First of all, your advice is all wrong. You can easily find a nice 2 bed near Boston in the range of 1000. All you have to do is look. I am a property manager. I manage 110 units in properties North of Boston and I can put you in a Beautiful 2 bed (around 800 sqft) apartment for 1050. Do not waste your money in getting a broker. Only suckers do this.. If a landlord has a unit vacant for a substatial amount of time (2 months or more) he has no choice other than to lower the rent. The same holds true in any market (including NYC)
Here's a link to an apartment I have available. It's near the Orange line and commuter rail, is very roomy, has hardwood floors and high ceilings, plus - heat and hot water are included. It's down the street from downtown Melrose, so you'll have plenty of acess to things you wouldnt have if you lived deep in a residential section of Boston.
http://boston.craigslist.org/abo/64739515.html