Harvard housing is plentiful in Cambridge. Harvard pretty much owns all the real estate that you…read morecan see, so there are a lot of options to choose from. 10 Akron St is a brand new residence hall available to Harvard grad students, faculty, and staff. It's first year of operation was the 2008/2009 school year. Unsurprisingly, it feels like a brand new dorm. Everything is clean and works. There is AC and heat that you get to control! Study rooms and outdoor patio areas with beautiful views of the Charles. There are HDTV flatscreens in the common rooms and kitchens placed throughout the halls for the occasional late-night study party. There are even 3x3x3ft storage lockers for each room in the basement (I store my folded up shipping boxes there). The kitchen is well-equipped with a full-size refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. (Beware: a lot of Harvard dorms do not have dishwashers). There are large 11' windows that pour light into the bedrooms. The location is great. It's right on the Charles and a 10-15 minute walk from Harvard Square and Central Square. There's a Whole Foods and Shaws within 5 minutes walk. The only downside I can imagine is the size of the apartments. I have a two-bedroom convertible, which means that there are two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. No living room. The bedrooms are ~11' x 15.5' and the kitchen is about 10' x 10'. The hallway opens to the kitchen and then the two bedrooms and bathroom are off of that. This means that my flatmate and I spend most of our time in our rooms. This hasn't been a problem at all for us but I can see how it might be for some. The way I figure, most of my free time is spent out in Harvard Sq. I have the option of studying in my room or, when I'm bugging out, going to a nearby study room for isolation with my books. Even dining hasn't proved to be a problem. I love to cook and have enjoyed using the kitchen. In my room, I have a dining room table in addition to all the normal bedroom stuff that allows me to dine in a fancy fashion when I like. Having seen a few of the other halls, I can say that I think HRES has done a pretty good job pricing these places. You get what you pay for. At 10 Akron, you get a great, clean dorm that functions very well but is a little different design than the tradition two-bedroom apartment. Rent includes all utilities and internet access, as well as, cable TV in the common rooms. It works well for me and I've enjoyed living here.

You get for what you pay for- it's an affordable living space. Honestly, the house is really old…read moreand worn down. Recently a girl fell threw a glass pane near the hallway doors and had to go to the hospital. The glass here is old and isn't shatter proof so she impaled herself with glass. There's probably various health and safety violations due to the house being so old and ill kept. The rooms are private but pretty gross- when I moved in there was chipped paint, dirt everywhere, and a suspiciously stained carpet. A lot of girls I know had rooms with broken furniture and blinds. The house has free WiFi but it rarely works, if you want a reliable connection to the internet you'll either have to get a hot spot or a router. If you ask the landlord she'll hook you up with Xfinity and they'll deliver a router to you that you can plug up to the coax cable in your room. It gets really hot in the summer. You can either rent of buy your own window A/C unit and the maintained guy will install it for you. The bathrooms are communal like in a dorm. Toilet paper isn't provided, so unless you make a pact with your neighbor you'll have to remember to bring it in with you each time you need to go. Kitchens are communal as well- there's one on the 1st, 4th, 5th and maybe 6th floor. The largest is one the first and the others are kind of small. They all can get super crowded during meal time and if you leave things out in the kitchen or communal areas it will probably get stolen. Fridge space is very limited- you can ask the landlord if they have one for you to use but they rarely have them so you're better off buying your own mini fridge and putting it in your room. The communal areas are professionally cleaned, but honestly pretty much all the staff here don't care much for the tenant's comfort and are just phoning it in. Some of them are friendly, but others are incredibly rude and unprofessional. They have street parking behind the building if you have a car, you'll need to get a Fenway/kenmore resident parking permit to use it though. This is not an ideal place if you want to keep a car though- there's lots of parking rules about which side of the street you can park on and at which times. It's really easy to rack up parking tickets- also space is super limited. It's possible but I wouldn't recommend it. The no guests rule is annoying but it does keep it quiet and not a party house. The community of girls that live here are really nice- it's a great way to meet people who are new to Boston. I've meet a lot of friends through the house. Most tenants are early 20s students to young professionals or interns- most are also international. There are some older women who live here too, some are really sweet but others are mentally ill and kind of unhinged. Over all the positives are that it's a safe place to live in a really great location in the city for a great price- it's really close to the Fenway T stop and Newbury street. The rooms are pretty private as well and the community of other tenants that live here are really friendly. The negatives are just everything else.

I did my research before moving in, now I pass my knowledge along to you:…read more CONS: - The internet signal is spotty, depending on where you are in the building - While you can forward your mail in, you can't forward it out. - Cannot use the kitchen after 10 PM - No candles, irons, hot plates, rice cookers, space heaters, or microwaves allowed in your room - No alcohol allowed on the premises - Although they have coin-operated washing machines in the basement, there are no dryers - You are not allowed to leave your cooking unattended, so don't even think about preheating the oven and then going to the bathroom! - Monthly room checks to make sure you aren't breaking the rules - No men above the lobby - but you can entertain guests on the first floor PROS: - Great location, only a 2-3 minute walk from the Kenmore T stop - Very quiet - Affordable - Other lodgers are mostly kind and friendly - Full use of the three kitchens, including stove/oven, microwave, refrigerator, and toaster oven - Although the entrance doesn't seem to be handicap accessible, there are two elevators inside - Entrance monitored at all times and locked at night - security cameras, too. - Huge closets - Furnished - More private than your typical house share/roommate situation - Bathroom is cleaned twice a day by cleaning staff - No evidence of bedbugs or vermin of any kind I haven't had any problems with administration - everyone has been friendly, kind, helpful, and polite. I am super nice to them all, just in case! Mr. Guy is an absolute doll and will go out of his way to get you what you need, even without being asked. Yes, there are often a lot of annoying signs posted around, admonishing ladies for not cleaning up their messes, parking in front of the building, etc. If they don't apply to you, ignore them. Sometimes they are useful, like warning about parking bans, room inspections, or "anti-terrorist training exercises" happening nearby. The bottom line is, we're lucky that places like OLGH still exist, and I wish there were more of them. Are you sick and need to be close to your doctors in Boston? OLGH is there for you. Are you escaping an abusive relationship? OLGH is there. Are you a student but you're on a waiting list for a dorm? OLGH is the answer. You can sign a lease quickly and move in the next day if you need to. Don't expect to live in the lap of luxury, but do expect a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, a kitchen to use, and running water. (I have had no issues with water temperatures as of yet.) OTHER TIPS: - Bring toilet paper and carry it with you to the bathroom; it is not supplied - You can have a mini fridge in your room, if you're worried about your food being stolen from the community fridge, which can happen. - Although space heaters are prohibited, the lease DOES NOT prohibit electric blankets, curling irons, or flat (hair) irons. - If you bring your own A/C (or rent one from the building) you'll have to pay extra for electric every month. If you buy your own fan/window fan, you don't. I'll update this sporadically if I think of anything else.

Ah Harvard...the university that will send any parent, hiring manager, etc, into a orgasmic frenzy…read moreonce they find out you're a student or alum of this renowned institution. I visited as a tourist while exploring Boston before heading to Providence, where I'm a Master's student at a fellow Ivy League. Harvard's campus is very beautiful, the quintessential blue print of a prestigious New England campus. It was worthwhile to walk around and explore the area.

For being such a prestigious and storied university, it's nice that anyone can walk on campus to…read moresee its historic buildings. There's a visitor center with restrooms, a cafeteria, and tours led by students. Several buildings on campus are open to the public like the Harvard Art Museums. The T has a station right there so it's easy to visit.

I've lived in the Piano Factory for almost five years now - I started in a small studio on the…read morefirst floor, and now am in a larger apartment on the fifth floor. In my time here, I've gotten to know the building, community, neighborhood, and management inside and out. The building is one of a kind. It has character rarely seen in such large complexes (exposed brick and beams, original floors), and they make an effort to respect that when modernizing the units. Amenities such as package service, grills, a pool, a gym, and a gorgeous private courtyard really make this everything you could want in a home. I also love that they let you paint and make it feel like your own. The community of people here is pretty special too. People are friends and get to know each other without being intrusive - I have genuine friends from this building, people I can call to come have a glass of wine or if I need a favor. That can be hard to find in a city. In terms of the neighborhood, I have read a lot of the reviews complain about the noise. This is fairly true - we are at the corner of Tremont and Mass Ave, so it can be noisy. But that's part of living in the city, isn't it? When I lived on the courtyard side, I almost never heard it, though I do more so now that I'm on the street side. That said, we are right in the middle of the South End, so I consider this a trade off. Finally, the management. They have been incredible since the first day I walked in: helpful, accommodating, kind, responsive. For example, after I had my baby and wanted to move into a bigger apartment, they worked tirelessly to get me the right unit, and then they remodeled the bathroom and installed a bathtub (rather than the usual standup shower) because we needed it. When something is broken, it is fixed immediately. They follow up when something is wrong. They've taken such great care of me all these years! I love living here, and cannot recommend it enough!

terrible management not supportive our helpful building is falling apart…read more Laundry room is a mess also it's honestly disgusting and there is so many mice.

As first-time home buyers, we were grateful to have Joe Scapicchio on our side. In today's market,…read moreyou can't be sure about many things, but you can be sure that Joe will properly navigate you through it all. The entire process couldn't have gone any better, and he was an absolute pleasure to work with. Joe was very knowledgeable about what to do, when to do it, when to press, and when to lay off. He was quick to gain an understanding of what we were looking for and made sure we got exactly, or at least close to, our desires. There are tons of moving parts when buying a home, and Joe made sure we pieced them together to make our dream home a reality. We will always recommend Joe to any friend or family needing a great realtor. Thank you, Joe!

I highly recommend Bob Traner, our Berkshire Hathaway realtor, who went above and beyond his duty…read moreto make sure we got the exact house we were looking for. He's easy to work with, in that he actually listens & is highly knowledgeable when it comes to what goes into a well built home. 5 STARS & 2 THUMBS UP BOB! Thank you so very much. Brad Sinsel

Living at Church Park is like dating someone really attractive... who slowly drives you insane…read more Let's start with the bait: the location is fantastic (Back Bay, baby!), the apartments are shockingly spacious for Boston (you'll be spoiled for space), an amazing rooftop with stunning views of the city, and the security and maintenance staff are absolute gems!! But that's where the fairy tale ends... Since the building changed management a few years ago, it's been run less like a community and more like a cold, faceless corporation. Now when you sign a lease here, you belong to the spreadsheet gods--who run this place like a bad Sims game where the only goals are "cut costs" and "keep charging more." * The doormen? Gone. Replaced by ButterflyMX, a video intercom system that's about as secure as a screen door on a submarine. Case in point: recently had a homeless man sleeping in the stairwell - heartbreaking, but maybe a little less so when you're paying a fortune to live in a 'secure' building. (Sad and unsafe can, and do, co-exist) * The elevators? "Functional" is a generous word. They break more often than New Year's resolutions. Hope you're not in a rush! * The gym? Imagine the saddest hotel gym you've ever seen--and then don't update it for ten years. * Want air conditioning that actually cools your apartment? Adorable. Prepare to marinate in your own sweat every summer like a slow-cooked pot roast (while paying hundreds more in electricity bills because of how ancient these HVAC units are!) * Don't even get me started with the mail room situation... All of this would almost be funny if management wasn't slapping the word "luxury" everywhere just to charge luxury rates--and egregiously jack up rent every year--for what is, at best, a slightly glorified college dorm. Speaking of dorms... Hope you like music (or hate silence with a burning passion)! Over the last few years, Church Park has unofficially become an international off-campus dormitory for Berklee College of Music--where students believe they are destined for stardom--while you get to live inside a real-time battle of the bands. The walls are thick. The dreams are thicker. The noise is biblical. Pianos, guitars, drums, clarinets, singers who would not make it past the first round of American Idol... you name it, you will hear it. Quiet hours? Cute idea. Enforcement? Meh. I've had front-row seats to amateur hour at 1AM more times than I care to remember. Sometimes you get lucky with considerate neighbors. Other times, like me, you're blessed with someone who owns a trumpet, acoustic piano, and a guitar, creating a surround-sound experience that no amount of therapy can undo. It's not always loud enough to file a formal complaint, but just loud (and frequent) enough to slowly chip away at your will to live. TL;DR: Live here if you want great location, lots of space, and daily existential dread. But if you're not an aspiring musician (or a masochist), you might want to keep looking.

This is becoming older than Mt Rushmore! This management office could give a diddly squat about…read moretheir tenants! You are better off emailing your concerns to martians as you will have a better chance for any iota of a response! The elevators are old, outdated and constantly breaking down. This frustration is magnified by a lack of communication by the management office regarding the progress for the repair. I have also emailed concerns regarding compost being left in open bags in the trash room - supposedly a violation of the rules but hey - rules are about as useful as buying a plot of land on the dark side when they are not reinforced? Meanwhile this waste has become a breeding ground for pests e.g. roaches and mice have been spotted! Take your concerns to their regional office in NYC? Your time will be better spent attempting to build an aardvark farm at the North Pole then bringing your concerns to their regional headquarters in NYC. So, if you are seeking a quality abode my advice is to keep movin along! Speaking of the North Pole, you will be better off living in an Igloo with Big Foot as your slumlord!

Peabody Terrance is one of the best place to live on Harvard University campus. This residence is…read moreonly open to graduate students, which makes this place nice & quite. Graduate Commons Program (GCP) complimented my stay here. Every week GCP organizes events (game nights, movie nights, lecture series by Harvard Professors and other various socializer events) that are open to all residents. These events are free to attend as the funding for them comes from our rent. Location is ideal since it is close to the highway and 10 minutes walk from campus. Harvard shuttle connects Peabody Terrance with various parts of the campus, and you can track the shuttle real time via your cell. - Rent is all inclusive and property management is active to address all maintenance requests. - There is a massive parking garage, but monthly rent is required to park your car. - There is ample parking on the streets (before 9 PM), so I didn't pay for garage parking. Street parking requires city of Cambridge parking sticker, which you easily get from city of Cambridge parking office. Cons: 1. Non-stop construction on the facility. 2. No air conditioning. However, you can get an a/c unit with property management's approval.

We loved living in Peabody Terrace. We lived in one of the towers on the 13th floor in a 2BR…read moreApartment with an excellent view over both the river and Boston. The apartment wasn't big but still had enough storage. Kitchen and bathroom were quite newly renovated and very clean when we moved in. For us being a family with small children PT was perfect, we quickly became part of the welcoming and friendly community, attending lots fun events every week. Thank you PT Community!

hello i am writing from the seventh circle of hell (warren towers). you might think that when…read moresigning up for a summer program at BU will be a nice get-away from the heat back home. UR WRONG. now, it is not bu's fault that there is the worst heat wave this earth has ever seen, but I would put the blame on them for the complete lack of air conditioning in warren towers. "well that's not that bad just bring a fan" WRONG AGAIN. the fans do nothing. quite frankly, I have never sweat this much in my entire life. i have lost about 10 pounds in sweat alone give or take a few. now, this might have all been fine if I had seen it coming - I could have prepared - NO WHERE on the website did it warn me of this sauna they call a living space. false advertising at its best. if your looking for a summer vacation in hell warren towers is the perfect place for you. if you care at all about your well being, go elsewhere.

Warren Towers is the largest freshman dormitory at Boston University. It has 18 floors and three…read moretowers called (A tower, B tower, and C tower). The residence hall houses 1800 students (mostly freshman and some sophmore). The first three floors are a parking garage so you must two escalators up to the fourth floor where there is security. There is huge dining hall for BU students (one of the three main dining halls at BU). Warren is pretty old but very convenient just across the street is College of Arts and Sciences, Engineers, COM, Questrom, Education and most classes besides CGS and CFA. The dining hall is good, there is a Mongolian Grill, and once a year there is a LOBSTER NIGHT for BU students. Warren towers is a great place to live as a first-year because you can meet so many other freshmen. I lived in a quad on the ninth floor of C towers my freshman year. I met so many people from Iceland, Thailand, China, Texas, Philly, California, New York, the Midwest. Most of the floors are co-ed but can request a single-gender floor. There are two communal bathrooms per floor and a common room.

My daughter just started here and she's already thriving. She had such a great time she didn't want…read moreto come home! Judy is very responsive to communications, and she has the personality that just puts the parents and kids at ease. This preschool is also the most affordable I had come across in my research. I am already willing to recommend this little gem to any parent looking for an affordable daycare with a close family atmosphere.

From the owner: Cooperative Housing for Young Professionalsread more