We moved across the country without seeing the apartment

My husband and I moved from Portland, Oregon, to the Boston area to be with my aunt after she had a severe stroke. Because we both worked remotely and were banking PTO for the move itself, we chose an apartment sight‑unseen rather than spending time on in-person tours.

We focused on suburbs with walkable neighborhoods and listings that offered 3D virtual walkthroughs. We found a complex about an hour outside the city with an on-site gym, remote-work hotel booths, and a nearby downtown, checked Google Maps reviews and satellite images, signed a lease, and moved in within two weeks — the unit looked exactly like the photos and tour.

Some drawbacks only became apparent after we arrived. The apartment sat next to the commuter rail and trains thundered past our windows about 10 times a day, often blowing their horns; the noise was maddening and nearly pushed us to leave within three weeks.

United States, Portland, Oregon; Boston area

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