[JViello]

Here is my criteria. Family of 4, with two little ones 3 and under.

Home budget: $175K max, 150K or lower preferred. (100-125 ideal)

We are looking for a 1500-2000sf home preferrably built in the last 5 years. 3/2/2 with .3-.5 acres in a nice newer or at least clean neighborhood.

We want to be around good schools, along with private Christian options.

Low crime and low congestion helps.

Near water or mountains or both.

Decent retail nearby, grocery, box stores etc in a not run down area. NO GHETTO.

Having a large city within 1 hour drive is fine, and having a smaller city within 20 miles with a metro population 300-600K with shopping and cultural options would be nice for work and play.

I won't be cruel and say low taxes because that's not reality here.

HH Income: $65K (Wife will be staying home and I'm being conservative on my end.)

Where in CT is that place? Anyone?

[Tin Knocker]

Are you serious?

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Originally Posted by Tin Knocker

Are you serious?

He's probably kidding

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Tin Knocker

Are you serious?

Yea, that's our criteria...anywhere in CT fit that?

Bueller?

[mels]

You know as well as the rest of us that it isn't going to happen. Start de-cluttering your house and browsing real estate where the grass is greener.

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Originally Posted by JViello

Yea, that's our criteria...anywhere in CT fit that?

Bueller?

Man, it's difficult to know if you're being serious or if you're doing a parody of the general newbie questions here

[KH02]

JV, to be honest I don't think that place exists. My sister is currently looking for a home in the price range of NO MORE then 200K and what they seem to be able to get for the money is nowhere near what you want. The homes she has been seeing have about 1600 sq feet max, generally small lot sizes, and the homes definitely are older then 5 years.

Seems to me if you can make the same income somewhere else (another state) that it would make more sense for you to relocate.

IF you are even being serious....that is!!!

[laulob]

Except for the age of the house I saw some listings in New Milford that might work.

[JViello]

Yea I'm serious. This is where we need to be for "quality of life". I'd really prefer the low 100's because taxes will be a good $300.00 more here per month, and then there is the income tax too.

I've pretty much exhausted my search in CT so I figured maybe I'm missing something.

Right now, we are putting a 10lb ball in a 5lb bag and it's making life miserable. 30 year mortgage @ $2300 per month in an "okay" area with $500.00 per month taxes is not doing it. Both mom and day working it hard just to keep our lips barely above the water and pull down 100K.

In order for that to change, and to pay a house off in less than 15 years...this the criteria. This is the criteria that MANY young families SHOULD be putting out there. Hey if you can afford a 400,000 house without selling your soul, good for you. I'm more interested in owning my "small" home outright in less than 15 years.

Originally Posted by KH02

JV, to be honest I don't think that place exists. My sister is currently looking for a home in the price range of NO MORE then 200K and what they seem to be able to get for the money is nowhere near what you want. The homes she has been seeing have about 1600 sq feet max, generally small lot sizes, and the homes definitely are older then 5 years.

Seems to me if you can make the same income somewhere else (another state) that it would make more sense for you to relocate.

IF you are even being serious....that is!!!

Yea I prefer to be 150K and lower, especially with the higher taxes here.

Running the financials on other areas I have zoned in on, I basically can pay $1100.00 per month for mortage and taxes on that "newer" home, and have it paid off in 6 years. All the other required criteria listed above fits. So I wanted to see if there was someplace here that can at least come close.

Originally Posted by laulob

Except for the age of the house I saw some listings in New Milford that might work.

Pass along the MLS if you don't mind.

[KH02]

If you don't mind answering, why must it be newer construction?