Cannot pinpoint town to buy my next house in (Boston: short sales, foreclosures)

[Cantona30]

My wife and I are looking to buy our second home. Looking in the following towns and cannot narrow it all the way down.
Medfield
Dover
Westwood
Walpole
Mansfield
Easton
Sharon

the towns on the outside are:
Canton
Foxboro


I work in Ashland now and my wife is not working and are trying to plan a family. We are looking in the 450-600k range.
We are not city people but like to go into Boston to see friends and dinner.


Please let me know your thoughts to try and help narrow it down..Thanks in advance

[MassRE09]

I personally think that Easton and Dover are the more upscale places to live and have great public school systems. Oliver Ames HS in Easton is an absolutely great high school. I know people that went there and were very happy with their education.

Dover may make more sense than Easton, though, given that you're working in Ashland. From Easton, it'd be about a 45 minute drive into work everyday, and that's without traffic, weather, etc.

It's great that you have your price range set. Do you know what size house, lot size, etc. you're going to be looking for? That may help to make the decision for you.

[CaseyB]

I'd start looking in Medfield. Maybe you could snag a bargain in Dover, but it seems to me it would be hard in that price range. Other towns you might want to consider are Holliston and Hopkinton, nice areas with a reasonable commute to Ashland.

Most of the rest of the towns on your list seem a bit far to commute from, imho.

[Cantona30]

The commute does not bother me so much, I have been driving from my house in Norton currently. I was looking for about at least a 2200sqft and a 20,000sqft lot. I know Dover is the biggest reach but I always keep it in there in case something comes up. I am glad that Medfield and Easton are popular because those were my top 2..I don't really like Holliston as much and I really cannot give you a reason as too why. I like Hopkinton but it is 2 far north from my friends and family. If there are any other suggestions on these towns keep them coming and thank you for your responses so far

[MassRE09]

There are actually a couple of bargains right now in Dover. They need a little bit of work, but fit your criteria.

Easton's probably got some of the best places for your money, right now. There is some new construction going on there and you may be able to buy a house and have input to design it your way! That'd be a great deal, if you had the time to wait.

In Medfield, there are some beautiful, recently updated houses that are on almost an acre of land (if not more) and at least 2500 square feet inside, with room for expansion (ie. basement).

One more question- are you thinking about doing short sales or foreclosures? You have to be very patient with these, but in the end, they can be very rewarding! Hope this helps!

Buena suerte!

[capecodcathy]

I don't have personal knowledge of most of the towns you mention, other than Canton, which I like very much. Nice homes, good schools, unpretentious people. Walkable downtown area. Convenient to all major highways and public transportation.

[Cantona30]

I have looked into shortsales and foreclosures I have not seen anything great yet. In Dover I did see some of those fixer uppers or there is actually 1 that is not done yet we looked at. We are a little ways on what we think it will cost to finish. So we are keeping all options open

[MassRE09]

The problem with short sales and foreclosures is the quality of them, which I am sure you're experiencing now. We get into short sales and foreclosures because people don't have enough money to pay their mortgage. Take a second and think about it to yourself- if you can't pay your mortgage, the odds of you actually doing necessary maintenance or repairs are slim. You'll do what you can to get by (if you can even afford that...) and nothing more than that.

Fixing up a house can cost a lot, but the rewards can be amazing! Not only do you get to enjoy what YOU want, but when it comes time to resell, you'll be shocked (provided, of course, that you do it right!)

Of course, a move-in ready house is always the easy (and very nice) option, if you don't want to go through all of that stress.

[Concepts]

Have you thought about building? If you can go up to $600,000, you may be able to build and get exactly what you want.

Dover is likely out of the question but some of the others, especially Mansfield, have some land that may work for you.

[Cantona30]

I have thought of building, That is how Mansfield and Foxboro came into the picture. I already had a project house and am not ready to invest that time again while starting a family. Thank you for your help I will probably focus on Medfield, Easton, and Foxboro and if something comes up in Dover I will jump