Are you planning to relocate outside of Boston, MA to Metro West area?
If you are considering the move, please read a serioes of my blogs, where I'm addressing things that will help you make the right decision and choose the right property. Because you are not just "buying a house", you are buying everything that comes with it. Neighborhood, community, lifestyle, view out of the window... These things have great impact on your life, yet they are the least discussed.
PART I : Life style change
There are many beautiful towns in Boston MetroWest along rt 9 and rt 30. Brookline, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Natick, Framingham, Wayland, Sudbury - to name a few. Home search process per se starts with set of requirements: number of bedrooms & bathrooms, school district and ranks, crime rates and property taxes... Excellent, valid points that you absolutely have to consider.
Yet there is another topic you have to give serious thought:
- are you looking for specific life style? (walking trails, hiking, malls, easy driving)?
- do you like your current life style and does it work well for you? (commute to and from work, proximity to cultural / sports activities, relatives and friends nearby...)
Once you move, things will change. Let's take a closer look at this changes.
Mode of transportation: while in Boston it might have been walking, public transportation, cabs and car (if you had one), now it will be car, car and once again car. Sometimes cab, and some other times a train to Boston. What if you like to walk? No worries, you can drive to walk! Sounds strange - but only at first.
There are nice downtown centers and big plazas. Drive to Wellesley center, or Natick center for example, park your car (2 hr limit, for free! - ask me, and I'll tell you a secret spot), and walk around. Experience city life at it's best, and you won't miss Beantown at all!
Wellesley and Needham centers remind me of Coolidge Corner in Brookline. Lots of similar stores to go to. I especially like Trader Joes' in Needham. It's a smaller store, neatly tucked in next to CVS, restaurants, hair salons and specialty stores. It has good sized parking lot with plenty of spots. Much appreciated change after parking in Coolidge Corner Trader Joe's. For me it often was a hard choice between driving(add tough parking) and walking (add shlepping groceries)... Not anymore!
Now, you can also choose a property that is within walking distance to downtown and / or train station. That way, you'll have everything at your fingertips (or should I say toe-tips?). Keep in mind that properties downtown usually are more expensive, but you can always find a nice compromise. If walkable neighborhood is what you need - add it to your list of features.
If you love nature, you will be much closer to parks and trails, there might be one right next to your new house. A hikers delight! You might also buy a property next to a golf course, and enjoy your favorite game whenever you've got a free minute. Plus there are many more routes for safe and pleasant jogging in the parks, on trails, and around neighborhood.
Proximity to cultural activities. Keep in mind, that many of the places that Massachusetts is known for are actually OUTSIDE of Boston.
In Natick, MA there's world famous Walnut Hill School of Arts. Students and teachers from all over the world come to Natick to study. There are performances at the school throughout the year that you can attend. Tickets fly off the shelves. Nutcracker is sold out, if you call now, you'll be waitlisted. It's much easier to get into Boston Opera House, or so it seems.
Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA is as famous as Boston theaters, yet you are much closer to it now. Did you ever have a chance to go there? Now is the time.
To conclude my first post - give a lot of thought to your life style. What does it consist of, what are your favorite activities, and why. Will you be willing to trade them in (and if yes - then for what). How close do you want to be to everything. And by all means define "everything" - it is very important.
Then choose a real estate agent who knows the area, and talk about your needs.
Anna Glebova
REALTOR®
If you are looking for an agent to help you buy or sell a home
in Brookline / MetroWest Area
give me a call: (617)966-7949
Brookline, Framingham, Natick, Newton, Sudbury, Wellesley, Wayland and more
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1 Comments on Are you planning to relocate outside of Boston, MA to Metro West area? PART I : Access your Life style
What a great post about your area...I recently saw where the IPad has a "walkability" app so you can type in an address I think and get a walkability score!
Cindy in Indy