Thinking of moving to South Coast or Cape (Wareham, Sandwich: short sale, real estate)

[keltoid]

Have been down there a few times, looking at places, looking around. Though we originally were interested in the Cape - I got very put off by the air force base/Camp Edwards and some of the environmental things that may be related to it. Though I'd like to go more mid-Cape, I'll likely have to commute off Cape, over the bridge so unfortunately it probably won't make sense to go too far.

We also looked at the Onset/Wareham/Great Neck area and thought it seemed pretty nice. Prices more reasonable for the most part (unless you are overlooking the ocean, of course).

I know On-Cape people think of Wareham as pretty dumpy, but I did find this Great Neck/Little Harbor area very nice... does anyone know much about Wareham? Is it a nice place to live? Is it safe? We are in our mid/late 50s, still need to work for quite a while but looking to downsize from 13 acres in NH...

Also like the E. Sandwich area as long as its a "safe" distance from the base(s), whatever that is...

Anyone know anything or have any opinions on these areas? Thanks!!!

[Beachcomber4]

The "safe" areas are within the East Sandwich. Town Neck and village area. Maps show jet fuel plumes from Otis are moving in the opposite direction and recently identified contamination of wells in Bourne would seem to confirm that. A good real estate agent can show you maps that identify cancer clusters. We live in East Sandwich and love it. But we also have school age children and there were factors that we had to consider that made it worth the investment.

I don't know anything about that area of Wareham but can answers questions about Sandwich. If education is not of concern, and it sounds like it's not, some parts of Wareham can be quite nice. There is a definite convenience factor in regard to being able to get to and from retail areas. Where we are in East Sandwich we are a short walk to the beach but 6 miles to a grocery store. To us, it's worth the trade off but for some, it could be isolating.

[capecodcathy]

Great Neck and Onset are very nice. You will experience more seasonal traffic in Onset, though. Although I like Swift's Beach itself, I wouldn't want to live there. Of the two you mention, Great Neck is better.

[mdovell]

Wareham is growing. There's a new development (a few years old). The cape just isn't what it used to be. People got older and nothing really replaced them. There's also no real emergency plan incase of an evacuation.

I'll admit some things might change a bit more if/when the commuter rails move further south and of course no one has any real clue where casinos would end up...everything is a toss up now for development. Onset is also nice. Mark Anthony's is known for their pizza.

The one thing about wareham that can be odd is the roads are sometimes one way and it might take a tad of time to get used to.

[bigfatturkey]

the areas/houses towards the end of great neck road (wareham) are nice and private and looks much better/safer than the other parts of wareham/onset. if you are looking for new builds....there's a new development by long built homes along great neck rd (called The Woods at great neck) that seems pretty decent. i just saw a really great house down at burgess point which is going for quite an attractive price 'cos it's a short sale. if you are concern about wareham/onset being not so great neighborhoods, i'd suggest that you check out marion and mattapoisett which are pretty desirable areas but at slightly higher property prices. i'm also currently looking for a place to buy on the south coast or cape and i'm mainly looking in marion, mattapoisett, bourne, sagamore beach and maybe south plymouth (cedarville area).