My Hometown, Longmeadow, Mass.
By: rebeccasheehan | October 23, 2006
Editor’s note: this is one in a series of "My Hometown" blog posts written by Zillow employees about the homes and towns where they grew up.
My hometown: Longmeadow, Mass.
My home’s value in 1970: $55,000
Zestimate today: $484,495
I started at Zillow about a month ago as the company’s first market manager and the first official San Francisco employee. So, if you live in the Bay Area and have any tidbits on the local real estate market, post a comment and I’ll be sure to follow up with you!
Originally I’m from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, a small town of 15,000 residents located in Western Massachusetts, just south of Springfield on the Connecticut border. Doctors, lawyers and insurance professionals made their home there since it was easy to commute to Springfield or the insurance capital of the U.S. — Hartford, Conn. Longmeadow was settled in the mid-1600s on a site that Native Americans used as a grazing ground for their animals — the "long meddowe". A pasture has been preserved from those days and today serves as the town green in the center of the city. The main route into Longmeadow brings you down Longmeadow Street, a winding, treelined road bordered by beautiful homes, many built in the 1700s and 1800s.
Between Longmeadow and Springfield is one of the largest urban parks in America, Forest Park, which occupies 735 acres (vs. Central Park at 840 acres) and contains a zoo, skating pond, lake and tons of recreational facilities. Forest Park played an important role in the life of Springfield’s most famous son, Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. His father was Forest Park’s Superintendent for 30 years. Did you ever read "If I Ran the Zoo?"
When my family moved to town in 1970, Longmeadow was in the midst of a housing boom. My parents bought a 3-year-old home for $55,000. When they moved in 1992, they sold their home for six times the amount they had paid in 1970. Not a bad investment! Today, its Zestimate is $484,495.
For me, the best part about growing up in suburbia was being able to play outside for hours on end. Longmeadow is heavily wooded and for all the kids in my neighborhood, the woods were our playground. We knew every square inch of that land — the quickest shortcuts to school, the best places to cross the babbling brook, and where you might get lucky enough to spy a lady slipper orchid (photo courtesy Wikipedia).
Longmeadow was a great place to grow up, quiet and lush. As an adult I prefer the hustle and bustle of a big city but I will always treasure my days in Longmeadow.
P.S. For all you New England Patriots fans, Tom Brady’s girlfriend, Bridget Moynahan, also grew up in Longmeadow.
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- Categories: Hometowns, Real Estate, Zestimate, Zillow
Comments
5 Comments so far
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new homes boston on October 24, 2006 6:54 pm
Rebecca…do you know if your home was worth more 6 months ago compared to today? I know prices are down currently and it is a buyers market for sure. Just wondering if it is effecting your area as well.
Rebecca Sheehan on October 25, 2006 12:08 pm
According to our Zestimate, the value of this home has hovered just below $500k for the past year or so. From the home details page, you can link to a Market Value Change chart which details market value changes for this home, zip code, town, county, state and country. We track it as far back as 10 years and report it in either dollars or as a percentage.
Andrea on July 24, 2007 1:35 am
Hello Rebecca
My husband also grew up in Longmeadow, Mass(high school class of 82)and we are seriously considering moving back into his mother’s house on Converse Street, right across from the Jewish Community center. Do you know it?
I’m more nervous about it than he his, I mean–to live with your mother-in-law? Oh, boy. I guess I’m going to have to be a grown up about it…LOl.
Andrea
We are also going to open a shop on the green.
neerfurcicy on October 30, 2007 12:02 pm
You don’t really need or want that lifestyle, it might hurt y’all slowly more…….Just tell him you
don’t wanna repeat something your not too proud of z7uas.
Lesly Reiter on November 5, 2007 8:48 am
Hi Rebecca,
I grew up in Springfield and now live in Longmeadow.(www.LeslyReiterSellsHomes.com) I also sell real estate in Longmeadow and the surrounding area (Greater Springfield MA). I am seeing more people move from the N.Y & N.J. area into Western MA because the standard of living is more affordable. The Longmeadow MA area has great schools,low crime rate, fair housing costs, culture, easy access to major highways and airports. Boston is less than 2 hrs away, NYC is 2.5 hours by car, Philly is 4-4.5 hrs, the beaches are near (witihn 2 hours)as is snow skiing- MT Snow and Killington 2-3 hrs by car! What more can anyone ask for? This is one of the best places to raise a family, be single, or married! The local colleges provide excellent choices for higher education. The areas is booming with artists from fine arts to glass blowers. We are lucky to have it all!
There is more inventory on the market today than in the past 5 years, that means more choices for the buyers!Buy now, the prices are great! If a buyer purchased a house more than 5 years ago, they will probably be safe to sell without taking a loss. This also depends on if they have taken an equity loan against their house. The beauty of Western MA real estate is when inflation occurs it is gradual as is deflation. We don’t inflate as high as other communities in the country (California, Las Vegas,Forida) and we don’t fall as hard either. If you hold on to your house for years you won’t be affected by the cyclical effect of the market.
Longmeadow and the area has alot to offer buyers and sellers, all ages, and income levels. I hope when you come back to visit you’ll look me up!