Housing costs in greater Boston area (Quincy, Lawrence: apartment complexes, condos, buying a home)

[Bridge781]

It seems like housing costs are at an all time high. In recently found out a friend of mine purchased a home in Milton the fall of 2018. It’s a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 1500 sq ft home that cost 700k. It really looks like a 500k house. I know everyone on this board is rich and things like this don’t phase anyone at all. It seems like the attitude is oh yeah, that’s normal, this is just how it is. I find it outrageous. She is a teacher, her husband is a firefighter. They have a decent income between them but I never would have thought a middle class couple like a teacher and firefighter would be paying 700k for a small home. There are far wealthier people in Boston. Is 700k now the new middle class threshold for buying a home?

[timberline742]

For Milton? Sure. For Weymouth, no. For Woburn, no. For Danvers, no.

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by timberline742

For Milton? Sure. For Weymouth, no. For Woburn, no. For Danvers, no.

Right. Milton, along with some other inner ring suburbs, aren't considered middle class.

Good for them for choosing Milton- Great town. But, they could have easily gone to Dedham, Canton, Weymouth, Hanover, etc. and saved $200k.

[Bridge781]

I grew up in Milton, my parents still live there. The only thing great about it is the close proximity to Boston. Everything else is ok. Schools aren’t great in comparison to other towns.

I kind of see why this particular family would want live there in that the girl grew up there, parents still live there, she and husband both work for city of Boston. But it seems sad that it takes 700k to make it happen.

[timberline742]

There are other things that are great. Excellent green space, for one. And, proximity to Boston shouldn't be thought of as an "only" thing. That's incredibly huge.

[brainbree]

They likely overpaid: https://www.redfin.com/city/29748/MA...clude=sold-1yr. In the past year median price for 1500SQFT+ single families with $633K, with a median square footage of 1780sqft and 2 bathrooms.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Yea it’s all ridiculous but other than a small part of Milton along Blur Hill Ave and Blue Hill Parkway is not middle class, it’s upper middle class.

There are a lot of places to get fairly affordable homes and rents there just in lower middle class neighborhoods, town and apartment complexes. If you want your dream home in Boston yes expect to spend at least 700k.

They probably could’ve found the same house in Stoughton for 380k

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by timberline742

There are other things that are great. Excellent green space, for one. And, proximity to Boston shouldn't be thought of as an "only" thing. That's incredibly huge.

It also has varying housing stock- Luxury market down to detached condos. Milton has some pretty nice neighborhoods.. Clean, well kept, mature trees. It's the south shore/south of the city version of Arlington, West Medford/Lawrence Estates. Hot markets for a reason.

Proximity to the city is huge no doubt, as is proximity to the modern conveniences in Dedham, Quincy, etc.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by mwj119

It also has varying housing stock- Luxury market down to detached condos. I for one think that Milton has some pretty nice neighborhoods.. Clean, well kept, mature trees.

Proximity to the city is huge no doubt, as is proximity to the modern conveniences in Dedham, Quincy, etc.

Yeah, I used to do some team running training there. Parked at one of the Blue Hills lots and we ran through adjacent hilly neighborhoods. About as "middle class" as Belmont Hill in that particular area.

[Bridge781]

Thats also kind of my point is how are a teacher and firefighter living in a place like Milton these days.