Longtime Boston renters: Tell us what you wish you knew on Day 1
To make it as a longtime renter in this competitive market, you'll probably need to build up a war chest of life hacks.
Boston is a city of renters, and to make it as a longtime one in this competitive market, you’ll probably need to build up a war chest of life hacks.
Nearly 65 percent of the city’s residents are renters, according to a 2019 report from the Boston Planning and Development Agency. For the first time in decades, Boston is no longer among the top 10 most populous metro areas in the country, but that doesn’t mean the rental market has gotten any less bloated.
While some residents left the city for more affordable rental markets in Southern states, the rental market seems to be rebounding after a pandemic-induced slump. In fact, in some Boston neighborhoods, renters are willing to pay more than the asking price to secure an apartment.
Veteran renters in Boston’s rental market know how to navigate everything from broker’s fees to the mad dash fall lease hunt. As the market returns to normal, we want to hear from lifelong Boston renters about what they wish knew on Day One.
Are there any red flags you wish you could tell your past self? Do you have particularly good advice about how to have a seamless move when leases turn over on Sept. 1? Let us know what tips and tricks you’d pass on, and we may feature your responses in an article.
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