Down to wire accepting the offer or not?? (Somerset, Old Bridge: for sale, real estate)

[Jasilsouth]

Well, this is the last minute advice post. The offer is not nearly as good as we hoped, but here is the jist of it.

10% Salary increase
Full paid move, closing, realtor fees on our existing house
1 months pay
3 weeks off work for the move
More upside potential
55k in cash to help with COL/H

If we stay here our futures down the road 10yr+ are shady and uncertain here in New Orleans. We are living in a little utopia too that is what makes it so hard. Great family oriented schools, big 3000sq/ft house granite/wood, just built, low taxes, great weather even though I don't like the heat. I'm so worried that moving will destroy our day to day life in hopes of having a more secure future.

My wife flew out, I flew out, I still can't get over how expensive everything is(housing and taxes) I looked at Hunterdon homes and though they would be 550k they 1.2 Million!!! It truly is unbelievably expensive to live here. We drove to linden, plainfield, the different brunswick areas, in the end I still think the biggest factor is my fear of moving and being miserable.

If it were just the wife and I.....we would move on the opportunities alone, but we have 4 children and can't afford private school. I've looked as far as Buck county in PA, to find a nice house/lot for 425k since taxes are higher than I thought.

We have 1 more day to decide and we are overwhelmed with what to do at this point. Anybody have any .02 of wisdom?

[JERSEY MAN]

Jasilsouth, There are thousands of homes in Ocean County that you can get a 4 bedroom and 3 baths for 425K range with large lots. The only thing is how far is your job. The schools are good depending on what town you pick. I think you will do better in Ocean County than Bucks County PA. And you have the beach close by. You also can find homes in Monmouth County also in that price range but you will be limited in your choice of towns. If you pick exclusive communities in NJ you have to pay the premium of the address.Good luck

[wileynj]

Sounds like a great offer! NJ has some of the best schools - you can't beat an East Coast education! Bucks County in PA is really nice - where do you need to commute to? Have you looked in Warren County - you can get a lot more for your money but it wil all depend on where you will need to commute to as Rt. 80 can be rough if you don't head out before 6:30am. A couple interested in buying my home have a nice house for sale in Washington Boro. 4 bdrm - 2.5 bath, colonial - fenced in yard...finished basement with a bar - only 4 years old for under 380K!

[mike0421]

Jasilsouth,

What town does your job require you to work in?

[Jasilsouth]

Woodbridge....people that work there live all over Clinton, Buck, New Bruswick, Staton etc.

[hc7612]

Originally Posted by Jasilsouth

Well, this is the last minute advice post. The offer is not nearly as good as we hoped, but here is the jist of it.

10% Salary increase
Full paid move, closing, realtor fees on our existing house
1 months pay
3 weeks off work for the move
More upside potential
55k in cash to help with COL/H

If we stay here our futures down the road 10yr+ are shady and uncertain here in New Orleans. We are living in a little utopia too that is what makes it so hard. Great family oriented schools, big 3000sq/ft house granite/wood, just built, low taxes, great weather even though I don't like the heat. I'm so worried that moving will destroy our day to day life in hopes of having a more secure future.

My wife flew out, I flew out, I still can't get over how expensive everything is(housing and taxes) I looked at Hunterdon homes and though they would be 550k they 1.2 Million!!! It truly is unbelievably expensive to live here. We drove to linden, plainfield, the different brunswick areas, in the end I still think the biggest factor is my fear of moving and being miserable.

If it were just the wife and I.....we would move on the opportunities alone, but we have 4 children and can't afford private school. I've looked as far as Buck county in PA, to find a nice house/lot for 425k since taxes are higher than I thought.

We have 1 more day to decide and we are overwhelmed with what to do at this point. Anybody have any .02 of wisdom?

Yes, it is definitely more expensive. Will you be working in NYC or in NJ? As far as the COL amount of $55,000. Is that a one off? Unless you are already on a really good salary, a wage increase of 10% will most likely not equal out to what you make now in New Orleans. We are in the midst of finding a house in NJ as well. Hunterdon Co. seems to be the place for us. Property is still high, but is cheap by comparison to cities closer to NYC. I like it because I like having a little more room to move. I know that Sussex County is reasonable as well, for NJ. You will not find the real estate deals like in the South. I would not worry about the quality of schools. Most of the public schools look ok. Good luck with your decision, I know it's tough.

[emanon]

According to Sperlings best places. It is about 20% more to live in central NJ then New Orleans, La. You will find the public schools very good though. Not gonna find too many Cajun restaurants.

Good luck,
E

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Jasilsouth

Woodbridge....people that work there live all over Clinton, Buck, New Bruswick, Staton etc.

I would start in Middelsex County..Metuchen, Old Bridge - all nice areas. Then I would check out Somerset..then Hunterdon. Clinton seems like a drive to get to Woodbridge?

[hc7612]

If you do not mind the commute, definitely consider moving further west. You will get more house for your money. So is $425,000 your budget? How many bedrooms do you need? Gosh, I sound like a realtor. LOL. How extensively did you look in Hunterdon Co.? Wiley, is giving some good advice as well. Warren Co. is another one to look at, but you are going to have a commute. But what I am quickly finding out is that almost everyone has a commute.

Have you closed negotiations with your company? It would be worth it to go back to them and say, "property is double what it is in New Orleans, we are going to have a much larger mortgage, and need more of an increase than 10%." If the door is still open, I would approach them. We did the same. Again, good luck with whatever decision you will make.

[mike0421]

One other question, Jasilsouth,

Where in New Orleans do you live now? Since you were referring to yours a really nice area, I am assuming you are living on the other side of Ponchetrain, perhaps in Mandeville? Or you living in W. New Orleans, possibly in Metarie or Kenner, or Destrehan? I only ask these questions because I know these are some really great areas to raise kids in, which has to be a consideration.