Quote:
Originally Posted by Slippin_Jimmy
A little more info... Our budget is 350k. The homes in Westford within our price range are on busy streets with double yellow lines (deal breaker for my wife). We looked at a ranch with a big yard on a quiet street with basketball hoops and bikes all over the street in chelmsford this afternoon.
My mind is pretty much made up at this point, but I am curious to your feedback on having a smaller home on a street that you love versus having a nicer home on a busy street without much of a neighborhood.
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Having looked in similar markets to you, I'm aware that most of the properties in Westford at or under $350k seem to have some fairly large caveats (glorified hunting shacks, antiquity without charm, crap location, etc.). A survey of Chelmsford shows some relatively nice, albeit small, homes within your budget. They're not located in the "best" neighborhoods, but still should provide a safe and active community. Chelmsford is certainly more dense than some of the other towns mentioned, which sounds like something you might be seeking. Lots of post-war neighborhoods with smallish lots.
If you're not a believer in seeking the "best" school districts, the Belvedere neighborhood in Lowell offers a truly excellent lifestyle with a low cost of entry. I lived there for only one year but got to know far more neighbors than I had in my dense Boston brownstone or yuppy-ish childhood suburb full of cul-de-sacs. Absolutely great neighbors, zero crime, and a nice social economic mix. The location also provides quick and easy access to the downtown Lowell happenings (Spinners/UMass games, Summer Concert Series, etc.). Do be aware though - Lowell's middle and high schools do not have the best reputation.