I’m thinkin’ ‘bout gettin’ my own pad downtown next year and am just starting to do a little research. Right now I have 3 roommates and that is just too many people under one roof. In fact, 2 people are too much. I just got a good raise 32.5% 
and am going to start putting a little away each month and try to get ahead on all the bills so that by this time next year, I’ll have enough for 1st, last, sec., Fee, etc. as well as a few bucks to furnish the place.
Right now the rent is $2650 for a four-bedroom apt. in Brighton. It is a nice place and with parking is worth my $662.50/month. I figure I’ll be able to come up with between $1000-$1200 total for my own place. The problem is location. I really want to be close enough to the Pru’ so that I can walk to work, but all the online apt. Ads in that area (Copley Sq., So. End, Fenway, Back Bay) are quite pricey. I also see some adds for Lofts. How big a loft can I expect to live in for around $1100 per month? I see some Loft Ads range from $1200 to 3K. There must apt’s out there that get filled by word of mouth and don’t involve broker fees and such and are generally cheaper than the on-line or newspaper Ads.
So, anyone live or know someone who lives in the trendy areas of Boston? What’s the rent like? The condition of the apt? Parking Situation?
This is more of a poll than a General Question with factual answers. I’ll move it to IMHO for you.
Off to IMHO.
DrMatrix - General Questions Moderator
I don’t think you’re going to find anything in the trendy areas for $1,000. Not even a studio. You might find a studio for $1,200. And I don’t believe for a second any add that says “a loft for $1,100” in the Back Bay, South End, Beacon Hill, or Leather District. They are lying.
I don’t know anywhere in Boston, but my brother is moving there next month and got a small 2 bedroom for 1800, right across the street from harvard med school…
I’m in East Arlington and have a good sized 2 bedroom for $1050 within walking distance of Alewife.
Just passing by to say I find it highly amusing this thread follows another thread titled: Asking you paid for something…Rude?
VanLandry probably already knows this, but Harvard Medical School is not actually in Boston proper, and Arlington is not Boston at all. I think he was asking about apartments in the trendy areas and within walking distance of the Pru, and I don’t think he’s going to find anything for $1,000 in those parameters.
Oh, I know that I’m no where near where he wants to be, but it was just a comparison to see how far rates drop as soon as you leave Boston or Cambridge. I agree, he’s going to have very difficult time finding anything other than a hovel for $1000.
My mom used to have a friend who rented a tiny 1 BR on Tremont St for $1300/month. The kitchen was in the living room, there was zero closet space. And at night, you could hear people screaming at each other in the streets. Thanks, I’ll stick to the suburbs…
Not sure exactly what you mean by “Boston proper” but it is indeed in Boston. In the Longwood medical area, just between the D & E lines. I used to live very near there, and my address was in Boston.
Is it in the Back Bay? Definitely not, but Boston proper encompasses more than just the Back Bay and other trendy spots. And besides, it shares a zip code (02115) with indisputably Back Bay locations such as Symphony Hall, L’Espalier, Sonsie and the big Christian Science Center on Mass Ave & Huntington.
I get nitpicky in the mornings. 
Howdy neighbor! I, too, live in East Arlington within walking distance of Alewife.
We have a 2 1/2 BR for 1600, (just over 1000 sq ft, I think) nothing included, but the only reason it is 1600 is that we’ve been here for 6 years. The landlord decided to raise it to 2400 last year, but we talked him out of it by pointing out what great longterm tenants we are and that we hadn’t complained at all during the renovations during which we had to pack up all our stuff and live out of boxes for two months.
He really is a great guy, but he had a real estate agent pushing him to raise the rent and list it, probably so she could get her fee.