The Best Places to Live 2008

The Smart Buys in a Scary Market

By Katherine Bowers

: Photos by Fredrik Broden.

Download our helpful chart that displays what's up, what's down, and where your town stands. Also, view our Best Places to Live interactive tool. And check out our interactive map.

We know: Between the topsy-turvy prices and the subprime mess, it's a real estate nightmare out there. But after grilling dozens of brokers and hundreds of industry experts, we're pleased to report there are some bright spots for jittery house-hunters (and owners). A road map to 29 neighborhoods and towns that are holding their value, or are poised to be big winners when the next boom rolls around.

New to the Market
You're looking to purchase your first home. You also want to make sure you're not going to get burned. Point your search to one of these spots, and know you'll be making a sound investment.

A Less-Costly Free Education
Most towns with great public schools also have greatly overpriced homes. But there are some still-affordable areas where high test scores can be had without taking out that jumbo loan.

Trading Up
You're moving up in the world, and soon, you hope, into more square footage. These bust-bucking areas also offer the promise of sweet deals and steady long-term gains.

The Bright Side of Foreclosures
Yes, it's bad news for those losing their home. But their loss could be your way into a prime neighborhood.

Downsizing
You might not net as much as you would've three years ago. But when you're ready to cash out (and give up the chores), your nest egg would be put to wise use here.

Havens for the Recently Unhitched
Two towns that offer the good life for those who've given up their better half.

The Fearless Flipper

Would you want to be a real estate investor right now? You would if you were Fran Yerardi, house-flipper extraordinaire, who believes almost no property is too far gone to be rehabbed for a profit—and is more than happy to share his secrets with those willing to roll the dice with him.

See our Best Places to Live Interactive Map.

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User comments

Attleboro's gamble: Feb. 26, 2008 at 12:05 PM; Posted by andrew dan; The downtown facelift is a big gamble, but whats a better story is the rebuilding of the school system. Beyond that it has its own Zoo, art museum, the best endowed community hospital in new england, an open government. All at a real discount on real estate and taxes.

Not a gamble I would take with kids: Feb. 26, 2008 at 7:05 PM; Posted by Anonymous; The Attleboro school system isn't good. There have been gang fights in the high school cafeteria and the school system has to focus it's resources on just maintaining discipline. Too close to the bad areas of Rhode Island, drug deals in the center, thugs hanging out there all hours. Not a place to raise kids.

6 Years and Counting....: Feb. 27, 2008 at 9:53 AM; Posted by J M D; Strongly disagree with Anonymous! Attleboro schools are getting a lot better and have some of the best programs in the state. I rarely hear of violence in and out of the school system. I feel very safe here. Also, Attleboro is 12 minutes from Providence which is architecturally beautiful and culture rich so I don't know why you are saying it is near the bad parts of Rhode Island. Lastly, Attleboro is a great place to raise children. My 2 nieces are thriving and a zoo up the street doesn't hurt either. Do some research and you will find that Attleboro is not what it used to be and that is a good thing!!!

Attleboro - a jewel waiting to be discovered: Feb. 27, 2008 at 1:08 PM; Posted by Frank Monti; My wife and I have lived her for 14 years since we relocated here because we wanted to live in an old Victorian home. I am now the President of the Attleboro Historic Preservation Society and we have never regretted our moving “out-of-state” from RI. My commute to work in Providence is 10 easy miles with no traffic. Our home is a showplace which would have cost 140% more in RI and would be taxed at 4 times what we are paying in Attleboro. Our neighbors are wonderful, culturally diverse. friendly people. The neighborhood is like the Beaver’s neighborhood on the TV show except with multiple ethnic backgrounds. There are plenty of housing bargains here which will prove to be good investments in the near future. One example is an old fire station in South Attleboro that is the process of being turned into two condominiums providing an outstanding example of the adaptive reuse of older properties. The city is over 300 years old and has the potential to become a historic preserva

Believe in Attleboro: Feb. 27, 2008 at 3:06 PM; Posted by P A; I strongly disagree with Anonymous. My family has lived in Attleboro since 1996 and both my kids attend Attleboro schools. We are very happy in the direction which the school system and the City is moving. My children and I feel very safe here and in their schools. Being so close to Providence RI and Pawtucket RI is great as both cities offer many great restaurants. We just need a few of those restaraunts in our Downtown area

Attleboro's rich community: Feb. 29, 2008 at 7:20 AM; Posted by Roy Belcher; Aside from burgeoning economic renewal, Attleboro offers a really vibrant community with many civic and social organizations, an active Chamber of Commerce, churches of many faiths, a great YMCA, senior center, quality child daycare facilities, etc. Now Britol Community College has located a permanent campus in Attleboro, opening up new educational opportunities. The future looks bright in Attleboro.

GLBT: Feb. 29, 2008 at 10:27 PM; Posted by Anonymous; Great place to raise GLBT family. Very open minded families and schools.

Hull a Gamble?: Mar. 5, 2008 at 6:25 AM; Posted by Anonymous; I disagree that Hull is a Gamble. It's a great small seaside community with a hotel, new condos, restaurants, great water views, a beautiful beach and easy access to the new train and the commuter boat. A lot of the homes have been renovated over the past few years so there are some beautiful homes to choice from. The view across the Hingha & Hull bay is the same view you get in Hingham with a price tag thats a lot less. The walk along the beach can not be found any where else on the south shore.

Correction to Article: Mar. 17, 2008 at 9:19 AM; Posted by Justin Manning; Our firm has conducted over 14,000 real estate auctions in MA and nationally since 1976. In a 1st mortgage foreclosure auction in MA, the buyer will be reponsible for the unpaid taxes, water & utilities (as seen on the Municipal Lien Certificate). However, as long as it's the 1st mortgage being foreclosed, the junior lien holders and junior mortgage holders get wiped out. This quote from the article is just incorrect: "Once you find a house you like, you'll need to make sure there are no liens against it—from the unpaid kitchen contractor, for instance—as those liabilities fall to the purchaser." The only time this would apply is if these liens were recorded and were senior to the mortgage being foreclosed. ie. 2nd or 3rd mortgage foreclosure. FYI...

foreclosures & liens: Apr. 21, 2008 at 1:36 PM; Posted by neil m; In MA all money owed to govt (so municipal taxes, waters, utilities) and any lien put on by the gov't (child support, income/irs tax liens) are superior to a mortgage. Also any condo fee complaint (lien) is superior to a mortgage. A Mortgagee can still foreclose with superior liens owed, but those liens will not be extinguished by the foreclosure, so subsequent owners are liable. Also, any lien that was put on record in the registry of deeds prior to when the mortgage that is being foreclosed was originally put on record WILL NOT be extinguished by the foreclosure. In almost all cases lenders will not give money unless all previous liens are payed off, so if you see a previous undischarged lien of record, the lien was probably settled but someone was to lazy to file the discharge. But in the rare case that lien was not discharged because it was not paid, the post-foreclosure owner will be liable.

foreclosures & liens: Apr. 21, 2008 at 2:03 PM; Posted by neil m; Also, liens have expiration times by statute. For example tax liens are good for ten years, attachments are good for 5 yrs 30 days, Blah blah. The point being is if you're interested in buying a foreclosed property at auction you should hire a real estate attorney (who will hire a title-examiner) PRIOR to auction in order to do your due-diligence & see what is owed. Also, the real estate law firms that handle lenders' foreclosures at auction represent lenders & not the foreclosure buyer. If you are financing your purchase you'll have your own bank's attorney verifying the title & whats owed, but if you're buying in cash (or have some non-traditional financing) you really need to hire someone that knows what their doing & will be liable if their examination of the title is incorrect & there's a lot more owed on the property than you thought.

Great Community, Good Schools, gang fights are false.: May. 3, 2008 at 11:18 PM; Posted by Joseph Lazzerini; Hello: Anonymous: As a High School student at Attleboro and a candidate for Attleboro City Council At-Large in 2009. I have to strongly disagree with your commments. That fight, which I was a witness to: was not gang related. One member was suggested by the administation that he may have been in a gang which later turned out that he was not. The School system is very good. We have great administrators and hearfelt teachers that really care about the success of the students. So take this from someone who knows first hand. Attleboro is a great place to live. We are all a family here in Attleboro and we are all friends. Its how this parents raise the kids' that makes the difference. You can live in the best place in the world, like the nearby town of Rehoboth but if teens want to do drugs they will find a way. The new superintendent has revamped the school system over the last two years and major changes have been put into effect. So take a new look at Attleboro. We are a thriving town an

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