Newton (Boston, Lexington, Concord: real estate, houses, rent)

[puffle]

I would appreciate someone being honest about what Newtonville,Newton Highlands, and West Newton are like. We were told by realtors to stay away from these areas....why? If you have read my other posts you know I have a family of three plus small dogs. These areas seem reasonable but don't know anything about them. Would love input!

[vter]

I don't understand why your realtor said to stay away from those areas....Newton as a whole is very nice. I lived in Newton Corner which we jokingly called, "poor mans Newton", but in reality, it was/is a nice neighborhood. I miss Amarin

[Parsec]

I think Newton Corner is not very pedestrian friendly w/that mess of traffic around exit 17, but it definitely has some very good cheap eats around there. Amarin is the original, although I've heard it used to be a lot more popular in the past. All the newer Thai restaurants stole all their business.

Puffle, I know some families who attend the Chinese church in Newtonville on Walnut St., just north of Washington St. They say when they get out of fellowship around 9pm on a weeknite, they usually chat as they walk to their cars (street parking). Because of this, they have been the targets of some nasty remarks from the neighbors who live in the neighborhood. I guess that would mean it's generally a pretty quiet place if the neighbors get annoyed by people chatting on the sidewalks. I do my banking and sometimes grocery shopping in Newtonville since it's between my place and the main library, which I go to 5x a week. I don't know why a realtor would say to stay away from there. Nice little neighborhood w/a commuter rail and a retail center w/a Starbucks, Dunkin, Bank of America, Taco Bell/KFC, Shaw's, and many local businesses like a camera shop and bookstore. There's also a large municipal parking lot that's walking distance to everything in the area. There's also a new arts center w/a mid-size gallery and they offer many classes to the public (there are about 50 professional artist faculty members). Another good thing is location -- it has good access to both 128 and the Mass Pike. I think you said your son is entering high school? Newton North HS is walking distance from the village center (this is where the HS kids go to grab a bite to eat after school), and the library is also within walking distance south of the HS if your son's nerdy like me. The only bad thing I can think of is maybe the noise pollution from the highway. The MassPike cuts straight through the neighborhood, but it's on a much lower grade than all the houses and there's a massive sound barrier along the area. And if residents complain about the church congregation chatting, I don't think the highway noise is much of a problem.

As for West Newton and Newton Highlands.. I don't really spend much time there, so I can't say much about them.

[smarty]

Originally Posted by puffle

I would appreciate someone being honest about what Newtonville,Newton Highlands, and West Newton are like. We were told by realtors to stay away from these areas....why? If you have read my other posts you know I have a family of three plus small dogs. These areas seem reasonable but don't know anything about them. Would love input!

Why don't you ask the realtors? Are they too snobby to answer?

Those are the more commerical areas in Newton. Lot of restaurants, businesses and people. I guess desirable area is manicure lawn with only your castle on it. Neighbors and other human beings should stay away! We don't like people.

[puffle]

Which villages in Newton are less commercial but with some mom and pop stores, family oriented, less noisey then previously described and close to Newton South High? I apologize for all the questions but it is only because we may not have the chance to see for ourselves before moving. Kind of sight unseen which we have done before and it worked out fine. Thanks again for any input.

[missionhill]

West Newton is choice, especially south of the tracks (and the pike), which is West Newton Hill. Very old-fashioned suburban--big (really big) Victorian and Colonial Revival houses, real gas lamps lighting the streets. West Newton has the Second Church and a Unitarian church, both lovely Gothic buildings, and a temple on Temple Street. It has an inde cinema, a bank, and a few shops and restaurants but you couldn't do your grocery shopping on foot; there aren't enough of the essentials. West Newton and Newtonville are both stops on the railroad into Back Bay and South Station, Boston. Newton Centre, Newton Highlands, and Waban are stops on the Highland Branch, originally of the Boston & Albany railroad, now a very convenient light rail trolley that connects into the Boston subway system. Newton Centre has the most shops and restaurants and is the only area in Newton that comes close to a walkable downtown, but Highlands has Crystal Lake with a public swimming beach. Waban has just a block or so of shops, done up in the Tudor style popular in the '20s especially around New York. None of these areas have much in the way of apartments; Newton is resolutely single-family house territory but the lots are small by East Coast standards (but very big by California standards). South of the B&A main line was upper middle class Protestant territory up until World War II. After that prosperous Jews settled there and now the city is maybe 40% Jewish. North of the B&A was and I guess still is more middle class to working class Catholic. I can't imagine a realtor telling anyone to avoid any of these areas unless she was responding to something that you specifically told her you were looking for. Newton is completely a suburban city, unlike many of the towns around Boston, like Lexington and Concord, that began as farming towns and regional market centers and only much later became suburban.

[Sherry Tucker Brown]

All of Newton is very nice! My sister lived in Waban which lovely, but you can drive anywhere you want to in a very short time! Plus, West Newton Hill is really nice with vert grand homes! Chestnut Hill is also nice! The Public School system works. Being originally from NYC, when my mother was getting her Masters in Education in the 60's, Newton was held up as the BEST Public School system in the country!

[badluck]

West Newton and Newtonville are fine places to live with great parks, restaurants, independent movie house, small independent shops and houses can still be found for less than half a million bucks...all in the suburban mecca of Newton. Granted there is no green line service in either of those neighborhoods but to me that can be a positive. **** the agents that tout the 'ONLY' places to live in Newton to be Newton Ctr and Waban. I wouldnt live in Newton Ctr on a bet-Jewish American Princess central (and I dont just mean the women) Horribly overpriced shops, laughable layout (a parking lot in the actual Center?-Brilliant) but on the other hand, you cant spit in any direction without hitting a hair salon-gotta keep all the Yentas happy. As for Waban, nice-suburban quiet and thru the roof prices.
Im sick of all the agents, they suck-and I have no use for an opinion from a snotty, overpriced, 'sell-their-soul-for full commission' who is unqualified to get a real job yet thinks they are a professional because they drive their husbands leased Saab or X5. This is not a reflection on actual realtors, there is a need for qualified professionals in this field-unfortunately their lumped i nto the same category as agents who dye their hair at 45 yrs old, get their nails done, take their divorce settelment and lease a car, learn NOTHING about real estate, economics, or the field they enter. **** them-uselelss.
Now...let the wrath of the aqents rain down upon me-oh wait-it's saturday they are busy selling their souls for a commission on a cozy, charming, quaint open dog house boasting seasonal views of the street that leads to a swamp-i mean water feature/conservation area/wildlife blah blah blah.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by badluck

West Newton and Newtonville are fine places to live with great parks, restaurants, independent movie house, small independent shops and houses can still be found for less than half a million bucks...all in the suburban mecca of Newton. Granted there is no green line service in either of those neighborhoods but to me that can be a positive. **** the agents that tout the 'ONLY' places to live in Newton to be Newton Ctr and Waban. I wouldnt live in Newton Ctr on a bet-Jewish American Princess central (and I dont just mean the women) Horribly overpriced shops, laughable layout (a parking lot in the actual Center?-Brilliant) but on the other hand, you cant spit in any direction without hitting a hair salon-gotta keep all the Yentas happy. As for Waban, nice-suburban quiet and thru the roof prices.
Im sick of all the agents, they suck-and I have no use for an opinion from a snotty, overpriced, 'sell-their-soul-for full commission' who is unqualified to get a real job yet thinks they are a professional because they drive their husbands leased Saab or X5. This is not a reflection on actual realtors, there is a need for qualified professionals in this field-unfortunately their lumped i nto the same category as agents who dye their hair at 45 yrs old, get their nails done, take their divorce settelment and lease a car, learn NOTHING about real estate, economics, or the field they enter. **** them-uselelss.
Now...let the wrath of the aqents rain down upon me-oh wait-it's saturday they are busy selling their souls for a commission on a cozy, charming, quaint open dog house boasting seasonal views of the street that leads to a swamp-i mean water feature/conservation area/wildlife blah blah blah.

I appreciate your honesty,Badluck. What is the difference between a realtor and an agent in Boston, and no this is not a joke question. Here, we just have realtors. And since you are so honest can you tell me about Newtonville, Newton Corner and Auberndale? We are looking for a place to rent within close proximity to the T as we only have one car and it's not a Saab! Again, we are in the west coast and need good descriptions of these places to help us decide. Thanks again!

[BruinsGirl]

Newton is a great mix of suburb and city. Boston is just a step away. Would love to live in any part of it, but prices!!!!