. You're probably better off in one of the satelite towns (lexington, belmot, arlington, watertown etc). Lexington is more expensive, because it has good state schools.

Probably not -- and if you did it'd be like a cash advance. As we'd not got US checking accounts set up I had to do an international xfer with the associated fees for that at either end.

HumphreyC

I think I saw Westford mentioned earlier - that's a nice 'woodsy suburbia' kind of town. Probably the best two towns in the immediate area are Groton and Harvard. Groton has a nice center, a couple of private schools and the town school system there is excellent (my wife teaches there so I am a bit biased). There's a lot of protected farmland in the area and even a fox hunt which gives the area an English feel. There will probably be a lot of the career break or stay at home mum crowd there.

Harvard is a bit more elitist and the center is small but it's also a nice town. I find Littleton a bit sprawly for my taste but its more affordable and there may be more rentals there. The commuter rail in the area (the Fitchburg line) sucks at the moment but it's having a major upgrade at the moment - due for completion 2015.

Of course the towns further in towards Boston - Concord, Acton, Carlisle are pristine but you need a big budget to live there.

Bob

$2K for a house will be slim pickings, you're realistically looking at an apartment/condo for under that.

Kindergarten starts at 5/6 here. State provides half day, some school districts offer full day, most will cost you for full day though and be around the $3-4K a year mark.

What you're looking for is childcare. There are loads of those around...but not cheap.

Facebook group is Metrowest Boston Brits.

Bob

If you're hitting that area, add Bolton and Lancaster...but this area doesn't have as much rental stock.

The commuter line does in fact suck giant monkey balls and parking is very limited in these stops. Pretty cheap though if you can find it, cheaper if you're town resident. Takes ages getting into Boston though and it's rubbish out of commuter travel hours and late in evening and it's dire during winter...better than the Worcester line though.

Bob

I'll add, $1600 in Northborough is the reserved special housing for low income folks for a 2 bed flat, we're talking very low income

Kids activities, to add....check town websites, they all have a rec department, they usually offer events. Acton has loads of free stuff in the park over the summer....most towns will have things going but around the $100-200 mark for sports for a few weeks, couple hours a couple times a week kind of thing and depending on town, equipment might be provided but it's not in a lot of them. A lot of these start at 4 years old though.

Clinton, has free swimming....but you probably won't want to live there....but it would be in budget for a house.

HumphreyC

Wow - the Worcester line must be really bad. Last time I took the Fitchburg line it took 2 hours to cover the 50 miles from the Burg to North Station. No wonder I don't go to Boston much. After the upgrade (double tracking, signal upgrades, station upgrades, more parking etc..) they are saying 1 hr to Porter Square from the Burg but i'll believe it when I see it.

..and at the moment it doesn't even run at weekends...