Town suggestions within 30 min. commute of downtown Boston? (Quincy, Brookline: real estate, condos)

[mavailnowhere]

Would love to here your suggestions!
Here is what we are up against:
1. Need a top notch school system - my sons starts kindergarten this fall.
2. Husband will be working in downtown boston but has to commute with his work car. He already has an 11 hr. day which is why we are looking for a very reasonable commute time.
3. Desire a 3 BR, 2 bath type newer home or an old one with character/charm. 2000+ sq. ft.
4. The high end of our price range is $450K

I realize this is asking a lot - I grew up in Boston but have been away for 20 years. All I know at this point is that it is expensive compared to where I've been living!

Thanks in advance.

[scarletfire]

Are you looking for a single-family home only or would you consider a townhome? Do you prefer more suburban or semi-urban setting? I've seen some townhomes in Brookline in that price range and that would be an easy commute and terrific schools.

[scarletfire]

I did see an awfully cute 3bd Cape-style home in Needham in your price range -- great schools and an easy commute. It's rather on the small side though. I suspect you may need to sacrifice home size (for a single-family home) to get within 30 min drive. Hopefully not but it's something to consider.

[redpanda]

I think you're definitely going to have to either sacrifice space, increase your commute, or increase your budget; and that's taking into account that you'd be willing to go for a "pretty ok" to "good enough" school system. In top-notch districts a 30 minute drive from Boston, what you're describing would probably start at 700k and go up from there. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

If you're willing to go for 1300 or so square feet, you might want to take a look at Arlington (pretty Ok school system and probably not too much more than 30 minute commute). You might also want to take a look at Milton, the school system there is supposedly pretty good, and it shouldn't be too much more than a 30 minute drive.

Good luck!

[DreamworksSKG]

Look in Arlington or Winchester

the current market there are some condos and homes for $450K in Winchester.
Its a great town with a lot of youth programs and great school system.

Detinitely worth looking into

We have a beautiful town center, and a library by the mill pond with kids programs, story-hours, etc. theres a lot of youth sports, theatre, and other activities for children in town and also volunteer orgs for anyone.
its a walkable town ---with recreation nearby as well (Middlesex Fells), Mystic Lakes, etc. We have banks, grocery store (Stop and SHop), dry-cleaners, post office, small boutiques, a indipendent bookstore with a great childrens section. Our library also has a lot of childrens DVDS, computer games, videos, etc. etc. - and books of course. There's some cool events in town like the ENKA fair a carnival each may, town day in June with lots of kids events on the common, Summer common concerts popular with families, movies on the common in the summer, the thanksgiving football game in the morning between rival Woburn and home-town team the Winchester Sachems, and Santa riding around on a fire-truck in Early December at the tree-lighting ceremony and a meet and greet with him. we are about a 10-15 min ride from the major stores like Target in Woburn, and the BUrlington Mall. We have 2 train stops (commuter rail) in town. Many commuters walk to the train stations in good weather--or get dropped off or something . there's parking permits at town lots and there are places you can park for free at the lot or nearby and walk a block or two. we're about a 15 min ride to Oak Grove where you can park for the ORANGE Line. or a 10-15 min ride to Arlington where you can park and take the BUs to davis square. (RED LINE) or Porter Square (Red Line) or Alewife (red line).

You should def. go to Winchester, and look at the home postings posted outside the real estate agents. Theres A coldwell banker on Church St. and a couple others on Main St in the center by the rotary. I think there's a Century 21 too and Remax. You should def. give them a call and see about homes in your range. With the present economy there are probably some good deals to be had in Winchester.

Its a great town where neighbors actually get to know each other and come together as a town. People are very active in keeping the charm of the community.

Arlington would be another choice but I think you'll love Winchester once you come for a visit and walk around downtown

[DreamworksSKG]

Could also try zillow.com for home prices in Winchester area.

[Beantown_mama]

4. The high end of our price range is $450K
I can't imagine there are any homes for $450K in Winchester, although it is a beautiful town.

Where in Boston will your husband be working? North Shore towns would be an easier commute to the area around North Station and Charlestown, and South Station towns would be an easier commute to areas like the Boston Medical Center. Or some of the western towns (like Arlington) would be an easier commute to the Back Bay area.

[DreamworksSKG]

There are some deals to be had in this economy. Worth checking out anyway -

Wakefield might be an option as well as Watertwon or Arlington
Maybe Medford or Stoneham and Reading as well
Quincy or Weymouth could be some options on the south shore as well as Natick, Needham, Dedham, or Norwood in metro South-West.