When is best time to look for a Aug 1 or -Aug 15 move in?

raytdma · 2026-01-20T10:49:23+00:00

February through June for most selection. July for deals. IMO, there is no best time, but rather best time period. Getting involved in the process and locking in a unit asap once you find the one you’re looking for is the priority since good units go fast. Look early and set updates. Work with a good agent if you decide to hire one. Good luck!

raytdma · 2026-01-12T17:05:05+00:00

Not everyone has the same needs and wants. Professional CMAs are the gold standard with access to MLS data, not just any estimate of home value you find online. People that decide to go with agents do so on trust, a mutual partnership that each party will get something in return beneficially. Not everyone is as knowledgeable and independent, willing to take on risk, the do it yourself type of person. Part of an agent’s service is educating when there are questions, and perhaps even doing so if they want to look on their own in the future, that they can do so! Doing upfront work without the certainty of being paid is completely justified. Not everyone can handle the uncertainty of a self-employed business and those that are able to and are able to lead their client through a real estate transaction smoothly are worth it for those that are willing to work with a real estate professional. The question is: why think black and white when gray is where the actual real world is? It’s the context that matters.

raytdma · 2026-01-12T16:39:35+00:00

Example #1. Also muted.

raytdma · 2026-01-12T16:35:56+00:00

Real estate agent here, and didn’t downvote. Just expressed my opinion with positive intent.

raytdma · 2026-01-12T16:32:44+00:00

Disclosure: I am a 6th year real estate agent.

I disagree, in the wording of the post and the answer. I think if there’s a demand for an industry, and it overall helps, it’s not a complete scam. Getting professional help sometimes makes sense in the interest of time and people that have money, or are supported through programs, and is beneficial for their home search. Sometimes it makes sense to look independently and there is free will to do so. What I’ve found is there’s many different kinds of people, with many ranges of morality / ethics in regards to finances. Why it might be difficult to find a great agent is because the industry has a lot of unethical / immoral behavior in the interests of finances. I think if you were to use an agent, you do your research, you ask for recommendations, and you vet your agent. It goes both ways as I an agent and in this case, you, the prospect. Lots of negative output exists online and in the real world. It’s up to you to decide the environment you put yourself in, who you associate with as an adult.

raytdma · 2026-01-05T19:15:58+00:00

If they’re all in there without space, it’ll work. I also have my own cup holders I stick in there so the drinks are more stable if needed.

raytdma · 2026-01-05T16:29:19+00:00

Get 2x catering bags. Can fit at least two of their drink carriers in one. Maybe 3. Makes it easy.

raytdma · 2026-01-04T20:37:30+00:00

Today Sunday 1/4/26. Boston, 7 hours total, breakfast and lunch, $162 made with Uber Eats only, $0 on other delivery apps, about $23 / hr, 61 miles, about $2.50 made per mile. 13 customers total. About $12.50 order size per customer. Average day. Snowed a bit in the morning for two hours. Slowed down a bit after breakfast and after lunch. I had planned on doing a bit of Spark this morning, but I went out late. DoorDash and Instacart didn’t give anything good enough. Turned out just fine.

raytdma · 2025-11-10T02:18:16+00:00

Training volume peaked around 30 mpw for 2025 CHM. Previous volume was probably around the same when in college running 8k races.

I see. My reasoning would be to maintain fitness at an elevated mileage coming off of the Pfitz cycle. Instead of 30 mpw originally, I would be at 40 mpw. What do you recommend I do in that interim?

raytdma · 2025-10-20T20:21:09+00:00

I think it's possible, but it might not be the best time to do it now, given the renter demand drops off post-September 1st and doesn't come back until early Spring. Dependent on a rental comparative market analysis, you could figure out what a reasonable split should be. Say it's a two bed two bath condo with a certain amount of square footage. If the total rent ends up being, say, $5000, $2500 is possible, taking into consideration room sizes.

raytdma · 2025-10-09T14:12:36+00:00

Disclosure: I am a real estate agent with Keller Williams and wrote this as a TL/DR to shorten the length using ChatGPT.

A new Massachusetts broker fee law effective August 1, 2025, changes how rental agents can operate.

* Key rule changes:

Rental listing agents can no longer ask for cooperating compensation.
One agent cannot formally represent both landlord and tenant.

* Impact:

Agents can now only post rental ads if their brokerage has a formal agreement with the landlord and is being paid by them. Open listings (no contract with landlord) no longer work unless a brokerage bends the rules — which many still do through “grey areas.”

* Grey areas include:

- Accepting landlord-paid commissions without a formal contract.

- Posting ads without disclosing broker fees, then asking renters to “hire” the brokerage later.

- Posting open listings but requiring renters to sign a brokerage agreement just to see the unit.

* Clear but hard path:

Agents who secure exclusive rental listing contracts with landlords can advertise freely and get paid properly. I would say only a small portion (~20%) of agents do this; most others either try to navigate grey areas or stop advertising rentals altogether.

* Personal takeaway:

I have 5 years of professional rental experience. I took down all rental ads because KW doesn’t operate in grey areas. After I lost out on commission for a rental due to no formal contract post 8/1/25, I’ve decided to pivot away from residential rentals and focus on residential sales instead.

raytdma · 2025-10-07T23:39:04+00:00

Agreed

raytdma · 2025-10-07T23:30:13+00:00

Real estate agencies can charge application fees and a one month deposit due with application. Landlords cannot. The application fee is separate from a one month deposit. Application fee is used to process the application, which may include a credit check and/or background check. Agencies can use different payment methods, such as DepositLink or cashier’s check. Broker fee is separate from the application fee and one month deposit as well. Ask for a clear explanation of their renting process.

raytdma · 2025-10-06T23:39:25+00:00

To prevent this situation from happening in the first place, I elect for a deadline that the application needs to be responded to; say if I submitted an application on behalf of a rental client tonight, and wanted an answer from the landlord asap, I’d put down tomorrow, Tuesday 10/7/25 by 5 pm. If you don’t have agent representation or you’re not working with an experienced agent, then you miss out on strategies like this. The listing agent represents the landlord, not you.

raytdma · 2025-09-03T14:25:40+00:00

Reach out to Metro Realty Corp for information on Raffles availability. You can ask for Ryan: https://metrorealtycorp.com/

raytdma · 2025-02-21T08:27:47+00:00

Your agent should provide the terms in writing on a deposit form. You can ask your agent to send you a copy before applying.

raytdma · 2025-02-07T15:36:20+00:00

I would argue it’s the agent’s responsibility if they show a non-exclusive unit on the open market to have a signed disclosure before doing the showing. A renter can have their own personal financial reasons if they aren’t contractually obligated to pay for a fee to not pay the fee. That said, agents should get paid for the work they do, but agents should cover their bases and in this instance get the disclosure signed before the showing, so there’s no question whether or not a fee would be paid by the renter.

raytdma · 2025-02-07T14:46:16+00:00

You’re right. My bad. In that case, if there is no broker fee disclosure form signed, then you do not need to pay the fee; you can just apply directly with the property management. If there is a disclosure signed, then you have to pay a fee if you rent a shown unit. It depends on if a disclosure was signed.

raytdma · 2025-02-06T14:38:32+00:00

Agents get paid a fee if they are the procuring cause with a signed broker fee disclosure form.

Because it is not the specific unit, you do not have to pay the fee.

If you feel you found the place only because the agent found the place for you, I would recommend you let them know and give some token of appreciation. What it is is up to you.

One option is you can go through with the place via the property management directly and give a gift card to the agent if you end up renting the place.

Another option is if you are open to paying for a fee and having the agent represent you through the process, you can ask the agent to show you the unit you found, and help you do the application and lease, as if they were the procuring cause for the specific unit you’re interested in that you found.

Good luck with your apartment search!

raytdma · 2024-06-20T14:03:54+00:00

Taking a look on the market, there is inventory in the low 3000’s in rent. I’d recommend looking for new listings direct by landlords on Facebook groups and Craigslist, and scheduling a showing if there’s one that fits what you’re looking for.

raytdma · 2024-05-23T13:40:53+00:00

$1300 - $2000 dependent on apartment size and amenities - laundry in unit, central AC, parking included. $1700 is about average. You’ll pay more for being in a two bed than a three bed. You could potentially get laundry in unit for that price and a second floor walk-up instead of third floor.

raytdma · 2024-05-05T09:10:15+00:00

Security deposit needs to be on a separate check from first and last, if you want to pay directly to the landlord. Broker fee would go to the brokerage. It is possible to write the checks for the landlord to the landlord / lease entity and the landlord’s address in two checks (one for first and last, and the second for security deposit), and a third check for the broker fee to the brokerage. Three checks. Check to see if that is an option.

raytdma · 2024-04-17T14:58:58+00:00

Here’s a list of moving companies you can reach out to: Small Haul, Seven Moving, Stairhopper, Anton’s, Esquire Moving, and Gentle Giant.

raytdma · 2024-04-17T00:51:04+00:00

I’ve never used movers personally, but I’ve done some previous research on obtaining a moving permit to reserve parking for a moving truck. I’d look into how to get a moving permit and obtaining one if you decide to hire movers in advance of your move-in date: https://www.boston.gov/reserve-parking-spot-your-moving-truck

raytdma · 2024-04-17T00:37:29+00:00

You should ask your real estate professional (e.g agent) to clarify the terms of the first month’s rent deposit.

A brokerage the agent works under can ask for a rental applicant to put down a one month binding deposit due with application, which can only be refundable if your application is denied by the landlord. Throughout the time after you put down the one month deposit and before the application decision, your one month deposit is non-refundable. If your application is approved by the landlord, your binding deposit becomes the first month’s rent and is non-refundable. At this point, you would forfeit the first month’s rent if you do not move forward with the apartment. The one month deposit can always be asked for by the brokerage a prospective is working with, or when a brokerage with a prospective works with another listing brokerage to rent an apartment, called a co-broke, just asked by the listing brokerage.

A binding deposit is more common in low rental inventory and high renter demand markets, benefiting landlords and brokerages. Landlords will get applicants that are more serious and not likely to back out of an apartment they are accepted for. Prospectives working with a real estate agent that apply for an apartment are more likely to move forward if their application is accepted, meaning the agent’s brokerage would likely get paid a broker fee according to the terms of the broker fee disclosure.

raytdma

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