Working in Newark-Where to live (Jersey City, Elizabeth: real estate, leases, condos)

[vmovingsoon]

I've looked at many of the other posts and haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. I'm moving with my job to Newark soon and am looking for a good place to live. I'm a single black woman, late 20s, making a little over $100k, want to buy, open to condos or single family places. I have a small dog and am relocating from Atlanta. Any advice on the best areas to look? I don't want to commute any more than 15-20 minutes, if I can help it.

[BobKovacs]

Will you be working near the train station? If so, you'll want to try to live somewhere along the train lines, as trying to drive in and out of Newark can burn up 15-20 minutes by itself.

Depending on how much you want to spend, you can go as far south as Woodbridge/Edison and still have about a 20-minute train ride to work. Of course, you've got to factor in driving to the station, parking, walking from the station etc., but in general 15-20 minutes "total commute time door to door" is virtually impossible unless you live in Newark or Harrison (neither of which are really the best choices IMO).

Bob

[lammius]

If Broad Street station works for you, you can look at towns such as Montclair, Bloomfield, the Oranges, Maplewood, etc. the train travel time would be 10-20 mins from those locations, and most of those towns have nice housing within a couple of blocks of the train stations. Nutley and Belleville work too if you want to use the Newark City Subway.

Also, if you want to be close to NYC, Jersey City is a hot urban housing market now. It's a 20 minute PATH train ride from Newark Penn Station

[jstar41]

not sure if you'll be downgrading when comparing to Atlanta, but you can get a NEW 2 bedroom apt in a NEW BUILDING in Elizabeth for about 270k which is within walking distance to Elizabeth's train stations, either Elizabeth or North Elizabeth.. it'll be approx 7-10 mins to Newark Penn station..
btw there are a few new buildings.. you can do a search for condo/apt in realtor.com .. select price range 200-350k.. good luck!!

[settlepa]

may I ask what is it that you do to be so young and make so much $$$?

[vmovingsoon]

I'm a call center director.

[anatk1]

I agree with Iammius: the areas suggested (Montclair,Bloomfield, West Orange (I'd stay away from East Orange) and Maplewood are really great for a SBF. Plenty of diversity, nice town areas also. Not sure where you lived in Hot-Lanta but with your salary, you probaly lived very well!! It wil be different here since you're looking to be close to Newark. Hoboken and Jersey City are also good choices....although depending on how 'open' you are, the Hobo scene can be kinda whitebread, if you all know what I mean and you mentioned that you were single...but you will be close to NYC where there will be lots to do!

[mead]

Orange and Maplewood are also towns that have a lot of black professionals living there. Check them out.

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by vmovingsoon

I've looked at many of the other posts and haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. I'm moving with my job to Newark soon and am looking for a good place to live. I'm a single black woman, late 20s, making a little over $100k, want to buy, open to condos or single family places. I have a small dog and am relocating from Atlanta. Any advice on the best areas to look? I don't want to commute any more than 15-20 minutes, if I can help it.

Being from Rahway i got to give you this
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/re...l?ex=117462240

[surfnbklyn]

My Dear Sister,

I too am single and choose to live in Union and LOVE IT! Why - there is diversity - not whitebread. Decent homes - still affordable but on the next wave of the real estate hike I doubt it will be. What's cool about it loads of roads Garden State Parkway, Route 24, 78 & 22. You can get to Newark by car on Route 22 & 78. Union is considered the 22nd safest Place in the US. http://www.uniontownship.com/ Not bad for regular town. What you will find is alot of well established cape cod homes built in the 40's & 50's - some are disappearing since owners are tearing them down and putting up McMansions or adding additions. The taxes are better than most towns and as soon as you cross the border into Millburn or Springfield - yikes your taxes are thru the roof. One of the reasons the taxes are somewhat lower is we have several large businesses here. Also, downtown Union is apparently going thru a revitlization in terms of landlords not renewing leases and also there is a brand new Supermarket being put up.

Newark door to door - sorry even though Union is close but oh so far from the crime and all - it would take about 40 minutes to get there.

I love UNION and hope you would take a good look at a such a wonderful friendly town.
http://www.uniontownship.com/