Frequently asked questions
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Want to find apartments for rent in Boston? Apartments in Boston are experiencing the largest price drop since the housing bubble burst in 2008. For renters this means: more incentives, flexible lease terms, and the ability to negotiate on move-in costs.
That being said, when searching for a place online it is important to be cautious. When renting remotely/sight-unseen, do extra research on the company or landlord you’re working with. Make sure you are working with a real company or landlord and never send money without a formal application. Make sure you receive as much content as possible (photos, videos, virtual tours, and even current tenant feedback if possible). If it feels like information is being withheld or you’re being rushed to make a decision, walk away.
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The key to finding nice apartments in Massachusetts is viewing the virtual tours. They give you a great view of the layout, many additional vantage points, and even the ability to measure distance. Virtual tours give you an accurate depiction of apartments, showing you the positives and negatives transparently. This simplifies the process of finding an apartment that suits you best. Being able to see the entirety of the apartments online saves you time and the hassle of having to go see tons of apartments in person.
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People often think that finding cheap apartments in Boston is impossible. Boston rent prices are known to be higher than almost every other city in the US. That’s why Places For Less is committed to showing the same Boston apartments as seen on other real estate platforms but with unrivaled savings and transparency to help renters save time and money.
The current renting conditions suggest that now is the best time to find cheap apartments. Some landlords are offering incredible incentives, for example we have seen landlords of Brighton ma apartments rent their apartments with up to 3 months free rent. Our team can help you scope out and negotiate for the best deals! Our mission is to lower outrageous broker fees and still offer the best possible service. We charge a flat rate of $990 instead of one months rent. Places For Less is the only apartment platform in Boston that offers a lower broker fee for renters. Same apartments, better service, thousands less. Don’t go broke from broker fees.
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Looking for private rentals in your area? We do have single family houses in Boston for rent. Places For Less allows you to easily navigate through thousands of available houses in Boston. Our search page is user-friendly and makes finding your next home simple. Our team is devoted to making your apartment search as seamless as possible by providing transparency and accurate information on all of our listings.
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The main job of a Boston rental agent is to guide renters through the process of finding and leasing their next apartment. Your agent should have a good idea of what is available at the time. Let’s say you’re looking for studio apartments in mission hill, your agent will provide you with a personalized selection of available apartments in the area that cater to all of your needs. Rental agents can also point you in the direction of the best deals on the market, who doesn’t love a great deal?
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If you are on the fence about working with a Boston realtor you should be aware that there are benefits of working with an agent or an apartment search site, especially if it is your first time renting. Keep in mind, most agents charge a large fee for their service so keep an eye out for platforms and services that don’t charge a broker fee.
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If you are trying to find a realtor for a Boston apartment rental we suggest that you take the time to do your research. Ask friends or family for referrals and make sure to see if there are any reviews. We advise that you always make sure you are dealing with a legitimate company before sending money. If you feel like you are being withheld any information, don’t be afraid to walk away.
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Realtors in Massachusetts make money on rentals because typically renters pay real estate agents a broker fee for the service provided, often in an amount up to one month’s rent. In current market conditions, Massachusetts landlords are paying agents the fee, saving the renter thousands.
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Apartments in Boston are usually advertised and rented by a real estate broker who charges a one month’s rent fee either to the landlord, the tenant, or split between both parties. One month’s rent is an outdated industry practice that hasn’t changed in decades for apartment rentals in boston. Renting in Boston is already expensive enough. We’re starting with ending the broker fee, that’s why we charge a flat fee of $990 instead of an entire month’s rent.
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Finding apartments in Boston without a realtor can sometimes be tricky. Without a real estate agent or service, you can find an apartment through sites like Facebook housing groups, Facebook marketplace, and Craigslist. These websites are helpful but it may be time consuming to have to sort through all the options. This method is often beneficial for renters looking to sublet or renters who are only looking for one room in an apartment. Many listings may appear legitimate but always be cautious of scams when renting online.
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Trying to avoid broker fees in Boston? Most apartments for rent in Boston require a broker fee equivalent to the price of 1 months rent. At Places For Less we offer a large selection of apartments with no broker fee. We are able to do this because many landlords try to incentivize their apartments by paying the fee themselves, so that you don’t have to. Feel free to ask us about apartments with no broker fee!
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Pet contact fees are common when renting apartments in Boston MA. Many apartments do allow pets however they require an additional monthly fee. At Places For Less we want to make finding a home for you and your four-legged family members as easy as possible. With our website you can search pet friendly options in your area. We are always transparent with information on additional pet fees up front so that you don’t have any last minute surprises.
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Looking for Luxury apartments in boston? At Places For less we have everything from Studio apartments in Boston to places with 6 bedrooms. Our team can provide you with a wide variety of apartments in new luxury buildings. Our listings allow you to see what kind of amenities the building offers, find out about available parking, view the square footage, and notify you about pet policies. Our virtual tours even show you what kind of view you will have. Looking for a great deal in a luxury building? Our Seaport Boston apartments offer stunning waterfront views!
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If you’re trying to decide if you want to rent a Boston townhouse or an apartment it is important to know the difference between the two. Typically townhouses are located in residential areas within the city while apartments are scattered everywhere. Townhomes offer a wide variety of additional amenities and are usually cheaper than renting out a single family home. There are often homeowner association fees that come with renting townhouses. Townhouses in Boston are mostly rented out by the owner while apartments are mostly rented out by management companies.
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Looking for brownstone apartments for rent in Boston ma? Brownstones are some of the most charming homes in Boston. If you’re in the market for a one we’ve got you covered! Our website showcases a large selection of brownstone Back Bay apartments and South End apartment rentals.
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Looking for the best website to find houses for rent? Finding homes in Boston MA online has never been easier, with Places For Less you can rent your next home hassle free. Looking for apartments in Boston, or even Student housing in boston? Places For Less has the answer: search thousands of Apartments for rent in MA, browse virtual reality tours, and a showing coordinator is just a click away to answer your questions. One of our favorite features is our interactive map which allows you to find apartments in very specific locations. For example, you can view apartments within walking distance to a certain stop on the Red Line. This allows you to narrow down which Cambridge apartments best suit your work commute. It is our mission to make your renting experience seamless, from search to move-in.
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Places For Less is mobile friendly! Making it easy to search our website on the go from your smartphone. Places For Less allows you to easily navigate through thousands of available apartments in the Boston area. With a single click you can view apartments and see similar suggestions. Narrow down your search by price, location, beds, square footage, and move-in date. Try out our website messenger to get a quick response from our team!
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If you are trying to find college roommates for Boston apartments we suggest joining local facebook groups. These groups are a great place for you to find other roommates in Boston who are in the same situation as you. You can even join groups for specific parts of Boston to narrow down your search. For example if you’re looking for South boston apartments, there’s a group for that! Once you find roommates we welcome you over to our website where you can find the perfect fit for your group. For students who prefer Boston studio apartments, we’ve got you covered too!
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When renting in Boston, having someone cosign a lease can be very beneficial for students. Landlords often like to see a source of income, and understand that not all students are employed while in school. This is why they suggest that you get a cosigner, as it makes you a more reliable renter for them. Cosigners must be US citizens.
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Co-signing for an apartment does not affect your credit unless there are issues with payments during the lease. All that is needed from a cosigner is a credit check. We suggest that you only cosign for people that you trust to make their rent payments on time.
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Trying to find out how to sublet an apartment in Boston? Subletting in Boston is common. Plans can change, whether it’s your school schedule or a new job opportunity outside of Boston. Subletting is a flexible way to have someone take over your lease for an agreed upon length of time, often for the remainder of the lease. Make sure to check the terms of the your lease as landlords often have specific guidelines and requirements for subletting.
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In terms of Housing at northeastern, you are required to live in on-campus university housing as a freshman and sophomore. Students often search for Northeastern housing off campus starting their junior year. We find that students love our Mission Hill apartments, Jamaica Plain apartments, South End Apartments, Fenway apartments, and Brighton apartments. Places For Less offers many studio apartments in Boston for students, but our wide selection of apartments also caters to bigger groups if you decide that you want to live with roommates. There are lots of buildings that do not accept students in Boston but we welcome all students looking for housing at Northeastern!
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Looking for Housing at Boston University? Boston university students tend to rent Allston apartments, Brighton apartments, Fenway apartments, and Back Bay apartments. Many BU students like to live near Commonwealth Avenue or in the Fenway-Kenmore area because of the close proximity to restaurants and shops. The Green Line also offers a quick commute to campus!
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When looking for Harvard off campus housing, we suggest you search for apartments that are walking distance to the Red Line. There is a Red Line stop in the center of Harvard’s which allows you to live in lots of different neighborhoods. Our website also offers Harvard Square apartments which are best for students who prefer to walk to class.
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MIT students prefer our Cambridge MA apartments or Somerville MA apartments because of the close proximity to campus. These locations provide students quick and easy access to the city via the Red, Green, Orange lines, and other local bus routes. Tufts students also love these locations along with Medford and Malden apartments.
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Places For Less has made finding Boston College off campus housing easy. You simply plug in your university to our apartment finder and select a radius (0.5 miles, 1 mile, etc). The closest apartments will be located in Newton (Chestnut Hill), Brighton, and Brookline. Boston College students prefer apartments located along the Green Line as it allows them easy access to campus as well as downtown Boston.
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UMass Boston Students find that South Boston apartments (Southie) and Dorchester apartments are the best fit as they surround the campus. Lots of students love South Boston because it offers great restaurants, bars, parks, and beaches and it is just a quick bus ride to campus.
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Off campus housing is not only for students, you can rent in highly student populated areas even if you are not enrolled. For example apartments in Brookline are popular for Boston University students. There are many buildings that are rented mostly by BU students but that doesn’t mean you cannot live there also. You will likely have many student neighbors, which you might want to take into consideration.