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Old 01-04-2009, 08:05 PM
 
24 posts, read 74,499 times
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Let me first introduce myself:
I am a Mexican who grew up in Europe. I hold a phD in Agriculture and work for a large Agricultural company. My wife is japanese (i know the story is kind of tangled...).
I introduced myself first to explain directly that my views on life and what constitutes good or bad real estate is very much nuanced from the average people.
I am currently living in Dallas in a typical Sunbelt Suburb. Housing is affordable, large, but going anywhere requires my household to maintain in working order one vehicle per adult. This bothers me to no end.
Boston would be the smallest city i have ever lived in.
Given that i work in Agriculture and would be commuting in the opposite direction of everybody else (live in the city, work out in the country). What area/neighborhood would y'all recommend (access to the best of Boston/Cambridge, yet cheap, with good highway exits to the rest of New England)?
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Old 01-04-2009, 09:05 PM
 
288 posts, read 1,191,780 times
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Meet Route 2. And I-93.

Look at Somerville, Arlington, Medford.
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Old 01-05-2009, 09:01 AM
 
7,235 posts, read 7,042,475 times
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It really depends where in "the country" you will be working (i.e., west of Boston? North or South?) and what you consider "cheap".
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Old 01-05-2009, 11:42 AM
 
24 posts, read 74,499 times
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Affordability is 150k for a 3bd/2bt/2garage.

I would cover the entire New England, so if you truly recommended Marlborough (ie) it would be ok.
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Old 01-05-2009, 11:57 AM
 
288 posts, read 1,191,780 times
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That scenario would be at least 45 minutes north, or southwest, of Boston. Or west into Framingham, Worcester, etc.
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Old 01-05-2009, 10:37 PM
 
Location: Dallas
4,630 posts, read 10,481,105 times
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There's nothing small about Boston, it's the fifth biggest CSA in the USA.
Table of United States Combined Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

150K will have you living outside not in Boston. At least not at Dallas standards. It is possible to get housing in Boston for less than 200K, but a two bedroom would be 900 sq ft in a not too fabulous neighborhood if your lucky. Picture less fab section of Gaston Ave. Things go downhill from there. Boston.com is a good place to start your research.

Downtown real estate in Boston is wicked pricey compared to Dallas. 2 bedrooms condos with 1000 sq ft are slim pickin's for less than 450. My sketchy hood condo was 375.

Just like ctrres said - you'll be 50 miles out for 150K.

You might consider renting though. Rents are more moderate than purchasing as Bostonians don't give up their turf easily, but do rent it. If you're willing to give up your big Texas space and live like a typical Bostonian (efficiently ), you could have your choice of many two bedrooms in great downtown areas for 2 grandish.

//www.city-data.com/forum/3962625-post5.html

The beautiful downtown life is highly sought after worldwide and not a cheap commodity. If you can deal with the economic hardships at first ( and the snow!) you would probably do well in BOS as a PhD. Harvard, MIT, all that - lots of opportunities - and they will smile kindly upon your Hispanic ethnicity. The big caveat of course in the hardship of living in BOS vs the comfort of DFW. Between the cold, the cost, the traffic and the congestion, you really have to want city life to go that. And frankly I think if you go that far for downtown action, why bother with BOS? Go for the real deal - NYC!
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Old 01-06-2009, 09:17 AM
 
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I can't even imagine how far you would have to go outside of Boston to get a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house for $150K. Have you researched the cost of living in Boston/MA? It sounds like you are applying Dallas prices to this area, which won't work. You will either have to drasticaly lower your expectations for housing or increase your budget.
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Old 01-06-2009, 10:40 AM
 
288 posts, read 1,191,780 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne View Post
I can't even imagine how far you would have to go outside of Boston to get a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house for $150K. Have you researched the cost of living in Boston/MA? It sounds like you are applying Dallas prices to this area, which won't work. You will either have to drasticaly lower your expectations for housing or increase your budget.
I was still trying to picture what a two car garage looks like.
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Old 01-06-2009, 10:43 AM
 
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For $150K I would think it looks like the curb of a public street.
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Old 01-06-2009, 11:14 AM
 
Location: Newton, Mass.
2,954 posts, read 12,307,982 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne View Post
I can't even imagine how far you would have to go outside of Boston to get a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house for $150K. Have you researched the cost of living in Boston/MA? It sounds like you are applying Dallas prices to this area, which won't work. You will either have to drasticaly lower your expectations for housing or increase your budget.
Sounds like the prices out by Gardner or Fitchburg? Nothing comparable within 45 mins-1 hour of Boston in that price range.
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