> there's a lot of parent involvement in the schools

All of that sounds good but can you elaborate on parents involvement in school? I have lived in south and there the parent involvement in school is synonymous with them trying to control what is being taught in schools.

Good description. Let's see which side I end up on.

Under His Eye

I believe in freedom, majority rule and social equality. I hate absolute authority and blind obedience. I'll let you figure out which political party or belief that aligns with.

Will do

Thanks for the replies. I think I have a fair enough idea now and we'll see how the house hunting goes!!

Interesting. Something to think about for me!

>that are probably in your price range that have all that. T

Can you point me in that direction? Like construction in progress or recent builds?

Thanks for your detailed reply. I read it with the Google map open and it makes perfect sense.

My wife had a friend in CT long time ago and she lived in Middletown so that was our starting point. I might revisit that town. How about Portland?

Regarding the appetite for commute we have had it all. Currently it is 10-20mins for us, before that we had a bad commute that involved a straight road road but over a bridge and at rush hours the travel time would be 2-3X than normal, before that my wife also had a 50mile/60min commute and it was bad!!!

Yikes!!!

Awesome. That sounds fun!! Never heard that site. Is it legit last minute deals or just regular prices masqueraded as deals?

And when does spring or end of winters usually come around?

Haha got it. I guess every state has its thing people don't like. I have lived in deep south before where if I post in the city sub there would always be a few people shitting on neighborhoods, asking OP to go back, we don't want you here, etc etc. I am pleasantly surprised by the replies I got so far and it has made me all the more excited about the move!!

One thing we want to do is travel with our kids and looking at the map I see a lot of interesting destinations within a 5hour drive. In my current location I can drive 2 hours in either direction and will hit any mid size city.

> We go most of the winter bare. It’s sad.

Really, for some reason I thought CT gets a ton of snow like Boston?

I am coming from a cold Midwest city where it doesn't snow much but temps are frigid through April.

> Happy teachers = happy students

Word!!

I feel at ease now knowing that overall it is a good area and not like I have to find a decent place while avoiding a ton of areas!! My wife and I are looking forward to our new England adventure.

I am picking up this theme here that it is better to avoid highways. Do other roads get cleared fast enough in winters?

> Only knock is taxes

As high as west Hartford?

> because you have the sun at your back, and the sun at your back in the way home as well.

That is an excellent point. I guess it maybe an unfair question to ask if west side is better than east so maybe I should ask if either I see is worse than the other? Easier to pick between good and bad options vs two good options haha

Got it. Yes it is good to have perspective. My current commute is 10mins but most of my coworkers drive 30mins to come to work.

> where very few things go wrong

Like natural events or something else?

> if you're fond of newer, pricier cars that bill will sting as well.

Good thing I am an old, boring and drive a 20yo Camry!!

Is there ANY area you would want me to not consider no matter how good of a deal I am getting on the house?

I see some homes listed in Glastonbury that have a flood risk rating of 9/10. Is that normal?

> there will be 20-30 people lined up for the first open house

I can imagine this happening during historic low rates but are you saying even now this happens?

Don't know the area but looking at the map, are you saying that commuting from a place like Farmington to EH would be worse than say Rocky Hill to EH even though both commutes require crossing the river?

Thanks. Will do.

> They elementary schools have a real community feel.

Can you elaborate?