Head spinning in need of HELP!!!!!!!!! (Newark, Jersey City: best neighborhoods, real estate, rentals)
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I have been reshearching information on good neighborhoods for young families in the NYC metro area. I've heard good things about alot of different neighborhoods. My situation is that I have two little boys one is 4 years old(he will be 5 when we plan to move) and the other is 2 months(he will be one) and my fiancee. I will be just working when we first move there then eventually I will be attending school probably a community college at first then transferring to Rutgers to cut cost down. She already has a degree and is already applying and interviewing for a job in the city. I was told before in a previous post about some nice towns in New Jersey like Edgewater, Cliffside Park, Hoboken, Jersey City, Fort Lee, Weehawken, West New York, Elizabeth, Edison, Union City, and etc. and nice neighborhoods all over the five broughs in the city itself. Now that I can be more specific I figured I could get better info. We are looking for a place to rent that is at least 2 bedrooms(I would perfer 3 bedrooms) for less than $2000 a month, maybe a bit higher if necessary like $2500 in a neighborhood that isn't to dangerous and has decent transportation to the city and New Brunswick like train or bus with driving being an option. I looked on craigslist at places in the area and I seen some places in the price range in Newark, Elizabeth, Harrison, Kearny, Journal square district of JC, parts of Brooklyn, parts of Queens, Stanten Island, and in Yonkers. I have seen on tv and heard about people from out of town getting real estate agents to help them find a place and I was wondering do they cover the whole area or just the city itself? Is it better to rent in the city or in jersey? I will be visiting a few times this summer so any suggestions of neighborhoods would be helpful. I am losing my mind trying to find the best neighborhoods. Please help!!!!!
Those places you mentioned are all not that great safety wise. But for less than 2K, you will have to sacrifice. For 2 or 3+ beds, expect to pay more for a better area.
I moved out of Jersey City for several reasons, one being safety. Hmmm..Maybe look further away from city like cranford, rutherford...I prob would check those 2 places first.
Also, I would not buy now unless you are willing to lose $ on your home after several weeks. Renting is way to go..Especially if you are new to area, you might not like it and want to move out..Wont be able to do that if you own.
Those places you mentioned are all not that great safety wise. But for less than 2K, you will have to sacrifice. For 2 or 3+ beds, expect to pay more for a better area.
I moved out of Jersey City for several reasons, one being safety. Hmmm..Maybe look further away from city like cranford, rutherford...I prob would check those 2 places first.
Also, I would not buy now unless you are willing to lose $ on your home after several weeks. Renting is way to go..Especially if you are new to area, you might not like it and want to move out..Wont be able to do that if you own.
I was planning to rent. I was looking at Rutherford also someone else mentioned that before also. Where is cranford?
There is a train to NYC, but not direct, and New Brunswick is about 20 minutes away to GSP exit 130 then rt 1 (I used to go to Rutgers). Cranford is also home to the Union County College main campus (also went here).
Also, I would not buy now unless you are willing to lose $ on your home after several weeks. Renting is way to go..Especially if you are new to area, you might not like it and want to move out..Wont be able to do that if you own.
Yes renting is the way to go, why waste money on a mortgage and those pesky tax deductions when you can just give your money to some landlord so he can make his mortgage payments. We all know that every house is losing value and pretty soon they will be giving them away. Yes renting is the way to go for smart money managers
Springfield, South Orange, Maplewood, Cranford (as mentioned), Morristown all might have rentals in your range and they are safer than Elizabeth, JC, Newark. If you are thinking of only staying for a few years. Normally I don't recommend South Orange and Maplewood because I don't think the schools are as good as other areas but generally for Kindergarten thru 3rd grade most school districts seem to do a decent job. I will also add that as a teacher in Elizabeth you will get more for you money and there are some areas that are safe and again the schools up through the elementary level do a decent job.
Cranford is a great town and the schools are good. An agent would only show you properties that would fit your criteria in your price range, so you are not wasting a lot of time looking at homes that won't work. There are homes in Cranford in your price range. For the most part agents cover as much area that they are comfortable with. I cover most of Union County, parts of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties.
dorian $2000 is nothing to scoff at and should definitely get you 2 bedroom in a NICE town, NOT A GHETTO. We were paying $1100 for a 2 bed, 1.5 bath in Hawthorne, very decent solid safe town. It is not "Ridgewood" (but borders it!) but also not Newark. You need to just get a feel for what the nice towns are, your wants and needs and go from there. Consider how the wife will be commuting to the city.
Springfield, South Orange, Maplewood, Cranford (as mentioned), Morristown all might have rentals in your range and they are safer than Elizabeth, JC, Newark. If you are thinking of only staying for a few years. Normally I don't recommend South Orange and Maplewood because I don't think the schools are as good as other areas but generally for Kindergarten thru 3rd grade most school districts seem to do a decent job. I will also add that as a teacher in Elizabeth you will get more for you money and there are some areas that are safe and again the schools up through the elementary level do a decent job.
Is Elizabeth not safe? Or is it just big with a large range of people.
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