[Newtohartfordct]

Dh and I are in our early 30s, have two toddlers with special needs and looking for a safe area with good special needs programs. Commute should be no longer than 15 minutes. Housing budget depends on property taxes, but based on what I've read ($500 a month?), I am hoping to find something 250-320k range.

Any suggestions or specific areas? I like Rocky Hill and Newington, anything else comparable?

[Msp079]

I honestly wouldnt buy in Newington, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield etc.....Unless you want to go property tax poor...I have owned in wethersfield in the past and taxes just rose and rose every year there....There's alot of other areas that have good special needs programs...Do some research on it first but hebron ct area has good schools etc.

[Rich Cabeza]

Expect taxes to go higher when the towns starting paying into the Teachers' Retirement.

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by Msp079

I honestly wouldnt buy in Newington, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield etc.....Unless you want to go property tax poor...

Big deal, that's pretty much the case for the whole state.

[Msp079]

Originally Posted by Raider111

Big deal, that's pretty much the case for the whole state.

I agree but in turn there's a lot of areas you can get twice the house without paying twice the taxes

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Rich Cabeza

Expect taxes to go higher when the towns starting paying into the Teachers' Retirement.

The pension math for the usual 2% per year vesting teacher pension is about 15% to 20% of salary. In Massachusetts, union teacher comp is usually about half of the town budget. It shouldn't be awful (10% tax hike?) unless Connecticut is also making towns eat the unfunded pension liability.

[JayCT]

To be 15 minutes from Pratt & Whitney pretty much limits you to towns adjacent to East Hartford. Glastonbury is a great town. The schools are wonderful , it has nice parks and family activities and there is a nice selection of shops and restaurants. Despite its reputation of being for wealthy people, it is surprisingly diverse and affordable IMHO but well located and priced homes in your range will get sold quickly. Just looking at current listings shows few if any decent homes in your price range.

Wethersfield is also a wonderful town but your husband will have to cross the Connecticut River which while not horrible can be difficult at times. Rocky Hill and Newington are also nice and affordable but I think having a 15 minute commute from either of them will be difficult.

Another town you might consider is South Windsor. IT is beautiful and has a number of nice homes in your price range. The schools are very good and there is a lot of great shopping there and nearby. Getting from South Windsor to Pratt in 15 minutes though may be difficult.

As to you want to be under $500 per month on taxes, it is likely that you will have to be toward the lower end of your price range to do so. Many of the homes in these towns have taxes higher than $6,000 but not by much. I would suggest you look at home listings that interest you and consider the taxes they have. I think you might have to budget $10 to $70 more per month. Good luck, Jay

[Newtohartfordct]

Originally Posted by JayCT

To be 15 minutes from Pratt & Whitney pretty much limits you to towns adjacent to East Hartford. Glastonbury is a great town. The schools are wonderful , it has nice parks and family activities and there is a nice selection of shops and restaurants. Despite its reputation of being for wealthy people, it is surprisingly diverse and affordable IMHO but well located and priced homes in your range will get sold quickly. Just looking at current listings shows few if any decent homes in your price range.

Wethersfield is also a wonderful town but your husband will have to cross the Connecticut River which while not horrible can be difficult at times. Rocky Hill and Newington are also nice and affordable but I think having a 15 minute commute from either of them will be difficult.

Another town you might consider is South Windsor. IT is beautiful and has a number of nice homes in your price range. The schools are very good and there is a lot of great shopping there and nearby. Getting from South Windsor to Pratt in 15 minutes though may be difficult.

As to you want to be under $500 per month on taxes, it is likely that you will have to be toward the lower end of your price range to do so. Many of the homes in these towns have taxes higher than $6,000 but not by much. I would suggest you look at home listings that interest you and consider the taxes they have. I think you might have to budget $10 to $70 more per month. Good luck, Jay

Thanks, currently signed a lease in Rocky Hill and it takes about 15 minutes, plus dh is working nights. Our rent is $1800 for a two bedroom and we pay our own utilities. We are buying in a year, since that's how long our lease is. I am expanding our commute time based on what I am seeing. Dh thinks 25-30 minutes is reasonable if located in a good school district. We may have to raise the budget. But higher priced house means higher tax. Thanks again. I will check South Windsor out.

[Newtohartfordct]

Originally Posted by Msp079

I honestly wouldnt buy in Newington, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield etc.....Unless you want to go property tax poor...I have owned in wethersfield in the past and taxes just rose and rose every year there....There's alot of other areas that have good special needs programs...Do some research on it first but hebron ct area has good schools etc.

Thank you for the suggestion. Hebron isn't too bad of a commute.

[East of the River]

South Windsor is a good bet Good commute good school reasonable prices and taxes tend to be a bit lower then Glastonbury. . Rocky Hill and Wethersfield are good same with Newington. Parts of Hebron and Marlborough may work as well.