How far from Boston for this: 300K and in great, move in condition? (for sale, homes)

[charolastra00]

What type of house are you looking for? I said Maine because my immediate mental image was a 2.5 bath/4 bedroom house with central air (can you tell I grew up in Georgia?). However, you can find 2 bed/1 bath bungalows that might still require a window A/C and updated but not necessarily trendy in decent neighborhoods around 128/95. For instance, in Woburn, you can get this 2 bedroom/1 bath house for under $300,000 and it looks move-in ready. 3 Plympton Street, Woburn MA - Trulia

Is there a particular reason why you are against a condo? There are a few condos selling for around 300K that are quite nice and often include small areas of a yard where you could garden (heck - I have a garden at my rented apartment!).

[9162]

Rhode Island

[miu]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

Is there a particular reason why you are against a condo? There are a few condos selling for around 300K that are quite nice and often include small areas of a yard where you could garden (heck - I have a garden at my rented apartment!).

Why would anyone prefer a condo over a free standing home? And you are speaking from the standpoint of being a renter. With a condo, not only is there a mortgage to pay, but property taxes and condo management fees. And what if the neighbors at close quarters don't get along with you? Then you are trapped next to them until one of you is able to sell their condo and leaves.

With a rental apartment, there is the easier exit if things aren't working out. But when people are at close quarters, there is a much greater chance for frictions to occur.

[Boston_Burbs]

Originally Posted by miu

Why would anyone prefer a condo over a free standing home? And you are speaking from the standpoint of being a renter. With a condo, not only is there a mortgage to pay, but property taxes and condo management fees. And what if the neighbors at close quarters don't get along with you? Then you are trapped next to them until one of you is able to sell their condo and leaves.

With a rental apartment, there is the easier exit if things aren't working out. But when people are at close quarters, there is a much greater chance for frictions to occur.

What I hate the most about condos is the parking restrictions. They are usually on their own private ways so you can't park on the street, there is little to no visitor parking, and sometimes the best you get is 2 spots.

[miu]

Condos are overpriced for what they are. There are too many restrictions. And what do you really end up "owning" anyway?

[BostonMike7]

I'm in a condo now on Revere Beach. Bought it as an investment and ended up moving in later on. The restrictions blow, i have my one deeded parking spot and am fortunate the building is very well sound insulated. But it's boring as hell, hate living on top of others and i'm just not enjoying it as much.

But my mortgage+ condo fees are less than what many people pay for rent, and my electric + natural gas bills are probably $40-50 combined. So i'm able to save money easier than living in an apartment and building equity.


I plan on moving outside 128 within the year. I've lived near Boston my entire life...now i want peace and quiet.

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by miu

Why would anyone prefer a condo over a free standing home? And you are speaking from the standpoint of being a renter. With a condo, not only is there a mortgage to pay, but property taxes and condo management fees. And what if the neighbors at close quarters don't get along with you? Then you are trapped next to them until one of you is able to sell their condo and leaves.

With a rental apartment, there is the easier exit if things aren't working out. But when people are at close quarters, there is a much greater chance for frictions to occur.

I grew up in a part of the country where the majority of homes are in subdivisions - so you still have home owner's association fees on top of taxes and mortgage. You also have close by neighbors. Choosing a condo that's well insulated can help with sound - but nothing is going to help when your next-door neighbor works on his truck at 6AM or hosts parties in their backyard pool at night (which can happen in a condo too).

And when it comes time to buy, I absolutely prefer a condo over a freestanding home, provided that condo has some space for a garden (ideally a townhouse). To each their own. It was a simple question - a condo is much more within the OP's budget if they want to live closer to the city in an updated home.

[TAM88]

The Boston Globe has an article on homes for $300k within 30 miles of Boston.

http://realestate.boston.com/sales/b...0-300000-price

[VlyRoadKid]

Originally Posted by Martha Anne

Thanks, all. Wow, prices are really rising. We were hoping to stay in Eastern Massachusetts, not central or western massachusetts because of the more moderate climate.

I was browsing for a house (we're downsizing) in W. Mass., between Amherst and Greenfield and surrounding towns and was stunned at how much a mediocre, un-fixed-up house costs: 200-270k and up! Lately, even here the house prices are rising rapidly. It isn't really about distance from a town. In fact, the closer you live to a city like Holyoke, the cheaper houses become because of the high crime rate and the fact that the town is a mess, physically.

In Amherst, 300k would get you a modest 2-3 bedroom with a small yard, not much more. But if you're willing to go out into the country, not even into hilltowns, but places like Leyden, Bernardston or Conway, you may find a nice place for that amount. Anything turnkey is hard to find nowadays for less than 5k! The trade-off is that for 300, you will probably have a much larger yard than in Eastern MA, which is nice if you have kids, or like gardening and quiet.

[Irena.M]

far, far away in a land.....