Relocating to a new city can be an overwhelming task. We know, I made the move from New York to Boston 25 years ago. Ideally you’d take several trips to your new city to get to know the place and find out exactly where you want to live. Realistically, though, that probably won’t happen. Our lives are busy and money is limited. To help guide you through the relocation process, save you time and money, I’ve put together this step by step guide to relocating to downtown Boston
Step 1: Research Downtown Boston Neighborhoods
For people who are getting relocated with a company, this part is a bit easier because you know where you’ll work and can focus your search around neighborhoods with an acceptable commute. Though traffic in Boston can be tough but is nothing compared to traffic in LA or NYC, you’ll still want to pay attention to things like which roads you’ll be taking to work and how long it will take you to travel each way.
If you’re moving to downtown Boston without a job, or can work from home, or just have the flexibility to choose exactly where you want to live, that can be a monumental task as the Boston area is growing and getting larger every year. The good news? Boston downtown neighborhoods are very different in terms of building styles, amenities, look and feel. Usually people are drawn to one area over the others, so it makes the choice easy. For example Beacon Hill has a completely different feel than say Boston Seaport condo or Boston Midtown high rise condo
Step 2: Contact an Boston Realtor
As a downtown Boston broker who is knowledgeable about the real estate market, neighborhoods and relocation process can save you a lot of time right off the bat. My teams works with people who are several months away from their move and help them narrow down their search criteria so they don’t spend weeks they don’t have focusing on places they aren’t going to like when they see it in person. If you give us an idea of what you’re looking for (price range, type/size of Boston condo, company/industry you work in (to help us narrow down geography), where you’re coming from, and any other pertinent info), we can recommend areas you can start your search.
Remember, working with an downtown Boston Realtor costs buyers nothing! Our fee is paid by the seller. So, there is really no excuse not to reach out. Scared of getting pressured or hundreds of emails asking you when you’re ready to buy? You don’t have to worry about that with us. We’ll move as fast as you want to move and act as a resource, not a nuisance.
Step 3: Get Pre-Approved by a Boston Mortgage Broker
This is the step most people miss. If you need to get a loan to purchase a Boston condo for sale, you should talk to an Boston mortgage broker early in the process. One of the big myths we hear is getting pre-approved too early will hurt your credit. That’s simply not true. The credit monitoring bureaus understand finding Boston condos for sale can take months. A good mortgage broker can help you determine the best loan program for your situation and help you determine how best to approach the home buying process during your move (there are certain rules you need to follow, or your loan will be denied). They can also explain Boston’s property taxes and Boston condo fees and how they impact what you can afford.
Step 4: Prioritize Your Housing Wants and Needs
Once you know exactly how much you can afford, it’s time to prioritize what’s important to you in terms of the Boston condos you want to buy. Do you want to be in the Boston Seaport District? Is commute time a factor? Can you afford Boston condos for sale you like where you are looking? Are you taking your long term needs into consideration? Do you want to be in a historical district like Boston’s Beacon Hill or more modern like the Boston Midtown area? Do you need to be able to walk to shops and restaurants?
These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself to help you determine what is most important in your Boston downtown condo hunt.
Step 5: Narrow Down Boston Neighborhoods and Areas
At this point, it is time to start narrowing down areas. This is a key step to get straight before you take a trip to Boston so you don’t waste time on areas that just won’t work for you. Make a list of the Top 5-10 neighborhoods from favorite to least favorite. Our recommendation would be to start exploring the neighborhoods you like most first. Then when you can’t find something you like there, keep going down your list until you do. Even though the downtown Boston real estate market is booming, you can usually still find homes in your top neighborhoods, so why settle before you have to?
Some of my favorite areas:
Step 6 Get Set Up on an Email Home Search
Once you’ve come up with your top neighborhoods list, ask your Realtor to set you up on an email home search so you don’t have to waste time searching every single day. We set up each neighborhood in a separate search so you don’t get confused.
Step 7: Schedule a Neighborhood Scouting Trip to Boston
At this point, you probably have a good handle on which areas might work for you. Now, it’s time to check them out in person. The goal of this first trip is simply to rule in or rule out neighborhoods, not to necessarily find a home. Driving through each neighborhood and looking at a few houses in your price range will give you a good indication whether or not you want to keep this neighborhood on the list, or if you want to rule it out completely.
This neighborhood scouting trip is a crucial part of the process and one that shouldn’t be ignored. Investing a little time and money at this point in the process could mean the difference in liking or not liking the place you live.
Step 8: Don’t Forget to Make Time for Exploring Downtown Boston
Let’s face it, looking at home and neighborhoods all day can get pretty exhausting. Make sure you carve out some time to visit some of Boston’s sights. Doing something fun during your visit may help ease the stress of the move and help you realize Austin is not too different from the city you are leaving.
Step 9: Finalize Your List of Favorite Neighborhoods
When you see the neighborhoods in person, you’ll be surprised how easy this step becomes. Make notes while you are looking so you remember what is what. After looking at 20 homes in 8 neighborhoods, they start to run together, especially when you aren’t familiar with the area.
Then, make a list of your favorites and have your Realtor adjust your Boston condo for sale searches. With a picture of what each neighborhood looks like, you’ll be able to focus on finding the home you like.
Step 10: Find a Boston Condo for Sale and Move
Sounds easy, right? Though its not “easy” (especially not the actual moving part), we can help make the relocation process as easy as it can be. We’ve been in your shoes, so we know the answers to the questions you have, even if you don’t know to ask them. We also have spent months learning the Austin area and know it better than most locals. If you are considering a move to Boston, email us at realtyford@yahoo.com or call us at 617-595-3712, no matter how early in the process you are. We’ll put together a tailored, step by step program designed for your specific move.
Boston Condos for Sale
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