All Forum Posts by: Brian J Allen

@Lee Sanders, if you are interested in Worcester, I would be glad to help.  I am an agent that does only investments in the area. I now have a full team with property management and contractors in place.  As metioned above the property management is the key.  Had this team been in place I would still have my own property.

Do a Google search for "Boommates" and you'll find references to the Golden Girls TV show and discussions about two significant issues older people face: the high cost of housing and loneliness.

For younger people, we call this "house hacking," where someone buys a house and takes in roommates to help cover the costs. Most hope this is a temporary situation, expecting eventually to have their own spaces for themselves and their families. However, few realize that the high cost of housing and related expenses may bring them back to shared living arrangements in the future.

Is this a good thing for individuals and society? Should it be encouraged or frowned upon?

Consider my own situation: should my mom take in a roommate to help manage costs in her big house? Should she downsize? Unfortunately, factors beyond our control often dictate these decisions. Many older people have equity trapped in their homes or have low mortgage rates that make selling and moving difficult.

I think it’s wonderful that older adults have the option to share their homes. It can provide financial relief and combat loneliness, fostering a sense of community. The concept of "Boommates" would be an effective solution for many facing economic and social challenges.

Sharing housing can benefit individuals and society by making better use of existing homes and creating supportive living environments. It’s worth considering how we can encourage and support these arrangements to improve the quality of life for older adults.

@lee sanders    the key is to have good property management, i had a 2 family I loved and sold it just to get away from the tenants.  You need to start from the beginning thqt there are no deals, They pay they get a nice place that is it

@Asim Ghani thank you for your comment.  I think one of the problems with Worcester is that it is TOO EASY to develop small.   All the mom and pop people just get a lot build two attached homes, live in one for a year and then sell them both, then go do it again.  There aren't very many large parcels left where you can do a development.  And at the same time as you mention the cost is close to the same as Boston and you don't make as much $ as a developer.  So people are just doing infill lots and chopping lots off of existing buildings to find more lots to build something

Let’s start with a few notable facts:

• 26% of all renters in Worcester and 17% of residents citywide don’t own or have access to a private automobile.
• In downtown Worcester, 41% of renters and 38% of all residents don't have access to a private vehicle.
• Buses in Worcester became fare-free in 2020 and are currently slated to remain that way through June 2025.
• It's challenging to charge an electric car if you live on the third floor of a triple-decker and don’t have access to a driveway.

Do people choose not to have cars? Are they unable to afford them? We don’t have definitive answers to these questions. However, what Worcester needs is accessible housing, jobs, and shopping options.

Currently, Worcester offers limited job opportunities and shopping facilities. Residents often have to travel to Millbury or Northborough to access malls, and many commute eastward for higher-paying jobs. While it’s beneficial that the buses are fare-free, job opportunities in Worcester are dwindling due to the dual tax rate on commercial property.

For Worcester to thrive, it’s crucial to develop a balanced ecosystem where residents can live, work, and shop locally. This means attracting businesses that provide jobs within the city and creating more shopping options. Improving public transportation and ensuring it remains accessible and fare-free is a positive step, but it's not enough if residents still need to commute long distances for work or basic amenities.

Investing in local infrastructure, encouraging businesses to set up in Worcester, and providing incentives to attract and retain jobs within the city are essential steps. These measures will not only improve the quality of life for residents but also reduce the dependence on cars, which is particularly important for those without access to private vehicles.

Antonia Noori Farzan recently wrote a wonderful article in the Providence Journal about rooming houses. Though my real estate business focuses on multifamily housing, this topic resonates deeply with me.

I remember talking to my father about why he lived at home after graduating from college in the 1950s. He explained that back then, the options were simple: you either lived at home, got married, or lived in a house owned by someone else. Single men didn’t rent apartments for themselves. Why would they? All they needed was a room and access to a bathroom. You could rent a room in a big house owned by a little old lady or in a rooming house.

When my son was looking for an off-campus apartment, we were fortunate to find him a room in a rooming house in Hyde Park. It was a great transition from the dorm, offering him his own space at a fixed cost.

People often look down on rooming houses, seeing them as a last resort for those without other options. However, it’s time we start recognizing them for what they truly are: an affordable housing option for those who want to live independently on a budget.

Rooming houses provide a vital solution in today's housing market, offering flexibility and affordability. It's essential to consider and appreciate the diversity of housing options available, each serving different needs and lifestyles.

They appear to be labor and materials, at least that would be in the Worcester Market

This may seem like a surprising topic when you think about Worcester. After all, building in Worcester is challenging due to limited land availability. Unlike cities like Phoenix or Las Vegas, where there is ample undeveloped land, Worcester's development must work within existing constraints.

Currently, some of my clients are effectively participating in Build to Rent by default. They purchase properties, rehab, or build with the hope of increasing the value, and then find themselves holding onto these projects and renting them out when they can't find another suitable investment. This isn't always their initial plan, but it often turns out to be a profitable strategy.

Several clients have considered buying condos to rent due to the lower maintenance requirements. However, they quickly realize that condo fees can significantly impact profitability. As a result, many have shifted their focus to purchasing attached single-family homes or fully rehabbed multifamily properties. These options allow them to control expenses better, attract similar tenants, and often achieve higher rents with lower costs.

I believe there is a promising market for purpose-built attached single-family homes for rent in Worcester. There is demand for this type of housing, and buyer-landlords can achieve a decent return on investment with new properties while benefiting from long-term appreciation.

While Worcester may not offer the vast expanses of land seen in other cities, thoughtful development and strategic investment in Build to Rent projects can meet the needs of residents and provide solid returns for investors.

Click here to know what is going on and what is going to be required.

The list of inspections is pretty exhaustive and covers a lot of things within the building and sanitary codes.

The city believes that it has a problem with many older buildings being in disrepair and not maintained by the owners.

The owners/landlords have issues with the city because they believe the city is overstepping its authority and does not have the right to inspect the buildings.

In the middle, we have the tenants who should have clean and safe apartments to live in. However, many of the issues that the City believes are a problem are created by the tenants, and the landlords do not have the authority to fix them.

Here is some sample language related to tenants in the proposed ordinance:

Tenant Behavior Ultimately, it is the landlord’s responsibility to police their tenants, whether through stipulations in the lease or other means. The behavior of the tenant will be a reflection of the property and the landlord. The landlord should ensure that all tenants know what is expected of them, whether it is when the rent is due, rules they must abide by to keep the property in a safe and sanitary condition, respecting fellow tenants, or generally just being a good neighbor.

I believe that the City has its proverbial head in the sand on this. Most owners want to be good landlords, and most are actively trying to address tenant issues. However, in many cases, it is the tenants that are the problem. Owners cannot get them out and have no support from the court system. When they cannot remove the tenants they can’t fix the units.

It is also an overreach, what the city could start with is helping the landlords deal with their tenants, perhaps starting some sort of arbitration system. The cost of trash removal is really a big burden on tenants, who in turn make that the landlord’s problem by keeping stuff in the halls, porches, and basements.

I use Destiny from Quincy Floors,  they are very responsive, 617.412.1107. not sure the price on Stairs as they cost more, but floors are $2.50/SF