2022 Real Estate Observations (Boston, Newton, Framingham: affordable apartments, high schools, colleges)

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

It's close to the Sudbury line and minutes to MA pike. Definitely paying up for that particular location within Framingham. Maybe it is someone who wanted Sudbury but it was too much of a stretch price wise so this was the next best thing? House doesn't strike me as being something I'd wanna pay $826K for but looks like a nice little culdesac neighborhood on street view maps.

Been thinking about this... the dog situation is getting to the point where I could totally see there being enough SFH buyers not caring about Framingham's crappy schools and preferring Framingham to some comparably priced 495 town because of the better commute and amenities.

[charolastra00]

I've been targeting Framingham as one of the places to buy my first home, and will have children in that home. I'm honestly just not concerned with schools at the elementary level. I'm sure there are plenty of people in similar boats - would like more space than they can afford in a top flight school district so instead will live somewhere for a few years and then take their equity to get into a better district when the kids are a little older (if they have kids at all).

Alternatively, if you can get housing for cheaper than private school is more of an option. A few friends bought in Waltham versus Newton despite the schools knowing that the price difference would allow them to send their kids to the Gann Academy.

[newenglandgal123]

Private school vs public school districts are over-hyped. There are plenty of students who grow up attending public that end up better off in life than folks who attended private. However, some folks can't seem to get the stigma out of their heads so they make unnecessary sacrifices just to send little johnny and suzy q to Gann or wherever. But hey, if they'd rather spend $50K a year on private tuition rather than purchase a home in Newton that is almost guaranteed to make them a great return, to each their own! If it were me, I'd buy the house in Newton and send my kids to Newton public.

[MtPleasantDream]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Private school vs public school districts are over-hyped. There are plenty of students who grow up attending public that end up better off in life than folks who attended private. However, some folks can't seem to get the stigma out of their heads so they make unnecessary sacrifices just to send little johnny and suzy q to Gann or wherever. But hey, if they'd rather spend $50K a year on private tuition rather than purchase a home in Newton that is almost guaranteed to make them a great return, to each their own! If it were me, I'd buy the house in Newton and send my kids to Newton public.

Public schools vary a lot.
I believe it is more than OK to attend public schools in Winchester or Lexington, but I won't do so in Lawrence or Brockton.

Newton has good schools, but most middle class people can only afford a very small home there. That is also a kind of sacrifice.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by MtPleasantDream

Public schools vary a lot.
I believe it is more than OK to attend public schools in Winchester or Lexington, but I won't do so in Lawrence or Brockton.

Newton has good schools, but most middle class people can only afford a very small home there. That is also a kind of sacrifice.

If a family has 3+ kids I could see a small home being problematic. However, for a small family or one just starting out, who cares if you can only get a small home. You're still in Newton. Most folks get homes a lot larger than they need and don't even use a lot of the rooms regularly.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by MtPleasantDream

Public schools vary a lot.
I believe it is more than OK to attend public schools in Winchester or Lexington, but I won't do so in Lawrence or Brockton.

Newton has good schools, but most middle class people can only afford a very small home there. That is also a kind of sacrifice.

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

If a family has 3+ kids I could see a small home being problematic. However, for a small family or one just starting out, who cares if you can only get a small home. You're still in Newton. Most folks get homes a lot larger than they need and don't even use a lot of the rooms regularly.

A "middle class" family would be lucky to afford a closet in Newton these days.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by massnative71

A "middle class" family would be lucky to afford a closet in Newton these days.

Cheapest SFH I'm seeing currently available there is $625K for a 3bd, ~1200 sq ft https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...56534803_zpid/


On the other end of the spectrum, if you're into keeping up appearances and 'need' 8,000+ sq feet to house your family of 3 or 4 there is this...for over $4mil https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...56313400_zpid/

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by massnative71

A "middle class" family would be lucky to afford a closet in Newton these days.

I was thinking the same thing. There ain't no middle class people living in Newton. Maybe in a condo or a two family. Having the option to purchase a home in Newton for the schools is a pipe dream for many or there is just no inventory for the people who can afford to live there.

I agree that not all public schools are the same...but people get ridiculous about schools in MA. At the end of the day kids from good families who give a damn end up being people with the same kinds of jobs as the kids who went to Lexington, Weston or nobles. The only time the schools might make a difference is if you come from an awful family and end up at an awful public school.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Cheapest SFH I'm seeing currently available there is $625K for a 3bd, ~1200 sq ft https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...56534803_zpid/


On the other end of the spectrum, if you're into keeping up appearances and 'need' 8,000+ sq feet to house your family of 3 or 4 there is this...for over $4mil https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...56313400_zpid/

With current rates, even that "as is" 1200 sq ft. house for $625K is well into upper-middle-class territory. And that's before any needed repairs, which one can only imagine...

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I was thinking the same thing. There ain't no middle class people living in Newton. Maybe in a condo or a two family. Having the option to purchase a home in Newton for the schools is a pipe dream for many or there is just no inventory for the people who can afford to live there.

I agree that not all public schools are the same...but people get ridiculous about schools in MA. At the end of the day kids from good families who give a damn end up being people with the same kinds of jobs as the kids who went to Lexington, Weston or nobles. The only time the schools might make a difference is if you come from an awful family and end up at an awful public school.

I can see not wanting to send a child to BPS, but Framingham schools (that this forum considers "crappy") are probably fine for most kids.