Getting Settled
 

Getting Settled / Community Resources

HOUSING

It is important to understand that the cost of living in the Boston/Cambridge area is among the highest in the United States. Because individuals vary in their personal tastes and needs, it is difficult to predict exact expenses. We estimate that a single postdoc coming to Harvard for a year should plan on having between $25,000-$32,000 available for living expenses. Keep in mind that these are guidelines; many postdocs have found their actual living expenses have been much higher, depending on their individual circumstances and lifestyles. If family members accompany you, you will need to add approximately $5,800-$7,000 more for your spouse, $500-$2,000 more for each child for a 12-month period.
For more information on housing at Harvard, see the Harvard School of Public Health's Housing website, which provides an excellent housing guide, bulletin board service, and additional housing information and resources, particularly for Longwood postdocs.
For listings, see the Harvard University Community Listing Network (HUCLN) (http://hres1.harvard.edu:7778/hpreapp/cln_public), available through any on-campus computer.

Housing Information through Harvard University

The Harvard Housing Office
7 Holyoke Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-5013
Telephone 617- 495-3377 Outside Massachusetts 1-800-252-5020
FAX 617-496-0404
Email: hhousing@harvard.edu

The Harvard Housing Office maintains a board with apartment listings and real estate contacts primarily in the city of Cambridge. It is open year round on Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday 10 am-1 pm. Fellows must show a Harvard ID or a letter of appointment from their department and photo identification to access the services at Harvard Housing. The office also maintains a file of roommate cards for people who have apartments and are looking to share it with a roommate. Housing is generally very limited due to the number of students that live in the city, especially from September until June of each year. Therefore, it is recommended that postdoctoral fellows, both domestic and foreign, consider finding housing during the summer months, if possible.

Affiliated Housing /Harvard Real Estate Services

 11 Holyoke Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Telephone 617-495-8840
FAX 617-495-5151
Email: fres@harvard.edu

The Real Estate Advantage Program (REAP) is managed by Harvard's Faculty Real Estate Services Office through a contracted brokerage firm, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. This program is designed to assist all benefits-eligible Harvard employees (faculty or staff members) with home purchases and sales and includes a cash back bonus.

Affiliated Housing has Harvard-owned apartments available through a waiting list to benefits-eligible postdoctoral fellows. Non-benefits-eligible postdoctoral fellows may apply for Affiliated Housing with a Harvard University Departmental Guarantee Letter. The letter and eligibility requirements may be viewed on the Affiliated Housing Website. The fall waiting list opens in October and the spring waiting list in April. Leases cannot be signed more than five months prior to starting your postdoctoral position.

Vanderbilt Hall/Harvard Longwood Off-Campus Housing Office

 107 Avenue Louis Pasteur
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Telephone 617-432-1629
FAX 617-731-2468
Email: Vanderbilt_hall@hms.harvard.edu

Vanderbilt Hall does not provide long-term housing for postdoctoral fellows but the Harvard Longwood Off-Campus Housing Office maintains a bulletin board with some apartment, sublet and roommate listings. The majority of listings are posted on the Vanderbilt Hall website above, under the "Off-Campus Housing" Bulletin Board link. Economical short-term housing can also be found through agencies, guesthouses, and hotels posted on the Vanderbilt Hall web pages. The website also has an online application form for temporary housing in Vanderbilt Hall. Such housing is a single room only and must be prepaid with no refunds.

Temporary Dormitory Housing for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals and their families may apply for temporary housing in dormitories during the last two weeks of August. Upon arrival, an application must be submitted in person at the Harvard International Office, 864 Holyoke Center, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-3800, tel. 617-495-2789.

Useful Housing Websites

For houses, apartments, or studio apartments

To search for roommates

Individual Harvard Schools' Housing Websites

Short-term Housing

Furniture Exchange

(Locations in Cambridge 617-354-9159 and Somerville 781-395-9783)

Furniture Rental