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That's the only way the OP is getting to Wall St in under 1.5 hours. To the OP- the issue is two fold; 1) the commute downtown from anywhere in NJ except for Jersey City is horrible, requiring switches, crowded trains or expensive ferries and probably quite a bit of walking.
2) The towns that are somewhat convenient are way out of your price range, actually very few places in NJ that aren't in a slum area or over a 2 hour commute aren't. Not putting you down, your budget is your budget but if you want a single family home in NJ for under $400k you are going to be looking way out of the City.
Staten Island is probably your best bet, our budget was $550k and we found a nice split level for a bit cheaper than that on the North Shore in a nice neighborhood with good schools. If you are looking at $400k you might get a fixer upper ranch. I work near Wall St and get in via express bus in about 40 minutes, the ferry will take you a bit less than an hour.
New Jersey is very nice- but if you work downtown, your commute will be terrible. I work with many New Jersey residents and all of them hate their commute.
Hey folks, husband here. Commute no longer than 1:15 preferred, willing to do longer if it's less modes. I don't mind a five minute drive to train. Hour on train, then 25 on subway from Penn Station down to the Ferry on the 1. I'm closer to Staten Island than Wall Street. Wall Street bus would be amazing. I could do 1:30 on a bus to Wall Street for sure. As it is I have two trains, Light Rail and Path and 20 minute walk to Battery Park. 45 minutes total but too many modes.
We've looked in a lot of areas like Union, Cranford, North Plainfield, and then went out as far as Denville. Seems the break point in the price/what we want, is over two hours away. Which is not surprising; I know we're not the first people to try and solve this riddle.
What I'm thinking is that our only hope is a fixer upper for 250k and spend 100k getting it close to what we want and need. Issue there is that we don't know anyone in that business, and are timid to enter with no experience but that really is a different post for a different board.
I don't know if any of this helps but any input past and future is appreciated.
The towns along the train lines are expensive and you have to pay to park at the train if you can even find parking. If you move further south like Middletown/Hazlet the bus might work, and you might make it in 1:15 if you leave very early in the morning.
I would not recommend a fixer upper unless you are very handy, very, very handy. Tradesman are very expensive and unless you know someone really good you are likely to get ripped off unfortunately. You are likely looking at much more than $100k to get a house looking in great shape, just a kitchen and bathroom renovation alone might cost you close to that. And you will have to pay cash for the fixing, you are much better off buying a $400k house and paying a mortgage since at least you get the write off and the repairs would be much less.
I would definitely consider Staten Island. A lot of people put it down, but we have found it to be a pretty nice place to live. Look, compared to Westfield it is nowhere close, but it is just as nice as Union with comparable schools, probably cheaper when you consider taxes and definitely a way better downtown commute.
An idea--Academy buses go directly to Wall Street AND some go to Jersey City. One used to stop by Exchange Place when I worked there. I don't know if they go anywhere else in J.C. That might mean a short light rail trip to Newport. Check their website.
ETA: An hour and 15 to Wall, an hour and ten to Newport/Paine Weber from Lincroft Park and Ride at Exit 109.
There is an Academy station at Exit 109 off the Garden State Parkway with a huge parking lot. You could look at that end of Red Bank or you could look at Lincroft, both of which are short drives from that stop. Or Tinton Falls. Or even Eatontown, which has some sweet, quiet little neighborhoods not immediately known to people who know only Route 35 and the mall.
Come to Monmouth County, my friends.
My friend takes that bus from Holmdel which is a bit closer in. It takes him 1 1/4 hours but he leaves very early. During rush hour it takes 1.5 hours easy since there is no bus lane on the Holland Tunnel and it gets backed up fast. Add the time you have to take to park at the bus and you are looking at 1.5 hours minimum and the bus is quite expensive (though quite comfortable, I've taken it a few times).
To Jersey City it is better since you don't have to go through the tunnel which adds 20-30 minutes.
Your 100K budget on fixing up a fixer upper is really low unless you're not doing major work. We had a new furnace/AC and hot water heater installed with air sealing in the attic and basement and 12" of cellulose insulation. That was 15 grand. No new ductwork, no new plumbing, nothing but buying new equipment, getting rid of the old and having it installed.
The minute someone starts punching holes in walls you are asking for real financial trouble because there is always, always something they will discover that will drive up your costs. Either a rotted beam or some old electrical or just new millwork that needs to go in.
And, like Madbach suggested, you're going up against flippers in the bidding process. They walk through the door with a suitcase of cash. No mortgage, no concern about underwriters, cash all at once. Even if you're outbidding them that's a real draw to a lot of owners.
Have you considered towns slightly south of Rahway - Woodbridge, Edison & Metuchen?
I am in Woodbridge but closer to the NE corridor. I park at Metropark (5-10mins), NJ Transit to Newark (20mins) and Path to WTC (20mins) another 10mins in transfer time and 5mins of walking
Door to door is 1hr 5mins for me but that is because my building is a block away from WTC Path. Add 15mins of add'l walking and you are looking at 1hr 20mins. Only issue is that the trains are packed during rush hour so getting a seat is a crap shoot but on the bright side both trains are 20mins ride each so standing isn't so bad.
Iselin & Fords will have plenty of options in your price range, North Edison, Metuchen, Colonia and Woodbridge proper might have fewer options but still plenty. Metuchen & Woodbridge have nice downtown areas.
My friend takes that bus from Holmdel which is a bit closer in. It takes him 1 1/4 hours but he leaves very early. During rush hour it takes 1.5 hours easy since there is no bus lane on the Holland Tunnel and it gets backed up fast. Add the time you have to take to park at the bus and you are looking at 1.5 hours minimum and the bus is quite expensive (though quite comfortable, I've taken it a few times).
To Jersey City it is better since you don't have to go through the tunnel which adds 20-30 minutes.
I commuted by train from Monmouth County for my last six years, and that was 2 hours, so I think 1.5 is a nice, easy commute. It's all a matter of perspective!
And the Academy buses are one ride, which is different from the trains. You don't have to deal with the whole routine of positioning yourself to play musical chairs on PATH at Newark Penn. The only reason I didn't use them is because we got Transit Chex/Wage Works benefits, and Academy doesn't take them.
I commuted by train from Monmouth County for my last six years, and that was 2 hours, so I think 1.5 is a nice, easy commute. It's all a matter of perspective!
And the Academy buses are one ride, which is different from the trains. You don't have to deal with the whole routine of positioning yourself to play musical chairs on PATH at Newark Penn. The only reason I didn't use them is because we got Transit Chex/Wage Works benefits, and Academy doesn't take them.
Some people are OK with a long commute, fair enough. It was a concern for the OP so that is why I was focusing on that. I agree taking just one bus straight into downtown is a lot better than dealing with switching trains etc.
I stopped working 6 years ago and the commute from Wall Street to Hazlet on Academy was getting worse every day. The traffic is unbearable if you are working 9-5. The buses in the evening were often delayed because they couldn't get back into the city. Then sitting in traffic trying to get to the tunnel, it was truly awful. I would leave my office at 5 and it was getting closer and closer to 7 by the time I got home. The Holland Tunnel is an absolute nightmare and there is no way to make it any better. If you are really okay with 3-4 hours a day commuting you do get to sit down as long as you get on at the first stop on the way home! If you can work earlier hours it will definitely be better.
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