so how's life in S. Jersey? (Haddonfield, Palmyra: real estate, apartment, condo)

[ctwhitechin]

So New Jersey residents, your Governor this morning said he would welcome CT residents with open arms, since our ultra liberal new Governor is raising taxes to the highest level ever and forcing families out of CT.

So how's life down there, we relocated from Long island to central CT in 2004, a good move at the time due to prices of real estate, quality of life, etc.

Now there's talk of raising my wife's yearly nursing license fee from $100 to over $500, and increasing taxes on everything. We would like to stay in the NE, and S. Jersey seems like a good option, since we can still go to Long island for the day.

I work in finance, so can work in Philly and live in Jersey, or work and live in jersey is fine as well. We're thinking Cherry Hill area, good areas? Affordable areas? looking for a house around $250k? How are taxes? Do you have a yearly car tax?

[Ann77]

250K won't buy you all that much in a nice town near Philly. It will buy you something, just nothing too big. It's a low-ish budget for the nice towns around there.

Moorestown is nice, so is Haddonfield. There are other nice towns too, but definitely some towns I would avoid too.

You'll have to pay the Philly wage tax if you work in Philly even if you live in NJ so make sure you understand the implications of that. I think it's around 4% now.

No car tax yearly.

Property taxes, I'd say around 7K minimum, possibly more depending on the home.

[ctwhitechin]

ahh so property taxes are higher than we pay down there . I knew N. Jersey is expensive my aunt lives in Harrington Park and pays about $9k in taxes I thought down around exit 4 on the turnpike would be better. We currently live in a nice townhouse which we paid about $180k for. Another townhouse is an option, we are two married professionals, no kids so we don't need anything huge, but don't want to live in a shoebox either.

I've been down there before many times, Mt. Laurel is out of our price range, how about Cinniminson or that area? Have good family friends there. Would even live further down if we had to. I know along the coast is too expensive.

[DarkWolf]

CT has lower taxes then NJ , even with the Raise they still be low....compared to NJ or LI or NY... If the Cost really bothers you , you should look at downsizing to apartment or condo...

[Ann77]

Oh, if you don't have kids you have lots more options.

There are lovely townhouses too. Palmyra has some really nice ones right on the river that are probably in your price range. They are really nice too.

Cinnaminson is a nice town too, even with kids. Not super cheap though.

But if you are willing to go for a townhouse, you will be able to get something nice and in your price range for sure in that area.

But no, it doesn't sound like you'll lower your tax burden. But hey, you might like the area better. I really like Philly as a city. I would live down there in a second if I could. I would much rather have Philly as the nearest city than NYC. I also like the proximity to the shore down there. It's always feels like such a pain in the neck getting down to the beach from up here in N. Jersey.