Are you from Dallas or Denver? Please come here (Boston: foreclosure, budget)

[masalamomma]

We are moving to Boston as soon as we sell our house in Texas, so hopefully this summer. My husband has started his new job three weeks ago. He has done some exploring and is really bummed and depressed, mostly by the sticker shock. But also because the areas he has seen are absolutely nothing like we have gotten used to.

What we are looking for is something at least loosely resembling the last two places we lived, which we really loved.

West Plano in Dallas - we love it because there is easy access to freeways in all directions. The mall,Home Depot, the movie theatre, Costco, Walmart and Target are right down the street. Everything else is within a couple miles. The scenery is beautiful. The schools are top notch. The Recreation Center is fabulous. It is an easy commute to downtown.

Lone Tree in Denver - we loved it for largely the same reasons above, but additionally there is easy access to Light Rail.

Knowing what we like, where would you recommend we look in Boston area? We would prefer to stay within a budget of $400k. We are a large family, so would need at least 3BR/2.5BA. We would prefer a townhome or zero lot home. The closer to Boston the better, as that is where my husband will be working.

Of course, we will rent at first. But would prefer to rent in or around where would likely buy later on. I appreciate your recommendations.

[skytrekker]

Momma

sorry your husband is depressed about the costs near Boston- I am sure others in and around the city can give more exact information you seek.

Some general observations from me; Housing prices are likely going to be double that of Denver, and more then that of West Plano- compared to greater Boston. Although as you go further west, north and south of the city prices decline some. Most of the northeast is expensive. The plus side is that greater Boston has home prices the same as Seattle and Washington DC- and cheaper then coastal California and greater New York. Worcester will see house prices 100K lower then Boston, while Springfield in the western part of the state will actually be less then Denver.

Very strict zoning in Massachusetts and most of New England prohibits the same kind of large widespread commercial/residential development as in Texas or the Denver area. The region is nearly 400 years old- patterns of settlement, ancient connecting roads centuries old and local standards to protect historical town design & lack of land means development is limited for malls, shopping areas and other development. Lack of land is another reason home prices are high. There is wonderful shopping in the Boston area- with great Malls and unique places that are very enjoyable experiences you will not find elsewhere- but they are not as numerous as you are used to in Texas or CO. Also, for residential housing; Large subdivisions are virtually unknown in New England.

[septimus]

the closest you are going to find to that is probably Framingham/Natick area, but as the previous poster stated Mass just doesn't really have that kind of development. Another option might be the Burlington area.

[missionhill]

To Skytrekker's excellent post I would add that people around here feel that beautiful scenery consists in these preserved town centers, winding two-lane roads, and in small farms and woodlands interspersed among the residential areas, rather than in modern malls, big-box developments, and housing subdivisions. Hope you will too once you've adjusted.

[masalamomma]

Thanks for info, and yes I realize that the East is different. But still hoping for someone familiar with West Plano or Lonetree to clue me in on what parts of greater Boston would be more appealing to us. I know it wont be exactly the same, but still would like to know some areas to focus on that would be closest match as to what we like, as described above.

[2happy]

I don't know Plano, but I've been to Southlake, Colleyville and Grapevine Tx. Nice areas for sure. Would like to relocate there one day. Anyways, an area outside of Boston that may interest you is Hingham. Although home prices are falling, I'm not so sure you'll get Texas home prices in Massachusetts unless it's in foreclosure or perhaps western Mass.

[masalamomma]

Originally Posted by 2happy

I don't know Plano, but I've been to Southlake, Colleyville and Grapevine Tx. Nice areas for sure. Would like to relocate there one day. Anyways, an area outside of Boston that may interest you is Hingham. Although home prices are falling, I'm not so sure you'll get Texas home prices in Massachusetts unless it's in foreclosure or perhaps western Mass.

Not looking specifically for Texas prices in MA, once again I am looking to know what areas of greater Boston would most resemble the atmosphere and facilities and demographics of either West Plano or Lonetree. So were you only mentioning Hingham because the prices are cheap? Or because it is an area of greater Boston most like Plano?

[2happy]

Masalamomma- I mentioned Hingham b/c it's a town that reminds me of a Southlake or Colleyville in Tx. It has more of an upscale kind of atmosphere. It is not an inexpensive town. I think it is about 15-20 mi outside of Boston, but not exactly sure. Although I do not live there, It is known for being a NICE place to live. They have a great outdoor mall similiar to Southlake Townsquare.