Almost official MA residents

[caligirl22]

Good morning ladies! I did an intro a while back and it looks like the ball is rolling on a move to MA. So I' m back with questions about where to live. It's overwhelming trying to narrow down! 
My husband will be working in Billerica and is open to a commuting up to 30 minutes or so. We are looking for a more rural area but close to shopping and maybe some sort of a downtown. Price range is under $350k and a solid school district is a must. I've been eyeing Chelmsford but would love some other suggestions if you have them! 

I'm a little sad about leaving NY but am getting excited about new possibilities. And maybe I can make the May GtG.

[soxin2]

We were going to look at Chelmsford "next Sunday, but just one more house today" and H, MIL and FIL fell in love at first sight. I was debating still checking Chelmsford and didnt.

It is definitely worth looking into!

[mswax]

Hi! We live in that area and I think with your price range Chelmsford is a good option. Other suggestions would be Westford (more pricey but better schools), Groton (same price but more rural, though also better schools), and Littleton (similar to Chelmsford, but a smaller town and school system). Feel free to PM me with more questions. We bought/sold not long ago and are still pretty familiar with the market.

[LoveTrains]

Welcome! I know nothing about schools up near Billerica so I'll leave that to everyone else.

[caligirl22]

Apr 7, 2014 13:22:47 GMT -5 mswax said:

Hi! We live in that area and I think with your price range Chelmsford is a good option. Other suggestions would be Westford (more pricey but better schools), Groton (same price but more rural, though also better schools), and Littleton (similar to Chelmsford, but a smaller town and school system). Feel free to PM me with more questions. We bought/sold not long ago and are still pretty familiar with the market.

Thanks for the recommendations! I will definitely check into them. We are planning a trip out to the in laws for Easter and will take some time to check out the area in person. On a side note, we ran the Newburypost half a few years ago. Great race! 

[mswax]

Apr 7, 2014 19:16:31 GMT -5 caligirl22 said:

Thanks for the recommendations! I will definitely check into them. We are planning a trip out to the in laws for Easter and will take some time to check out the area in person. On a side note, we ran the Newburypost half a few years ago. Great race! 

As a fellow runner, there is a rail trail (paved path for walking/running/biking) that runs through Chelmsford and Westford, and is planned for extension into Acton as well.  We live 1/4-mile from it and it's awesome!

[soxin2]

Apr 8, 2014 7:04:42 GMT -5 tillie said:

Welcome! I am also in that area, so if you would like any specific info feel free to PM me. Chelmsford has some very nice areas (and not so nice areas), but you should be able to find something in that price range. I don't have kids so I'm not too "up" on the school situation, but from what I do know Chelmsford is pretty good, though Billerica I'd tend to steer away from.

Another "up and coming" town you may want to consider is Wilmington. It's next to Billerica and they are building a new high school now. I'm not sure of the details on when it will be done or what you can get in your price range there, but I have hearing a lot of buzz about it.

Westford is nice, just be sure to look at the taxes on anything you consider buying as the tax rate is very high there.

We looked in Wilmington, but couldn't find a 3br/1.5ba in the 325k or under range that we liked. (Not sure OPs br/ba preferences)

[caligirl22]

Apr 8, 2014 11:50:08 GMT -5 soxin2 said:

Apr 8, 2014 7:04:42 GMT -5 tillie said:

Welcome! I am also in that area, so if you would like any specific info feel free to PM me. Chelmsford has some very nice areas (and not so nice areas), but you should be able to find something in that price range. I don't have kids so I'm not too "up" on the school situation, but from what I do know Chelmsford is pretty good, though Billerica I'd tend to steer away from.

Another "up and coming" town you may want to consider is Wilmington. It's next to Billerica and they are building a new high school now. I'm not sure of the details on when it will be done or what you can get in your price range there, but I have hearing a lot of buzz about it.

Westford is nice, just be sure to look at the taxes on anything you consider buying as the tax rate is very high there.

We looked in Wilmington, but couldn't find a 3br/1.5ba in the 325k or under range that we liked. (Not sure OPs br/ba preferences)

Wlmington has been recommended a few times to us but there doesn't seem to be much in our range right now. We are looking for a 3/2 and at least 1700 sq feet. 

[caligirl22]

Apr 8, 2014 10:16:00 GMT -5 mswax said:

Apr 7, 2014 19:16:31 GMT -5 caligirl22 said:

Thanks for the recommendations! I will definitely check into them. We are planning a trip out to the in laws for Easter and will take some time to check out the area in person. On a side note, we ran the Newburypost half a few years ago. Great race! 

As a fellow runner, there is a rail trail (paved path for walking/running/biking) that runs through Chelmsford and Westford, and is planned for extension into Acton as well.  We live 1/4-mile from it and it's awesome!

I saw that when I was reading up on Chelmsford. We have the same thing here and its fantastic! 

[les]

I can't offer any advice, but I am looking forward to (hopefully) meeting you at the May GTG! Good luck with the moving process!

[soxin2]

Redfin is a great resource.

[caligirl22]

Apr 9, 2014 14:31:52 GMT -5 les said:

I can't offer any advice, but I am looking forward to (hopefully) meeting you at the May GTG! Good luck with the moving process!

Thanks! 

[caligirl22]

Apr 9, 2014 21:42:51 GMT -5 soxin2 said:

Redfin is a great resource.

Redfin is fantastic. 

[rosebud]

I have a work friend that lives in Westford and she loves it...