Thinking about moving back to the Buffalo area.

[NewEra]

My mother is starting to show signs of dimentia, so my wife and I are considering moving back East and buying a home so she can live with us and we can take care of her as she gets older. 
 

She lives in Dunkirk and that’s really the only town I know very well. We’d be looking to buy and relocate her somewhere closer to the city of Buffalo as I’d probably be working downtown.  
 

any recommendations on which suburbs are the best bang for the buck regarding real estate.  Would prefer to be within 30 minutes or so from the stadium. 
 

Maybe more importantly, any areas we should avoid?

Edited September 3, 2021 by NewEra

[GunnerBill]

You have my sympathy on your mother. Been there with two grandparents and now my dad who is only in his 60s. Dementia really sucks.

[NewEra]

16 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

You have my sympathy on your mother. Been there with two grandparents and now my dad who is only in his 60s. Dementia really sucks.

Thanks.  Her symptoms are still very slight so I think we’ll still have some quality time with her, but It’s going to be painful to watch the transformation.   

never thought I’d go back to the east coast but my wife is over vegas and looking to be a part of a smaller, more comfortable community.  
 

I’m only moving back so I can get season tickets and feel even closer to the team. Oh yeah…….and my mom.  ☺️

[AmishRifle]

I can’t help with your specific question as I don’t live up there.  I’m sorry to hear about your mom.  Going through it with my mother in law now.  Recommend you get on the FB groups as I was ill prepared for all the heart breaking things that happened.  We went with assisted living and now we are at the memory care level.  Good luck!

[Xwnyer]

Dunkirk has very affordable homes if you don't mind the commute.   I have a realator friend that can help ya even if looking closer to Buffalo.   Message me and I can hook you up with her.   Good luck with your Mom 

[PrimeTime101]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

My mother is starting to show signs of dimentia, so my wife and I are considering moving back East and buying a home so she can live with us and we can take care of her as she gets older. 
 

She lives in Dunkirk and that’s really the only town I know very well. We’d be looking to buy and relocate her somewhere closer to the city of Buffalo as I’d probably be working downtown.  
 

any recommendations on which suburbs are the best bang for the buck regarding real estate.  Would prefer to be within 30 minutes or so from the stadium. 
 

Maybe more importantly, any areas we should avoid?

Blasdell Ny  Close to EVERYTHINNG including 5-10 minutes to the stadium

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Blasdell,+NY+14219/@42.7946096,-78.8406922,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89d30fe3926e412d:0x991163af758fcb88!8m2!3d42.797281!4d-78.8233661

Square mile of Joy some call it. You would be close to rout 5 down town 15 minutes max and close to rout 5 that takes you to Dunkirk.25 minute ride to Dunkirk pending on exactly whre. also Blasdell is a thriving community with families kids 2 playgrounds big in a square mine with lots of summer activities for young ones.

 

If you want to get closer to mother with longer trip to work I would say try 

Angola NY nice center point. Close to wallmart and high end food.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Angola,+NY+14006/@42.6378397,-79.0382317,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89d2dfe54fb4d8cb:0xe40161e96ccdce54!8m2!3d42.6383925!4d-79.0278156

 

20-25 minute ride downtown. 4 different beaches. 10-15 minutes to Dunkirk again on rout 5 takes you right to down town. Stay away from the properties near the beach the area West of the beaches on the other side of rout 5 has cheaper property but slimmer pickings. 

 

Both places give you 2 choices to get to downtown. Rout 5 or the 90 interstate throughway 

 

If you are in search of a Guide to the area Message me on the boards, I am more then willing to give you a ride around

 

[Bill from NYC]

Sorry to hear about your mom.  

 

I fell in love with the town of Williamsville. Nice parks, great food, nice people. 

[PrimeTime101]

1 minute ago, Bill from NYC said:

Sorry to hear about your mom.  

 

I fell in love with the town of Williamsville. Nice parks, great food, nice people. 

great place, to far out of the way for his needs. 

[machine gun kelly]

You may like Hamburg.  Its Close

to the stadium, good schools  if you’re kids are younger.  I grew up in Blasdell as that is next to Hamburg.  You just have to deal with south towns weather as they get more snow than the northern part of the city.

 

I am sorry about you’re mom.  It not easy when a parent is sick.

Edited September 3, 2021 by machine gun kelly

[Dan Darragh]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

my wife is over vegas

Me too. Zay beating out Smoke was the last straw.

[eball]

Bummer about your mom, man, but good on you moving back to help.

 

I’ll always love the Williamsville/Amherst area; if I ever moved back it would be there, Orchard Park, or downtown.

[PolishDave]

24 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

great place, to far out of the way for his needs. 

Huh?   Williamsville is too far from what?   Downtown Buffalo?  Stadium?

 

It's not far (time wise) from either.

 

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

My mother is starting to show signs of dimentia, so my wife and I are considering moving back East and buying a home so she can live with us and we can take care of her as she gets older. 
 

She lives in Dunkirk and that’s really the only town I know very well. We’d be looking to buy and relocate her somewhere closer to the city of Buffalo as I’d probably be working downtown.  
 

any recommendations on which suburbs are the best bang for the buck regarding real estate.  Would prefer to be within 30 minutes or so from the stadium. 
 

Maybe more importantly, any areas we should avoid?

 

Sorry to hear about your mom.   It sucks watching your parent deteriorate.    Went through it with multiple family members including my father (Alzheimers).   Depending on the severity of the situation it can be extremely sad and extremely stressful.   A friend had a father become physically combative because he didn't know who the hell the other people were in his house (all immediate family) and would want to fist fight them.   And he was a tough old bastard.   Hopefully your mom's situation will be on the milder side.

 

Property......

 

Personally I would avoid the entire city of Buffalo.   There are some decent neighborhoods but you would need to be selective.    Much of the city itself is a giant shithole.     It is not for me, but different strokes for different folks.

 

Best suburb really depends on how big of a lot you want your house to be on and what your budget is.

 

Maybe check Zillow or a MLS for places around West Seneca.    There are many good neighborhoods in Cheektowaga as long as you stay the other side of Harlem Road.    Going the other side of Union Road is even better.  A better bang for the buck would be somewhere like Depew & possibly Lancaster. 

 

There are also a number of really nice small towns and slightly rural areas that aren't that far (in my opinion) from the city.   Your commute times to downtown wouldn't be that bad as long as you live reasonably close to an expressway entrance.  (I-90, 290, 219, 400)   A lot of those slightly rural areas are expensive though if you are within a reasonable commute time to downtown Buffalo.    I guess it depends on what you consider to be a reasonable commute time.   If you consider up to 40 minutes a reasonable commute time, then you have a whole bunch of options.    If you want your commute to be 20 minutes then you are limited to suburbs butting directly up against the city.

[Haslett_Stomp]

Sorry to hear about your mom.  My father in law has dementia and as Polish Dave says above, it has been stressful on my wife and mother in law.

 

I grew up in OP and am partial to that town.  If I were to move back would either live there or East Aurora, which used to be a bit more low-key (not sure if that is still true).

Edited September 3, 2021 by Haslett_Stomp

[HOUSE]

2 hours ago, Bill from NYC said:

Sorry to hear about your mom.  

 

I fell in love with the town of Williamsville. Nice parks, great food, nice people. 

 The people would be even nicer if Brunners & the Creekview had bigger parking lots, I am tired of parking 3 inches from the car next to me

 

 

 

.

Edited September 3, 2021 by HOUSE

[Bill from NYC]

1 minute ago, HOUSE said:

 Brunners & the Creekview need a bigger parking lots, I am tired of parking 3 inches from the car next to me

Yeah the parking isn't always great but it is a truly lovely town imo. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

4 hours ago, NewEra said:

My mother is starting to show signs of dimentia, so my wife and I are considering moving back East and buying a home so she can live with us and we can take care of her as she gets older. 
 

She lives in Dunkirk and that’s really the only town I know very well. We’d be looking to buy and relocate her somewhere closer to the city of Buffalo as I’d probably be working downtown.  
 

any recommendations on which suburbs are the best bang for the buck regarding real estate.  Would prefer to be within 30 minutes or so from the stadium. 
 

Maybe more importantly, any areas we should avoid?

just make sure you look at property tax per house, it vacillates widely property to property district to district.  

6 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

 The people would be even nicer if Brunners & the Creekview had bigger parking lots, I am tired of parking 3 inches from the car next to me

 

 

 

.

Get a smaller car?

[Chandler#81]

3 hours ago, Xwnyer said:

Dunkirk has very affordable homes if you don't mind the commute.   I have a realator friend that can help ya even if looking closer to Buffalo.   Message me and I can hook you up with her.   Good luck with your Mom 

Ditto on Real Estate friends/family there -all of which are Season Ticket holders. 

[Motorin']

5 hours ago, NewEra said:

My mother is starting to show signs of dimentia, so my wife and I are considering moving back East and buying a home so she can live with us and we can take care of her as she gets older. 
 

She lives in Dunkirk and that’s really the only town I know very well. We’d be looking to buy and relocate her somewhere closer to the city of Buffalo as I’d probably be working downtown.  
 

any recommendations on which suburbs are the best bang for the buck regarding real estate.  Would prefer to be within 30 minutes or so from the stadium. 
 

Maybe more importantly, any areas we should avoid?

 

North Buffalo might be a great place to look. 

 

Just did a little research myself, and the city of Buffalo's property taxes are nearly four times less than the burbs. 

 

Talk about bang for your buck. 

[BillsPride12]

If you're seriously considering this move and want to get season tickets I would recommend contacting the ticket office ASAP since there's a waiting list now to get season tickets.

[mead107]

sorry to hear about your mom 🙏
 

Buy near the stadium. 
you can park cars on game day. 
 

call Hammer maybe he would sell you the house and lot. 
 

rename it the NewEra lot

[BuffaloFan68]

I would recommend Hamburg or West Seneca.  JMHO

Go Bills!!!!!

[HOUSE]

I would recommend South Wales, but don't tell anyone.

[PromoTheRobot]

Keep in mind any town south of Buffalo gets considerably more snow than the city and Northtowns. That said Hamburg is a great place.

[Solomon Grundy]

5 hours ago, NewEra said:

Thanks.  Her symptoms are still very slight so I think we’ll still have some quality time with her, but It’s going to be painful to watch the transformation.   

never thought I’d go back to the east coast but my wife is over vegas and looking to be a part of a smaller, more comfortable community.  
 

I’m only moving back so I can get season tickets and feel even closer to the team. Oh yeah…….and my mom.  ☺️

Yeah New Era, you just want a front row seat at the Super Bowl parade downtown!! Good man!! I always liked you as a poster, you gained more respect as a person. Enjoy your Mom for as long as you can. I miss mine every passing minute. On to Highmark

[Draconator]

The place that came into my mind first would be the Elma/East Aurora area. House prices are higher, but the pace of live is easier than a more populated suburb. And you would be close to the massive Delta Sonic and Wegmans on Transit.  (You have to think of these things). 

[Kelly the Dog]

Very sorry to hear that, bud. My mother had dementia in Buffalo as well. Not pretty. Good on you and your wife. 
 

For your needs, perhaps Hamburg like others said. I’m partial to North Buffalo myself. Nothing is very far though. 

[May Day 10]

Anything in the Buffalo area is a 30 minute drive downtown and to the stadium.

 

 

I would pay attention to tax rates.  They can vary a large amount just blocks over

 

 

 

I dont live there, but I think I would like Niagara County.  Lots of places to get a bunch of land and space.  Not in the snow belt, and near all the waterways.  It would probably put you maybe like 40 minutes from Orchard Park, but what is the difference really on game days.  Im (basically) in Niagara County now and I have never thought the drive to the stadium was too far.

 

[Patrick Duffy]

6 hours ago, NewEra said:

My mother is starting to show signs of dimentia, so my wife and I are considering moving back East and buying a home so she can live with us and we can take care of her as she gets older. 
 

She lives in Dunkirk and that’s really the only town I know very well. We’d be looking to buy and relocate her somewhere closer to the city of Buffalo as I’d probably be working downtown.  
 

any recommendations on which suburbs are the best bang for the buck regarding real estate.  Would prefer to be within 30 minutes or so from the stadium. 
 

Maybe more importantly, any areas we should avoid?

Sorry to hear about your mother. That is a difficult thing to deal with. That's what family is for is being there for one another. I'm sure she is more comfortable with you being there with her through it than a stranger for sure. Some send them to a nursing home for whatever reasons they may have, but that's something I couldn't do myself.

 

Good luck with everything. Hope all goes as smoothly as possible.

Edited September 3, 2021 by Sheneneh Jenkins

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

just make sure you look at property tax per house, it vacillates widely property to property district to district.  

 

Absolutely correct.  I’m dealing with it while I have kids in the school district. Strongly considering moving to a smaller place Ian’s/or different part of Buffalo with lower taxes after they are out in a couple years. 

1 hour ago, HOUSE said:

 The people would be even nicer if Brunners & the Creekview had bigger parking lots, I am tired of parking 3 inches from the car next to me

 

 

 

.

There’s a public parking lot behind the library 

[Back2Buff]

A couple things to keep in mind if you are going to work downtown.

 

The traffic is low-key awful in Buffalo from like 7:20 to 8:20 am.  It is even worse from 4:00ish to 6:00ish.  Most places you won't be getting to or home from the suburbs to downtown in that 30 min timeframe (unless you are somewhere right outside the city like a cheektowaga, which I would try to avoid).

 

Really pay attention to taxes.  For instance, Lancaster's tax rates are astronomically high when comparing it to their three neighbors in Elma, Alden, and Clarence.  Overall, I would try to avoid South Lancaster.  Overpriced houses, high taxes, too crowded, and pain in the butt to get places without having a highway closeby.

 

Hamburg sounds like a good place for you, but just know that Route 5 will close for winds and snow, which makes it a pain in the butt to get to or from downtown.

 

Amherst is also very convenient. 

Edited September 3, 2021 by Back2Buff

[Hans Vogel]

To me, only a couple choices. There is no place better than the Village of East Aurora. If you want a little more country feel, Elma. 
 

Northtowns too busy for me, middle area is adequate but no personality. Southtowns are a little more of a drive places, but quality of life is best. 
 

[Another Fan]

4 hours ago, Bill from NYC said:

Sorry to hear about your mom.  

 

I fell in love with the town of Williamsville. Nice parks, great food, nice people. 

Granted I don’t know what it’d be like to live there permanently but it’s one of my favorite neighborhoods to visit as well.  Good food.  Nice area without people being snooty, etc…. 

[NewEra]

Thank you all so much for the kind words and advice, especially regarding the taxes.  The taxes in LV are minimal and weren’t even on my mind.  I’ll be sure to take that into consideration 
 

To the realtors that have reached out, thank you. I have your info saved.  I believe my cousin is a realtor that lives in Cheektowaga.  I may have to go through him but haven’t talked to him in a decade+, he may have switched professions. I’ll be in touch regardless. 👍🏻

How many Bar Bills are there?  Setting up shop right next to one so I can maul the best wings on the reg sounds like a good idea!  😄

 

 

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

Thank you all so much for the kind words and advice, especially regarding the taxes.  The taxes in LV are minimal and weren’t even on my mind.  I’ll be sure to take that into consideration 
 

To the realtors that have reached out, thank you. I have your info saved.  I believe my cousin is a realtor that lives in Cheektowaga.  I may have to go through him but haven’t talked to him in a decade+, he may have switched professions. I’ll be in touch regardless. 👍🏻

How many Bar Bills are there?  Setting up shop right next to one so I can maul the best wings on the reg sounds like a good idea!  😄

 

 

There is the original Bar Bill in East Aurora and a new one on Main in Williamsville/Clarence.  The old one is much smaller but the food is much better.  The new one is decent but not close to the original IMO as well as the opinion of several of my friends. 

[RiotAct]

4 hours ago, Back2Buff said:

A couple things to keep in mind if you are going to work downtown.

 

The traffic is low-key awful in Buffalo from like 7:20 to 8:20 am.  It is even worse from 4:00ish to 6:00ish.  Most places you won't be getting to or home from the suburbs to downtown in that 30 min timeframe (unless you are somewhere right outside the city like a cheektowaga, which I would try to avoid).

 

 

Disagree with “awful”, especially having lived in the D.C. metro area for 7 years

[JESSEFEFFER]

Many have mentioned Hamburg and I have to agree.  Not too developed and has a smaller town appeal.  Stay away if you do not like traffic circles, though.  It's closer to Chautauqua County so it has that going for it.  Eden gets you more rural and even closer.  I could be wrong about the daily commuting, but the traffic approaches to the city seem much more reasonable from the southtowns.  That is certainly true of the post game traffic anyways.  Dunkirk, home of the Chautauqua County fair, to Hamburg, home of the Erie County Fair.  Some kind of symmetry there.

[The Jokeman]

6 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Keep in mind any town south of Buffalo gets considerably more snow than the city and Northtowns. That said Hamburg is a great place.

Agreed and that's why I live in Northern 'burbs toss in the Town of Tonawanda does a great job with garbage pickup, road repair etc. Not to mention a stone's throw away from all the shopping in Amherst etc. 

[PrimeTime101]

12 hours ago, PolishDave said:

Huh?   Williamsville is too far from what?   Downtown Buffalo?  Stadium?

 

It's not far (time wise) from either.

 

 

Sorry to hear about your mom.   It sucks watching your parent deteriorate.    Went through it with multiple family members including my father (Alzheimers).   Depending on the severity of the situation it can be extremely sad and extremely stressful.   A friend had a father become physically combative because he didn't know who the hell the other people were in his house (all immediate family) and would want to fist fight them.   And he was a tough old bastard.   Hopefully your mom's situation will be on the milder side.

 

Property......

 

Personally I would avoid the entire city of Buffalo.   There are some decent neighborhoods but you would need to be selective.    Much of the city itself is a giant shithole.     It is not for me, but different strokes for different folks.

 

Best suburb really depends on how big of a lot you want your house to be on and what your budget is.

 

Maybe check Zillow or a MLS for places around West Seneca.    There are many good neighborhoods in Cheektowaga as long as you stay the other side of Harlem Road.    Going the other side of Union Road is even better.  A better bang for the buck would be somewhere like Depew & possibly Lancaster. 

 

There are also a number of really nice small towns and slightly rural areas that aren't that far (in my opinion) from the city.   Your commute times to downtown wouldn't be that bad as long as you live reasonably close to an expressway entrance.  (I-90, 290, 219, 400)   A lot of those slightly rural areas are expensive though if you are within a reasonable commute time to downtown Buffalo.    I guess it depends on what you consider to be a reasonable commute time.   If you consider up to 40 minutes a reasonable commute time, then you have a whole bunch of options.    If you want your commute to be 20 minutes then you are limited to suburbs butting directly up against the city.

Read his original post. He has a mother in Dunkirk ... at some point he may need to go there daily... Think he wants a 45 min. drive to see his mother... in stress....

 

Heck No...  Again.. great place to live but 100% wrong for him.

10 hours ago, Motorin' said:

 

North Buffalo might be a great place to look. 

 

Just did a little research myself, and the city of Buffalo's property taxes are nearly four times less than the burbs. 

 

Talk about bang for your buck. 

again.. Just a guess... I may be wrong... But having an aging mom means you really don't want longer then a 20-25 minute drive. North Buffalo would be to long of a trot to his mothers house.   Again my choice would be Hamburg/Blasdell area for quick ride to work or closer to Angola so its quicker ride to elderly moms house and not to much of a killer drive to work.

Edited September 3, 2021 by PrimeTime101

[Augie]

13 hours ago, Bill from NYC said:

Sorry to hear about your mom.  

 

I fell in love with the town of Williamsville. Nice parks, great food, nice people. 

 

I agree with this 100%. I don’t know the specifics of mom’s needs, but nothing in Buffalo is far away or hard to get to if you are coming from a larger market. My 4 best friends in Atlanta are too far to visit comfortably.

 

Buffalo has shocked me in the last decade on my trips back with how easy it is to get anywhere. I guess it all depends upon what you are used to. 

[NewEra]

3 hours ago, JESSEFEFFER said:

Many have mentioned Hamburg and I have to agree.  Not too developed and has a smaller town appeal.  Stay away if you do not like traffic circles, though.  It's closer to Chautauqua County so it has that going for it.  Eden gets you more rural and even closer.  I could be wrong about the daily commuting, but the traffic approaches to the city seem much more reasonable from the southtowns.  That is certainly true of the post game traffic anyways.  Dunkirk, home of the Chautauqua County fair, to Hamburg, home of the Erie County Fair.  Some kind of symmetry there.

Thanks for the feedback.  Any idea what the taxes are like in Hamburg?  Other have mentioned that the taxes fluctuate wildly from town to town