House Across From Elementary School (Norwalk: real estate, rent , work)

[Bob The Builder]

So I found this house in CT that is directly across from the elementary school. Although the median home price in this very small town exceeds 1M, this house is 375k reduced from 400k. It was bought in 2002 for 310k and I am told an additional lot is included which was purchased after 2002 to prevent another house from being built.

My question's are
1) Does anyone have a comment positive or negative about living within 100 yards of the school?
2) In this end lower of the market, should I still be looking to lowball?

Oh. I am a lazy bast#@d and a cheap bast$#d. So please take that into consideration.

[westchester]

to live that close to a school.......is it a bus system or is every kid dropped off in their moms SUV blocking your house twice a day and on Friday and Saturday night....is their enough parking 2 the school or will they be parking in front of your house......my ans. is no but if you are as cheap as you say the price seems right than go for it.......I would go to that school a few times in the morning and afternoon to see how bad it is................good luck

[notjustamom]

Originally Posted by westchester

I would go to that school a few times in the morning and afternoon to see how bad it is................good luck

Exactly. We used to live across from an elementary school in Norwalk, and while it could be hectic and noisy with cars parked nearby each morning and afternoon, it was only briefly. Your best test is to check it out for yourself.

And was it really necessary for someone to wonder about SUV's blocking your house?? "is every kid dropped off in their moms SUV blocking your house twice a day and on Friday and Saturday night." *sigh*

[glxyman21]

Originally Posted by notjustamom

Exactly. We used to live across from an elementary school in Norwalk, and while it could be hectic and noisy with cars parked nearby each morning and afternoon, it was only briefly. Your best test is to check it out for yourself.

And was it really necessary for someone to wonder about SUV's blocking your house?? "is every kid dropped off in their moms SUV blocking your house twice a day and on Friday and Saturday night." *sigh*

Well we live near a school that is planted right in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The trouble doesn't come from the buses but the parents that do not have regard for the neighbors or traffic rules/signs. The school itself doesn't have enough parking but the situation has become progressively worse every year with too many parents dropping/ picking up their kids (my neighbor across the street drives up 6 houses to drop the kids off even..its insane..the neighborhoods all have sidewalks on both sides and crossing guards at necessary points) Parents are parking in no parking zones leaving the street wide enough for one car to only pass, parking part of the car on lawns which damaged someone's sprinkler system, blocking mail boxes for mail delivery, parking in front of fire hydrants or not leaving the 10 feet in front of stop signs.

I'm surprised the house is that cheap though considering the extra lot. Most people pay a premium to live walking distance to a school so the same house can command a higher price if its close by. (atleast if its an elementary schools..most High Schools people would prefer not to live near)

[Bob The Builder]

Originally Posted by westchester

to live that close to a school.......is it a bus system or is every kid dropped off in their moms SUV blocking your house twice a day and on Friday and Saturday night....is their enough parking 2 the school or will they be parking in front of your house......my ans. is no but if you are as cheap as you say the price seems right than go for it.......I would go to that school a few times in the morning and afternoon to see how bad it is................good luck

Thanks. The school has a bus system, but there are only 150 students in the entire school. Unfortunately, the school is about 5000 miles away. Another consideration is that I will have to buy it and hold / rent out for up to 2.5 years as we are not ready to move back to the states yet. Being such a lazy bast%&$d, I am afraid that if we wait, we won't find another house so close.

Actually, it is my thinking that being so close to this small school will allow my 3 kids (1, 3 and 5) to get a bit more exercise (3 baseball fields, two tennis courts, soccer field all visible from the house) and socialization. This is a very small town and it is my hope that being in the heart of things will make it easier for us all to make friends than if I were to buy a house that was more remote.

[JayCT]

I would be careful about this. It seems to be a deal that is too good to be true. A $375k house in a town that has a median price of $1 million makes me suspicous. Make sure you look closely at the house and property. Have it inspected. Go to the town hall and talk to the town planner and town engineer to see what is around this house and if there are any issues you should be aware of. Good luck and keep us informed. Jay

[Bob The Builder]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I would be careful about this. It seems to be a deal that is too good to be true. A $375k house in a town that has a median price of $1 million makes me suspicous. Make sure you look closely at the house and property. Have it inspected. Go to the town hall and talk to the town planner and town engineer to see what is around this house and if there are any issues you should be aware of. Good luck and keep us informed. Jay

Jay

Thanks. It happens that around the school, prices are lower. The next door neighbor bought for 420k in July 2007. It was bought in 2002 for 310k. Are houses near school priced lower?

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Bob The Builder

Jay

Are houses near school priced lower?

I do not understand why, but possibly in this town they are. I would talk to a real estate agent as well about the house and neighborhood to see what the story is. Jay

[Bob The Builder]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I do not understand why, but possibly in this town they are. I would talk to a real estate agent as well about the house and neighborhood to see what the story is. Jay

I suppose if I were building or buying a 5M house, I wouldn't do it next to a public school. I have been working with an agent in this area for about 5 months

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Bob The Builder

I suppose if I were building or buying a 5M house, I wouldn't do it next to a public school. I have been working with an agent in this area for about 5 months

What does the agent say about the house? They could probably give you better idea of why it is so inexpensive. Of course they are bound by the rules that lmit what they can say. Jay