[gnatty8]

Was blown away. We currently live in a 3 sides brick house; 4 BR, 2 1/2 bath, family room, LR, laundry room, screened porch, 2 CA garage, and very large office (the room is probably 300 square feet alone). In all, close to 3,000 SF. We are located in a desirable suburban area in NW Atlanta.

Have been browsing the listings at Realtor.com and PrudentialCT and it looks like the best we can find in the same price range as our current house (we are looking in Berlin, Glastonbury, Southington, Kensington) are almost all in the 1,500 to 1,700 square foot area, most with 3 BR, and 1 1/2 bath at most. I had realized that housing dollars did not go very far in CT, but was unprepared for just how much of a "downsize" we would need to make. Are there other areas close to Berlin where we might have a little better luck? Schools are important, and I do not want to live in a high crime area. We may be calling off our move to CT after all!!

[glxyman21]

Berlin and Kensington are all in the town of Berlin, just a different zip code, but same schools, police, tax rates, etc. Berlin, Glastonbury and Southington are more upscale towns. Your dollar could stretch a bit further in Plainville, Middletown, Newington and Portland. If you are looking for a house near 3000 square feet for $250,000 it most likely won't happen in the Hartford/New Haven counties. what is your budget.

[skytrekker]

Best to go east of Hartford into Tolland county- prices will be lower then Glastonbury, Southington and Kensington by 15-20%
Example; a new Colonial 2000 sq feet 1-2 acres, 3-4 bedrooms 2.5 baths, fireplace, double garage, wood Floors
300K in Tolland county.

You would have to commute across the CT river from Berlin/Rocky Hill to Glastonbury to Bolton, Willington, Coventry.

You have to again look at the geographic location-between New York and Boston- very desirable location. Prices are high here for many reasons.

Home prices have always been high along the northeastern megalopolis (Washington to Boston)-as they have been high along the west coast from San Diego to Seattle. This is a fact of life and economics-

Housing is simply higher here for many reasons. You cannot expect prices to be the same here as in Atlanta- there are many intangibles that exempt that possibility-you have to make the choice on the quality of life factors here- or remaining in Atlanta. The choice is yours.

[gnatty8]

Thanks guys. I want to keep it under $300,000 if possible, and I don't want to commute too far, since this is why I am leaving Atlanta. I'd like to keep my commute to under 20 minutes one way.

[skytrekker]

You are not going to find A home like you currently have in the Atlanta area in central CT for 300K

As said above if you are seeking a larger home- you will have to look into eastern CT-perhaps Hebron, Marlborough, Coventry- where a home for 300K will offer more then in Berlin or Glastonbury.

The commute time will be around 60-65 minutes a day-round trip.

[joshtpa]

You have to compare apples to apples. A house within 20 minutes to your work in Atl would cost more than where you currently are. So consider that with your search.

[gnatty8]

Originally Posted by joshtpa

You have to compare apples to apples. A house within 20 minutes to your work in Atl would cost more than where you currently are. So consider that with your search.

I agree since I work in downtown Atlanta. However, the job in CT I am considering is in Berlin, which I understand to be a suburb of Hartford. Right now, I live in a suburb of Atlanta. I am looking at housing in a suburb of Hartford. While I expect to pay a premium to live "inside the perimeter" I was shocked to see the premium I would have to pay to live in the suburbs!

Are there towns anywhere that offer reasonable housing prices with a reasonable commute to Berlin? What about Middletown? Waterbury?

[skytrekker]

Middletown is an excellent choice as is Portland. I suggest you see my post above about the 'Top 100 towns to live' from CNN finance. Also consider Rocky Hill- which was rated the 35th best place to live for smaller towns in the USA. And the mediam home price was 266K-

[JayCT]

If you think the prices in the Hartford area are high, I'd hate for you to look at Fairfield County, metro New York or Boston. In comparision, Hartford is down right cheap. 300k will not buy you 3,000 s.f. colonial anywhere in CT. Sorry.

If schools are really important, then I would stay away from Waterbury and Middletown. Waterbury is a large city and has the types of issues you would expect living in a city (crime, poor schools, etc.). Middletown, though better than Waterbury has issues in their middle and high schools. A lot of people there send their kids to one of the catholic high schools there.

Portland schools are okay and so are adjacent East Hampton. Hebron and Marlborough have better schools and would offer more house for the money than Glastonbury but you are extending your commute. Rocky Hill is nice but I have found that it is only slightly less expensive than Glastonbury. Hope you can figure this out. Good luck, Jay

[njguy]

"If you think the prices in the Hartford area are high, I'd hate for you to look at Fairfield County, metro New York or Boston. In comparision, Hartford is down right cheap. 300k will not buy you 3,000 s.f. colonial anywhere in CT. Sorry."

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As a New York Metro resident living in Northern NJ - You can say that again JayCT!

$300K barely get you a shack of a house in Northern NJ plus one gets the privilege of having to pay the highest overall property taxes in the nation.

NYC and boroughs plus Long Island - Good Luck!