[Hollytree]

ukusmom, have you thought about Rhode Island? Similar climate and neighborhood feel to Ct but may be a more affordable option- especially now- house prices in many areas are very low. A nice house for 200K is possible for the first time in many years- it won't be a palace- but a decent house in a decent area. Look at Warwick, Cranston, Warwick, North Providence. The "Providence Plan" website has much info on specific areas/neighborhoods with ethnic and income breakdowns. Try RILiving. com for a house search.....

[Snowman27]

ukusmom, I think Milford is your best best if you really liked it. You can try towards the water off Exit 40. Great areas down there. I have a condo in Southwind village for 5 years. All my tenants loved living there in Milford. Go for a 3 BR condo instead of a house right now.

Good luck.

[hlaredzz]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I appreciate your comments and agree that you should be careful about salaries when moving to more expensive parts of the country. I must however question your comment on "good paying jobs" being concentrated in the southern part of the state. The greater Hartford area including the I-91 corridor up to the Massachusetts border has many well-paying jobs in many different professions. I am not sure where you live or what you do for a living but you can find good jobs around Hartford. These jobs may not pay quite as well as similar jobs in Fairfield County, but they certainly are comparable to New Haven County. Jay

Jay,

I live in the Newtown area. I'm commuting to Norwalk, which takes an hour. Hartford is an hour in the other direction. Hartford/Norwalk/Stamford are where I see most jobs advertised. I'm an administrative assistant and need to make at least $40,000.

I'm not sure how far New Haven is from here but I don't think it's close. I'd love to be within 1/2 hour from home. I would appreciate any suggestions you could make. We moved from the suburbs of Philadelphia so I am used to a larger job market and not used to searching so long and hard to find something. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Heather

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by hlaredzz

Jay,

I live in the Newtown area. I'm commuting to Norwalk, which takes an hour. Hartford is an hour in the other direction. Hartford/Norwalk/Stamford are where I see most jobs advertised. I'm an administrative assistant and need to make at least $40,000.

I'm not sure how far New Haven is from here but I don't think it's close. I'd love to be within 1/2 hour from home. I would appreciate any suggestions you could make. We moved from the suburbs of Philadelphia so I am used to a larger job market and not used to searching so long and hard to find something. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Heather

Heather-

New Haven from Newtown isn't too bad of a drive - down 34 from Sandy Hook right into New Haven. The drive is about 30 miles, approx. 35-40 minutes. You don't have to get on any highway to commute so traffic isn't much of an issue. Good luck

[Lincolnian]

I recently bought a home in West Haven right near the water and the Woodmont section of Milford. 3 years ago purchasing the property I bought would not have been possible if we weren't in the current real estate downturn. West Haven evidently had quite a few speculators who abandoned ship resulting in quite a few foreclosure properties.

There are currently over 200 homes in West Haven available for $200k or less.

West Haven has beautiful beaches, is close to New Haven and several area colleges, is located within a couple of miles of many restaurants and shops, and will soon have a brand new train station providing commuting opportunities into NYC.

[siri]

Can anybody tell me if there are any specific areas in Milford and also West Haven -- considered family-friendly to live in -- within a maximum 20-minute walk from the train station -- where I could find a house under 300,000 and a good-sized (1/2 acre minimum back yard? I know this is asking a lot.

Thanks in advance.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by siri

Can anybody tell me if there are any specific areas in Milford and also West Haven -- considered family-friendly to live in -- within a maximum 20-minute walk from the train station -- where I could find a house under 300,000 and a good-sized (1/2 acre minimum back yard? I know this is asking a lot.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think you'll find any specific areas that meet that requirement. You might find an "oddball" lot here and there, but generally speaking, you'll need to go further north than a "20 minute walk" to get a neighborhood with 3/4 acre(+) lots.

[JayCT]

West haven does not have a trains station yet so you would have to travel to Milford or New Haven. A station is in the planning but it is years from becoming a reality. As to finding a half acre property near the train station in Milford, it will be difficult but you never know. In Milford the larger lots are mostly north of Route 1. Why do you need such a large property? Could you do with say 1/3 or 1/4 acre? That might be more doable. Jay

[siri]

"Why do you need such a large property" he asked. And I blush. I feel the same guilt I feel when all my realtors ask that question!

My husband used to have a big farm, has been living in the city (NY) way too long, and is chomping to get his fingers deep in the soil.... I guess that's a "big" span of soil..... Don't worry, we're looking in other CT areas where land is more affordable, but then the train access is more of a pain.

Oh, life and its challenges! Thanks for the info!

[emikins]

Try Torrington. Nice people. Inexpensive housing and low crime. Delightful place to live and I am moving back there.