| Author |
Message |
    
amamommy
Citizen
Username: Amamommy
Post Number: 5
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 5, 2003 - 4:59 pm: | 
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Hi all,
My husband is interviewing for a job in Greenwich. The real estate there (greenwich, stamford, cos cob etc.) is out of control. Just one look at realtor.com kind of FREAKED me out. Does anyone have any affordable rec's that would be within a decent commute?
Thanks... |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 360
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 5, 2003 - 9:15 pm: |
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Westport is a nice town. Check it out. How about New Caanan? |
amamommy
Citizen
Username: Amamommy
Post Number: 6
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 7:11 am: |
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Hi
Both are really nice, but isn't Westport where Martha Stewart lives and New Caanan where Dave Letterman lives? I'm guessing it's too expensive but will check.
Thanks! |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Elizabeth
Post Number: 263
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 7:30 am: |
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Try Fairfield, Stratfield section. We lived there for several years in the mid-80's. Not diverse like SO-Maplewood, but very pretty and the people are friendly. You might want to check out Trumbull, too. It is even further out so probably less expensive than Fairfield. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 362
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 7:33 am: |
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I believe you are right, I just know both places.
Two people I work with in NYC live there and commute to the city daily. I've been to Westport, and liked it there! Old homes like around here, a lot even older too...and they have a VERY nice main street - shopping area. |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 175
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 7:42 am: |
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Ridgefield. Not cheap, but more reasonable than Westport, etc. Still Fairfield County, and a reasonable commute. Absolutely lovely town.
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court07040
Citizen
Username: Court07040
Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 8:16 am: |
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I commuted from Stamford to Greenwich for a couple of years. If your husband leaves early (around 6am) then he can be to work by 7:00. On the way home it's a crap shoot - but leave as close to 4 as possible.
As far as AFFORDABLE real estate, well, you can forget about it close to Greenwich. You can try Danbury. It's pretty nice (sort of reminds me of Bridgewater, NJ) and only about 40 minute drive to Greenwich. You can get a decent 4 bedroom house in Danbury in the 400 - 600 range. Plus, R.E. taxes are MUCH lower in CT.
Good Luck! |
bandw
Citizen
Username: Bandw
Post Number: 46
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 9:39 am: |
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I grew up in Weston, which is adjacent to Westport and about 30 minutes from Greenwich. I love the area, but it is very pricey though real estate taxes are A LOT less and you generally get more for your money (in terms of town services, size of lots, quality of schools, etc...). My beef with many of the towns is that the houses are too far apart and that many areas of each town lack a neighborliness that we get in SOMA. There are parts of Westport, Fairfield, and Norwalk that appear to have that neighborhood feel, but you have to search them out. One area that is less expensive is northern Stamford (north of the Meritt Pkwy)-- very nice homes, large lots, lower taxes but high school may be a little iffy. Court07040 is right about Danbury, nice town with good shopping and restaurants (don't know anything about the schools) but there is really only one way to get to Greenwich (other than iffy rail service) -- via Route 7 which is a narrow road with lights and that gets a lot of traffic. Wilton is a little more reasonable but houses can be very far apart and the town is bisected by Route 7 which cuts down on town cohesiveness.
Another option is just over the Westchester line in towns like Rye Brook or Armonk. Friends of mine moved to Rye Brook (she grew up in Westport) and they are very happy there. Don't know anything about the taxes though they are probably kind of high (most of Westchester is). Also, if you're thinking of Danbury, then you might as well also consider towns in Putnam County, NY (just north of Westchester) where taxes are lower and you have access to I-684 -- a really good highway that connects I-84 with I-287 and can get you to Greenwich in about 45 minutes (if that). Please feel free to private line me if you want to talk in more detail. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 99
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 11:10 am: |
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Norwalk is an option. Many parts of it don't have as much charm as Greenwich, but it has some very nice areas that are worth looking at and it's cheaper than Greenwich for sure. My sister lived there for about 10 years (just moved this year to Georgia), and she liked it. I actually lived there for about a year myself. South Norwalk has been revitalized in ths last decade - lots of restaurants, nice apartments, shops, etc. (Great Oyster Festival every year too) East Norwalk is close to the beach, and West Norwalk borders New Canaan. Not sure about the school systems though - I know my sister wasn't crazy about them. She also had a special needs child, and felt they weren't able to provide the kinds of services he needed. It's a great location and convenient.
As bandw mentioned, Westchester is also an option for sure. I just drove from Katonah to Old Greenwich last weekend actually and it took less than 35 minutes (no traffic). Very easy drive. Katonah was listed in the same article as Maplewood as the top "affordable places to live" in New York Magazine. That area is fantastic -- lots of charm.
Good Luck! |
Fotboat
Citizen
Username: Fotboat
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 1:17 pm: |
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Why not commute it (its about an hour). I presently commute to Bridgeport from Maplewood (1.5 hours). We have looked between NYC and Fairfield, and could not find anything comparable to Maplewood (town feel & price) so commuting until we find something. New Cannan is close, but much higher in price. If you don't like traffic avoid too far north of Greenwich, I95 & the Merrit gets packed with NYC traffic. go North or West. The farther from the water the cheaper. We even looked at City Island (Bronx), since it is the Bronx, the taxes are real cheap, $2,000 for a standard house, but prices are rising fast there. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 306
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2003 - 5:51 pm: |
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Seriously, I cannot think of a single town within an hour's distance (during rush hour) of Greenwich that isn't terrifyingly expensive. Like, half million dollar starter house expensive. That said, my cousin is a realtor in Wilton (lovely town, but not cheap) -- I'll ask her if she has any suggestions. |
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