Move from MI to Somerville MA with 9th grader

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

Interesting, so rents are lower in Somerville? I was referring to purchasing - the price per square foot in Somerville is definitely higher than Arlington or Belmont.

There is a lower end.

There is also a higher end.

Not everything is Davis Sq and Porter Sq. And I didn't see anything about the OP purchasing. I would hope if they are moving they are renting first.

But if they are buying first and Somerville is more or as expensive, than even more the reason to look to Arlington / Belmont, as much as Somerville is a nice place to live.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

Interesting, so rents are lower in Somerville?

Not all of Somerville is a gentrified community with remodeled apts pulling in $2.5-3K+/month. Somerville used to be lovingly referred to as "slummerville" for a reason. Thing have changed in the last 20 years, but there are still pockets of lower rents away from the gentrified areas.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Not all of Somerville is a gentrified community with remodeled apts pulling in $2.5-3K+/month. Somerville used to be lovingly referred to as "slummerville" for a reason. Thing have changed in the last 20 years, but there are still pockets of lower rents away from the gentrified areas.

Absolutely, even in the fabled west somerville he refers to. I live there and my neighbors house looks like it is about to fall down.

I looked in Arlington first before I bought and would have much rather bought there. I was priced out though, oh well.

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Not all of Somerville is a gentrified community with remodeled apts pulling in $2.5-3K+/month. Somerville used to be lovingly referred to as "slummerville" for a reason. Thing have changed in the last 20 years, but there are still pockets of lower rents away from the gentrified areas.

WHere? How much do you think a 2 bedroom apartment in East Somerville costs?

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

Absolutely, even in the fabled west somerville he refers to. I live there and my neighbors house looks like it is about to fall down.

I looked in Arlington first before I bought and would have much rather bought there. I was priced out though, oh well.

Ha! Maybe back when you bought that was the case. So sell it now if you are so miserable here - there will be bidding wars to take it off your hands and now you can upgrade to Arlington.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

Ha! Maybe back when you bought that was the case. So sell it now if you are so miserable here - there will be bidding wars to take it off your hands and now you can upgrade to Arlington.

Nah too much of an income stream from the $4 donut crowd I rent to in my other unit. I only pay for taxes and utilities thanks to them, and I'd have a bidding war in Arlington to contend with.

But if I ever have kids (especially highschool aged) I'll reconsider.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by semiurbanite

WHere? How much do you think a 2 bedroom apartment in East Somerville costs?

My landlord refurbished the place downstairs (2 bed, mine is one bed on top floor) from me (new carpet, appliances, etc) and rented it for $1650 a few months back.

I have a couple of other friends that rented places (2 bedrooms) in the past year for $1600 and 1800 in the Union Sq neighborhood over the last year.

Of course, a bunch of people have legacy deals as well, but those are recent rentals.

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

But if I ever have kids (especially highschool aged) I'll reconsider.

I said that too before being a parent, but now that I am one I've done a 180. And by the time your kids are high school aged your only valid reason to move to the suburbs would be to get them away from $4 donuts.