Dream Boston home, where would you live? (Cambridge, Newton: hardwood floors, houses)

[yellowstatus]

I'd like to tap people's wisdom to see if I missed anything. If you worked in Harvard Square and had a budget of $3MM. Which would you choose and why?

1. Heart of Cambridge: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Cambridge/.../home/11573538
2. Beacon hill charm: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Boston/102.../home/12526101
3. Lexington: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Lexington/...home/172642911
4. Winchester: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Winchester.../home/28677488

[BostonMike7]

Of those 4 homes you list, i would choose the winchester home.

I like the idea of looking out my windows and seeing trees, and not my neighbors looking back at me. That back deck looks appealing to me.

If i may add my own choice just for my own appeasement, with a $3mil budget, i'd chose something like this in Hamilton.
https://www.redfin.com/MA/South-Hami..._campaign=copy

Of course, the drive to Harvard Square would be terrible, but i could get over it knowing what i was driving home to.

[BosYuppie]

I like the Cambridge one. Super easy commute (walk), all the Camberville amenities, Cambridge schools. Great resale.

Lexington - too suburban
Beacon Hill - a little too city-like, no car etc
Winchester - I just prefer Cambridge life personally

Did you look at Newton at all? Newton Centre, Waban, Newton Highlands all awesome villages with great access. Brookline also in the mix at that budget.

[BostonBornMassMade]

the Cambridge one, for sure.

[id77]

If I had to choose between those 4 AND worked in Harvard Square, I'd go with the Cambridge or Beacon Hill as the other 2 homes are hideous. The Lexington is typical new construction Frankenstein's McMansion that's about 3,000 square feet too big, and Winchester looks a little better but is still 2,000 feet too big and looks like your typical HGTV showroom with too much emphasis on some parts and not enough on others. Also not a fan or tile or w2w carpet in bedrooms -- hardwood floors, please.

Cambridge is better in that it at least has hardwood floors throughout, though I'm not a fan of the low ceilings (which is in the Lexington/Winchester homes too). Beacon Hill looks it at least has 8' ceilings but no off-street parking that I can see.

I'd prefer to choose something else altogether, but if those were my options...I'd go Beacon Hill, but could live with Cambridge if I had to.

[OutdoorLover]

I'd probably still live in Newburyport :-), but instead of my current modest home, if I won the lottery or could wave a magic wand, I'd love to have a nice house right on the river, in a quiet stretch with trees, away from the crowds... runner up would be a nice house within easy walking distance of Maudslay State Park. Doesn't need to be a palace, just a nice home on a great site with beautiful nature right at hand.

P.S. Oops, just read the subject line and thought this was open-ended; Correction, Nbpt is *not* a great location to commute to Harvard Square from ;-) I am not that familiar with Lexington, but of the other 3 I'd prefer Winchester. It has a beautiful downtown and is far enough out it doesn't feel to citified. I'd give up something on committing to have the more laid-back and greener home environment.

[porterhouse]

If I worked a n Harvard Square, I’d definitely pick the Cambridge home. However, there are not a lot of people who work in Harvard Square and can afford a $3MM home.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by yellowstatus

I'd like to tap people's wisdom to see if I missed anything. If you worked in Harvard Square and had a budget of $3MM. Which would you choose and why?

1. Heart of Cambridge: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Cambridge/.../home/11573538
2. Beacon hill charm: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Boston/102.../home/12526101
3. Lexington: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Lexington/...home/172642911
4. Winchester: https://www.redfin.com/MA/Winchester.../home/28677488

If I had to pick one of those, I'd pick the Cambridge one. My wife would probably only consider the Winchester one and since I like her more than any house, that's what I'd realistically have to choose.
Honestly, though, I don't think I would straight-up trade my (much less than $3m) house for any of those houses unless I could immediately re-sell and move back to my current house.

With a $3m budget and the option of picking any house in the greater Boston area, I don't think I would pick any of those houses. What about Brookline?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...56564623_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...56563891_zpid/

[id77]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

If I had to pick one of those, I'd pick the Cambridge one. My wife would probably only consider the Winchester one and since I like her more than any house, that's what I'd realistically have to choose.
Honestly, though, I don't think I would straight-up trade my (much less than $3m) house for any of those houses unless I could immediately re-sell and move back to my current house.

With a $3m budget and the option of picking any house in the greater Boston area, I don't think I would pick any of those houses. What about Brookline?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...56564623_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...56563891_zpid/

The second Brookline house is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Brookline (and have looked at houses there before). It's not a great commute to Harvard Square, though, as you're either taking buses or switching green to red at Park St/DTX.

[scorpio516]

ONLY $3M?

Where could I find the other 12M to buy this dream house?

https://www.redfin.com/MA/Cambridge/.../home/11591090

1 mile walk/bike to Harvard Sq