Transplants, typically from MA CA NY TX, who wfh and don't bat an eye paying above asking or engaging in bidding wars. These are usually the same people who would shit on RI constantly before Covid as being boring, uneducated, nothing to do, not progressive or diverse enough, etc. Now they're gushing about OMG how much they love living in cute artsy RI (especially the East Side) and avoiding the "rat race" and commute of the HCOL city they were infatuated with just a few years prior.

Honestly for what you're probably paying to rent or own on the East Side you're better off just living in or around Boston.

Surprised the owners rejected the idea of converting into condos or apts a la The Arcade, especially given how successful the 903 and 225 promenade/ Halstead nearby have been.

Other way around would probably be better for security and air quality reasons, but yeah a casino would actually help keep the retail b&m places afloat.

Not a bad idea actually.

Just curious man, are these faux wealthy people you know born-and-raised in RI or from other parts of the country? The reason I ask is because outside of a few pockets in RI (Newport, EG, etc), you usually don't see that kind of flashiness. People from Long Island, Dallas, and California on the other hand...

Check out usda loans; you can get a loan with 0 down and/or very low interest for buying in a less developed area.

Keep downvoting away if it makes you feel more accepted by the subreddit, but Rolfe Square is one of the last places in Providence County where the elderly (especially those who don't drive) and low-to-middle income folks can walk and do their day-to-day business without worrying as much about traffic, safety, and noise. I grew up lower income and spent a good portion of my childhood there so I am naturally protective about it. I also have a rental property close by so if anything wfh transplants would be a financial plus for me. But I'd rather not see it go in the direction of Edgewood or Federal Hill (or even Elmhurst--talk about sticker shock) over the past 10 years. It is what it is.

I spent a good portion of my childhood in the area so just don't want to see it become another hipster village with matching rents to boot (a la Edgewood and Federal Hill).

Assuming you're referring to Buttonwoods Brewery even though it is technically walkable, placing Wellington Ave in same neighborhood as Rolf Square is like calling Wayland Square the same neighborhood as Gano St.

Mixed feelings about this tbh... Wish them success in their business venture but hopefully the hipster yuppie MA NY CA transplant crowd doesn't start taking over Rolfe Square like it did with Edgewood and Broadway. Just no string lights please--that's like crack to that demographic.

Um, he asked for 3 acres, not 30.

Your budget is very doable for a 1 bedroom with the exception of the yupster exposed ductwork and brick lofts. I would look around the wayland square, hope st, wickenden st, or college hill area, but also around south water st., and edgewood and even garden city in cranston.

The best thing to do would be to take a few weekdays off work and contact the building owners or property managers by phone and in person. Online applications tend to get lost in the deluge. Samson and Biloudeau (sp) are a few that service the area.

What do you value most as far as your housing situation goes? Space? Quiet? Walking distance to restaurants, cafes, shopping? Nature? Bike paths?

Also, what is your budget?

Have to ask--how did you and your wife build up 3-5 million in cash reserves by your early-to-mid 30s?

The biggest issue is finding a place that is several acres in size but also walkable to local attractions or a city centre.

Barrington, East Greenwich, or towns in Washington County (Charlestown, Little Compton, SK/NK, Wickford) might have some of what you're looking for, but probably not all. If farmland is what you're biggest on maybe outside of Burlington VT would work too.

Check out Northampton MA first.

As someone who actually grew up in Providence, JFL at people downvoting you for the truth.

Cringe at "bad bitches"

Start looking for roommates or expand your search to outside areas.

Check out Picerne properties, they're pretty transparent as far as availability goes.

So sorry to hear about getting jumped like that, unfortunately there's still a lot of scumbags and thugs in Providence looking to prey on innocent people especially in the Smith Hill / Branch / Charles area. Did you ever file a police report?

If the application fee is through Zillow though then all the fee money goes to Zillow, not the landlord or management company. I'm speaking as a landlord that uses Zillow.