If real estate appreciation was your primary goal, where would you buy a house? (water heater, landscaping)

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

Quincy is also much more conservative than somerville so that should be taken into consideration also.

Controlling for income, of course.

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by massnative71

But schools are still better than Cambridge and Somerville, at least when I last looked.

Not anymore, though these things can be hard to measure. Cambridge Rindge and Latin is #5 high school in the state per Niche. Somerville High is 78 and Quincy High is 107. Elementary schools are more mixed in all 3 cities but you can usually get into excellent ones in Cambridge and Somerville, I don't know Quincy that well.

https://k12.niche.com/cambridge-rind...-cambridge-ma/

Originally Posted by Dm84

Controlling for income, of course.

That may have been tongue in cheek but it's actually very true, natives are MUCH more conservative than transplants.

[pennyone]

Originally Posted by mwbms28

I think the OP should consider how much risk s/he is willing to assume, also.

Quincy homes appreciated 5.3% in 2015. By comparison, Framingham homes appreciated 7.7%, and in my opinion offer lower risk because of the better school system, some really nice parts of town, proximity to other nice towns, etc. Plus, homes in Framingham are worth more already and so offer a better return in total dollar terms, as well. Frankly I'm not sure why someone would ever buy a house in Quincy over Framingham from an investment standpoint - Quincy appears to offer lower return and higher risk during a downturn. The convenience is obviously another story particular to the OP's situation.

My earlier suggestion of Lawrence is intended as high risk with potential for high return - Lawrence homes appreciated 9.3% last year. But, if the goal is maximum return, I think this is the way to do it. Dorchester also has potential in this regard - that was a good suggestion earlier. You could even buy two houses in Lawrence and rent one out with $400,000. But, in a downturn you better have deep pockets. Maybe that's not what you're going for.

Look at Framingham.

FYI, Framingham H is ranked a 7, while North Quincy H is an 8. I think Framingham and Quincy are pretty much a toss up.

[pennyone]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

Not anymore, though these things can be hard to measure. Cambridge Rindge and Latin is #5 high school in the state per Niche. Somerville High is 78 and Quincy High is 107. Elementary schools are more mixed in all 3 cities but you can usually get into excellent ones in Cambridge and Somerville, I don't know Quincy that well.

Actually, according to Niche, Quincy H is #81.

[Southshorebound]

Compared to Quincy, Framingham is out in the sticks. I could see future price increases in Quincy eclipsing Framingham based on proximity to the city and the more urban landscape - both appealing to millennial buyers.

[Whatsnext75]

Also in weymouth you could end up with neighbors like this:
Cops: Weymouth woman faces assault charges after fight outside primary school - News - The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA - Quincy, MA

Wasnt there also a recent incident where a 38 yr old cafeteria worker was having sex with a minor at a weymouth school?

[MrLinderman]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

Also in weymouth you could end up with neighbors like this:
Cops: Weymouth woman faces assault charges after fight outside primary school - News - The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA - Quincy, MA

Wasnt there also a recent incident where a 38 yr old cafeteria worker was having sex with a minor at a weymouth school?

True, but statistically you're much more likely to end up with neighbors like that or worse in the other towns being bandied about.

[Whatsnext75]

prison-time-for-raping-15yearold/37924118

There it is.

Both weird events...but if i was thinking of buying in weymouth and came across this info and had children id probably want to look elsewhere. There are plenty of otjer towns where things like that dont happen

[riblue]

Many years ago, a friend was looking for an apt. to rent in Somerville/ Cambridge and when he gave the agent his price, the agent said for that amount you get Everett. Maybe it is better now but I would not live in Everett or Chelsea. Weymouth is ok.

[3cents]

Originally Posted by Nobodybody

Reasoning? Why do you opt condo over SF?

1. Your budget does not allow for a SFH in a good school district.
2. Alternatively, as investment, you buy where it is easy to rent out in future. And these places are mostly condos.
3. As investment, you need to extrapolate numbers. HOA costs is fixed. SFH maintenance isn't.
4. You're single. Why do you want to waste your weekends maintaining a SFH? And what would you do or use 3 bedrooms for?