Back to the drawing board on what town.... Thoughts on these options? (Boston: best town, real estate)

[kingeorge]

Originally Posted by Bruins3445

what's not to get? I'm expanding my search to find an area that has many home to choose from and 5 older, fixer upper homes doesn't really cut it. I was hoping that by looking farther out we could find towns that have many homes to choose from. With me using a VA loan for every 5 homes there is general 1 out of the 5 that'll be acceptable for VA loan inspection. It's just the nature of buying older homes in this region

I would add Woburn to your search. Keep close tabs on Chelmsford. Have all of your mortgage approval done, get good agent so you can leap on first good listing or even before it gets listed (that is what good local agents do). But for that to work out, you need to be settled on an area and not be running around like a chicken.

Your head is most likely spinning from all the voices, but this should be said as well.

If stars align, and you can find decent condo/TH in Reading, Wilmington, Wakefield even Woburn. e.g , you have made more money and secured good resale down the road, then with any of SF you can chase out in the bunnies. Plus, you are closer to Boston and Cambridge for commute, and sudden job change.

I understand your sentiment for SF, but what if you get stuck and underwater because of the lousy location and schools? Half of the issue during recent bust in RE were homebuyers getting "creative" and maximizing their home purchase with commutes and locations that are poorly supported by tried and true fundamentals of RE. Location and good schools always trump condition, and size. You are buying in an inflated market, be very careful of where you go. It can eat you alive couple of years from now.

Good luck.

[magicshark]

[quote=Bruins3445;42865217]We had ruled Lowell out entirely but I am curious as to what the "nicer" neighborhoods in Lowell are? Or what landmarks/streets to avoid? Just want to do a quick search and see if what we could get. If the house is cheap enough we could send to private school

The neighbourhoods I really like are The Upper Highlands, most of Belvidare, and South Lowell. Personally I would avoid The Acre, most of The Lower Highlands, Back Central and most of Centerville. While Pawtucketville is nice traffic is murder going over the river.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by robr2

A couple of things to keep in mind. Rt 3A (Boston Post Rd.) is very congested at rush hour. It's a state road and Billerica asked the state to stripe it as one lane so traffic sticks to a single lane. In Burlington, it's striped as one but it's wide enough for two cars side by side so it can be unnerving.

I hate that road. You get some driver's driving as if it's one and others think it's two and want to pass on the right.


Billerica tends to love their speed traps too. Can't tell you the number of times I've seen a cop in Billerica center pulling people over for inspection stickers.

They also love to do traps on Middlesex tpk and near the cemetery on Concord Rd. In 15 years of driving, my one and only ticket is on this stretch of road.

Drive slow in the 'Rica

[sal1181]

Nice sections of Lowell are Belvidere (towards Tewksbury) Pawtucketville ( Towards Dracut, Tyngsborough and the Upper Highlands which is close to the Chelmsford line

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by Bruins3445

Home must pass VA approval, so needing TLC or repairs is a no,

I missed this one.


Finding a move-in ready house in Northern MA for under $300K that will pass VA inspection will be tough.

With it being a competitive seller's market right now, one might be willing to pass up FHA/VA loans for easier conventional/cash deals.

[Bruins3445]

Forgive me if I'm being a broken record but I don't recall anyone here weighing in on Dracut. 15 homes under $300k, some look nice and like they're even in neighborhoods. I do value education however if the home is the right price we could afford private school

Input or thoughts on Dracut?

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by Bruins3445

Forgive me if I'm being a broken record but I don't recall anyone here weighing in on Dracut. 15 homes under $300k, some look nice and like they're even in neighborhoods. I do value education however if the home is the right price we could afford private school

Input or thoughts on Dracut?

You've got Lowell to the south, and Methuen/Lawrence to the east.

The biggest downfall of the town is that anytime you want to go anywhere in MA, those are the areas you need to drive through to get to the highways. But you have 495, rt3 and I93 right there. You can be down in Boston in 45 mins

Other than that, quiet sleepy blue-collared town. Reminds me of Tewksbury. I've spent some time at restarants and such in the neighborhood. Seems like a nice town. I'm a member of a shooting club there.

[magicshark]

Originally Posted by Bruins3445

Forgive me if I'm being a broken record but I don't recall anyone here weighing in on Dracut. 15 homes under $300k, some look nice and like they're even in neighborhoods. I do value education however if the home is the right price we could afford private school

Input or thoughts on Dracut?

I can't tell you much about Dracut. I do know two different families that moved there after being priced out of Chelmsford. I haven't heard any complaints about the schools. Both families are very active in their kids schools and both are very active in local kid's sports leagues. I don't know if that's normal for that town or its just them.
The only thing that would put me off of Dracut is its so far from the highways.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I hate that road. You get some driver's driving as if it's one and others think it's two and want to pass on the right.

That's why I try to stay to the right. If someone wants to pass on the left, I let them.

If it were limited to 1 lane, the traffic through Burlington Center would be a nightmare during rush hour.

[Shrewsburried]

Buying in Belvidere was a good idea in 2009/10/11 when prices were heavily deflated, but home prices have climbed considerably in this neighborhood since. I'd be concerned, per kingeorge's input, that you'd be exposing yourself to a world of hurt in the next down turn.