Sudbury vs. Natick (Boston, Lynn, Newton: rental, condo, houses)

[Parsec]

I realize these are 2 totally different towns, but I just wanted to point out something I've noticed. I've been looking at homes in the $350-450k range, and noticed you actually get a lot more for your money in Sudbury than Natick. The median house price in Sudbury is around $150-200k higher than Natick, but in the $400k range, you get more square footage and a much larger lot in Sudbury. There's a "sweet spot" for every town, so if you're looking for a house, don't be scared to wander into the more expensive towns. You might be pleasantly surprised to see even their "low end' houses are much nicer than the median priced house in a cheaper town.

Now if only I could find a way to get from Sudbury to downtown Boston in 1 hour during rush hour.

[NY'er lost in MA]

I agree! We found a great home in Ashland, but only a half mile from the Southborough border. So we got into a 'sweet spot' neighborhood and lower costs.

Now is a great time to buy!!

[puffle]

Originally Posted by Parsec

I realize these are 2 totally different towns, but I just wanted to point out something I've noticed. I've been looking at homes in the $350-450k range, and noticed you actually get a lot more for your money in Sudbury than Natick. The median house price in Sudbury is around $150-200k higher than Natick, but in the $400k range, you get more square footage and a much larger lot in Sudbury. There's a "sweet spot" for every town, so if you're looking for a house, don't be scared to wander into the more expensive towns. You might be pleasantly surprised to see even their "low end' houses are much nicer than the median priced house in a cheaper town.

Now if only I could find a way to get from Sudbury to downtown Boston in 1 hour during rush hour.

That is so funny. I just noticed the same thing too. I was looking up houses for one of the posters that wanted to stay between $400k and $500 and found great homes in that range in Sudbury,Acton, some in Concord and many in Lynnfield. Oh my god, what you can get in Chelmsford under $400k!!! Is that a good area?

[MovingForward]

Chelmsford is okay. Schools aren't great. Have you looked at Westford?

[puffle]

Originally Posted by MovingForward

Chelmsford is okay. Schools aren't great. Have you looked at Westford?

That was a consideration, especially when my son read that the girls are hot. But, I don't think I would want to go any further out than Acton and it has the rail plus a great coffee roaster, Terroir Coffee (george howell) Would you agree? Found a rental there for $1550 for a duplex, not real big, about 1500sq. ft. including basement, but he is going to put in a/c in the Spring, w/d and frig. and wants to rent to us BECAUSE we have four dogs...to play with his lonely dog? How can we go wrong with a landlord like that and being able to save more than $569.00 from what we paid in L.A. for a 1100 s.ft. condo with no yard?

[findingmesomeday]

Puffle, I think you'll like Acton. It's a ways out there but really, how often are you going to get into Boston anyway? I wish we could get into the city more often but between kids sports and social schedules, jobs, and other commitments, it doesn't happen very often. When we do have time to get away as a family, we want to get OUT of town, not go into it!

[Parsec]

I agree w/NChomesomeday. I moved from Hudson to Newton so I would be closer to Boston, but after moving here, I think we've been into Boston about once a month. We usually just stay around town or get out of MA on the weekends. Maybe it has to do w/the summer -- you don't want to be in Boston w/all those tourists walking around. But then again, you don't want to be in Boston w/all the rowdy college students walking around during the school year either!

[findingmesomeday]

I just realized this AM that I have yet to take my youngest (7 years old now) to the Children's Museum! I used to take my older two (16.5 and 13) all the time.

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by NChomesomeday

I just realized this AM that I have yet to take my youngest (7 years old now) to the Children's Museum! I used to take my older two (16.5 and 13) all the time.

Huh? That's a random comment if you ask me. Never been there, but maybe once my little one is older. What age group is it geared towards?

[findingmesomeday]

Originally Posted by Parsec

Huh? That's a random comment if you ask me. Never been there, but maybe once my little one is older. What age group is it geared towards?

It had to do with living outside the Boston area and not getting into Boston very often. Sorry I wasn't clearer about that.

I think anything up 'til age 11 or 12 would be great for the Childrens' Museum. There is also the Computer Museum right next door. The Museum of Science and the Aquarium has something for everyone though. On the rare occasions I am downtown with all 3 of my kids to do something like that, we'll go to one of those museums since there's a pretty large age gap between the oldest and youngest.