Final decision (I think) - House in Arlington Heights or Reading? (Boston: rent, big house)

[CaseyCase]

Okay, so we've looked at houses all over and have narrowed it down to 2 that meet our needs, but totally different locations. One is in Arlington Heights, built in 1935, charmingly redone, 5 minute walk to bus to Alewife (need to commute to Cambridge), price is close to $500k. The other is a substantially nicer home in Reading, 1.2 miles to Reading train station, built in the 70's and close to $100k less.

So, I'm torn. Do I go with Arlington and pay more for a less nice house, but have an easier commute and better investment potential (I think), or go with the nicer Reading house. By the way, we're only anticipating being here for 3 years or so, so resale or rent potential is very important.

Any thoughts

[MovingForward]

I live in Arlington Heights. There was an article about Arlington in the Boston Globe a few weeks ago. Apparently, it's one of the few towns in Massachusetts which appears not to have been hit by the market crash. Homes here are still selling very well.

As for whether you should choose Arlington or Reading, that depends on what is most important for you.

[missionhill]

I'd say Arlington. Most Americans will go for the bigger house and yard farther away from work, but I'd go the other way. Someone did some research finding that in general, men like the big suburban house where we can come home at night after battling in the city and have peace and quiet. Women, on the other hand, prefer urban environments because they're so much richer in social spaces, places to connect with other people, whether it's parks or cafes and restaurants or bustling streets or whatever. Don't know if this fits you or not, but that's my feeling, that in or near the city you have so many places to go, so much to do--who cares if the house is small? In the suburbs there's no place to go--the mall, maybe. You can rattle around in your big house feeling lonely.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by missionhill

I'd say Arlington. Most Americans will go for the bigger house and yard farther away from work, but I'd go the other way. Someone did some research finding that in general, men like the big suburban house where we can come home at night after battling in the city and have peace and quiet. Women, on the other hand, prefer urban environments because they're so much richer in social spaces, places to connect with other people, whether it's parks or cafes and restaurants or bustling streets or whatever.

I agree with Arlington. I'm a little biased having grown up there but I like Reading as well. I do think Arlington gives you more to do, or at least easier proximity to more to do, and will hold up better over three years.

I'm not part of the trend. I am a man and I'd never want to go that far out because I can't stand losing half my life to a commute. Peace and quiet yes, big house, not really. Of course I have never lived farther from a city than the Wedgemere station in Winchester, which is 15 mins to North Station. For the last 15 years I've lived directly in the city, be it Boston, New York, or DC. I spend a good amount of time in my girlfriend's in Belmont, but it's on the Cambridge line and about 10 mins to Harvard. Frankly, I consider even that area a little sleepy.

I worked with a guy who came in from New Hampshire and thought I was nuts to pay more to live in Cambridge "for such a tiny place." After years in Manhattan, the place in Cambridge seemed enormous to me. It even had a porch, yard, and driveway. He used to laugh at me because I thought of Wakefield as a far-out suburb. I can't imagine the American preference for driving or taking the T for an hour and a half each way just for an extra 3 feet in a bedroom. I'd rather get home faster and be in the center of the action, but I've always been a more urban person.

I think, though, this trend is changing because of the "revival" of cities and a fatigue with commuting long hours to suburbs that have plenty of problems making the budget, etc. A place like Arlington or Belmont, which is as close as you can get to the city while still having good schools, a lawn, and some peace and quiet, will be in demand. That's why Brookline and Newton have gotten so expensive.