Choosing a Neighborhood on Boston’s South Shore

For new homebuyers looking for homes on the South Shore of Boston, choosing a neighborhood can be a challenging decision. There are 23 different towns and communities along this sprawling coastline, each with unique advantages and attractions. Before a Jack Conway Realtor can begin to help you find that perfect home, you might want to establish a few top priorities and criteria.

How do you envision your new South Shore home?

Before wasting enormous amounts of time looking at real estate listings, determine a price range that comfortably suits your financial budget. Include such considerations as property taxes, maintenance, and homeowners’ insurance.

Next, establish some critical features of the community where you’d like to move. Consider the following:

• Do you want to live in a residential community of predominantly single-family homes with large backyards?
• Or do you prefer a multi-family condominium complex with no need for heavy yard work?
• If a condo is more to your liking, don’t forget about the association fees when calculating your maximum mortgage payment.

Now think about the features you’d like your new home to have. Do you want a fireplace or a swimming pool? How many bedrooms and baths do you need? Do you need spaces for home offices and remote learning? Take the time to make a detailed list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” and then stick to it. This advanced planning will make the house-hunting process a great deal more efficient and infinitely more enjoyable.

Is the public school system important to you, now or in the future?

Even for homebuyers who don’t have school-age children, real estate listings located in good school districts tend to have somewhat higher resale values. The majority of communities on the South Shore have good school systems with excellent credentials. Be aware that the Fair Housing Act prevents real estate agents from providing specific information about individual schools, which means that future South Shore homeowners will likely have to conduct this scholastic research on their own.

You can research school systems online using such sources as School and District Report Cards issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Enter a school or a school district to see such metrics as graduation rates, spending per pupil, and college acceptance rates.

How far are you willing to travel for work and leisure?

For those who work in Boston, the daily commute will be a considerable factor. When choosing a neighborhood, consider your options. Will you prefer to commute by car, bus, or train? Some communities even have commuter boats readily available. But the travel time back and forth to your place of employment is only part of the equation.

• Do you like to swim, golf, or hike? The South Shore has outstanding recreational opportunities in all three categories and more.
• Are you planning to hit the trendy nightclubs and restaurants of downtown Boston on a regular basis? You may want to look for South Shore homes closer to Boston.
• Or perhaps you need to be closer to Logan International Airport for weekend getaways or work-related trips? Some communities are on public transit routes to Logan.

These are all valid considerations to take into account before choosing a neighborhood. After all, part of the appeal of living on Boston’s South Shore is the variety of cultural, outdoor, and recreational activities that this beautiful area has to offer.

What are the best areas on the South Shore to live?

                  Photo: Green Harbor, Marshfireld