👯 New homebuying hack: Your bestie.

It’s Tuesday, Boston.

😎 T-minus 13 days until the total solar eclipse! If you want bigger plans than just squinting at the sun, make sure to snag tix to Spectacle Island’s eclipse viewing event (there will be s’mores!). And for something more eclipse … adjacent, Alamo Drafthouse is hosting a special showing of “Twilight: Eclipse.”

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Healey’s new shelter limits

• A commuter rail upgrade

• Mark Wahlberg’s extensions

Up first…

HOUSING

A friend in need is a friend in deed

The path to homeownership for Gen Z isn’t a straight line. If anything, in Greater Boston, it’s a game of Frogger, dodging staggering home prices, dizzying interest rates, and low inventory.

👯 But there may be a new way to shorten the journey: A friend. According to a 2023 Lending Tree survey, 45% of Gen Zers and 36% of millennials would be open to buying a home with friends or family. And plenty have already made the leap. “We're seeing a tremendous amount of friends buying [together],” said Rick Harrington, SVP of mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate Affinity. Harrington’s list of non-romantic homebuying clients also includes cousins, siblings, and business partners — all of whom skew younger. 

🏡 For 28-year-old Maria Mongiardo, she needed her brother to break into the market. And that’s despite having multiple streams of income as an epidemiologist and social media business owner, and a robust savings account. Between the two of them, they were able to put 28% down on a four-bed/three-bath condo in Medford (her brother lives on the lower level and Maria and her boyfriend on the upper). Mongiardo doesn’t know anyone her age buying a home solo unless they’re getting help from family … or “you win the lottery.”

👭 And some pairs are eyeing multi-families as a smart investment. “I would probably live on the top [floor], and [my sister] would rent out the bottom,” said 27-year-old Somerville resident Emma deRosas, a possibility that got much more appealing after Fannie Mae announced you can buy an owner-occupied multi-family home with as little as 5% down (used to be 15% to 25%). Add in deRosa’s boyfriend and a few tenants, and suddenly, five people are splitting the mortgage. 

🤑 It’s a unique process that requires going in with open eyes. And frankly, one you should loop in an attorney from the jump, Harrington said. You’ll have tough realities to consider like if your friend loses their job, who’s responsible for coming up with the mortgage? And you’ll need to decide if you’ll be “tenants in common” on the title (if you die, your heir inherits the house) or “joint tenants with right of survivorship” (if you die, your co-buyer inherits the house). 

✍️ But just make sure everything is in writing. Scott Kriss, President & CEO of Kriss Atlantic Law, always suggests a written cohabitation agreement to outline the dirty details: who pays for what, what happens if one party wants to sell, etc. He’s seen best friends who’ve never lived together “go and spend $600,000 [on a house], and now one roommate wants to get out … All those things should be addressed ahead of time.” 

QUICK QUESTION

👭 Would you ever consider buying a home with a friend?

TOGETHER WITH THE BOSTON OUTDOOR EXPO

Time for a digital detox 

🏕️🌱 Trade in your screen time for green time at the Boston Outdoor Expo April 27-28. Whether you're shopping for the latest outdoor gear or hearing inspiring stories from athletes like Ultimate Survivor Rudy Reyes and world-class British explorer Ranulph Fiennes, this expo has everything you need to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature. You can even hop into a quick game of pickleball with VoloSports, learn Bushcraft and survival skills, or try out a yoga class in the Zen Zone for a more hands-on experience. Grab your tickets (they’re FREE until March 31) using code BSIDE and start the season of outdoor adventures off strong. 

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

🏘️ There’s not much room left at the inn. Starting May 1, the state’s overflow shelters, a.k.a. spaces for homeless and migrant families on emergency shelter waitlists, will begin enforcing a one month limit on shelter stays. The new process, which is meant to ease the shelters’ hefty logistical and financial burden on the state, will mandate a monthly reapplication process, allowing families to remain in the shelters so long as they’re taking steps “toward independence,” like applying for a work authorization, taking English classes, or looking for housing.

⚽ White Stadium’s soccer reno plans just avoided a red card. The city’s plans to overhaul the (TBH, pretty unkempt) Franklin Park stadium in partnership with a pro soccer team were officially given the green light to continue by a Superior Court Judge. The project was stalled by a lawsuit from The Emerald Necklace Conservancy and 21 citizens over concerns that the ritzy soccer team’s involvement might reduce public and student access to the stadium. But the judge was unconvinced (as was Mayor Michelle Wu), ruling that the partnership will help the public gain more access to the park.

🚆 The commuter rail may (finally) chug into the 21st century. The MBTA is making plans to electrify trains and increase service on the commuter rail’s Fairmount Line by late 2027 (think: every 20 to 30 minutes, up from every 45 to 90). The proposal comes from Keolis, the company that operates the commuter rail, and if implemented, would represent the MBTA’s first truly actionable step towards their longtime, slow-going goal of electrifying the system. But it's unclear when other lines could follow suit.

❤️ A local college student is in need. Lauren Rauseo, a junior at Stonehill College in Easton, has been seriously injured after getting into a bicycle crash while studying abroad. In the crash, Rauseo suffered a traumatic brain injury and numerous fractures, leaving her in a medically induced coma to try and stabilize her for her journey back to Boston for more specialized care. If you have a few dollars to spare and want to chip in, there are two GoFundMe pages raising money to support her care and recovery. 

MEDIA PARTNERSHIP

Giveaway!

It’s time to face facts: Having your picture taken by a photographer can be a bit intimidating—and the results often skew a bit on the awkward side. You’re not alone. That’s why Bostonians are loving Muse Studios, the first-ever self-capture photography studio in Boston. And, luckily for you, they’re giving away two free 30-minute sessions (each a $75 value) at their brand new location in Chinatown. Just join the B-Side mailing list and refer-a-friend to sign up for our newsletter.

ONE LAST THING

Mark Wahlberg’s extensions

Mark Wahlberg wasn’t all smiles and rainbows while filming “The Departed.” In a recent podcast interview, Wahlberg opened up about his various “issues” on set, including, but not limited to, his wig-like hairstyle.

Apparently, while filming, Wahlberg was growing his hair out for a role in another upcoming movie, “Invincible”, which included getting an extremely time-staking set of extensions in his hair. When he refused to take them out while filming “The Departed,” the decision allegedly ruffled some feathers, (including director Martin Scorsese’s), in addition giving his hairdo for the role a decidedly wig-like vibe. 

But when all is said and done, things seemed to end well for Wahlberg, even with the extensions, considering the film earned him his first and only Oscar nom to date. 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

💈Thanks for reading! BTW, has anyone else seen his slightly unhinged IG reels? I’m kind of obsessed.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, The Boston Outdoor Expo, for supporting local journalism and helping locals gear up for a summer of adventure. 

🕺 The results are in: The winners of B-Side’s nightlife madness round two are: Silhouette Lounge, who won 64% of the vote against Bijou, and Lansdowne Pub, which whooped ICON with 91% of the vote. One reader said: “Bijou is expensive and has no hot dogs.”

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].