Anonymous
Post 07/01/2014 01:02     Subject: Moving to Boston
Brookline is wicked pissah. Or Needham.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 23:50     Subject: Moving to Boston
Anonymous wrote:One of my best friends just sold her newton mansard for about $700,000. Great public schools, easy commute and the house was about 3000 sf. You can definitely find something in newton if you're not looking for a huge perfect house in just the right snooty spot. Of course I'm biased because I grew up there.... Just don't be put off by all the claims you can't afford it! For something hip I'd choose Cambridge or Allston or something closer in.


My inlaw's live in West Newton (02465) and most of the homes near them go for over 2 million. Where in Newton is this?
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 22:46     Subject: Moving to Boston
Boston suburban resident here (who lived in DC a while too) - check out South Boston (lots of young professionals who moved here after college now staying here post kids - you'd want private school), Cambridge (we bought an investment condo there - $450k 2 bed, parking 1100 sq ft - public schools good), Arlington (you can do public through at least elementary - upper schools getting better but my understanding still a work in progress), Somerville close in to Cambridge (real estate cheaper but prop tax higher and you'd need private school) and Watertown (you'd need private schools). Brookline and Newton are great but v expensive and "posh". If you prefer a house over condo you might also check out Waltham close to Moody st where there is shopping/restaurants. It's farther out but has (at least to me) a similar vibe to where you are moving from. I would also recommend renting for a year before you but to get a feel for the different neighborhoods. What I like about the area is that even the suburbs have nice town centers so more of a community / urban flair than most of the DC suburbs offer.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 22:36     Subject: Moving to Boston
+1 for Arlington if it works for your commute. Lots of down to earth young families there.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 22:23     Subject: Re:Moving to Boston
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How about Newton?

Lucky-you ...we'd go to Boston IN A HEARTBEAT!


NP here. This thread is interesting. I'm trying to make myself have the "want" to move to the Boston area to be close to family now that I have kids growing up. I've never lived there though! My sibling relocated to that area so I have visited quite a bit but don't know if I could handle cold winters and cold oceans at the beach! But I do like that there seems to be decent options in housing, not amazing bang for the buck, but pretty comparable. I like it here, but I'm not married to the place- the pull of family is getting stronger as I get older too.


Having lived both places, Boston and its western suburbs are definitely pricier than DC.


According to COL calculators, Boston is 15% cheaper than DC.


If you've lived both places, you wo

I have lived both places. I agree w the calculators.uld know that is not correct. Those internet col calculators are usually bs because it is entirely dependent on the quality of the data put in.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 21:29     Subject: Re:Moving to Boston
Anonymous wrote:What is the difference between W Newton and Newton?

W Newton is one of Newton's many villages. Same town.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 21:23     Subject: Re:Moving to Boston
What is the difference between W Newton and Newton?
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 21:10     Subject: Moving to Boston
Anonymous wrote:One of my best friends just sold her newton mansard for about $700,000. Great public schools, easy commute and the house was about 3000 sf. You can definitely find something in newton if you're not looking for a huge perfect house in just the right snooty spot. Of course I'm biased because I grew up there.... Just don't be put off by all the claims you can't afford it! For something hip I'd choose Cambridge or Allston or something closer in.


I think your friend's place was probably in west newton at that orice point, not Newton.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 21:07     Subject: Moving to Boston
One of my best friends just sold her newton mansard for about $700,000. Great public schools, easy commute and the house was about 3000 sf. You can definitely find something in newton if you're not looking for a huge perfect house in just the right snooty spot. Of course I'm biased because I grew up there.... Just don't be put off by all the claims you can't afford it! For something hip I'd choose Cambridge or Allston or something closer in.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 20:56     Subject: Re:Moving to Boston
Anonymous wrote:How about Newton?

Lucky-you ...we'd go to Boston IN A HEARTBEAT!


Newton is great. OP, please take me with you. I love how easy it is to get around Boston, especially with kids. Go SOX!!!
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 20:49     Subject: Moving to Boston
I'd move back to Cambridge in a flash.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 20:43     Subject: Re:Moving to Boston
Take me with you. I wish we had moved to Boston when our kids were small. Boston is very expensive. The closer in, the higher the price tag.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 20:31     Subject: Re:Moving to Boston
I was intrigued by Dexter Southfield. What is the schools reputation?
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 20:06     Subject: Moving to Boston
Anonymous wrote:Are you kidding? Boston is definitely not more expensive than DC! You can buy into the best school systems in the area for way less than in DC, and you get more for your money in terms of space and charm. My siblings in close-in suburbs pay a fraction of what we pay for camps, extracurriculars, etc. - even groceries are noticeably cheaper.

The PP who mentioned Hingham has a point. They seem to have reliable boat and commuter rail into the city, and I know at least one DF professional who lives there. But it's definitely a different vibe than Univ Park - very preppy.

But the PP is right, if you're willing to commute some, you would have a lot of options.


No way, there is nothing decent in Newton et all for less than $1.5 and usually much more. Moreover, the housing stock is much older and smaller.

Hingham is over an hour commute and meets none of OP's criteria.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2014 20:04     Subject: Re:Moving to Boston
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How about Newton?

Lucky-you ...we'd go to Boston IN A HEARTBEAT!


NP here. This thread is interesting. I'm trying to make myself have the "want" to move to the Boston area to be close to family now that I have kids growing up. I've never lived there though! My sibling relocated to that area so I have visited quite a bit but don't know if I could handle cold winters and cold oceans at the beach! But I do like that there seems to be decent options in housing, not amazing bang for the buck, but pretty comparable. I like it here, but I'm not married to the place- the pull of family is getting stronger as I get older too.


Having lived both places, Boston and its western suburbs are definitely pricier than DC.


According to COL calculators, Boston is 15% cheaper than DC.


If you've lived both places, you would know that is not correct. Those internet col calculators are usually bs because it is entirely dependent on the quality of the data put in.