Is buying a home in Roxbury a good investment? (Boston: real estate, 2014)

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not but there is indeed a lot of crime that goes on in roxbury. It's a drug and gang infested area. It's possible it will be a different place in 10 years but right now it's a ghetto...an overpriced one.

Tito jackson is an idiot who hates white people. He wants to improve these neighborhoods where black people live which is understandable but he doesn't seem to get that it comes with a price. He also wants to keep the neighborhoods affordable so current residents who dont work can stay. He's fighting a losing battle. Sometimes people simply have to move somewhere else.

Ahhh the old, "if you try to help black people you must be hurting/hating on white people" argument. Never fails. No evidence neccessary.

Its a city-some people are unemployed and unskilled what makes the city great is that it offers a way up and out for all. It is literally supposed to offer services for the disenfranchised and unemployed. Where do you want these people to live? Milton??? Melrose?

But you are right, still crime and drug infested any 4 square mile area that regularly has 30-50 shootings a year and an addition 20 stabbings resulting in 10-20 homicides and at least 5 gangs is certainly not NOT crime and drug infested.

[such sweet thunder]

Buying in Roxbury is a terrible investment. None of you should buy here. Boston Magazine had it dead last with a year-over-year increase in single family home prices at 56.6%. (Best Places to Live 2015 - Single-Family Home Prices in Greater Boston) The only other town that even came close was Cambridge, which saw 39.9% growth. Absolutely terrible! Stability not appreciation, said the wise man.

And how about five year growth: 233.8%? Who wants that? That's a whole 150% worse than Cambridge which was second again at 77.8%. Don't. Buy. Here.

You might also find stats online that say Fort Hill and Sav-Mor, which comprise giant chunks of Roxbury, are really quite safe, nice neighborhoods that arguably offer better public schooling options than anywhere else in Boston. And that the part of Egelston and Jackson Square that are dicey aren't even in Roxbury but JP. Ignore those facts -- follow your gut. Don't even visit. It must be unsafe . . . because well you just know it to be true.

All those pretty pictures of Fort Hill are fakes.

[bjimmy24]

Honestly, be careful buying homes anywhere, we are in a huge bubble. In my opinion, you missed your chance to cash in. But also, horrible idea to treat homes as an atm. You'll get what you deserve.

[Whatsnext75]

Lol. I dont know how much of a bubble we are in but it's hard to imagine prices rising anymore than they already have particularly in places like Dorchester, east boston and roxbury. I dont think we will see what we saw in 2007 (i hope not anyways) but these out of control prices in certain areas dont seem sustainable.

[bigfatdude]

Prices have gone up to absolutely insane levels everywhere, but crappy neighborhoods with prices driven by nothing but speculation will be hit the hardest when things come crashing down like they did in 2008. A nice Victorian in Savin Hill OTB or Eastie Waterfront might retain some of its value, but folks will have a hard time selling their kidneys to live next to a bunch of drug-peddling, gun-toting gangbangers.

[rranger]

Originally Posted by such sweet thunder

Buying in Roxbury is a terrible investment. None of you should buy here. Boston Magazine had it dead last with a year-over-year increase in single family home prices at 56.6%. (Best Places to Live 2015 - Single-Family Home Prices in Greater Boston) The only other town that even came close was Cambridge, which saw 39.9% growth. Absolutely terrible! Stability not appreciation, said the wise man.

And how about five year growth: 233.8%? Who wants that? That's a whole 150% worse than Cambridge which was second again at 77.8%. Don't. Buy. Here.

You might also find stats online that say Fort Hill and Sav-Mor, which comprise giant chunks of Roxbury, are really quite safe, nice neighborhoods that arguably offer better public schooling options than anywhere else in Boston. And that the part of Egelston and Jackson Square that are dicey aren't even in Roxbury but JP. Ignore those facts -- follow your gut. Don't even visit. It must be unsafe . . . because well you just know it to be true.

All those pretty pictures of Fort Hill are fakes.

What's wrong with you?!!? Don't you realize the idea is to keep people like this OUT, not invite them in (even if you ARE doing it sarcastically)?!?!

As a I said before, Roxbury - and in particular Highland Park (Fort Hill) and Elm Hill are HORRIBLE!! These are the kinds of places that you run to your car screaming "PLEEZE DON'T SHOOT ME" at the top of your lungs!!!! The poster really needs to start stuffing students into Jamaica Plain or Roslindale or West Roxbury or Hyde Park or ...

[rranger]

Originally Posted by bigfatdude

Prices have gone up to absolutely insane levels everywhere, but crappy neighborhoods with prices driven by nothing but speculation will be hit the hardest when things come crashing down like they did in 2008. A nice Victorian in Savin Hill OTB or Eastie Waterfront might retain some of its value, but folks will have a hard time selling their kidneys to live next to a bunch of drug-peddling, gun-toting gangbangers.

When you're right, you're right! Let's start a "Let's make Savin Hill the next student ghetto!" campaign!

[Whatsnext75]

Parts of Roxbury, east boston and Dorchester ARE very bad and gang infested. The 5th body in 15 months was just found yesterday in eastie. They think its MS13 related. People are continuing to buy there because of the close proximity to boston and the fact that they are cheaper than back bay, south end, charlestown etc...but the bad hombres in those neighborhoods arent leaving either it seems. It's a strange mix for sure.

Ive said before that I did live in a bad neighborhood in Dorchester but i wouldnt ever buy there. Said neighborhood is still bad but prices have increased. I couldn't imagine paying 600k for a home in that 'hood even in a nicely redone victorian which is what the prices are. Then you have Hendry st gang kids right down the st.

[bigfatdude]

Originally Posted by rranger

When you're right, you're right! Let's start a "Let's make Savin Hill the next student ghetto!" campaign!

Savin Hill is already too expensive for UMASS kids so you don't have to worry about the student ghetto part, but I definitely wouldn't mind seeing the last few remaining slumlords condoing out their section 8 ****holes.

[Whatsnext75]

My co worker lives near neponset st in a condo and his neighbor above him is a student at umass. He is from NJ and his parents bought the condo. If college kids can live in back bay why the heck wouldn't they be able to live in savin hill?