why is MA so expensive? (Boston, Newton: to rent, student loans, new house)

[BostonBornMassMade]

West Hartford CT is a desirable town with great amenities. It’s an upper middle class suburb for the most part with a few middle and lower middle class well maintained areas crime is not an issue and community pride and schools are strong. Public transportation is efficient and sufficient. Please do not use it as an example of what we don’t want. Aside from taxes it is EXACTLY what we want. It’s got a wide range of housing, and solid, tasteful retail.

Media household income is 95k. The town is 73% white. Homeownership rate is 72%. 62.5% of adults have a bachelors degree or higher. The poverty rate is 7.5%. Median travel to work is 22.3 minutes. 23% of the population is under 18. 17% of residents is foreign-born. Median rent is $1260.

Isn’t that pretty much the type of community we’re looking to replicate in metro Boston?

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

West Hartford CT is a desirable town with great amenities. It’s an upper middle class suburb for the most part with a few middle and lower middle class well maintained areas crime is not an issue and community pride and schools are strong. Public transportation is efficient and sufficient. Please do not use it as an example of what we don’t want. Aside from taxes it is EXACTLY what we want. It’s got a wide range of housing, and solid, tasteful retail.

Media household income is 95k. The town is 73% white. Homeownership rate is 72%. 62.5% of adults have a bachelors degree or higher. The poverty rate is 7.5%. Median travel to work is 22.3 minutes. 23% of the population is under 18. 17% of residents is foreign-born. Median rent is $1260.

Isn’t that pretty much the type of community we’re looking to replicate in metro Boston?

So how do you propose we do this? There is literally no more land to build on. Do you suggest we kick out half of the current residents and force them to sell their homes below market value so lower income people can be part of the community? How about we have Thanos snap the infinity gauntlet so half the population vanishes?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

So how do you propose we do this? There is literally no more land to build on. Do you suggest we kick out half of the current residents and force them to sell their homes below market value so lower income people can be part of the community? How about we have Thanos snap the infinity gauntlet so half the population vanishes?

County governments or some time of more regional planning would go a long way, but we of course won't see this happen.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by massnative71

County governments or some time of more regional planning would go a long way, but we of course won't see this happen.

^^^That is not just a Massachusetts phenomenon. All of New England is like that but it only becomes a problem when population density crosses a certain threshold.

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by massnative71

County governments or some time of more regional planning would go a long way, but we of course won't see this happen.

My question to you, if you owned a home with market value of 400k, would you sell it for 200k to help build this utopian community you speak of?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

My question to you, if you owned a home with market value of 400k, would you sell it for 200k to help build this utopian community you speak of?

No. Next question?

[RBThescot]

It's unfortunate that more people can't add on mother-in-law apartments or other types of alternatives. As an old geezer I would like to see more young people around me and a single person or young couple could use it to live well while they save money and establish themselves. I definitely don't want anyone living in the house with me but nearby, on my lot? Sure. A young person or couple could use the acreage, have gardens, etc and it would be great for me. It would take the pressure off the need to find buildable lots and large developments, reduce costs and benefit all around.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

West Hartford CT is a desirable town with great amenities. It’s an upper middle class suburb for the most part with a few middle and lower middle class well maintained areas crime is not an issue and community pride and schools are strong. Public transportation is efficient and sufficient. Please do not use it as an example of what we don’t want. Aside from taxes it is EXACTLY what we want. It’s got a wide range of housing, and solid, tasteful retail.

Media household income is 95k. The town is 73% white. Homeownership rate is 72%. 62.5% of adults have a bachelors degree or higher. The poverty rate is 7.5%. Median travel to work is 22.3 minutes. 23% of the population is under 18. 17% of residents is foreign-born. Median rent is $1260.

Isn’t that pretty much the type of community we’re looking to replicate in metro Boston?

The mill rate in West Hartford is $41.80. You pay that property tax rate on the blue book value of your car, too. People get forced out of their homes by the astronomical property taxes. With that nutty property tax rate, West Hartford still spends less than the state average per pupil on public schools.

You’re also totally wrong about housing and costs. $1260 will rent you a floor in a multifamily with minimal insulation, ancient boiler in the basement, and vintage kitchen and bath. The town is loaded with early 20th century working class 2 family homes. South of Farmington and east of South Main is almost all working class housing stock. Small post war starter homes and pre war 2 families. West Hartford also has a ton of older high density brick apartment buildings. You won’t find upper middle class there.

You can buy a pretty nice house for $500k but it will have a $15k+ property tax bill.

[Maddie104]

Originally Posted by RBThescot

It's unfortunate that more people can't add on mother-in-law apartments or other types of alternatives. As an old geezer I would like to see more young people around me and a single person or young couple could use it to live well while they save money and establish themselves. I definitely don't want anyone living in the house with me but nearby, on my lot? Sure. A young person or couple could use the acreage, have gardens, etc and it would be great for me. It would take the pressure off the need to find buildable lots and large developments, reduce costs and benefit all around.

Nice to read a post from someone trying to find solutions to be more inclusive. When done properly, housing density can be a beneficial. In my small development the homes range from 3000 sq ft to 5000 sq ft. They are on small lots so the homes are fairly close together but nicely landscaped. It's a walking neighborhood with sidewalks where you see people and know your neighbors. People walk their dogs. We are invited to our neighbor's childrens celebrations. When my husband was sick, our neighbors brought food and checked in on him. When we have snow storms, our neighbors shovel our sidewalk. Small lots are less to maintain have become more desirable in our area. Increased housing density does not necessarily equal low income but yields more housing and higher tax revenue per acre.

I really don't understand the mindset of some posters. The property owners in our community don't protest the development of townhomes and condos because we got here first. Many young families can't afford our homes and who are we to keep them out. In fact we are a move up home for those living in townhomes. We receive letters from prospective buyers asking about our home.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The mill rate in West Hartford is $41.80. You pay that property tax rate on the blue book value of your car, too. People get forced out of their homes by the astronomical property taxes. With that nutty property tax rate, West Hartford still spends less than the state average per pupil on public schools.
:

I hadn't heard this before, but I googled a bit and it's not just West Hartford - Connecticut real estate taxes generally are just brutal! Full list is here:
https://patch.com/connecticut/across...-who-pays-most