Moving back south to NJ/PA (Elizabeth, Edison: renting, houses, luxury)

[JOFO17]

I dont know what price range you are looking in, But I,ve spent most of my life in West Deptford and can't say enough about it. I am helping my parents look for a house in Maryland and saw on the demographics that the crime rate was a 6 for that town. I looked to see what it was in my town(WD) to have a comparison..............IT WAS A 1!!!!! with 1 being the least crime on the scale. It is local to almost everything you need and has a new town community center called Riverwinds that is awsome and cheap. The only thing I can say negative about my town is that they are currently discussing building a coal electric plant. I don't see that happening.

[tikkiwoo]

Hammonton is an okay town. Its definitely much nicer than Pennsgrove. I grew up in Salem Co. but moved to Hammonton when I was 20. Its nice to be closer to the shore... forget about it if you work in Cherry Hill or another area where you need to take 42 to work. My drive would range from 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. I could never make it to work on time. I moved to Deptford... not too happy with the people around me. Have you thought about Beckett (near Swedesboro)? Its a nice area that is increasing in popularity and is reasonable to live in.

[dcris]

I moved to PA from NJ a year ago. I'd recommend NOT moving to NJ, as it's simply more expensive to live there. Check the Fleetwood/Oley/Kutztown, PA area as it centrally located between Allentown and Reading. There's a lot of historic and/or farmland in the area, should you like that. (Even the occasional horse and buggy "traffic".)

[ecko]

I'm only 16 years old. I moved when I was 14/15. I miss my friends terribly. Out here in PA things felt very different. I find myself depressed a lot of the time. I advise you not to move out here when your kids are at that stage where they need there best friends. I just remember so many nights where I would sit in my room and cry in my pillow. I loved new jersey even when I said i hated it while i was there. I wish I can turn the clocks back and stay there. But out here in PA i have a nicer house and its cheaper to live. But i lived in a gorgeous part of NJ. I hope i win the lottery or something because I would do anything to move back with my family.

[exhdo1]

It's odd that a certain few in this forum haven't told you that the best place to live in New Jersey is Florida. I'm sure it's comming. By the way I'm in western Monmouth County which is a great area. It is very pricey, the schools are very good and it seems everything is within an hours drive (beaches, baseball, football, major medical centers,airports, N.Y.C. etc.). As far as downtowns there is Red Bank and Freehold with many restaurants, stores etc. Eastern Monmouth County (Hazlet, Union Beach, Keyport and areas of Middletown) are generally more affordable than western Monmouth but offer the same advantages I noted above. Union Beach and Keyport are making a comeback since they are waterfront communities which are desireable and are an easy commute to N.Y.C. (train, bus or ferry). You can still buy a reasonably priced home in this area. Hope that helps!

[RyanPKull]

Originally Posted by cinz420

I moved to New England 6 years ago. I have a great house in sanford maine. If it weren't for the distance from my loved ones, a sense of soltitude and the winter - I'd stay here. Quality of life is just better. Basically, I'm moving back to be closer to my parents and friends but as I continue to research real estate and so forth I'm realizing a couple of things - crime in those 2 states is out of hand and frankly - I think I've become slightly prejudice when I look at the crime stats compared to the demographics in the areas that I can afford. I'm a single girl - mind you and while I try to have an open mind - I can't help but get a little nervous when I see headlines about gangs in Easton, PA (where I was looking originally) and dumping into the Delaware in Pennsgrove, NJ - Hammonton looks like it could be an option but is it really? Anyone from there who would like to share? I'm used to having a downtown - even in the town I grew up in Tuckerton has one Sanford has one granted they aren't much but its something to walk to - but Sicklerville, NJ does it or is it just a place with a bunch of homes and little character? That's what I want - a safe community minded place with character and people of any kind that care about where they live that I can afford. I didn't think this was going to be so hard - Dorothy just had to click her shoes and I've gotta figure out taxes, crime and affordability - while looking for a place to call home where I want to stay for awhile. I don't really need to worry about a commute since I can work from home but there may come a time when that could be become an issue. Ideas? Anyone?

A town with character is Haddonfield/Collingswood area. You can walk miles on Haddon Ave. with tons of stores. It is a very old/historical town that has kept a ton of tradition within the area. The homes were built circa 1900's or older, some custom homes were built not too long ago. Now I haven't checked the statistics yet, but the area is very friendly. I know this because I frequent the area very often and have sold quite a few properties there. Homes do come with a price tag in certain area's, but you want character, right? You can also find deals in the area, especially if you were interested in restoring historical homes.

Hammonton, is a nice area. I like Hammonton, it's very quiet and appealing because it feels (for some reason) close to the jersey shore. In reality, it's not too far from anywhere else in Gloucester or Camden County. People are friendly and there is a few places to shop and have fun. I had sold a peice of land in Hammonton a few months ago, the buyers were going to build a 3500 square foot home on it. Speaking of that, I have to call them to see how they are making out with their plans. Thanks for reminding me!

Sicklerville, is building up a lot. Not really the character I think your looking for. Although, is close to the Black Horse Pike with everything you need. There is no walking or strolling on the Black Horse Pike. You will get ran over by the thousands of cars that frequent through there everyday. Sicklerville, is not a bad place to live at all. A lot of newer homes and priced affordable. Not sure about the crime rate, you will have to check the statistics.

Another nice town is Washington Township. Not the "Northern NJ" Washington Township, It's the one in Southern NJ. Otherwise known as "Sewell". My office is based out of Sewell, NJ. If your Italian, this is a big Italian area! The area is very well built, but not flooded! People are "hot-to-trot" for Washington Township. The public schools are, in my opinion, the best in the area. Fantastic school systems, low crime rates and an overall beautiful place to live and very friendly! The police officers are paid well to keep criminals off of the streets.

Well, I could go on and on about South Jersey, but I think I've narrowed it down to a few area's. Good Luck and Happy House Hunting!
Any questions, shoot me over a private message.

Ryan P. Kull

[Elizabeth G]

ADream,
Could you say more about why you recommend staying away from the Villas? Does anyone else have information about or personal experience with living in the Villas? Thank you.
Elizabeth G

[colby1911]

To piggyback off of what Ryan above said... Haddonfield is a great town with excellent schools, shopping and dining but the houses are very expensive and the taxes are even worse. You probably can't get into haddonfield for less that 300k and that's a fixer upper. I have lived in haddon heights, which is a block away from haddonfield, for ten years and love it here. It's a small town with adorable houses priced from
200-600k. THere are small bungalos and capes and big colonials and victorians. The tree lined streets are beautiful and there is a big county park right in the middle of the town. THere is also a main street with a post office, lots of hair salons, restaurants, a market, florist, ice cream shop, coffee shop and more. You can walk your kids to school or to the ice cream shop easily. The town itself is little and the people are very friendly. We are 10 minutes from shopping in cherry hill, voorhees and 10 minutes from both bridges to phila. A 45 minute drive to the beach is also a bonus-- and 2 hours to NYC!! Someone once described haddon heights as "a little hidden treasure."

I also grew up in Washington Township and think that is a nice area too. It's definately not historic, no downtown area. It's a huge township with lots of neighborhoods. You'll get a walmart, target, lots of fast food, plenty of grocery stores and salons.

[jenne03]

Good to mention about being careful...I got Lyme Disease when I lived in NJ years ago..and it was horrible. I was so sick. People think you just get flu like symptoms..it isn't like that...it was awful.. Anyway..I got it when I lived in Marlton ...from my grass...In November! Anyway..glad you thought to mention it..

[Adream]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth G

ADream,
Could you say more about why you recommend staying away from the Villas? Does anyone else have information about or personal experience with living in the Villas? Thank you.
Elizabeth G

Update: http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-j...ion-about.html