Newly wed moving to Boston permanently. Where should we buy a house? (Newton: real estate, condos)

[alwayskrg]

Hello everyone.

I'm planning to attend master's program in Boston College this fall.
My wife and I want to permanently relocate to Boston area, and want to buy a house.
Our budget for the house is about $400K-500K, in a safe neighborhood with at least a small backyard.
I have been looking at zillow.com for a past couple of days, but it would be really helpful if you guys can help me out too.
If I were to rank the order of importance:
1. Safety
2. Abundant living area (at least 1400sq ft, with a backyard)
3. Closeness to Boston College
4. Closeness to Boston

Thanks for help in advance everybody.

[bostonguy1960]

Perhaps West Roxbury, an outlying neighborhood of Boston. Not much diversity, as it's still primarily white, although some lower income buildings on Washington St. Not many newer homes.

It's quite safe, and near lots of shopping on Rt. 1 in Dedham. It's about 5 miles to Longwood Medical Area and Fenway Park. Catholic Memorial high school is prominent. Center St. has its own little shopping area. Has a branch library.

Arnold Arboretum is a quick drive for for strolling.

It could take up to 30 minutes driving to BC at morning rush even though it's not too far.

I think most of Newton would fall out of your price range; however, the Nonantum section isn't that fancy and multi-family homes may be an option. Adjacent Watertown may also be worth a look. Roslindale is a Boston neighborhood next to West Roxbury which has some nice sections as well as not-as-nice areas, but a decent "downtown" nowadays.

[unit731]

The closer to the school the better. The closer to public transportation the better. Newton has many neighborhoods.

" The 13 villages are: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls (both on the Charles River, and both once small industrial sites), Newtonville, Nonantum (also called "The Lake"), Oak Hill, Thompsonville, Waban and West Newton."

LINK

In the other direction are Melrose, Arlington, and Watertown.

Make sure you have adequate off street parking as street parking is banned during snow storms.

[MikePRU]

You could definitely find something in certain villages of Newton that you would like. Aside from Nonantum, Oak Hill also has some housing in your price range. You could maybe find something in the falls. I sold a house in the Highlands a year or two ago in the mid-$400k range. It was on a side street near the Eliot T stop but it was right next to route 9.

I would advise staying out of W. Roxbury. Nothing against this area, but it's part of the Boston school system which overall is not well though of. When real estate values take a dive areas with weaker school systems tend to suffer more. Also, if you're thinking of having kids you'll probably want to move when they reach school age anyway unless you want to spend thousands of dollars sending them to private school.

[alwayskrg]

Thanks everyone. I will probably have to plan a trip sometime in mid-May to look at some houses. West Newton seems to be a decent place. Any thoughts?

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by alwayskrg

Hello everyone.

I'm planning to attend master's program in Boston College this fall.
My wife and I want to permanently relocate to Boston area, and want to buy a house.
Our budget for the house is about $400K-500K, in a safe neighborhood with at least a small backyard.
I have been looking at zillow.com for a past couple of days, but it would be really helpful if you guys can help me out too.
If I were to rank the order of importance:
1. Safety
2. Abundant living area (at least 1400sq ft, with a backyard)
3. Closeness to Boston College
4. Closeness to Boston

Thanks for help in advance everybody.

Brighton, Brookline, Possibly Newton. If your going to have kids, forget about Brighton. Boston isn't know for it's good schools!

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by alwayskrg

Thanks everyone. I will probably have to plan a trip sometime in mid-May to look at some houses. West Newton seems to be a decent place. Any thoughts?

West Newton is great! I've worked with clients in the past looking in that area and I often find myself driving over there to go out for dinner. Lots of great restaurants and shops in that area and the West Newton Cinema is great if you're into independent films. West Newton has a bit more of an urban feel than say Newton Center and it's a pretty densely populated area with lots of condos, multi-family homes, but also plenty of single family homes as well.

[nancy thereader]

Is Newton where the new Wegman's is?

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

Is Newton where the new Wegman's is?

Not yet. There is one planned for Chestnut Hill.

The closest location to you would be the one that is going to be built in Burlington.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Not yet. There is one planned for Chestnut Hill.

The closest location to you would be the one that is going to be built in Burlington.

I drive by the sight in Chestnut Hill all the time. I wouldn't doubt it if it's still a couple years at least away from opening. It's also going to be much smaller than the one they opened in Northborough. They also have plans to open a location in Westwood (originally slated to be the first Wegman's in MA) but that project is pretty dead in the water and will probably not even get started again for a few years.