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I'm looking to relocate to Massachusetts North Shore area from out of state (Virginia).
I have some home searches set up on real estate websites to send me push email notifications when a home goes on the market that meets my criteria.
Friends and family keep sending us listings, for nice looking homes too - but they're excluded from our own push notifications setup because we have Air Conditioning as a requirement. The nice homes our friends and family send us don't have air conditioning.
It surprises me because otherwise the homes are very well kept, relatively new (1990s)...but no air conditioning. Example in Merrimac
Since you asked, my opinion is that yes, it is unwise to filter out non-AC homes. You can pretty easily add AC to most homes. 90's+ homes especially are likely to support central air. And ductless mini-splits can be added even to super old homes these days.
I'm looking to relocate to Massachusetts North Shore area from out of state (Virginia).
I have some home searches set up on real estate websites to send me push email notifications when a home goes on the market that meets my criteria.
Friends and family keep sending us listings, for nice looking homes too - but they're excluded from our own push notifications setup because we have Air Conditioning as a requirement. The nice homes our friends and family send us don't have air conditioning.
It surprises me because otherwise the homes are very well kept, relatively new (1990s)...but no air conditioning. Example in Merrimac
Am I foolish for being firm on air conditioning?
You need AC in MA. Many "cheap" New Englanders will say you do not need it. Let them live in a house with it and they sing a different tune.
Since you asked, my opinion is that yes, it is unwise to filter out non-AC homes. You can pretty easily add AC to most homes. 90's+ homes especially are likely to support central air. And ductless mini-splits can be added even to super old homes these days.
Adding AC to a house that does have duct work can get expensive. Yes ductless splits work but in may ways, they are fancy widow AC. In a large house you might well need quite a few. I say buy a house that has AC from the get go.
Since you asked, my opinion is that yes, it is unwise to filter out non-AC homes. You can pretty easily add AC to most homes. 90's+ homes especially are likely to support central air. And ductless mini-splits can be added even to super old homes these days.
Pretty much every house around me cools with mini splits. That’s totally normal in New England with older housing stock. With the current inventory situation, you will be living in a cardboard box if you limit your search to houses with central air conditioning.
One advantage of a mini split heat pump is that it gives you an alternative heating source if your boiler dies. Unlike Virginia, “my boiler died” is a really big deal in New England. In cold snaps, HVAC people and plumbers can be backed up for days with “no heat” service calls.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johngolf
You need AC in MA. Many "cheap" New Englanders will say you do not need it. Let them live in a house with it and they sing a different tune.
I grew up in one, lived in many, and currently live in one (well current one RI). Tune still the same. Non issue to me. I guess my condo has built in room units, but I never used them when living there. Only time they were turned on was during the inspection.
You need AC in MA. Many "cheap" New Englanders will say you do not need it. Let them live in a house with it and they sing a different tune.
Never had it growing up, nor did most of my friends. In fact, my current place is the first I ever actually had proper "central AC". It is becoming more standard though, even in a lot of older houses that never would have had them back in the day (60s ranches, etc.).
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