Affordable housing in Londonderry? (Nashua, Bedford: low income, sales, apartment complexes) - New Hampshire (NH) - City-Data Forum

fireflyskies · 06-21-2009, 05:59 PM

We are planning a move to NH next year and hoping to live in Londonderry. I recently visited the area and it has a nice atmosphere - and great schools. Great schools and affordable housing are our top priorities. We are hoping to rent for a year or so before we begin searching for a house (unless we happen upon a great deal on a house). I didn't see much in terms of rentals when I visited, but I don't know the area well. Can anyone advise me on the rental market in Londonderry? We are a family of 4. Thanks!

GregW · 06-22-2009, 05:24 AM

As a realator to check out Rolling Meadows Condominium on Old Nashua Road.

fireflyskies · 06-23-2009, 11:30 AM

I'll definitely look into that. Thanks very much!

Clark Bush · 06-24-2009, 08:35 PM

Plenty of low rent apartments in Londonderry. Derry also. But surrounding towns don't seem to have much, unless you go to salem , and thats a kind of a dump, with all the traffic and the highway and the border town landscape. I guess you don't really want to buy property in Londonderry. It doesn't seem to appreciate like the other towns do . Maybe we have too much low income housing or something, but you'd be better off renting and moving out when your kids get out of school. The property taxes in Londonderry and Derry are the highest in the country and what do you get. ? Not much. You kids have the same schooling as anywhere ,and there are no jobs in town unless you are a teacher. The town council seems to be waging war on the taxpayers since we slashed the budget, they are making us pay more for trash removel and workforce housing, all because we cut their budget. Things are starting to turn sour in town if you are a homeowner. We had one of the towncouncil men wailing about how people should not take vet or elderly exemptions. when a person remarked that he had no kids in school and couldn't get a bigger trash barrel. This counciler uses this remark everytime a person talks about the taxes . Time to dump him and start over. Pick on vets or old people-as far as Im concened , you don't deserve to be in power. Work force housing isn't needed in Londonderry, rents are in some places real low, the town is working class, not like the surrounding towns like Bedford or Windham. We have trailer parks and a lot of apartments. The surrounding towns , where houses are gaining in value, only have big, single homes, but we are made to think workforce housing must come to Londonderry. I guess the developer must think he deserves to get rich at our expense,the people in surrounding towns are too smart and keep his fat kat backside out of their town.

boscoo · 06-25-2009, 12:06 AM

Clark,

Totally disagree with most of what you're saying about the town. Politics aside, it's a great town with some of the best school systems in the state. Most people who live here don't work right here in town, perhaps drive to Boston or other points. There may be some lower priced houses and condos but there are some very nice, quiet neighborhoods all over this town....Val, chime in anytime...

Fireflyskies, do some homework and check out the town and services, talk to some people.

jammie_faith · 06-25-2009, 01:38 AM

I live in Derry, and I have to say that Londonderry is very nice, but there are not many apartments there. There are a few complexes, but they don't advertise much. You would be best off to contact a local realtor.

Clark Bush · 07-11-2009, 06:32 AM

Please don't move into Londonderry if you have kids. We have the highest property taxes in the USA. The town is finasnced by property taxes. Plenty of mobile homes and apartments scatter across the town, leaving the true value of homes at a standstill, but the assessed valuation of homes is ALWAYS high in order to bring in taxes to support the bloated school system. Town council and planning board is now introducing "workforce housing" and a new trash pickup company. The current trash pickup company registers it's trucks in town. OUT of the blue this new company is shoved up our for some reason. In a socialist way, each family will be issued a trash bucket according to their needs. Workforce housing now will bring in non property tax payers with large families. tHERE ARE NO JOBS HERE AND WE ARE BRINGING IN WORKFORCE HOUSING. I GUESS THE DEVELOPERS HAVE A LOT OF PULL. THE FAT KATS SEEM TO BE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES IN THIS TOWN.

Clark Bush · 07-11-2009, 06:44 AM

Londonderry has a lot of highly paid school administrators, town hall agents , not much else. No big town park, lake , or recreation sites, nothing but big schools. They move into town for 4 years and move out after their kids take advantage of the bloated school system. Highest property taxes in world. Trailer Parks and Apartment complexes litter the back roads. Most jobs are in Mass. local jobs pay little, not even enough to pay your property taxes. The town is run by the Town Council and the Planning Board, sort of like a communist set up . Who they are or what they represent is cloudy. They don't get paid. Tells you a lot. The town looks good to many people who come from the deep woods or the inner city slums, but other than the free four year highschool education the apartment people get, there is not much to offer except high property taxes if you own a home. If you rent, it's a great town to send your kids to school. Thats about it. a lot of traffic and noise, the airport causes a lot of it. its sort of alower working class place,

GregW · 07-14-2009, 05:35 AM

Londonderry planning

I do not know which Londonderry Clark Bush is talking about but it is not the one I have been living in for 25+ years. Londondery has a well defined shopping district along Rt 102, a compact government complex on Rt 128, several "natural" areas, a couple "pick your own" orchards, a great library, three fire companies, and, of course, a very good school system. I like it here but then I live in a relavitivily low cost house.

FWIW - I was an alternate on the Londonderry Planning Board, until I annoyed one of our cheapskate councilmen, and one thing I noticed was the near failure of public participation at any of the local or regional planning information sessions. Occasionally neighbors would come to a meeting to discuss something happening next door but that was about it. Apparently the town council picked the new more mechanized trash pick up because it “saved” a miniscule amount of money compared with the previous contractor. I expect a major cut in service in this area but I doubt if the Council will even notice.

The State legislature created the idea of "workforce housing" and told the towns to develop some because of the increasing difficulty workers have in finding housing in the towns they work in thus forcing expensive commuting. It also results in a social class defined school system despite the egalitarian nature of New Hampshire politics. Suburban town in southern NH are expensive to live in because of high property values and expensive school systems that reinforce the high values.

As much as I do not like the tax structure in NH I do like living here. When I retire I may be forced to move to somewhere with a much lower cost of living. The somewhere will be a LOT warmer in the winter.

Clark Bush · 07-26-2009, 06:43 AM

Eagletarian ?people moved here because they couldn't afford ot live in Mass. Now , thanks to the free spending town government, we have the highest property taxes in USA, all being paid by working stiffs. No sales or income tax, so kids have no choice, move out before they get too old. The state university system is the most expensive in the USA , and there are no jobs except in retail . it's a sick situation and anybody who differs with me is living in a Polyanna world. GO BACK TO MASS. IS MY ADVICE TO THE CARPETBAGGERS WHO SCUMMED UP MY TOWN AND TAKE YOUR BIG SPENDING WAYS WITH YOU. LIVE FREE OR GET THE HELL OUT.