Relocating from Boston?
Every year, thousands of Bostonians pack up U-Hauls and head for new horizons.
Maybe you landed a dream job in Austin's tech sector. Maybe you are retiring to Florida to escape the brutal New England winters. Or maybe you are simply moving to the suburbs—trading your Southie condo for a yard in Framingham.
Whatever the reason, relocating is widely considered one of the top three most stressful life events, right alongside divorce and the death of a loved one. And when you own a home in Boston, that stress is compounded by a single, terrifying question:
"Do I sell the house before I move, or after?"
It sounds like a simple logistical choice, but the financial implications are massive. Get it wrong, and you could be stuck paying two mortgages for months, draining your savings on "vacant home insurance," or managing a pipe burst in Dorchester while you are sitting at a desk in North Carolina.
If you are planning an exit from the Boston area, you need a strategy. This guide breaks down the hidden risks of relocating with a house on the market and explains why a cash sale is often the "clean break" you need to start your new life.
The "Double Mortgage" Trap
The most dangerous financial pitfall of relocating is the overlap.
In a perfect world, you would close on your Boston home at 10:00 AM and close on your new home at 2:00 PM the same day. But in the real world of traditional real estate, timing is rarely that perfect.
If you move before your Boston home sells, you enter the "Double Mortgage Zone."
The Math of Holding On
Let's look at the real numbers for a typical Boston home valued at $750,000. Even if the house is empty, it costs money to keep it standing.
- Mortgage Payment: ~$3,500/month (assuming you still owe on it).
- Property Taxes: Boston's residential tax rate is roughly $11.58 per $1,000 of value. That's roughly $723/month just to the city.
- Utilities: You can't turn the heat off in a Boston winter (unless you want frozen pipes). Expect $250–$400/month for gas and electric even in an empty house.
- Insurance: (More on this below) $200/month.
Total "Bleed" Rate: ~$5,000 per month.
If your house sits on the MLS for 90 days—which is common when deals fall through or the market slows down—you have burned $15,000 in cash. That is money you could have used for furniture in your new place, moving trucks, or a down payment.
The Hidden Cost: Vacant Home Insurance
Most homeowners don't realize that their standard homeowner's insurance policy does not cover vacant homes.
If you move out and leave the house empty for more than 30 or 60 days (depending on your carrier), your policy effectively voids certain coverages.
- Why? Because an empty house is a magnet for trouble. Without someone living there to spot a small leak, it becomes a flood. Without lights on at night, it becomes a target for squatters.
To be protected, you must buy a specific "Vacant Home Policy."
- The Cost: These policies are significantly more expensive—often 50% to 60% higher than standard insurance.
- The Risk: If you don't tell your insurance company you moved, and a pipe bursts, they can deny your claim entirely, leaving you with a $50,000 repair bill on a house you don't even live in anymore.
The Nightmare of Remote Management
Managing a property in Boston is hard enough when you live down the street. Managing it from another state is a full-time job you don't want.
1. The Snow Removal Law
In Boston, property owners are legally required to clear snow from sidewalks abutting their property within 3 hours of a storm ending (or by morning if it snows overnight).
- The Fine: The city issues fines starting at $50 and escalating quickly for repeat offenses.
- The Reality: If you are in Florida, you have to pay a landscaping crew every time it snows. If they don't show up, you get the ticket.
2. Squatters and Vandalism
Vacant homes in neighborhoods like Roxbury, Mattapan, or even parts of Dorchester can attract unwanted attention.
- Squatters: If someone breaks in and starts living there, Massachusetts laws make it incredibly difficult to remove them. You cannot just call the police; you often have to go through a civil eviction process, which can take months.
- Vandalism: Copper theft (stripping pipes from the basement) is a common issue in vacant Boston homes.
3. "Curb Appeal" Maintenance
To sell a house on the MLS for top dollar, it needs to look perfect.
- Who is mowing the lawn every week?
- Who is picking up the junk mail that piles up on the porch (a clear signal the house is empty)?
- Who is meeting the inspector when the buyer requests access?
When you sell to All Vest Group, you hand us the keys and walk away. We take over the snow shoveling, the security, and the liability the day we close.
Case Study: The Job Transfer
Scenario: Mike and Sarah lived in Roslindale. Mike got a job offer in Charlotte, NC starting in 3 weeks.
The Traditional Route:
- They list the house with an agent.
- They spend $3,000 painting and staging.
- Mike moves to Charlotte; Sarah stays behind to manage open houses.
- They get an offer, but the buyer has a mortgage contingency.
- Sarah moves to Charlotte. The house is now empty.
- The buyer's financing falls through 2 days before closing.
- Mike and Sarah are now paying rent in Charlotte AND the mortgage in Roslindale.
- Total time to sell: 4.5 months.
- Total cost of double payments and travel back and forth: $22,000.
The Cash Sale Route:
- They called All Vest Group.
- We viewed the house on Tuesday.
- We made an offer on Wednesday.
- We closed 14 days later—3 days before Mike's start date.
- They left an old couch and a broken treadmill in the basement.
- They drove to Charlotte with the equity in their bank account, ready to buy.
Don't Let Your Old House Hold You Back
Relocating is the start of a new chapter. Don't let the "ghost" of your old property haunt your finances for months.
Whether you are moving for work, family, or retirement, we can provide the speed and flexibility you need to leave Boston on your terms.
