Re: “Students share their off-campus experiences,” (page 1, Dec. 8)
As both a Boston University undergrad and a real estate agent, I was offended that the front-page article regarding off-campus housing portrayed real estate agents in such a negative light.
To begin with, I must say that finding affordable off-campus housing is not so difficult when you consider the outrageous cost of living on-campus. The cheapest dormitory costs $6,450 in residence fees per year, according to BU’s website. (And you’re living in the crappiest housing in Boston.) This is how much you pay from September until halfway through May, minus a month of Winter Break (also two weeks during Spring Break when you’re kicked out of the housing you’re paying for). Even if you count that as nine full months (which it’s not, it’s not really even eight), then that means you pay roughly $717 per month, for half of a tiny crappy room. I won’t even discuss what a rip-off the dining plan is. If you want to live in crappy, overpriced housing, you might as well sleep two or three to a slummy studio in Allston. But then you’d probably pay under $400 per month per person, for conditions equal to living in student housing. Of course, BU’s nice residences are a different story, but the truth is that most on-campus assignments are a rip-off. (I can’t understand why BU runs out of housing and students continue to complain about the Guest Policy – quit whining and get an apartment!)
Anyway, the point was not to persuade everyone and their neighbor to move off campus; I have enough work as it is. But I was very disappointed in the way the article portrayed real estate agents, most of whom genuinely try to find their clients housing that they will be happy with, rather than just “tell[ing] you whatever they think will make you want [their housing] true or not.” That is a ridiculous comment backed up by NO factual evidence. Another derogatory statement backed by NO evidence: “Untrustworthy realtors and landlords occasionally take advantage of naïve students who are unaware of their rights.” When such statements are to be made, some sort of evidence or even a single example should accompany these claims.
In addition, when the Free Press plans to slander this certain group of professionals, I think it would be appropriate to interview at least one agent with some actual experience in real estate, not just students making ridiculous comments based on hearsay. Thank you.
Vanessa Euell CAS ’08