Possible move to RI, best area to live in (Providence: real estate, houses)
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We are considering a move to West Greenwich for a new job. I would be relocating from Raleigh, NC.
What would be some good areas to look at homes in. I am looking for:
Schools, son is starting kindergarten this fall and daughter in a couple years.
Safe family friendly neighborhood. A neighborhood would be nice, looked briefly at houses on-line in W. Greenrich and they did not seem to be in neighborhoods.
Up to a 30-45 commute from West Greenwich.
Someplace with a decent size lot at lot 0.25 acres.
I know home prices are not as low as in the Raleigh area but would be looking for a 3-4 bedroom under $350,000, would like cheaper if possible but not sure I will find it. If possible would like to be under $300,000.
West Greenwich is one of the more rural RI towns, although for RI that's not saying too much, but it's still more country/rural-residential, although the shopping is never too far away anywhere in this state. West Warwick and Coventry more suburban, a bit lower income I think. Exeter is also RI country living at it's best, North Kingstown very nice mix, East Greenwich home prices among the highest in the state. Can't say about the school districts.
I'm from RI and moved to the Raleigh area almost 4 years ago. While you will be able to find plenty of neighborhoods in RI, they are vey different than Raleigh. Much less cookie cutter. No HOAs. No neighborhood pools. You'll find parts of Providence are quite similar to ITB (Beltline), specifically the East Side.
Because of the housing boom in NC, most homes down here are newer. I laugh when I hear someone say "it's an older home, built in the 90s". They mean 1990s. In RI, it would be 1890. I think you find homes in RI do not have all the bells and whistles that the homes down here have but they'll have more character.
You could look in Westerly. It's an attractive medium size town with a downtown and many amenities. Not a bad commute to WG. Could do pretty well with that housing budget. Much of southern RI is semi rural.
You could also look at the many neighborhoods of Cranston & Warwick- denser and many city amenities and shopping. Google them in the RI forum- they've been discussed a lot.
We are considering a move to West Greenwich for a new job. I would be relocating from Raleigh, NC.
What would be some good areas to look at homes in. I am looking for:
Schools, son is starting kindergarten this fall and daughter in a couple years.
Safe family friendly neighborhood. A neighborhood would be nice, looked briefly at houses on-line in W. Greenrich and they did not seem to be in neighborhoods.
Up to a 30-45 commute from West Greenwich.
Someplace with a decent size lot at lot 0.25 acres.
I know home prices are not as low as in the Raleigh area but would be looking for a 3-4 bedroom under $350,000, would like cheaper if possible but not sure I will find it. If possible would like to be under $300,000.
So, what would be your recommendations?
Thanks
Your best resource for up to date home prices and information about RI, is this Rhode Island MLS website:
Put in your criteria for the various towns within a reasonable commute to West Greenwich. North Kingstown, East Greenwich, Cowesett area in Warwick, Exeter, North Kingstown etc. All are lovely areas and should be compatible with your budget. As LJD point out, however, most of the areas will be older and traditional. There are some very nice newer developments where the home prices have come down in this economy. The good news is that the percentage of lot sizes will be considerably larger than one-quarter acre (.25). You may find the average in your price range will be closer to .75 acre. .
Also read online, the Providence Journal newspaper (Sunday edition is best): www.projo.com
And, get in touch with your employer's HR Department for suggestions on where other employees have settled in RI and have them recommend a Realtor.
I'm not sure why people aren't pointing out the obvious - Coventry. Your job in West Greenwich is most likely on the border of Coventry. Coventry has some very rural areas along the western CT border but also a lot more established neighborhoods than West Greenwich. You should have absolutely no problem finding a 3-4 bedroom home there for under $350,000 - real estate has always been relatively cheap in Coventry. Most of Coventry was built post WWI and there are a lot of small 1000 ft ranches and Cape Cods that were built in the 1950s, and unfortunately those make up a big part of the housing stock there - or the 1980s raised ranches that were a dime a dozen (hate those!). But take a longer look and I'm sure you'll find something more to your liking. At that price point, you might be able to squeeze into Wood Estates, a desirable neighborhood in Coventry that's partly on Johnson's Pond.
Move to North Stonington, Stonington, or Groton, Connecticut. You'll thank me later.
Do you have any idea at all how expensive it is to live in Stonington or North Stonington? I have no info on Groton. Why not suggest Westerly RI? or Mystic CT? the average Joe cannot live there either.
Definitely look at Coventry. If you in the pharmaceutical industry you'll be working right on the Coventry line anyway. Wood Estates has some nice homes in your price range and is a great place to have children.
East Greenwich is generally considered to have good schools, but I see plenty of smart, decent young people coming out of Coventry HS... (although my children are in parochial schools)
Move to North Stonington, Stonington, or Groton, Connecticut. You'll thank me later.
Groton? haha good one.
In N Stonington it will feel like you are in the middle of absolutely nowhere, which is basically where you would be. Stonington is nice but way overpriced.
South County RI is waaaaay better!
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Do you have any idea at all how expensive it is to live in Stonington or North Stonington? I have no info on Groton. Why not suggest Westerly RI? or Mystic CT? the average Joe cannot live there either.
Groton? haha good one. 
