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East Boston – $895 / 1 bed / APARTMENT
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BostonForRent.com

$92,500

Corporate Owned. This property is approved for ExpressPath™ Financing. Please contact listing agent for more information. Very affordable studio unit. Newly remodeled. …
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Beds/Baths: 1/1

EAST BOSTON

$109,000

Seller says there was a 3 family just like the abutting house prior to it being torn down. Good opportunity to improve approximately 2500…
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Beds/Baths: 0/0

EAST BOSTON

$116,000

3 Room Unit In Good Condition. Freshly Painted. 2nd Floor (3 Floor Complex). Good Size Rooms. Sliding Doors To Deck. Central Air. Walk…
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Beds/Baths: 1/1

Know your rights when you rent a house or apartment.
1. Bring your paperwork.
The best way to win over a prospective landlord is to be prepared. To get a competitive edge over other applicants, bring the following when you meet the landlord: a completed rental application; written references from landlords, employers, and colleagues; and a current copy of your credit report.
2. Review the lease.
Carefully review all of the conditions of the tenancy before you sign on the dotted line. Your lease or rental agreement may contain a provision that you find unacceptable — for example, restrictions on guests, pets, design alterations, or running a home business.
3. Get everything in writing.
To avoid disputes or misunderstandings with your landlord, get everything in writing. Keep copies of any correspondence and follow up an oral agreement with a letter, setting out your understandings. For example, if you ask your landlord to make repairs, put your request in writing and keep a copy for yourself. If the landlord agrees orally, send a letter confirming this.
4. Protect your privacy rights.
Next to disputes over rent or security deposits, one of the most common and emotion-filled misunderstandings arises over the tension between a landlord’s right to enter a rental unit and a tenant’s right to be left alone. If you understand your privacy rights (for example, the amount of notice your landlord must provide before entering), it will be easier to protect them.
5. Demand repairs.
Know your rights to live in a habitable rental unit — and don’t give them up. The vast majority of landlords are required to offer their tenants livable premises, including adequate weatherproofing; heat, water, and electricity; and clean, sanitary, and structurally safe premises. If your rental unit is not kept in good repair, you have a number of options, ranging from withholding a portion of the rent, to paying for repairs and deducting the cost from your rent, to calling the building inspector (who may order the landlord to make repairs), to moving out without liability for your future rent. For more information, see Getting Your Fix: Renters’ Rights to Minor Repairs.
6. Talk to your landlord.
Keep communication open with your landlord. If there’s a problem — for example, if the landlord is slow to make repairs — talk it over to see if the issue can be resolved short of a nasty legal battle. Landlord-Tenant Dispute Resolution FAQ provides some advice.
7. Purchase renters’ insurance.
Your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your losses due to theft or damage. Renters’ insurance also covers you if you’re sued by someone who claims to have been injured in your rental due to your carelessness. Renters’ insurance typically costs $350 a year for a $50,000 policy that covers loss due to theft or damage caused by other people or natural disasters; if you don’t need that much coverage, there are cheaper policies.
8. Protect your security deposit.
To protect yourself and avoid any misunderstandings, make sure your lease or rental agreement is clear on the use and refund of security deposits, including allowable deductions. When you move in, do a walk-through with the landlord to record existing damage to the premises on a move-in statement or checklist. For more information, see Take Steps to Protect Your Security Deposit When You Move In.
9. Protect your safety.
Learn whether your building and neighborhood are safe, and what you can expect your landlord to do about it if they aren’t. Get copies of any state or local laws that require safety devices such as deadbolts and window locks, check out the property’s vulnerability to intrusion by a criminal, and learn whether criminal incidents have already occurred on the property or nearby. If a crime is highly likely, your landlord may be obligated to take some steps to protect you. For more information on this subject, see Renters: Protect Yourself From Crime.
10. Deal with an eviction properly.
Know when to fight an eviction notice — and when to move. If you feel the landlord is clearly is the wrong (for example, you haven’t received proper notice, the premises are uninhabitable), you may want to fight the eviction. But unless you have the law and provable facts on your side, fighting an eviction notice can be short-sighted. If you lose an eviction lawsuit, you may end up hundreds (even thousands) of dollars in debt, which will damage your credit rating and your ability to easily rent from future landlords.

East Boston·$795 / STUDIO
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East Boston·$895 / 1 bed / APARTMENT
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Deciding how much apartment they can afford is one of the most important decisions a renter will have to make. This decision will help to determine a number of factors include the size and location of the potential apartment as well as the types of amenities offered. Those who are interested in renting an apartment will have to consider all of their current expenses in comparison to their monthly cash flow. They will also have to determine whether or not there are changes they can make to their current budget to make a larger or more well situated apartment affordable.

Consider All of Your Expenses

When deciding how much apartment they can afford, renters should carefully consider all of their monthly expenses in relation to their monthly income. Expenses may include, but are not limited to, utilities such as gas, water and electric, telephone, cell phone, Internet services, cable television, car insurance, renters insurance, gas for car, cost of commuting to work, groceries and other incidental charges. Subtracting these costs from the monthly income will give the renter a good idea of how much money they can afford to spend on rent each month. Renters might also consider subtracting an additional amount out of their monthly income to give them the opportunity to save some money each month.

Expenses to be considered should also include expenses for entertainment purposes such as dining in restaurants, going to movie theaters or cultural events. Even movie rentals should be considered in this category. Considering these expenses is necessary because otherwise the renters may not allot a portion of their budget for such purposes and may find themselves unable to participate in some previously enjoyed leisure activities.

Is There Room for Improvement?

When examining the monthly budget, renter should take the opportunity to determine whether or not there is room for improvement in their current financial situation. For example a renter may find they are able to minimize their monthly bills by obtaining their car insurance and renters insurance from the same insurance carrier. The carrier may be willing to offer a discount to a customer who utilizes their services for more than one type of insurance. Likewise there may be the opportunity to minimize expenses by bundling services such as telephone, Internet and possibly even cable television.

Also, consider entertainment expenses as an opportunity for financial improvement. If a renter currently eats out in restaurants for dinner on both Friday and Saturday of every week, they could consider limiting these dining experiences to only one night a week or even only one night every other week. This can result in a significant cost savings, which may enable the renter to afford a more expensive apartment.

Other areas where renters can sometimes cut expenses are on cell phone bills and cable television bills. Examine your cell phone bill carefully. If you are not using all of your minutes each month, it might be worthwhile to switch to a plan with fewer minutes. This would lower your monthly bill without causing you to make any sacrifices. One area where sacrificing might contribute to more monthly cash flow is with cable television. Renters who pay higher fees for premium channels can consider eliminating these channels. All of these small changes to monthly spending can contribute to the renter being able to afford a more expensive apartment, which may be larger, or in a better location than the apartment they would be able to afford without making changes.

Is There a Need for Improvement?

Although trimming superfluous expenses is always a good financial strategy, renters should determine if this is necessary in terms of their rental situation before making drastic changes. Once a renter has established the amount of money they can afford to spend in rent, they can start to look for available apartments in that price range. If the renter is happy with the choices available to them at this time, there may not be a need to make financial adjustments at this time. However, if the renter is not happy with the options available, financial changes and stricter budgeting are warranted.

BOSTON APARTMENTS ONLINE RENTAL MAGAZINE – Boston Real Estate Apartment Rentals, Massachusetts Real Estate Rentals of Apartments, Apartments in Boston

East Boston 1879

History

East Boston 1806

Early history

The landmass that is East Boston today was originally five islands — Noddle, Hog (later Orient Heights), Breed’s, Governor’s, Bird and Apple — that were connected using landfill, the latter three as part of the expansion of Logan Airport during World War II. Not long after the settling of Boston, Noddle Island served as grazing land for cattle.

William Hyslop Sumner

Proposed Turnpike

In 1801 William H. Sumner had proposed to the Federal Government that a turnpike that was planned to connect Salem to Boston take its route over the as yet undeveloped Noddle’s Island. He argued that the route over Noddle’s Island would be more direct and easier to develop. He stated

… in my opinion that the circular route from Chelsea thro’ Charlestown to Boston is about 1 of a mile farther than a direct course over Noddle’s Island in Boston. ….. The course suggested will be almost in a direct line, from my knowledge of the land….On the back part of the Island is a muddy creek and the distance of the Island to Boston is not so great by one third, I presume as it is from Chelsea to Moreton Point in Charlestown. …. There is no doubt that but that the necessities of the town of Boston will some require a connection with Noodle’s Island with the town of which it is part.

The one issue that he foresaw but tried to gloss over was the land on Charlestown that was purchased by the federal government as the site for a future naval yard. His belief was that a standing navy, which was in disfavor at that point in the nation’s history, would not stand in his way. However the War of 1812, which was viewed as a naval war, changed the public’s opinion about the needs for a navy. Because the route through East Boston and over the Boston Harbor would block ships’ route to the future Charlestown Navy Yard the turnpike was set to go through Chelsea as opposed to over Noddle’s Island.

Formation of East Boston Company

Sumner began to make his move for the acquisition of all of Noddle’s Island upon the death of Colonel Greenough who had been a long time holdout against selling to Sumner. Greenough died of apoplexy, his wife and children wanted to rid themselves of their portion of the island. Interestingly in 1836 Sumner married Greenough’s widow, Maria Foster Doane. General Sumner, with the assistance of his newly acquired business partners Steven White and Francis J. Oliver, purchased this at $100 an acre or $32,500. This purchase gave Sumner control of one half of the island. In February of 1832 after Sumner, White and Oliver had control of half the island, the group formed the East Boston Company. They stated that their half of the island was to be divided into 666 shares and that the island would be managed by a board of directors who would be able to sell or dispose of the company’s interest in the island. Realizing that establishing transportation to the local was imperative in its formation they were dedicated to pushing for a railroad from Boston to Salem over the island and to establish a ferry between the island and Boston. Each share of the Company was equal to half an acre. There were 5,280 in total, of which Sumner owned 1320, Mrs. Gerard 880, Steven White 880 and Oliver 440; the rest where spread among 29 other shareholders. By the end of 1833, the East Boston Company had complete control over the whole island.

Connections to the mainland

East Boston’s largest problem was transportation – Earlier attempts to bring in a highway failed. Being an island, East Boston could not become a valuable asset until people had a reliable way to reach the area. This The East Boston Company understood. Initially as a temporary solution they adopted a “four man power paddle boat” to carrying 15 persons at a time from Boston Proper to East Boston. This was used primarily for the occasional public official and workers on the island. Later even though they did not have the ridership to support one, the company purchased the steamship Tom Thumb. This was a temporary solution until ferry service could be implemented.

East Boston 1838

The Steam powered railroad at this point was in its infancy and the East Boston Company was approached by an inventor of a new type of rail system, “the suspended railroad”. This was one earliest suspended railroads to be built. The cars where humorously named “Saddle bags” and fit 6 persons each. They were propelled by a steam engine hanging from a suspended track. Henry Sargent, the inventor, presented it as a wonder that people from Boston would flock to and “that his invention would make the island a centre of attraction to a multiple of people” The company allowed this to be built on its land and it was an attraction for nine days in 1834 and then was closed because of lack of ridership.

In the mid 1830s the company made several investments and moves to further East Boston’s desirability. They continued the attempts on getting the Eastern Railroad to come to East Boston, The Maverick and The East Boston Ferries began service from Lewis’s Wharf on the Boston mainland to East Boston, a free bridge to Chelsea was built, roads were laid out and houses were built. Much of this activity was being spurred by the formation East Boston Lumber Company. The Boston Sugar Refinery was also built in this period and is credited for the creation of white granulated sugar.

Later History

The character of the area changed when the marshland was filled in and the streets laid out. Since the mid-19th century, the community has served as a foothold for immigrants to America: Irish and Canadians came first, followed by Russian Jews and Italians, then came Southeast Asians, and, most recently, large numbers of Central and South Americans.

The population of East Boston, which was recorded as a mere thousand in 1837, exploded to a high of just over 64,000 according to the 1925 census. Most of these were families from southern Italy. Today the neighborhood is home to slightly more than 38,000 people, with the median income per household around $31,000. Current demographic is a true potpourri of cultures, with groups of residents of Italian, Central American, Vietnamese, and even Irish descent populating various enclaves of the neighborhood. Though the North End is today thought of as Boston’s “Little Italy,” Orient Heights, the historic hill in East Boston, was the very first area in Massachusetts to which Italians immigrated, back in the 1860s and 1870s, and remains the heart of the Italian community in East Boston.

Transportation

East Boston and Logan Airport

For a long time, transportation has played a role in the shaping of East Boston. The world’s finest clipper ships were built at the shipyard owned by Donald McKay in the mid-1800s. A subway tunnel connecting the neighborhood to the rest of the city opented in 1904 and was the first underwater tunnel of its kind in the United States. Rows of houses were torn down to build the Sumner (1934) and Callahan (1961) tunnels, directly connecting automobile traffic from downtown Boston to the neighborhood. An airfield built in East Boston in the early 1920s eventually expanded to become Logan International Airport.

Logan Airport, New England’s primary international airport and the 20th busiest in the US, resides mainly in East Boston (though part of the airfield itself lies in Winthrop). It is almost completely surrounded by water. Landing at Logan is interesting as passengers often do not see the runway until touchdown. There has been some controversy surrounding Logan. Conflict with MassPort, which owns and operates Logan, has been a source of bitterness among some local residents for decades. One expansion of the airport resulted in the community losing Wood Island Park, a green space designed by the noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. In another episode, Logan construction caused noisy trucks to rumble through the neighborhood until a group of local women took to the streets with their baby carriages and blocked the vehicles. The tension between the airport and some local citizens continues, with MassPort attempting to expand again and add a fifth runway.

View from East Boston Side

Demographics

East Boston, known locally as “Eastie”, is becoming predominantly Hispanic, although the once-sizeable Italian population still resides in several areas, especially Orient Heights. East Boston is now 50% Non-Hispanic White, 39% Hispanic or Latino, 4% Asian-American, 3% Black or African-American, 3% Multi-Racial, 1% Other.

Though East Boston has a spectacular view of the downtown skyline, the community’s rents and property values have increased more slowly than the extraordinary growth seen in the rest of the metro-Boston region during the late 1990s and early 2000s. This slower growth can be attributed to factors such as: the isolated nature of the neighborhood, difficulties of real estate development along the waterfront and the negative attitude towards Logan Airport that local East Boston residents have perpetuated.

For many years East Boston’s connections to Boston, which included the Sumner (westbound), Callahan (eastbound) tunnels and the through Chelsea by way of the Tobin Bridge, have been overcrowded. Persons going to the Airport from western and southern Massachusetts would have to use one of these two access points causing constant traffic jams. The building of the Ted Williams Tunnel which extends the Mass Pike to the airport has alleviated much of this traffic problem. Boston has also supplied residents with special transponders that allow them to pay reduced tolls on the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnels.

Local government has hindered private investment in the waterfront for many years. Recently this has changed and the Boston Redevelopment Authority has begun implementing the East Boston Municipal Harbor Plan^[5]. This development is created in order to reconnect East Boston with its waterfront through condominiums, restaurants and shops.

Sites of Interest

Madonna Shrine & Don Orione

One of the most recognizable icons of East Boston is the 35-foot-high statue of the Madonna. The Madonna Shrine, atop Orient Heights, is the national headquarters for the Don Orione order. Constructed in 1954, the statue is a full-size replica of one at the Don Orione Center in the Montemario district of Rome, Italy. It was constructed in 1954 by Jewish-Italian sculptor Arrigo Minerbi, who wanted to show his gratitude to the Catholic Church for having shielded him and his family from the Nazis during World War II. Across the street from the Shrine is the Don Orione Home, a nursing home which, like the Shrine, was founded by the Don Orione priests.

Constitution Beach

The Madonna Shrine, in Orient Heights. It is the national headquarters for the Don Orione order.

Also located in Orient Heights is one of Boston’s more popular public beaches. Constitution Beach — which is known to locals as “Shays Beach” — is a small beach located in the Orient Heights section of the community. It underwent renovations since the mid 1990s, in which a new public bathhouse and refreshment stand has been built. During peak season, it is not uncommon to see more than 100 residents on the sands of Constitution Beach.

Piers Park

Piers Park is on the west side of East Boston and overlooks Boston Harbor with downtown Boston in the background. The park consists of meandering brick promenades with open grass and tree sections. There are several pavilions, one of which is dedicated to Donald McKay. Along with amphitheater there is a community boating program where residents can rent sailboats.

Suffolk Downs

Fed by Rte 1 and a Blue line stop, Suffolk Downs was opened in 1935 and at the point it was considered modern, although now it looks dated. For years they have held a Grade II event at the track called the MassCap. More recently the track has been complaining that revenues have been drained as result of Indian Casinos in Rhode Island and Connecticut and have canceled the MassCap.

East Boston branch library

The first public branch library in the United States was established in East Boston in 1869. The library, which was moved from its original location in the old Lyman School, was started with the collection from the Sumner library and the Boston Public Library. As a result of the Sumner collection it has a large collection of books on Clipper ships as well as the history of East Boston.

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