Brookline, Newton, South Brookline (Flood Plain) (mortgage, property taxes, insurance)

[snazzle]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here but definitely not new to MA. My husband and I are looking to move from Coolidge Corner (Brookline) to either South Brookline or Newton (Newton Center or Chestnut Hill) to buy our first house. We currently own our condo and have a toddler under the age of 2. I have a few questions:
1. Between the mentioned neighborhoods, which do you prefer and why?
2. Which neighborhood has better preschools and elementary schools?
3. We just saw a property in Newton Center but it's located on a flood plain. I know in order to get a mortgage for this we would have to purchase flood insurance. But what are your thoughts on this? Do you think it's too risky to buy this place?
THANKS in advance!

[snazzle]

Anyone? Please?

[miu]

I've lived in Newton for about 15 years. My house is right along the Charles River but on a hill and not in a flood plain. I guess that if you really love the house and the flood insurance premiums aren't too much, then perhaps start off by visiting Newton City Hall and asking them if they know when the last time that house's area got flooded. And if they don't know, ask them who might have that information. Every flood plain has a different risk factor. And make sure that the house in question is priced to reflect the needed flood insurance. Have you looked in the basement? Is there any evidence of old water damage?

I don't have kids, so I can't tell you what areas are better to live in. I just like my location, being riverside, its convenience to getting onto the Mass Pike into the city, and my area is very low key and private. I actually wish that the Newton schools weren't so good or expensive to run as I'd like to see my property taxes go down and I plan to never have kids. lol I voted no on the property tax override last week. And happily for me, the override got voted down.

I guess the one bad thing about Newton is that the new high school they are building keeps getting more and more expensive. And who knows when it will be completed. It's like Newton's version of the Big Dig project. Once finished, it will be the most expensive high school complex in America, including the private ones. And that's insane.

[snazzle]

Miu- Thanks so much for your help. I will definitely contact Newton City Hall. I think that's a good place to start.

[canyontothesky]

When I lived in Newton, I avoided Chestnut Hill as much as possible because it was very out of the way and the traffic was bad getting to/from, especially on route 9. It felt like there were only a limited number of ways to get to the area and most were long and congested, so I recommend Newton Center of the three, I guess?

[camp1]

Originally Posted by snazzle

Hi everyone,
I'm new here but definitely not new to MA. My husband and I are looking to move from Coolidge Corner (Brookline) to either South Brookline or Newton (Newton Center or Chestnut Hill) to buy our first house. We currently own our condo and have a toddler under the age of 2. I have a few questions:
1. Between the mentioned neighborhoods, which do you prefer and why?
2. Which neighborhood has better preschools and elementary schools?
3. We just saw a property in Newton Center but it's located on a flood plain. I know in order to get a mortgage for this we would have to purchase flood insurance. But what are your thoughts on this? Do you think it's too risky to buy this place?
THANKS in advance!

We looked in the same areas and love Chestnut Hill. Our friends in Newton envy the brookline public school system. Baker is one if the best elementary schools around. I don't understand comments regarding traffic. Rt 9 is a direct shoot into the city and much easier than Mass Pike during rush hour. In any case, we love it and would not go anywhere else!