Not a good house hunting trip to NJ..... (Edison, Hoboken: for sale, real estate)

[lolamom]

Please don't flame me for expressing this but we had the worst house hunting trip ever.. We are from NJ originally and this is my 3rd relo and we are looking in the $2M range so I thought this was going to be easy. Instead, I am wondering if we should move back at all....

We looked in Chatham, Basking Ridge, Madison, Harding, Chester..... and I was not able to find one---not one--home that didn't make me want to cry. We live in a very upscale part of Atlanta and our home is magnificent. I was ready to have to downsize--however, what I saw was shocking. Homes in Chatham were the worst---small lots, mixed streets and large homes that while pretty were nothing so special to justify almost $3M price tags. Basking Ridge, further out, was equally disappointing---homes that were so so with things such as TRAIN TRACKS running across the street (50 ft!) and/or across the street from a landfill.

The worst to me was the visit to a Chatham PS. Reportedly the best, it was charming. But their curriculum in 1st grade covered everything my private school children did in Prek3. I could actually get past that if that was all. But the entire package left me really demoralized.

We live smack within city borders on 2 acres here in Atlanta. Our home in NJ would be 6+M from what I can see. I knew that was going to be the case but what I did not expect was these homes would "feel" so incredibly overpriced. I just cannot imagine any of it being a sound investment. Seems like we are going to spend MUCH MORE to have less of a life. I am very torn up.

Worst of all is my family is there so this will be a huge dissapointment to them if we don't move.

I know some of you are going to just want to flame me, but please don't. This is more than about the house. It's about:

- quality of life
- economics
- education.

If anyone has any insight into how I should be looking at this, please advise. I told dh last night that maybe we should rent for a year somewhere fun like Hoboken, look for private schools and take our time doing so and see what real estate prices do. From what I could observe--and i don't care how fantastic Chatham is---those prices, for those homes, cannot be sustainable.

Thoughts and well meaning advice VERY welcomed.

Lola

[JERSEY MAN]

Originally Posted by lolamom

Please don't flame me for expressing this but we had the worst house hunting trip ever.. We are from NJ originally and this is my 3rd relo and we are looking in the $2M range so I thought this was going to be easy. Instead, I am wondering if we should move back at all....

We looked in Chatham, Basking Ridge, Madison, Harding, Chester..... and I was not able to find one---not one--home that didn't make me want to cry. We live in a very upscale part of Atlanta and our home is magnificent. I was ready to have to downsize--however, what I saw was shocking. Homes in Chatham were the worst---small lots, mixed streets and large homes that while pretty were nothing so special to justify almost $3M price tags. Basking Ridge, further out, was equally disappointing---homes that were so so with things such as TRAIN TRACKS running across the street (50 ft!) and/or across the street from a landfill.

The worst to me was the visit to a Chatham PS. Reportedly the best, it was charming. But their curriculum in 1st grade covered everything my private school children did in Prek3. I could actually get past that if that was all. But the entire package left me really demoralized.

We live smack within city borders on 2 acres here in Atlanta. Our home in NJ would be 6+M from what I can see. I knew that was going to be the case but what I did not expect was these homes would "feel" so incredibly overpriced. I just cannot imagine any of it being a sound investment. Seems like we are going to spend MUCH MORE to have less of a life. I am very torn up.

Worst of all is my family is there so this will be a huge dissapointment to them if we don't move.

I know some of you are going to just want to flame me, but please don't. This is more than about the house. It's about:

- quality of life
- economics
- education.

If anyone has any insight into how I should be looking at this, please advise. I told dh last night that maybe we should rent for a year somewhere fun like Hoboken, look for private schools and take our time doing so and see what real estate prices do. From what I could observe--and i don't care how fantastic Chatham is---those prices, for those homes, cannot be sustainable.

Thoughts and well meaning advice VERY welcomed.

Lola

Lola do us a favor as it seems that we and our state aren't good enough for your liking. Be snobby to your own state of Georgia and stay in your upscale area of Atlanta.

[Calico696]

Originally Posted by lolamom

I know some of you are going to just want to flame me, but please don't. This is more than about the house. It's about:

- quality of life
- economics
- education.

Lola

Wow, I guess people who live in houses under $2 million can't possibly have any quality of life or get an education. What about those of us who live in houses under $300k? I guess we are lucky we're housebroken

[wileynj]

lolamom - do you have to be in those areas? I know what you mean...small house, small lot, tons of money - it's the area. There is a place by me - appraised at 3.7 million selling for 2.5 million - it's absolutley gorgeous! 36 acre equestrain farm and I think it belongs to Richard Gere (Rumors)! It's in Hope, NJ. If the public schools aren't good enough, we have some of the best private schools out this way - Blair Academy..about 40K year but it's where all the extremely wealthy send their children. If this is too far out, might I suggest Mt. Lakes in Morris County. If you would like some information, let me know and I'll DM you with it.

[Jasilsouth]

Well, my budget is 25% of you're budget, and my wife isn't having a great experience either. She is in NJ right now, the company is being great full paid relo, COL bonus, the whole shebang, but the housing is unreal. I kept waiting for her to call back and say "I found it it's great", but she never did. She called yesterday and said "The people were very nice unlike the stereotype, traffic wasn't as horrible as everyone made it out to be, but she couldn't find anything she liked in the two days she has been looking. She ate a cheesesteak and a pizza I don't from where that were awesome she said, but back on the housing she just hasn't found that subdivision yet.

I can relate here outside of New Orleans 500K buys alot.... 1 acre lot 3000sq/ft++ 14ft ceilings, granite, wood plank, etc etc. 500K in NJ buys very little......now she did say the farther away from the major cities the cheaper and better the housing looked, but then the commutes are horrible.

I haven't flown up there yet either and she still has 2 more days of looking. The proximity to the surrounding areas still has me yearning to go I keep saying: beach, mountains, NYC, DC, food!! NO has awesome food, so where else could we move but NJ and still be satisfied.

My wife is looking in Princeton, Woodbridge, part of New Bruswick, Edison, Scotch something, today she is going far away into Warren county I believe to look at old victorian and colonials from the 1830's-1850's and 1hr+ commutes:>(

Good luck on you're search.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Jasilsouth

Well, my budget is 25% of you're budget, and my wife isn't having a great experience either. She is in NJ right now, the company is being great full paid relo, COL bonus, the whole shebang, but the housing is unreal. I kept waiting for her to call back and say "I found it it's great", but she never did. She called yesterday and said "The people were very nice unlike the stereotype, traffic wasn't as horrible as everyone made it out to be, but she couldn't find anything she liked in the two days she has been looking. She ate a cheesesteak and a pizza I don't from where that were awesome she said, but back on the housing she just hasn't found that subdivision yet.

I can relate here outside of New Orleans 500K buys alot.... 1 acre lot 3000sq/ft++ 14ft ceilings, granite, wood plank, etc etc. 500K in NJ buys very little......now she did say the farther away from the major cities the cheaper and better the housing looked, but then the commutes are horrible.

I haven't flown up there yet either and she still has 2 more days of looking. The proximity to the surrounding areas still has me yearning to go I keep saying: beach, mountains, NYC, DC, food!! NO has awesome food, so where else could we move but NJ and still be satisfied.

My wife is looking in Princeton, Woodbridge, part of New Bruswick, Edison, Scotch something, today she is going far away into Warren county I believe to look at old victorian and colonials from the 1830's-1850's and 1hr+ commutes:>(

Good luck on you're search.

She is going to call you with positive feedback for Warren Co. Tell her to stop by my place that's for sale : )))) What is your price range? Maybe I can help out - send her to the better areas of Warren Co.

[Honeycrisp]

Those are lovely areas (and there are plenty of great areas in NJ and fine schools) - while I can understand your disappointment, it may take several trips for you to find what you're looking for but you have to keep in mind the big picture, there's no way around it, there's big differences in various areas of the US. Like you said, you can always rent if you are unsure of your particular situation or re-evaluate the whole situation and stay put if you're having 2nd thoughts. While it's easy to compare one house to another and inevitably one area to another, would try to look at it differently and maybe positively if you do decide to relocate, life's an adventure, you'll be happier and so will your family.

[marye711]

Originally Posted by Calico696

Wow, I guess people who live in houses under $2 million can't possibly have any quality of life or get an education. What about those of us who live in houses under $300k? I guess we are lucky we're housebroken

Lol Calico I agree with you I guess I shouldnt invite her over for tea.

[Gravy Boat]

I've said this to you before and I was not kidding. I really hope your husband does not get the transfer. The less vain, self-important people in NJ, the better.

[tahiti]

i simply cannot believe you can't find a house in Chester for $2M that doesn't make you cry.

sorry you had such a rough time.