Don’t Let Your Student Become Desperate for Decent Housing in Boston!

Boston is one of the country’s great college cities, but finding a place to live can be a very different story.

Thousands of students arrive every year expecting university housing to carry them through college, only to discover that on-campus options can become increasingly limited as they move beyond freshman year.

For parents, that can mean scrambling for an apartment, competing with other students for rentals, navigating unfamiliar neighborhoods, or signing a lease simply because it is the best option still available.

The numbers suggest this is not a temporary problem.

Boston Simply Does Not Have Enough University Housing

According to the City of Boston’s 2025 Housing Report, even after accounting for thousands of new and planned dorm beds, approximately 24,255 full-time undergraduate students could remain unhoused by their institutions based on current enrollment and planned university housing production.

That means tens of thousands of students may continue to rely on Boston’s already competitive private housing market. Some universities are already feeling that pressure.

Northeastern lists upperclass housing for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 as waitlisted and directs students toward off-campus housing resources.

Berklee reports approximately 7,499 undergraduate students, while its residential operation houses roughly 1,500 students.

The message for parents is simple: Your student may need private housing whether you plan for it early or not.

Buying Can Put You in Control

For some families, purchasing a condo offers a more stable alternative to competing for rentals year after year. Owning can give your student:

And instead of directing years of housing costs entirely toward rent, those dollars may support an asset your family owns.

Location Matters

For student housing, convenience is critical. The strongest options are often those that make daily life easy without requiring a car, with access to campus, public transportation, groceries, restaurants, and the rest of the city.

That is especially important in Boston, where students may need to move between classes, internships, jobs, and different neighborhoods throughout the week.

For families considering ownership, Destiny Lofts at 13–19 Stanhope Street is well positioned for that lifestyle. Located in Back Bay, the building offers convenient access to Berklee, Northeastern, Emerson, Copley, the Prudential area, the South End, and downtown Boston.

The property has a Walk Score of 99, Transit Score of 96, and Bike Score of 86, making it particularly appealing for students who want to live centrally and rely less on a car.

Plan Before Housing Becomes an Emergency

The best time to think about college housing is before your student is facing a dorm waitlist or scrambling for a September lease. For families in a position to purchase, ownership can provide something valuable in Boston’s tight housing market: More control over where your student lives, how long they can stay, and what happens to the property afterward. 

Interested in student-friendly ownership opportunities? Connect with The Charles Realty to learn more about available residences at Destiny Lofts at Back Bay or visit https://www.destinylofts.com/