After 6 international moves in 10 years, the Overbecks were moving to Hingham.
After getting married and moving to Houston, Liz and Matt Overbeck spent 10 years overseas. Their journey took them to the UK and Singapore for two stints. With their two young boys having never really experienced life in the U.S. as “home,” the family eventually explored a town near Boston–and they wound up moving to Hingham.
“Matt works for an Edinburgh-based energy consulting firm,” Liz says, “and we’ve moved internationally six times in the last 10 years.” After accepting a new position—a renewable energy post in Boston—the family prepared to move again but this time, they’d be heading stateside.
“We were in Singapore at the time, in Bukit Timah. After years of being there and in the UK, we were ready for something else—and loved the idea of having a bigger house and backyard!” With their move to the U.S. decided, they started exploring the suburbs of Boston, seeking the perfect fit for their family. In January 2019, Liz contacted Suburban Jungle for further guidance in their search.
Suburban Jungle Strategist Barbara Hirsch understood their needs. “They knew they wanted to be close to the city,” she says. “And they wanted a very family-friendly community with strong schools for their two boys—they were going into pre-K and 4th grade when we first connected.” The search focused on communities that offered a relaxed lifestyle, airport accessibility, and walkability.
The decision for moving to Hingham began to take shape. “We wanted somewhere we could put down long-term roots,” Liz explains. “Nothing too rural feeling—and nothing super urban either. We wanted a laid-back town where we could be close to nature—ideally, the beach.” Matt’s job in renewable energy also meant they preferred a location that allowed for a minimalist lifestyle, ideally with just one car, making proximity to transportation and amenities a key factor.
In April, the family visited Boston for two weeks, intensifying their search. “They jumped right in,” Barbara notes, “and took advantage of the time they had to explore different towns and get a real sense for the communities here.” After exploring, they found themselves moving to Hingham.
“We loved Hingham right away,” Liz says. “The town has great outdoor opportunities and you can’t beat the activities for the kids—the recreation department here is incredible. And besides that, it’s a very charming and beautiful town.”
The family was finally moving to Hingham in August 2019. Liz reports they’re taking things one day at a time. “It’s a complete change in lifestyle from city life,” she says, “though I feel we were prepared in knowing we were in for a big change. Suburban Jungle helped us strategize and narrow down areas to explore. Being completely new to the Boston area, we relied on expert advice—and Suburban Jungle provided that.”
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