little house for lots of money - Mansfield, Hopkinton, etc. (Boston: real estate, houses)

[curlystraight]

Following advice of this forum, we started checking out some towns in Massachusetts. Husband just started working in Boston and the commute from Rhode Island is killing him. Doesn't get to see the kids, etc.

We still have ties to Rhode Island so don't want to be too far from here. We are originally from Dudley and Gardner and are looking forward to moving back to Massachusetts to be closer to our families. Well, we were until we started checking out houses.

Seems like the houses we can afford - we would like to keep it $300,000 or under - are crazy.

I know that's not much of a budget in this market, but we don't mind doing some work to the house, so I am wondering what towns people would recommend to help us find that diamond in the rough - schools are important, and we are really looking for a comfortable town with stuff to do, near the MBTA is great. Both Mansfield and Hopkinton appealed to us. Gardner and Dudley do not.

[aleigho]

Why does Dudley not appeal to you?

[surfingatwork]

Originally Posted by curlystraight

Following advice of this forum, we started checking out some towns in Massachusetts. Husband just started working in Boston and the commute from Rhode Island is killing him. Doesn't get to see the kids, etc.

We still have ties to Rhode Island so don't want to be too far from here. We are originally from Dudley and Gardner and are looking forward to moving back to Massachusetts to be closer to our families. Well, we were until we started checking out houses.

Seems like the houses we can afford - we would like to keep it $300,000 or under - are crazy.

I know that's not much of a budget in this market, but we don't mind doing some work to the house, so I am wondering what towns people would recommend to help us find that diamond in the rough - schools are important, and we are really looking for a comfortable town with stuff to do, near the MBTA is great. Both Mansfield and Hopkinton appealed to us. Gardner and Dudley do not.

What about Lakeville? My home is on the market for $300,000 and it's 5 miles from the commter rail.

[pondhopper]

You say schools are important, do you currently have kids? I did a quick search and found many listings in Hopkinton under $300,000 (over 40 but some were just lots) but almost all were 2 bedrooms, though there were a few 3 beds.
Real Estate at Homes.Com for HOPKINTON, MA

[curlystraight]

Originally Posted by aleigho

Why does Dudley not appeal to you?

Too far from Boston.

Not sure about the schools.

Plus we don't need to be *too* close to the in-laws!

[curlystraight]

Originally Posted by pondhopper

You say schools are important, do you currently have kids? I did a quick search and found many listings in Hopkinton under $300,000 (over 40 but some were just lots) but almost all were 2 bedrooms, though there were a few 3 beds.
Real Estate at Homes.Com for HOPKINTON, MA

Yes, we do have kids and once they are in schools, don't want to move them.
I would rather have at least a three bedroom. Layout, location and yard of the house is more important than size, and number of bedrooms, although we would rather have at least a three-bedroom since we have two kids.

Thanks for doing a search! I get sucked into the Real Estate searches whenever I start trying to figure out where we are going to go.

[curlystraight]

Originally Posted by surfingatwork

What about Lakeville? My home is on the market for $300,000 and it's 5 miles from the commter rail.

Looks like a cool location but is even further from Gardner and Dudley than we are now.

Send me the link if you want, though.

[surfingatwork]

Originally Posted by curlystraight

Looks like a cool location but is even further from Gardner and Dudley than we are now.

Send me the link if you want, though.

Yes lakeville is pretty far from Gardner and Dudley. here's the link. Single Family Home - Lakeville, MA, 02347 - Realtor.com

[maggiekate]

have you considered J.P. or West Roxbury-both on the t bus line! I am sure you might see a great home in your price range!

[curlystraight]

Originally Posted by maggiekate

have you considered J.P. or West Roxbury-both on the t bus line! I am sure you might see a great home in your price range!

I will definitely check out those areas. Would love to be that close to Boston.

Not sure about the commute to Gardner and Dudley to visit our babysitters, um, I mean parents. They are getting older so I don't want them to have to drive through crazy traffic when they come to see us either.