Anyone know anything about Arlington, MA?

[Anonymous]

When we were considering moving back to Boston, we were looking at Arlington. The only issue is older housing stock, those very old homes with tiny rooms and weird layout.

It's a fairly diverse town, leans liberal, similar to Cambridge but without the lottery-based school system. I spent a year living on Mass. Ave. in an apartment building, and it was a quiet place but still has restaurants, the Minutemen Trail, end of the Red Line at Alewife, easy access to their version of the Beltway (except it's only a half-circle).

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say it's fairly diverse at all, have you checked the demographics recently? It's very much like our N. Arl here including the profusion of "Hate Has No Home Here" signs and NIMBYism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say chesnut hill, newton and parts of Brookline are actually more comparable to Chevy Chase and Bethesda. Arlington, VA is the same as Cambridge (across the river from Boston). And Arlington MA would maybe more like falls church or silver spring or Rockville? Or whatever is next over. I grew up in Cambridge and Belmont (which has a similar feel to Arlington - they call it “arlmont” although Belmont hill is very wealthy) . Great schools and great vibe! If I could move back to Boston I’d live there in a heartbeat.

Arlington, VA and Cambridge are very different. Cambridge is very, very unique due to its university community.

[Anonymous]

If we moved back to Mass, we would definitely look at Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we were considering moving back to Boston, we were looking at Arlington. The only issue is older housing stock, those very old homes with tiny rooms and weird layout.

It's a fairly diverse town, leans liberal, similar to Cambridge but without the lottery-based school system. I spent a year living on Mass. Ave. in an apartment building, and it was a quiet place but still has restaurants, the Minutemen Trail, end of the Red Line at Alewife, easy access to their version of the Beltway (except it's only a half-circle).

To me that's a plus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we were considering moving back to Boston, we were looking at Arlington. The only issue is older housing stock, those very old homes with tiny rooms and weird layout.

It's a fairly diverse town, leans liberal, similar to Cambridge but without the lottery-based school system. I spent a year living on Mass. Ave. in an apartment building, and it was a quiet place but still has restaurants, the Minutemen Trail, end of the Red Line at Alewife, easy access to their version of the Beltway (except it's only a half-circle).

To me that's a plus.

I’m another poster whose brother lives there. The housing situation is absolutely insane. He has been trying to buy a house in the million dollar range in cash and has been losing to people who are willing to forgo inspections on houses built in the 1800s. It is a lovely town but it’s a real problem.

[Anonymous]

I live in Arlington, MA, and it's nearly impossible to buy a house here. The competition is stiff (maybe loosening...a tiny bit)?

In general, Arlington Heights is more suburban with larger homes and lots. Closer to Lexington and Belmont.

East Arlington feels more urban and is closer to Somerville, Medford, Cambridge.

Overall, it's a wonderful place to live -- liberal (if that appeals...), diverse restaurants, plenty of independent businesses, easy access to Boston, lots of nature/bike path etc nearby. Only drawback is the insane housing. You will compete with 20 people for a 1600-sq-foot home priced at $1m. But people want to live here for good reason!

[Anonymous]

The housing stock is hideous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say it's fairly diverse at all, have you checked the demographics recently? It's very much like our N. Arl here including the profusion of "Hate Has No Home Here" signs and NIMBYism.

+1
but OP is probably white so assuming not much of a problem there?

[Anonymous]

Be prepared to pay over asking price for a home. It’s a thing there. My friends will say things like “oh, we listed our house for just under $700,000 because we’re trying to get $750,000”

Inventory is low and awful in the nice Boston suburbs so things often go ti bidding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a nice area. Hopeful he’s well paid because Boston real estate prices have gone through the roof in recent years. And the traffic is even worse than this area.

They bought back in 2008, they're good.

Or 1985.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The housing stock is hideous.

HAHAHAHAHA....written from a post WWII brick box, cookie cutter, four square, split level in Arlington, VIRGINIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The housing stock is hideous.

HAHAHAHAHA....written from a post WWII brick box, cookie cutter, four square, split level in Arlington, VIRGINIA.

Agree.

This 1915 English colonial on the water is just hideous. Wouldn’t it be terrible to get home from work and have to sit in the yard with a water view as you choke down your glass of wine?

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/36-Hopkins-Rd_Arlington_MA_02476_M37619-89236

This prewar colonial with the lake view is just awful too.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/21-Devereaux-St_Arlington_MA_02476_M42748-17243

And this is hideous, right?

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/24-Central-St_Arlington_MA_02476_M37970-30594

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The housing stock is hideous.

HAHAHAHAHA....written from a post WWII brick box, cookie cutter, four square, split level in Arlington, VIRGINIA.

Agree.

This 1915 English colonial on the water is just hideous. Wouldn’t it be terrible to get home from work and have to sit in the yard with a water view as you choke down your glass of wine?

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/36-Hopkins-Rd_Arlington_MA_02476_M37619-89236

This prewar colonial with the lake view is just awful too.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/21-Devereaux-St_Arlington_MA_02476_M42748-17243

And this is hideous, right?

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/24-Central-St_Arlington_MA_02476_M37970-30594

PP here. I totally agree with you! Arlington, MA has always been very nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The housing stock is hideous.

HAHAHAHAHA....written from a post WWII brick box, cookie cutter, four square, split level in Arlington, VIRGINIA.

Agree.

This 1915 English colonial on the water is just hideous. Wouldn’t it be terrible to get home from work and have to sit in the yard with a water view as you choke down your glass of wine?

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/36-Hopkins-Rd_Arlington_MA_02476_M37619-89236

This prewar colonial with the lake view is just awful too.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/21-Devereaux-St_Arlington_MA_02476_M42748-17243

And this is hideous, right?

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/24-Central-St_Arlington_MA_02476_M37970-30594

PP here. I totally agree with you! Arlington, MA has always been very nice.

It is a mystery to me how anyone who lives in the metro DC, with its quickly-slapped-up Post-WW II suburban housing, can characterize the housing stock in a New England town settled in 1630 as "hideous."