Moving To Boston
Written
by Joe Schutt
on Sunday, 28 March 2010.
10 Relocation Tips To Make Your Transition Easier
- Boston is geographically quite compact. Boston is New England's largest city, however you will find that compared to major metropolitan areas anywhere Boston has small footprint. This is feature of Boston living makes the Hub a very walkable city, but it does cause problems if you are seeking a big yard and ample convenient parking everywhere you drive.
- Depending on where you are moving from, Boston can be comparatively expensive. If you are moving from Paris, London, Manhattan or San Francisco, housing costs associated with your move to Boston won't raise an eyebrow. However if you are moving from most parts of the U.S. then you'll have to adjust the budget for your "dream house" to reflect the reality of the local real estate market.
- Boston area housing-stock is generally quite old meaning it was built many decades, if not a century ago. Boston's neighborhoods are filled with Victorian building after Victorian building and each district has a style that dominates. (For instance Back Bay has brownstones, the South End has row houses, Southie and Dorchester have triple-deckers, a uniquely Massachusetts multi-family housing style.) More and more new construction and full historic building rehabs are changing Boston's skyline, but if you're moving to Boston be ready to consider properties that aren't brand new. Obviously as one gets farther from the city's core generally more newer homes exist.
- Boston and to a lesser extent Massachusetts in general did not see housing prices fall to the extent that the rest of the country did during the recent mortgage crisis and subsequent "Great Recession." People we've worked with who have recently relocated into Boston are shocked to discover that homes in many core districts of Boston actually gained in value during the same period.
- Jobs in Boston tend to be focused around 5 sectors: financial services, higher education, government, healthcare and technology. Which sector you work in will to some degree help you decide where you'll live. You'll quickly discover that each sector tends to predominate in distinct areas of metro Boston and you'll hopefully chose a neighborhood to live in that's an easy commute away from where you work.
- Getting around Boston is generally quite easy without a car. As mentioned before Boston is very walkable. Further Boston's metropolitan area has a comprehensive mass transit system comprised of subways, buses and commuter rail lines. The downside to the "T" as it is known locally is that the system goes in and out of downtown well, however transit around the service's circumference without going into downtown first is nearly impossible. You should note that the MTA's hours of operation end at 12:30 AM.
- Driving in Boston can take some getting used to. What can I say, Boston motorists have a colorful reputation for how they drive and how they negotiate the city's narrowest lanes. As far as auto insurance goes, Massachusetts does things a little different than the rest of the country and you should ask your insurance agent for more details because many major carriers don't write policies in the Commonwealth.
- Boston's weather is changeable. Despite a reputation for cold winters and hot summers Boston's weather can produce 70+ degree temperatures in January and no days over 80 degrees for the whole month of July. My guess for why people associate Boston, and New England in general, with Fall is because the autumn foliage is stunning and the weather is in my opinion the best during this season. One word of weather advice, if you hear that a Nor'easter is on its way be sure to pack an umbrella, hat, scarf and a warm raincoat!
- Boston has world-class "stuff" to see and do. While you'll never be fooled that Boston's nightlife and cultural attractions can match a place like New York's for shear volume, Boston has more than enough to keep you entertained in this lifetime. Bostonians are fanatical about their symphony orchestra, the Red Soxs and the Museum of Fine arts to name but three of the most popular venues. You should note that some element of our pilgrim forefathers is still alive and well in Boston meaning bars and nightclubs close no later than 2 AM—a bit earlier than in many big cities.
- Boston has some unusual holidays not celebrated elsewhere. Patriot's Day: best known for the running of the Boston Marathon, actually commemorates the revolution era battles of Lexington and Concord. Evacuation Day: conveniently held on Saint Patrick's Day and commemorates the day the British left Boston. And lastly Evacuation Day: it also commemorates the day the British left Boston, but is observed about 2 months later.
Add this page to your favorite social bookmark service.
