2023 Real Estate Observations (Boston, Lexington: stats, educational, phone)

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by UNC4Me

If you can buy in a town with good schools and NOT use private schools, it’s a better use of your money. Homes, for the most part, appreciate in value. If needed, the home can be sold and the equity used in retirement. I’d never expect my kids to take financial care of me in my dotage so investing in a house makes more sense. YMMV.

Right most homes increase in value and that happens in any town in MA these days. To put it into perspective if you buy a 'cheaper' home in Hanover or Braintree and send your kids to Thayer or Nobles your money might end up going further and get a better education for the kid. I know you said your daughter or SIL lives in Hingham, you'd be surprised by how many people live in Hingham and still send their kids to private schools.

It all comes down to what you can afford but I see people really stretching themselves thin to live in places like Lexington or weston thinking the schools will make their kids smart. I used to think it made more sense to find a town with good public schools but homes have become so $$ and many public schools are going down the drain these days. I also think it comes down to the kid and how they learn best.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Right most homes increase in value and that happens in any town in MA these days. To put it into perspective if you buy a 'cheaper' home in Hanover or Braintree and send your kids to Thayer or Nobles your money might end up going further and get a better education for the kid. I know you said your daughter or SIL lives in Hingham, you'd be surprised by how many people live in Hingham and still send their kids to private schools.

It all comes down to what you can afford but I see people really stretching themselves thin to live in places like Lexington or weston thinking the schools will make their kids smart. I used to think it made more sense to find a town with good public schools but homes have become so $$ and many public schools are going down the drain these days. I also think it comes down to the kid and how they learn best.

A lot of the problem has to do with getting enough quality teachers into the profession. I mean look at all the crap teachers have to deal w/from punk a** kids with no respect. I can see why so many schools are understaffed. No one deserves to be subjected to that!

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

A lot of the problem has to do with getting enough quality teachers into the profession. I mean look at all the crap teachers have to deal w/from punk a** kids with no respect. I can see why so many schools are understaffed. No one deserves to be subjected to that!

Agree. I personally think people just put too much emphasis on school ratings in MA. There's more to it than just putting your kid in a top 10 school and thinking you don't have to do anything else.

[MtPleasantDream]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Agree. I personally think people just put too much emphasis on school ratings in MA. There's more to it than just putting your kid in a top 10 school and thinking you don't have to do anything else.

A lot of them are immigrants working in high tech fields or academia.
Good education is probably the best investment they can find. They don’t have social resources and don’t believe in pursuing interests or developing leadership etc.

Americans don’t “have to” follow that.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Agree. I personally think people just put too much emphasis on school ratings in MA. There's more to it than just putting your kid in a top 10 school and thinking you don't have to do anything else.

Originally Posted by MtPleasantDream

A lot of them are immigrants working in high tech fields or academia.
Good education is probably the best investment they can find. They don’t have social resources and don’t believe in pursuing interests or developing leadership etc.

Americans don’t “have to” follow that.

This seems like odd advice. In my experience the parents that care so much about top 10 school districts care about everything. They are super involved in their kid's lives in every possible way and the kids are doing tons in and outside of school.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

This seems like odd advice. In my experience the parents that care so much about top 10 school districts care about everything. They are super involved in their kid's lives in every possible way and the kids are doing tons in and outside of school.

I'm not saying everyone is doing the same thing.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I'm not saying everyone is doing the same thing.

I am saying I’ve never run into the mythical person who worries about a “top 10 school district” and then just thinks that is enough. I’ve run into plenty of the first set and a few of the second set, but never were they the same person.

[MtPleasantDream]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

This seems like odd advice. In my experience the parents that care so much about top 10 school districts care about everything. They are super involved in their kid's lives in every possible way and the kids are doing tons in and outside of school.

They are trying to build a CV with extracurricular activities, which are essential for top colleges.
So it’s still “education”.

My cousin also follows his son everywhere to attend competitions, for the same reason.

[msRB311]

You're really reading into what I said. For the record I do know people who moved to a good school district and didn't do much else than that for the kids education.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

This seems like odd advice. In my experience the parents that care so much about top 10 school districts care about everything. They are super involved in their kid's lives in every possible way and the kids are doing tons in and outside of school.

Those are called helicopter parents.