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Housing & Transportation Information Attention incoming students! GSAS (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) Information: How do I reach them? On-Campus Housing: You can access the on-campus housing form PDF by clicking here. Other Written Information: Boston Area Housing Weblinks: The Real Deal: Studio Apartments $900 - $1200+ Because of the strong local economy, rents are increasing fast--a typical increase in rents this year is about 10%. Keep in mind how much you'll earn during the year when determining what kind of apartment you can afford. With taxes and bills, most graduate students need to share apartments. The Boston housing market revolves around one date: September 1st. Leases usually begin and end on that date. Since that date is usually close to the beginning of Fall classes, students entering then can expect the first week here at Tufts to be quite busy. For those entering in the Spring, there are likely to be fewer apartments available than in the Fall. We strongly recommend you come early to find somewhere to live. Most of the decent apartments go by the end of July, and the few that are left have inflated prices. Remember, Tufts offers temporary summer housing while you search for your new apartment! Realtors: The following realtors have been helpful and respond to various inquiries: Basch Realty:
Arlington/Cambridge/Somerville Brattle Realty Trust:
Arlington/Cambridge Charles Associates (Mari):
Cambridge/Somerville/Arlington/Belmont/Wat/Boston Crescent Realty Co.:
Beacon Hill/Back Bay Hancock Realty Associates:
Cambridge Harvard Square Realty:
Cambridge/Somerville Leahy Realty:
Arlington/Belmont/Cambridge/Lexington/Watertown Norwich Realty Associates (Anthony
Zafferano): Porter Square Realty (Stanley):
Cambridge/Somerville/Watertown/Allston/Boston You may find the following additional resources helpful as well: The Boston Globe (newspaper) Settlin' In Apartment Hunting Hints: You get what you pay for There are very few genuine bargains. If something is very cheap, be very suspicious. See what is included in the rent (gas, heat, water, electricity). Landlords: There can be some very bad ones; speak to the current residents if at all possible. Get your own apartment first, then fill it with people. There are many more students than apartments, so if you can secure an apartment you like, and you can afford the deposit, then it might be worth taking a gamble that you can fill the extra rooms. Realtors: There are some good ones. However, there are some very bad ones who will try to coerce you into renting an apartment you don't want. Beware. Keep your aims realistic You probably won't get the place of your dreams first time around, so it's better to get the first "reasonable" place rather than end up with nothing. Go househunting with a friend. It's a lot less pressure, and you can get a second opinion you trust on the place. Transportation: Do you need a car at Tufts? It depends on where you live, but the MBTA bus system is fairly reliable and if you live "On the T" line (meaning, you live within walking distance of the 'T'), you can take the T to Davis Square (Red Line) and there is a FREE Tufts shuttle which transports you to and from the Tufts Campus every 20 minutes. Very convenient! Many students have cars, and it's not too difficult to find parking if you register your car in Massachussetts (it can be a nightmare if you decide to keep out-of-state plates), but having a car is not essential to be mobile here. I have a car at Tufts, but I need a parking sticker. Where do I get one? Parking stickers are purchased through the Tufts Police Department. Click here for more information. Free parking is also available on Packard Avenue below Professor's Row, and if you have a Somerville or Medford parking sticker, you can park on any of the nearby permitted streets within walking distance to campus (Be sure you are in the right zone - you will get a ticket if you park in Somerville with a Medford parking sticker!). When does the FREE Tufts shuttle run? Every 20 minutes. Stops in Davis Square (across from the Somerville Theatre), in front of the Campus Center on the Tufts Campus, and on Packard Avenue on the Tufts Campus in front of the Fletcher School of International Law and Policy. Technically, it runs every 20 minutes on the hour, but it often gets a few minutes behind schedule so don't panic if it's a few minutes late. Click here to link to the shuttle schedule... Common MBTA busses that access the Tufts Campus: 94, 96, and 80. For details, visit: http://www.mbta.com/ How do I register a car in MA or become a MA resident? Click here: http://www.state.ma.us/rmv/ for the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles. For a map of the
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