Need to find a a great community for young families (Union: lofts, condo)

[spotlight114]

Hello, me and my husband ( both in our mid 20s) would like to buy our first home soon. We are torn beteewn buying something in jersey city (condo, fixer upper, etc most likely in journal square or a section that is up and coming but still affordable) and places like linden, rahway. He's works in BK and will probably always work in NYC. We have a son who'll be starting kindergarten in sept. The pros to living somewhere like jersey city is its closer to the city and the community seems younger and its diverse but we worry about the schools, parking, and affordability. We think rahway could be a good investment but the schools kinda suck, whereas in linden sunnyside and the section near the high school are pretty good and living in that section would get my son into the better schools. I guess what im asking is...Is there anyone raising a family in any of these areas who could tell of of there experience or is there anyone who has a place they feel is great for a young family to settle?

[juliann1977]

You have many, many options that don't include sucky schools. What is your budget and what are your "must haves"? There are many people here who can offer you ideas based on those factors.

[spotlight114]

our budget is pretty low 250k but my father is the business of flipping homes so if we found a fixer upper that would work out fine. we are an interracial couple so we want to live in a diverse community. im nervous about jersey city b/x of the parking traffic and small sq footage in that area (he paid 2400 for a 2 bedroom in hoboken that is considerably smaller than the place we have in linden for 1500). it would nice if we could make his commute easier (the trains in rahway have a better schedule to and from the city than linden but neither compares to jersey city). our priorities are safety, good public schools (we pay 625 now for our sons daycare), diversity, commute (i believe he pays about 300 a month now)...

[nobi]

In that price range you can find a nice townhouses in Union at the Point. It was built in 1988, gated community, about 1 mile from Parkway, 78, 22. A lot of young people live there and they have some nice townhouses in it some with lofts. PM me if you have any questions about it.