Affordable place to live near Bristol?? (Providence, Middletown: short sale, foreclosure, rentals)

[Misskika007]

Hello everyone,

I am looking to relocate near Bristol/Providence and would like some info on "good" (family friendly, low crime, clean) neighborhoods to buy in. With our budget, Bristol is not looking like an option. We're budgeting at most $200,000 and would like to be no more than 30 minutes away from Roger Williams. Thanks to anyone with info!

[GermanSpy]

Hmmm, that's not easy.

Crime and safety isn't really an issue anywhere in the East Bay section I'd think. But that budget is pretty competitive. First place I would try is Warren, the ugly duckling of the East Bay. Next, I'd go a bit further and check out Swansea (Mass) and Riverside.

If you don't find anything there you can do the bridge hop and go towards Fall River but then you might have issues with the neighborhoods there. Portsmouth and Middletown probably won't be in your budget again but it's worth a look at least.

It'll be tough.

Good luck.

[jakedog1]

I don't mean to be a jerk but I don't think $200K is going to get you into a decent neighborhood anywhere in RI these days. If anything I would wait till the bottom of this market and see if you can pick up on a short sale or a foreclosure in a decent neighborhood, or look for a deal on a multi-family (although rentals seem to be increasingly easy to find so you may face some occupancy)
IMO if I was faced with buying a house in RI for 200K or renting a decent place in any neighborhood I wanted I would go for renting every. single. time.
Home ownership can be highly overrated, especially in this market.