Not once have you made a compelling argument for the existence of brokers for an average apartment and you keep referring to them as a necessity, which I disagree with.

Property management companies provide a service that alleviates a burden for passive landlords. Brokers do nothing for a typical renter or landlord for that matter that wouldn’t be better folded into a long term management service.

I disagree with housing as a rent seeking activity and do not do so above costs of paying a mortgage, HOA dues, and expected upkeep.

Not if you insist on paying an unnecessary middleman. I own and rent a condo in another market with much lower demand than Boston and would never even think that a broker is necessary for tenant acquisition.

You’re a broker. We get it.

Again, I understand the math. Brokers offer no value and tenant acquisition costs are a small fraction of a month’s rent in Boston. Adding a broker inherently makes the transaction more expensive for renters, directly or indirectly.

Rent seeking landlords and the scummy ecosystem around them are greedy parasites to a functioning city.

Landlords don’t have to pay that in fees. Brokers fees are solely propped up by insane rental demand in Boston. Rental markets in almost every other city in America do not suffer them.

I understand math and passing costs to the consumer, I’m arguing that brokers do nothing, charge exorbitant rates for doing nothing, and offer no long term value to renters or landlords.

You’re arguing from a place that brokers provide value and are a necessary part of the equation. They aren’t.

Are you seriously trying to make an argument that a background/credit check and a lockbox key code is worth ~$2500-5000, and also that an paying exorbitant fee for almost no value is for the economic benefit of renters?

🤦🏻‍♂️

You absolutely can. My building had no broker fee, no last month’s rent, and a deposit that was a fraction of a month’s rent.

Brokers fees are fucking stupid - I can’t believe this city puts up with that shit.

The ongoing systematic sexual assault of children by the Catholic Church.

Vermont, the extremely mountainous place with the 26th highest point of the 50 states.

No. Say hi to your mother.

I completely agree. It might be that the Dodge Rams tailgating you through NH turn into Subarus minding the right lane, but I’m pretty sure it’s just that everyone is friendlier and time slows way down.

Seconding State Park. Super friendly staff, good music, relaxed vibe, and seats at the end if you don’t want to be front and center. Also surprisingly good food.

New Hampshire is Nevada with training wheels.