topic Re: New Jersey and relocating in Q Talk

New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:35:54 GMT

My family and I are relocating to New Jersey next June. I've been looking at the towns in Essex, Union and Summit Counties, because they are closest to my DD and her family. Any suggestions of town would be appreciated. Also, I know anything in Essex County is pricey, but what are your thoughts on West Orange? (I could only wish to live in Montclair or Milburne.)

Thanks for any advice you might have.

Ruby

Re: New Jersey and relocating

PinkyPetunia — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:10:49 GMT

West Orange is a fine town but it's not cheap either. St. Barnabas hospital is in WO so there are lots of doctors in the area. I live just west of WO. Millburn and Montclair are nice; they have NJTransit railroad stations and most towns with rail service to NYC are more desirable IMO.

Look on Zillow dot com and get an idea of prices. Don't know your budget but $500,000 doesn't go too far around here and taxes will be around $1,000 a month if not more. Your DD is in NJ, what does she suggest?

Re: New Jersey and relocating

ScratchingPost — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:14:09 GMT

Welcome to the Garden State.

I grew up in Essex County, Livingston (a very nice town, but $$). A little bit of trivia, so did Jason Alexander and Chelsea Handler, (and our Gov, CC). West Orange is nice, alot of older homes with personality, but there is a nice section and a not so nice section. I've lived in Morris County for over 15 years and I prefer it over Essex. The taxes are so much more affordable. Towns like Denville, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Montville & Parsippany just to mention a few, are nice towns. Not sure where you live now, but homes in NJ are not cheap. But one good thing about living here is......you'll never have to pump your own gas ever again!

Re: New Jersey and relocating

PinkyPetunia — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:15:02 GMT

some other things to add: have you every lived in the area? I don't know where you are coming from--Nebraska, New England? How about renting for a year or two then buying something once you get a feel for the area.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

Ibby114 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:17:16 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
West Orange is a fine town but it's not cheap either. St. Barnabas hospital is in WO so there are lots of doctors in the area. I live just west of WO. Millburn and Montclair are nice; they have NJTransit railroad stations and most towns with rail service to NYC are more desirable IMO.

Look on Zillow dot com and get an idea of prices. Don't know your budget but $500,000 doesn't go too far around here and taxes will be around $1,000 a month if not more. Your DD is in NJ, what does she suggest?

I'm in Somerset County (central NJ) and it's the same here- northern NJ is much pricier than my area. Maybe a 55+ community will be less sticker shock?

Re: New Jersey and relocating

violann — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:17:20 GMT

Hi Ruby! Do you mean Somerset County? Caldwell is a lovely little town with a small college that's in Essex County.

Actually there are highways leading in and out of Essex, Union and Somerset counties that could possibly allow you a pretty easy commute to Parsippany, Montville, and East Hanover, all nice and some housing priced a little lower than closer to NYC.

West Orange is lovely in places. Take a look at Ittle Falls in Passaic County.

I'm sure you're aware that most of Northern NJ is probably more expensive than NE.

Let us know as you narrow your search and WELCOME to my home state!!!!!

Re: New Jersey and relocating

EdithEllenLily — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:28:17 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
some other things to add: have you every lived in the area? I don't know where you are coming from--Nebraska, New England? How about renting for a year or two then buying something once you get a feel for the area.

Very good idea! I'm from the Midwest and moved to northern New Jersey for work and lived there for five years. Renting will allow you to really get to know the various towns if you can scout around, dine out, shop at both the grocery stores and the malls, and find a good hospital and doctors. Then plunk down the money and buy! I don't know if it's the same as when I moved there, but you even needed a realtor to find a rental and you had to pay the realtor fee! New Jersey is quite expensive, so be ready! Good luck to you!

Re: New Jersey and relocating

panda1234 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:59:32 GMT

Have relocated five times. Some good advice from our realtor was, after you decide on an area, check out the grocery store. This will give you a good idea of the people that live there.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

jackthebear — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:07:48 GMT

@ScratchingPost wrote:
Welcome to the Garden State.
I grew up in Essex County, Livingston (a very nice town, but $$). A little bit of trivia, so did Jason Alexander and Chelsea Handler, (and our Gov, CC). West Orange is nice, alot of older homes with personality, but there is a nice section and a not so nice section. I've lived in Morris County for over 15 years and I prefer it over Essex. The taxes are so much more affordable. Towns like Denville, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Montville & Parsippany just to mention a few, are nice towns. Not sure where you live now, but homes in NJ are not cheap. But one good thing about living here is......you'll never have to pump your own gas ever again!

Jersey Girls don't pump gas

I have a magnet that says that

OTH don't move to Bergen County: NO Sunday Shopping, we go to Rockland county on sundays

Re: New Jersey and relocating

jackthebear — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:11:34 GMT

I would go with the renting, will let you know the areas you might like or not.

It is not cheap to live in this state so you want to be sure that you pick the right place to be. You didn't say if you have kids or if schools are important or not

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:16:05 GMT

Pinky, I have been searching on Zillow and Trulia, but not quite ready to buy. We have to sell our home first. I have one more year on my job, and then I retire. That's why we're moving in June.

And yes, we are going to be in for some real sticker shock, but we've saved for it.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:17:38 GMT

Scratching post, Yes, I was so surprised about not pumping my own gas! We've been out to NJ several times to see our DD, SIL and grandson. I will check out those other areas you listed too. My daughter was married in Denville!

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:19:39 GMT

ibb, At first my DD in NJ suggested Doylestown, PA, because of high prices. We looked out there and decided 1 1/2 hours was too far away from where they live. Also, where are the 55+ communities. I haven't see any.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:20:56 GMT

~~Panda, good idea! I've gone to the Whole Foods and Trader Joes in Milburne. I also like the small grocery store in South Orange.~~

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:22:22 GMT

Jack, We have been to NJ several times, so I'm somewhat aware of the areas. I'd rather not have to move twice. If we don't sell our home, that's probably a real possiblity.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:24:48 GMT

Edith, we're coming from the MIdwest, too. I know we are in for a shock in the prices. We have a very good idea of where to look, just not having much luck yet. We have a realtor to sell our home starting in March, and will hopefully, find the perfect home for us through a realtor in NJ. I'm retiring this year, so I need to wait until spring.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:26:30 GMT

Jack, Hi again. I've heard that nice not so nice section thing about West Orange. Of course, we are looking for the nice section. We are also looking at Morris County.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

RubyinNE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:28:12 GMT

Violann, Thanks for adding to my Trulia list. Yes, I've thought of Somerset County.

Re: New Jersey and relocating

jackthebear — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 19:31:13 GMT

@RubyinNE wrote:
ibb, At first my DD in NJ suggested Doylestown, PA, because of high prices. We looked out there and decided 1 1/2 hours was too far away from where they live. Also, where are the 55+ communities. I haven't see any.

The Shore Counties have many 55+/Retirement communities, I have heard of people retiring to that area. I just googled for you, of course I don't know how far that would be from your family, and you would have to weigh that vs. cost of house etc. Good luck

https://www.google.com/search?q=55%2B+communites+NJ&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Re: New Jersey and relocating

Vivian — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 21:23:57 GMT

Everyone in my immediate family has lived or currently lives in NJ, so I've seen a lot of the state in my visits over the last 30 years. I'm an outsider but there's one thing about NJ that always struck me as unusual and I'd advise you to check it out when you look around. There are some beautiful communities, with lovely homes, yards, and shops. However, suddenly you find yourself in a rundown neighborhood. As an outsider, I seemed to go from nice places to not-so-nice places within just a couple of blocks. It's not true of every location, of course, but I'd say ride around to get a general feel for the communities you're considering.