[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Some may be in decent shape but are dated. Almost all are under 2,000 square feet. It's up to the OP what space they need, how much work they want to do, and also how much a few minutes less on the train is worth. Westport has the commute advantage by a few minutes, but Fairfield offers just as much as a town and is exactly what they're looking for and more appropriate for their budget.

I have to agree.

That's not to say there aren't homes in the 650 - 800 price range, but, generally these will not have been updated and are likely to need work.

I also agree that Fairfield is a good bet for the OP.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

That's not to say there aren't homes in the 650 - 800 price range, but, generally these will not have been updated and are likely to need work.

Yep.

The only listing for 650K in Westport: 16 Silent Grove, Westport, CT 06880 (MLS# 99036196) - Westport CT Real Estate - ColdwellBankerMoves.com

"Bring you<sic> imagination and either renovate this spacious and open 4 bed 3 bath home on a private acre -- or seize the chance to construct a new home......"

In other words, a teardown.

[Hazelsky]

Ideally door to door, but could go closer to 1.5 hours door to door if need be.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Hazelsky

Ideally door to door, but could go closer to 1.5 hours door to door if need be.

Realistically, Fairfield will approach 1.5 hours door to door if you're working in midtown.

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Realistically, Fairfield will approach 1.5 hours door to door if you're working in midtown.

Train to Fairfield from GCT is about 1:15 minutes. Plus OP's husband would also need to take the subway from 57th St to GCT. I would allow 30 minutes for this, so I could also get a seat on the train.

So I would say, door-to-door from Fairfield it'll be closer to 2 hours in most days.

To stay within 1:30 minutes Westchester or Greenwich would do.

[CTartist&musician]

Originally Posted by Henry10

Train to Fairfield from GCT is about 1:15 minutes. Plus OP's husband would also need to take the subway from 57th St to GCT. I would allow 30 minutes for this, so I could also get a seat on the train.

So I would say, door-to-door from Fairfield it'll be closer to 2 hours in most days.

To stay within 1:30 minutes Westchester or Greenwich would do.

I agree with the 2 hour assesment. I live in Trumbull but I went to school (both Pratt locations*) in NYC. I would take the train out of the Fairfield Station and I would say the trip always turns out to be about 2 hours each way.

I was thinking about taking some courses at the Fashion Institute but I keep putting it on the back burner probably because of the commute. I have a lot of respect for the commuters from upper Fairfield County that go into NYC every day. They are a tough breed.



*Grand Central to Bleeker and Grand Central to 14th Street

[Duchamp Dude]

Originally Posted by Hazelsky

Ideally door to door, but could go closer to 1.5 hours door to door if need be.

From Darien/Noroton, factoring my parking, coffee stop and transferring to 6 train at GCT, I leave my door at 7:00 and am at my work desk by 8:40am in the flatiron district.

Door to door of 1.5 is a little unreasonable to expect anything north of Norwalk, unless you work within two blocks of GCT. Some dude I know works in PWC on 42nd and fifth, and it takes him 75 minutes door to door and he lives in Stamford downtown.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Duchamp Dude

From Darien/Noroton, factoring my parking, coffee stop and transferring to 6 train at GCT, I leave my door at 7:00 and am at my work desk by 8:40am in the flatiron district.

Door to door of 1.5 is a little unreasonable to expect anything north of Norwalk, unless you work within two blocks of GCT. Some dude I know works in PWC on 42nd and fifth, and it takes him 75 minutes door to door and he lives in Stamford downtown.

This is why I could never do the CT>NYC commute.

I think I would opt for a crash pad.

[jax12479]

An under 1.5 hr door-to-door commute to NYC from CT limits you to Greenwich, Stamford or Darien.

Darien & Greenwich are great for young families but $850k is a small budget -- you can def find a smaller, older home there, though. You'll get a bit more for your $ in Stamford, but it's a small city (taxes are higher and schools not as good).

[Henry10]

If I gotta get in an elevator, go down, wait and get on the subway, even for 1 or 2 stops, and walk to MetroNorth -- you could do it for 15-20 minutes, but may not get a seat, and if subway delays a few minutes, you miss the train to CT -- then your commute just became 2:15 - 2:30. That why I learned to plan to be on the train 10 minutes before departure.

If I was OP I would look for towns with train rides no longer than 45-50 minutes, so that the whole thing can be 1:30.