For those moving to NJ - just FYI facts. (property taxes, incomes)

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by christina0001

A house is only worth what people are willing to pay for it. Houses are selling, so they can't be too overpriced (although for the most part, they are out of the range DH and I feel is comfortably affordable for us). There are so many people in NJ who make high salaries, that houses will sell for more here than other places. Yes, this stinks for those of us that aren't making 6 figures. The way I see it, I wouldn't expect to be able to afford a home in the best parts of Manhattan and now that level of pricing has extended well into NJ. I don't see any use in complaining over it; there's nothing unfair about it. If people are willing and able to pay more than I am for a home, then of course the builder/seller should charge as much as they can and sell to the folks with more buying power. I would do the same if I were in their shoes. Yes, the taxes are high, but here in NJ we have the best and most of everything, don't we? Great schools, smooth roads, police and emergency services everywhere, wonderful state funded programs to help seniors and the disabled receive healthcare...these things cost money. Places with lower taxes do not have all of the services we do. You get what you paid for; as a whole, NJ voters and politicians have decided to have all these services. If you live here, you benefit from them.

In light of all this, DH and I will not be buying here; we have spent the last year or so deciding on where we will relocate to. We are tentatively planning on moving next summer. I'm not bitter or angry about it. We're doing what we have to do now so we can live what we consider to be a financially comfortable lifestyle.

I couldn't agree more. Don't tell me you work at McDonalds making minimum wage and complain that you can't afford a home in Upper Saddle River and then blame it on others. I guess your lifestyle should be commensurate to what the figure on your paycheck states (NET PAY $). The fact is there are people that can afford to live there comfortably! My father told me years ago that there aren't too many handouts for a middle class working stiff (that's what he was). So you better do something with your life to better yourself. I'm glad I took his advise.

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by NJMom

I know a young family in Bergen County who bought a house about 3 years ago. They just had their second baby, who is disabled, and the mother had to stop working, so things were definitely tight. Their property taxes were just reassessed and went up from $7K to nearly $14K. They are now forced to sell their house... Gotta love NJ!!

It was there choice to have that 'second baby' (like one kid isn't expensive enough). Having kids anywhere in the NYC area (which includes ALL of North & Central Jersey) really requires an income in the mid six figures. And many if not most people moving to most of NJ are from the NYC area but who want their $5,000 a month mortgage payment to go further than a 700 square foot one bedroom apartment without a parking space.

People who have kids by choice and then complain are delusional. That goes for many of the families of 5 who are living in 2 bedroom apartments in Queens and are able to ride the rent stabilization system so they don't ever have to try to get a better job than their $50,000 a year union position..

And for all the people complaining about housing prices --- prices aren't going down by much.. Double digit price gains in the 5 boros of NYC (especially outside of Manhattan) will limit any decline in home prices anywhere but maybe southwest NJ...

Have any of you seen rents or tried to rent an apartment lately --- Talk about ridiculous. In Hudson County it is impossible to find anything but the tiniest one bedroom apartment for less than $1,500 a month (even in the worst parts of Jersey City), and in places like Fort Lee it will cost over $2,000 a month for a one bedroom apartment plus a Brokers fee of 15% of annual rent with an application fee of $300 - $500 before you are even accepted as a tenant. But the choice of tenant is the 25 year old wall street professional, not the native NY'er from Queens making only $75,000 a year.

But no one has to live in NJ or the NYC metro region. Check out job growth, employment & unemployment for other parts of the country. Most are on par or better than this region.

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by NickL28

It was there choice to have that 'second baby' (like one kid isn't expensive enough). Having kids anywhere in the NYC area (which includes ALL of North & Central Jersey) really requires an income in the mid six figures. And many if not most people moving to most of NJ are from the NYC area but who want their $5,000 a month mortgage payment to go further than a 700 square foot one bedroom apartment without a parking space.

People who have kids by choice and then complain are delusional. That goes for many of the families of 5 who are living in 2 bedroom apartments in Queens and are able to ride the rent stabilization system so they don't ever have to try to get a better job than their $50,000 a year union position..

And for all the people complaining about housing prices --- prices aren't going down by much.. Double digit price gains in the 5 boros of NYC (especially outside of Manhattan) will limit any decline in home prices anywhere but maybe southwest NJ...

Have any of you seen rents or tried to rent an apartment lately --- Talk about ridiculous. In Hudson County it is impossible to find anything but the tiniest one bedroom apartment for less than $1,500 a month (even in the worst parts of Jersey City), and in places like Fort Lee it will cost over $2,000 a month for a one bedroom apartment plus a Brokers fee of 15% of annual rent with an application fee of $300 - $500 before you are even accepted as a tenant. But the choice of tenant is the 25 year old wall street professional, not the native NY'er from Queens making only $75,000 a year.

But no one has to live in NJ or the NYC metro region. Check out job growth, employment & unemployment for other parts of the country. Most are on par or better than this region.

Lucid and articulate points. How refreshing. I couldn't agree more. When my wife and I were starting our family we had two children within two years. I think we probably would have had two more until we actually started discussing the future (clothes, cars, college etc.). I told her that if my children were lucky enough to get the generation skipping smart gene (which sometimes will get you scholarships or some type of help which was not my case) from my side of the family then we would probably be OK. But if some rare DNA circumstance occured where it became double generation skipping then we would be in trouble. It was then we decided not to temp fate and two was enough, and we are greatfull for it. I think we were able to give them so much more because of that decision. Anyway points to you.

[christina0001]

Yes, for us it is children that would make it near impossible to stay here, in our opinion. I want to stay at home while they are young (I don't make big bucks so the cost of daycare would eat up the bulk of my salary anyway) and my husband makes a reasonable salary but no where near six figures. If we were not going to have children, we could stay here and be comfortable.

[MrTudo]

Originally Posted by exhdo1

Hey Mr.T I think you better check your blood pressure and the lactic acid buildup when your on that treadmill My wife and I don't earn near 150K and were doing just fine here in NJ as are most our friends. We call it living within our means. Granted If we wanted to live in a million and half dollar home in Colt's Neck things wouldn't be so good for us either. I just don't understand how 150K is not enough (unless you have 3 kids going to Harvard at the same time).

Well if you've never been able to make it in the first place I can see why it's hard to understand. Probably impossible to understand heh.


Blood pressure us generally around 110/65. What say you about yours?

[Ms.Charlotte]

Originally Posted by NickL28

It was there choice to have that 'second baby' (like one kid isn't expensive enough).

People who have kids by choice and then complain are delusional.

Am I the only one that read the part about the second child being disabled, which I'm assuming forced the Mom to stay home? I don't think you typically plan for a situation like that.

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by NCMom

Am I the only one that read the part about the second child being disabled, which I'm assuming forced the Mom to stay home? I don't think you typically plan for a situation like that.

I just hope 'mom' thought about what she is going to say when she tries to reenter the workforce.. As well all know the typical HR "Professional" & Hiring Manager of you average company in Manhattan doesn't look strongly upon people being out of the workplace for an extended period of time. You know how paranoid people in NY & NJ are and how they always assume the worst and always assume you are lying.

[Onizuka]

Originally Posted by NickL28

Have any of you seen rents or tried to rent an apartment lately --- Talk about ridiculous. In Hudson County it is impossible to find anything but the tiniest one bedroom apartment for less than $1,500 a month (even in the worst parts of Jersey City), and in places like Fort Lee it will cost over $2,000 a month for a one bedroom apartment plus a Brokers fee of 15% of annual rent with an application fee of $300 - $500 before you are even accepted as a tenant.

None of this is true at all. Do you even live in NJ?

Most Northern NJ brokers ask for 1-month's rent, not 15% like they do in Manhattan. Some ask for a flat fee of $100-$200 just for setting up appointments. The only places that charge application fees in NJ are luxury buildings (which probably explains where you're getting your inflated prices).

Here's the very first listing (that I just looked up) on Craigslist for Fort Lee. $1400 for a 3BR in a two family house. $195 brokers fee. No application fee. http://newjersey.craigslist.org/apa/233650361.html

Here's the very first lisitng on Craigslist for Jersey City. $1150 for 3BR. No broker fee, no application fee. http://newjersey.craigslist.org/apa/233839177.html

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by MrTudo

Well if you've never been able to make it in the first place I can see why it's hard to understand. Probably impossible to understand heh.


Blood pressure us generally around 110/65. What say you about yours?

I say my B.P. is fine as well as is everything else. As far as not being able to make it in the first place I'll say this. I grew up with 5 people in a 3 room roach infested apartment on the lower west side of Manhattan. That was what my parents could afford and that was our life. They did the best the could for us. When you want to tell me about people at a disadvantage your preaching to the choir. So don't tell me about understanding and I'll say this again. If your making 150K a year and can't make ends meet it's time for a change. Of course there are people in extreme situations such as catastrophic illnesses etc. but thats not the norm. For them I do feel sorry.

[Fox Terrier]

Originally Posted by NCMom

Am I the only one that read the part about the second child being disabled, which I'm assuming forced the Mom to stay home? I don't think you typically plan for a situation like that.

No, no one plans for that. But if they cannot afford their house now because of their circumstances, they have the option to sell their house and buy a less expensive one.