Western Mass or Capitol Region NY? (Boston, Springfield: real estate, student loan, houses)

[CeltiaKris]

My family is in a sticky situation, and I'm looking for AS MANY OPINIONS as I can get. This seems like the best place, so here goes.

Many months ago, my husband (a reasonably highly paid engineer working for the local utility) applied for a position in Waltham MA. After an enjoyable interview, we noodled around in Zillow and were floored by the real estate values in the Boston suburbs. There goes that dream! At least we can still visit.

We then decided to embrace the area we live in. The Capitol Region is growing, it's diverse, it's got some degree of culture, decent restaurants, excellent proximity to our favorite places: the Adirondacks and Boston (NYC not so much). We have a handful of good friends, our elementary-age child has good friends, and we feel like this might be the greenest grass that we can reasonably expect.

We started shopping for our "last" house. We found it. We love it. It's "our" house. We got our offer accepted, and we got an offer on our current house the same day. We have inspections on both houses scheduled for this week. Closings are scheduled for late May.

Much to our surprise, my husband got a job offer today - for Western MA, not Waltham. For a nice salary - more than he's making now, and definitely an improvement considering cost-of-living. The areas around Northampton/Amherst seem amazing - music and arts and liberal thinkers, wrapped up in the quaint little package that only a New England town can offer, with mountains and lakes and streams aplenty. Property values seem higher, but taxes are unbelievably low (compared to Albany/Rensellaer counties!). Schools seem excellent, certainly on a par with the district we're supposed to be moving to, if not better.

One more thing to consider: my employment. I have an engineering degree that I used for about 7 years (manufacturing). I then left to raise our daughter. Last year I went back to work part time as a clerk/secretary at a local college. I'm working on a graduate degree. I could go back to engineering (to afford the high-price houses in the area), or we could keep living small and I could keep plugging away at the degree. The Amherst area has plenty of academia, but would I be able to find an engineering position? Would I have to go to Springfield, and how far is it? We're not rich - we have considerable student loan debt, so please don't think "two engineers - they have plenty to live anywhere". We don't. The house we're closing on is just over $200,000. Taxes are very reasonable for this area at $5500.

So what would YOU do if you were me? We like farmers markets and art shows, we like hiking and canoeing and backcountry camping, we like theater and concerts and we're involved in all sorts of school stuff - PTO and scouts and other clubs. We have all these things where we are (to some degree). Would you choose the Capital Region (areas immediately around Albany)? Or Western Mass near Northampton/Amherst? I should also mention that Saratoga Springs is NOT an option - too much of a commute.

Sorry for the book, but I hope you see our dilemma. Please chime in with your thoughts! Thank you!

[brent s]

Well, I think for job prospects etc..., the capitol region is going to be your best bet, however the job market in western MA isn't terrible, it might be for engineering type positions. I'm not sure on that to be honest.

You are right though with the taxes. They are significantly less in MA than in NY and that can have a huge affect on your monthly/yearly budget. And don't think its because there are less services in MA. I've lived in both, and the schools/services/etc... are very comparable between the two. NY must just do a better job at wasting money.

[western mass and love it]

Don't forget that Hartford is just south of the Mass border and also offers plenty of jobs. Plenty of people live in the pioneer valley and commute to Hartford or work in Spfld. As an engineer you could work at Smith and Wesson, Hamilton Sunstream, Pratt and Whitneyjust to name a few in the area.

[Boston_Burbs]

Originally Posted by CeltiaKris

My family is in a sticky situation, and I'm looking for AS MANY OPINIONS as I can get. This seems like the best place, so here goes.

Many months ago, my husband (a reasonably highly paid engineer working for the local utility) applied for a position in Waltham MA. After an enjoyable interview, we noodled around in Zillow and were floored by the real estate values in the Boston suburbs. There goes that dream! At least we can still visit.

We then decided to embrace the area we live in. The Capitol Region is growing, it's diverse, it's got some degree of culture, decent restaurants, excellent proximity to our favorite places: the Adirondacks and Boston (NYC not so much). We have a handful of good friends, our elementary-age child has good friends, and we feel like this might be the greenest grass that we can reasonably expect.

We started shopping for our "last" house. We found it. We love it. It's "our" house. We got our offer accepted, and we got an offer on our current house the same day. We have inspections on both houses scheduled for this week. Closings are scheduled for late May.

Much to our surprise, my husband got a job offer today - for Western MA, not Waltham. For a nice salary - more than he's making now, and definitely an improvement considering cost-of-living. The areas around Northampton/Amherst seem amazing - music and arts and liberal thinkers, wrapped up in the quaint little package that only a New England town can offer, with mountains and lakes and streams aplenty. Property values seem higher, but taxes are unbelievably low (compared to Albany/Rensellaer counties!). Schools seem excellent, certainly on a par with the district we're supposed to be moving to, if not better.

One more thing to consider: my employment. I have an engineering degree that I used for about 7 years (manufacturing). I then left to raise our daughter. Last year I went back to work part time as a clerk/secretary at a local college. I'm working on a graduate degree. I could go back to engineering (to afford the high-price houses in the area), or we could keep living small and I could keep plugging away at the degree. The Amherst area has plenty of academia, but would I be able to find an engineering position? Would I have to go to Springfield, and how far is it? We're not rich - we have considerable student loan debt, so please don't think "two engineers - they have plenty to live anywhere". We don't. The house we're closing on is just over $200,000. Taxes are very reasonable for this area at $5500.

So what would YOU do if you were me? We like farmers markets and art shows, we like hiking and canoeing and backcountry camping, we like theater and concerts and we're involved in all sorts of school stuff - PTO and scouts and other clubs. We have all these things where we are (to some degree). Would you choose the Capital Region (areas immediately around Albany)? Or Western Mass near Northampton/Amherst? I should also mention that Saratoga Springs is NOT an option - too much of a commute.

Sorry for the book, but I hope you see our dilemma. Please chime in with your thoughts! Thank you!

Wait, you are closing on a house, but thinking about moving?

Seems like you could take quite the loss, depending on how far along you are in the closing process.

[massnative71]

Are you asking this in NY forum as well?

[CeltiaKris]

Originally Posted by brent s

NY must just do a better job at wasting money.

Hahaha - I think i probably agree!

Originally Posted by western mass and love it

Don't forget that Hartford is just south of the Mass border and also offers plenty of jobs. Plenty of people live in the pioneer valley and commute to Hartford or work in Spfld. As an engineer you could work at Smith and Wesson, Hamilton Sunstream, Pratt and Whitneyjust to name a few in the area.

Thanks - this is really useful!

Originally Posted by Morris Wanchuk

Wait, you are closing on a house, but thinking about moving?

Seems like you could take quite the loss, depending on how far along you are in the closing process.

We won't take a loss if we decide NOW. We literally have days to decide one way or the other. The inspection today revealed one major repair, so we can decline the contract and get our earnest money back, no problem. All we're out right now is the inspection fee.

But the question remains - stay where we are and finish this closing, or start over in Mass?

Originally Posted by massnative71

Are you asking this in NY forum as well?

THAT would be a good idea. Thanks!

[Aville239]

I have lived in both places for extended periods of time. The quality of life in Western MA is way higher and the bad stuff (crime, unemployment, etc) is lower. To me it's a no brainer--WMA all the way!