Am I being unrealistic in Northern NJ? (Bloomfield, Montclair: budget, work)

[hoot5]

My husband and I currently live in Hoboken NJ and are looking for a 4 bedroom house in Northern NJ. We can't seem to find a town that meets our needs. I think I just may be unrealistic. We love the town of Hoboken (restaurants, shops, train) and ideally would like to find a town center like this in the town we move to. The town has to be commutable by car to NYC - my husband works there. A train nearby would also be great. We'd like to find something between $600K and $700K. The problem is every town I look at (Ridgewood, Westfield, Summit) have taxes that are extremely high and the house you get for a 4-bed $700K seems like a fixer upper. Does anyone know of any towns that would fit our needs?

[tahiti]

don't look in glen ridge or montclair, lol.

have you tried madison or chatham? taxes may be a bit more palatable.

[UKOK]

Or Denville?

[EEEPNJ]

I'll be honnest, you are dreaming. You are not going to get that cool downtown feel in a nice town with a train to NYC cheap. Consider less of a home in one of the areas you like, you can do it on your budget, just not a 4 BR.

[Spincycle]

Originally Posted by hoot5

My husband and I currently live in Hoboken NJ and are looking for a 4 bedroom house in Northern NJ. We can't seem to find a town that meets our needs.

Most of Bergen Co. is a challenge as its still a "sellers market" by all means.

Originally Posted by hoot5

We love the town of Hoboken (restaurants, shops, train) and ideally would like to find a town center like this in the town we move to.

How about Rutherford (Bergen) or Verona (Essex)? I'd suggest Verona with all the restuarants, shops, park, stores along the ave.

Originally Posted by hoot5

The town has to be commutable by car to NYC - my husband works there.

By car to NYC? Are you joking?

Originally Posted by hoot5

A train nearby would also be great. Does anyone know of any towns that would fit our needs?

Rutherford has PLENTY of buses and trains. Verona has buses and the MTD train in neighboring Montclair.

Would Rutherford or Verona be ok fa' ya'?

[EEEPNJ]

The neg on Rutheford is VERY high taxes (and not as good of a town as say Ridgewood) and that the downtown is really struggling (see that post from today.)

Verona is a nice town, but the commute is doable, but not as easy - by car unless you are going at completely off hours is a fantasy.

[Spincycle]

I believe with Verona you could easily catch a NJ Transit bus to the PABT off Bloomfield or Pompton Avenue. Not sure if non-Montclair residents can park at the train stations in town. But for the train I believe Verona residents can park at the new MSU station (at the college) or even take a NJ Transit bus down Bloomfield Avenue and get off at Bay Street or Glen Ridge station to transfer to the MDT traim there. I lived in Verona for a year and absolutely enjoyed this town and the proximity to Montclair and the Caldwells. Awesome town. Good people. Well kept community.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by hoot5

My husband and I currently live in Hoboken NJ and are looking for a 4 bedroom house in Northern NJ. We can't seem to find a town that meets our needs. I think I just may be unrealistic. We love the town of Hoboken (restaurants, shops, train) and ideally would like to find a town center like this in the town we move to. The town has to be commutable by car to NYC - my husband works there. A train nearby would also be great. We'd like to find something between $600K and $700K. The problem is every town I look at (Ridgewood, Westfield, Summit) have taxes that are extremely high and the house you get for a 4-bed $700K seems like a fixer upper. Does anyone know of any towns that would fit our needs?

Morris twp. outside of Morristown..nice area. It's the commute into NYC that's killing you. Also look into Boonton Twp. - nice area outside of Boonton Town which is a very nice little town. Morris Plains is nice as well - train in town.

[Spincycle]

Originally Posted by wileynj

Morris twp. outside of Morristown..nice area. It's the commute into NYC that's killing you. Also look into Boonton Twp. - nice area outside of Boonton Town which is a very nice little town. Morris Plains is nice as well - train in town.

I agree with Morris Twp. and Morris Plains. GREAT train service. The train line servicing Boonton is awful (few trains, slow, long commute, no weekend service into Hoboken or NYC).

[EEEPNJ]

I read an article recently (can't remember if it was paper or NJ monthly) about Morristown's "Green" becoming filled with financial institutions rather than stores/restaurants. I have not been out there in a while, I always liked the green.