[dantucci]

I know a really great Realtor in Fairfield Ct, if you are interested. I use to live there about 5 years ago. They will answer all of your questions. =)
Dan

[greyson83]

What is Bridgeport like? We didnt go down there during our visit and i haven't heard good things about it. At this point we really need to move and are wondering if we should just go to Bridgeport for a year or so while we save money and get something cheaper.

Is bridgeport dangerous? Please dont say yes if it is not, we just want the truth. We're from a very low crime little town near buffalo and it might be a huge adjustment if we go to bridgeport. how far is bridgeport from danbury during the rush hour? And do people in CT look down on you if you're from Bridgeport?

We were in seymour and mentioned Bridgeport to someone and they made a weird face and said that we don't want to go there. Really??!

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by greyson83

At this point we really need to move and are wondering if we should just go to Bridgeport for a year or so while we save money and get something cheaper.

It would be best if you give us your revised parameters if you're looking to buy something outside of the areas(Oxford/Seymour/BF/Etc.) that you were originally directed to.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by greyson83

What is Bridgeport like? We didn't go down there during our visit, and I haven't heard good things about it. At this point we really need to move and are wondering if we should just go to Bridgeport for a year or so while we save money and get something cheaper.

Bridgeport has good and bad areas as do most of Connecticut's cities (Waterbury, New Haven, and Hartford). You state that you haven't heard good things about it, what have you heard?

Originally Posted by greyson83

Is bridgeport dangerous? Please don't say "yes" if it is not, we just want the truth. We're from a very low crime little town near Buffalo, and it might be a huge adjustment if we go to Bridgeport. How far is Bridgeport from Danbury during the rush hour? And do people in Connecticut look down on you if you're from Bridgeport?

As I mentioned above, certain areas can be dangerous if you're not street savvy of if you don't use common sense. There could be an adjustment depending on how little your town was since Bridgeport has the characteristics of a city. Would people look down on you? In my experience, yes. I say this because where I work, there are many folks from Stratford and Norwalk who feel the need to say "That's so-and-so, and (s)he lives in Bridgeport." I don't know why this is.

I am not familiar with the commute other than you would most likely take Route 8 to Route 25 to get to Danbury. Initially, it starts off as a multi-lane expressway, but that's short-lived.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_25_(Connecticut)

http://www.nycroads.com/roads/expwy_CT/

Originally Posted by greyson83

We were in Seymour and mentioned "Bridgeport" to someone, and they made a weird face and said that we don't want to go there. Really??!

See above. There are those who have a definite opinion of Bridgeport, and no one or nothing is going to change that. Talk to more people, though, for a more thorough assessment.

I agree with the other poster that you need to re-state your criteria. Just because you can afford Bridgeport doesn't mean that there aren't other options.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

It would be best if you give us your revised parameters if you're looking to buy something outside of the areas(Oxford/Seymour/BF/Etc.) that you were originally directed to.

Agreed. Bridgeport is iffy - some parts are great, others are not so great. If you plan on having kids, unless the city does a complete 360 in the next 5 years (which unfortunately I don't see happening) then you don't want your kids in the Bridgeport district. Sorry if that's offensive to anyone, but someone from smalltown upstate NY probably wouldn't want their kids to attend school in the inner-city, simply due to cultural differences. The North end is decent though and you can probably find decent rents there as well. You also might want to check out New Haven - the commute to Hamden would be a breeze but to Danbury would take an hour (along Rt 34) - not much different than the Bridgeport/Danbury commute.

Still consider the Valley (Ansonia, SHelton, Derby, Seymour) since it's midpoint between Hamden and has many rentals.

[seymourct]

Not sure what you will find in your price range on Realtor or those kind of free public websites, but I've heard there are fee based foreclosure sites that have more housing inventory to offer in the foreclosure market. The news is always reporting how many many more houses are in trouble than we know, and that there are homes in every town. So happy hunting.

Seymour is a great little town, as is Oxford, Beacon Falls, Shelton (Huntington district is awesome), Stratford, Bridgeport is good too on certain streets, but you need to look on a per street basis.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by seymourct

Not sure what you will find in your price range on Realtor or those kind of free public websites, but I've heard there are fee based foreclosure sites that have more housing inventory to offer in the foreclosure market. The news is always reporting how many many more houses are in trouble than we know, and that there are homes in every town. So happy hunting.

Seymour is a great little town, as is Oxford, Beacon Falls, Shelton (Huntington district is awesome), Stratford, Bridgeport is good too on certain streets, but you need to look on a per street basis.

Great suggestions. Also consider Monroe, Naugatuck, maybe even Sandy Hook. Homes in most towns mentioned here start at $300k but you *might* get lucky and find a foreclosed fixer-upper in your price range.

Southwestern Ct is expensive - maybe if you don't mind a longer commute, Wolcott, Prospect and Hamden are also decent towns on the outer fringes of SW CT.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by seymourct

Not sure what you will find in your price range on Realtor or those kind of free public websites, but I've heard there are fee based foreclosure sites that have more housing inventory to offer in the foreclosure market. The news is always reporting how many many more houses are in trouble than we know, and that there are homes in every town. So happy hunting.

Seymour is a great little town, as is Oxford, Beacon Falls, Shelton (Huntington district is awesome), Stratford, Bridgeport is good too on certain streets, but you need to look on a per street basis.

Don't forget Ansonia and Derby. Both have their share of nice areas and they appear to be gaining in popularity as bedroom communities.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Don't forget Ansonia and Derby. Both have their share of nice areas and they appear to be gaining in popularity as bedroom communities.

Agreed. However, I got the impression that grayson83 wanted some land and wouldn't mind a town with a rural feel.

Of the listings of Derby and Ansonia, only 1 of 6 has a lot size of .50 acre or larger. Seymour is about 4 out of 9.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

Agreed. However, I got the impression that grayson83 wanted some land and wouldn't mind a town with a rural feel.

Of the listings of Derby and Ansonia, only 1 of 6 has a lot size of .50 acre or larger. Seymour is about 4 out of 9.

It appears that his parameters may have changed as he is now inquiring about affordable cities.