Anyone who has been following the musing on this site is no stranger to the fact that for about a year I have been beating the drum of the tightening rental market in Boston. Now, boston.com is joining me in spreading the word. I knew they would come around.

The fact is that because the overall sales are down it drives up demand in a rental market that is pushed to the brink often because Boston has an influx of collegiate renters that generally grows each year. Period. So if you are thinking the possibility exists to beat up the property owner on them paying a rental fee, taking a discounted rate . . . I am being honest with you: good luck.

I fundamentally disagree with what Ishay Grinberg of Rental Beast says in the article. Renters that rent far in advance have equally a slim chance of a good deal as those that rent later on. In fact I’d argue that as one gets closer to September 1st a property owner is far more likely to make a deal as time is ticking to secure a qualified tenant. However, to clarify, those that receive discounts are generally signing leases within 2 weeks or less of the September 1st deadline . . . anything before that and you shouldn’t expect a break. I do caution my clients to consider not waiting, especially if they find an apartment they could see themselves living in. The last thing you want to do is see the top 3-5 choices you have get rented because you are holding out for a deal. In fact if you have 3-5 choices you should be hugging your real estate agent.

If you are looking to work with a knowledgeable real estate professional who can show you the broadest range of apartments within your budget requirements don’t hesitate to give me a call or email. 617-840-9304 – patrickb@nextgenrealty.com

Filed under: Boston Landlord Tips and Advice, Boston real estate bubble, Boston Real Estate Editorial, Boston Real Estate Trends and Statistics, Boston Relocation, Boston Rental Resources