Future of MA (Boston, Worcester, Springfield: condo, crimes, credit)

[smarty]

Back to my point...

If there is a train from Springfield to Worcester takes 20 minutes and runs every 20 minutes,
If there is a train from Worcester to Framingham takes 20 minutes and runs every 15 minutes,
If there is a train from Framingham to Boston takes 20 minutes and runs every 10 minutes,

the demand for houses inside Rt128 and Rt495 will be much less. Hence, the price will be much lower... supply and demand. No need for affordable housing act.

[LeavingMA]

The one thing you are starting to see now in MA is older buildings torn down and new condominiums and houses built. This is starting to make some neighborhoods somewhat unconformed. You'll have a couple old homes, then a new duplex condiminium, then more old homes, then a newer commercial development. It looks a little funny, but when you have scarcity of land, that is what happens.

[michael49]

Originally Posted by pjscdn

I beg to differ here. I sense part of the reason for the high cost of housing is the scarcity of desirable and buildable land left in the eastern part of the state. If a family wants a decent lot with their home, the land cost here is very high in comparison with other areas of the country, and I don't think we want to repeat the mega-sprawl prevalent in other highly populated areas. Sure, there's most open space as one moves westward, but much of the appeal of living in the state is close proximity to Boston. Tough call any way you look at it.

I live in Western part of the state (Northampton/Amherst area). There is plenty of land here, but the prevailing attitude here is so anti-development that there there are rarely new homes available and the prices are ridiculous for what you get.
People are so against and residential or commercial development in this area that they are sealing their own fate. If it wasn't for the schools here (Smith, Amherst College, UMASS, Hampshire College, and Mt Holyoke) I think the area would simply fall apart.

[pjscdn]

Originally Posted by michael49

I live in Western part of the state (Northampton/Amherst area). There is plenty of land here, but the prevailing attitude here is so anti-development that there there are rarely new homes available and the prices are ridiculous for what you get.
People are so against and residential or commercial development in this area that they are sealing their own fate. If it wasn't for the schools here (Smith, Amherst College, UMASS, Hampshire College, and Mt Holyoke) I think the area would simply fall apart.

Ah, I grew up in western MA, and know that area well. Moved to the Boston area many years ago, since we all know Bostonians think the state line ends at Route 128, and I wanted to live in it. But, I do think it is refreshing to go back and see open space in that area. It is shrinking rapidly here, and there is constant, endless pressure from deep-pocketed developers on just about any buildable space left.

I'd say before you bash the people resisting dense development, take a ride through some of the packed communities in the eastern part of the state, and decide if that really is preferable. Perhaps they see what is going on, and like things the way they are.

And I understand your thinking about the attraction of the five college area has on those toens, but would there be any culture or activity at all without those schools? Would you live there if they weren't there?

[Rhaven]

My family is one of those young families that decided to move out of Mass. A big part of it was quality of life, and affordability. Husband and I grew up in the Acton/Concord area, but even with a good education and great paying jobs, when we decided to buy our first house, the closest we could afford was central Mass, Templeton. It was a beautiful area, but not near anything. When we started our family, the education there was ok but not stellar. Besides hiking in the local reservations, something you can really only do 5 out of the 12 months, there was not much to do that was not an hours drive away. And being cooped up in the house with two young kids during the harsh winters drove everyone crazy.

With the economy crash, husband lost his job, along with many others. He was able to easily find another one, but at a reduced income. Over time, it took its toll with our mortgage, cost of oil, etc. We started looking for a better place, and ended up moving to NC.

It's a shame, I love Massachusetts. I was born and raised there, and will always consider myself a New Englander. All of my friends and family are still there. But at the same time, we needed to make a decision on what was best for our family and a way of life. Unfortunately at this time, Massachusetts does not have the best way of life for younger families trying to start out. The cost of living right now is still too high for young couples to make a decent footing.

[michael49]

Originally Posted by pjscdn

Ah, I grew up in western MA, and know that area well. Moved to the Boston area many years ago, since we all know Bostonians think the state line ends at Route 128, and I wanted to live in it. But, I do think it is refreshing to go back and see open space in that area. It is shrinking rapidly here, and there is constant, endless pressure from deep-pocketed developers on just about any buildable space left.

I'd say before you bash the people resisting dense development, take a ride through some of the packed communities in the eastern part of the state, and decide if that really is preferable. Perhaps they see what is going on, and like things the way they are.

And I understand your thinking about the attraction of the five college area has on those toens, but would there be any culture or activity at all without those schools? Would you live there if they weren't there?

I realize its a balancing act, but I feel that people in the Western part of the state are generally just too anti-development. I don't want a Walmart on every corner or 200 house developments all over the place either, but it kills me to spend good money on a house that is 100 years old and needs work. Economically, Western mass continues to decline - it has a negative population growth!!

My wife and I are currently renting a condo right now and I'm afraid to buy. A home should be an inventment vehicle and I feel that if I buy a home here I'll never be capable of reselling it without losing money. There are decent houses around us that have been on the market for over 2 years!!

[LeavingMA]

Most of the state had negative population growth. I think the Central MA area and southeastern MA was the closest to being neutral.

[baystater]

Originally Posted by michael49

I realize its a balancing act, but I feel that people in the Western part of the state are generally just too anti-development. I don't want a Walmart on every corner or 200 house developments all over the place either, but it kills me to spend good money on a house that is 100 years old and needs work. Economically, Western mass continues to decline - it has a negative population growth!!

My wife and I are currently renting a condo right now and I'm afraid to buy. A home should be an investment vehicle and I feel that if I buy a home here I'll never be capable of reselling it without losing money. There are decent houses around us that have been on the market for over 2 years!!

Look forget about the house is an investment Crap. That's how we got into this real estate bubble in the first place. Buy a home because you like the community and all it has to offer, Buy a home because you love how the house "feels", And if you have or planning to have children then buy a house because it located in a place where your kids can grow up right and be well educated. If your buying a house for reasons other that these. Just don't buy.

[MovingForward]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

Most of the state had negative population growth. I think the Central MA area and southeastern MA was the closest to being neutral.

The problem is that excessive development will "seal their fate," too. The land is not infinite. When too many ecosystems get wiped out--acre by acre--this contributes to global warming and will cause catastrophic consequences locally, not to mention nationally, in just a few short decades. Once the land and the animals are gone, they're gone. And the truth is, we can't live without them.

[in_newengland]

There's plenty of space left in MA but so many of us are crammed into the eastern part. One reason I left WMass was the lack of public transportation. I can't understand why they don't give us rail service from, say Springfield or Northampton to Worcester and Boston. It would make the most sense to have good rail service going though Northampton just like it did in the old days. The Northampton are has a lot going on now and yet you drive, drive, drive to get anywhere. Imagine being able to live around Northampton and take the train into Boston -- for work or for play.