towns with large lots (1+ acres) within 1 hour of new york city? (Montclair: cul-de-sac, real estate)

[metaphase]

Hi,

We are thinking of moving out of the city. We would like to find a town that meets the following criteria, but perhaps it is unrealistic:
1. large lots (1+ acres, but we actually don't want a huge house itself) or conservation land that gives it a less densely populated feel
2. approximately 1 hour commute to downtown nyc/financial district
3. great schools

If there are any towns that fit this? I know the commute constraint is a challenge. If you do have any towns to suggest, can you give an approximate idea of the price range for houses.

Thanks!

Haley

[kalim2008]

Originally Posted by metaphase

Hi,

We are thinking of moving out of the city. We would like to find a town that meets the following criteria, but perhaps it is unrealistic:
1. large lots (1+ acres, but we actually don't want a huge house itself) or conservation land that gives it a less densely populated feel
2. approximately 1 hour commute to downtown nyc/financial district
3. great schools

If there are any towns that fit this? I know the commute constraint is a challenge. If you do have any towns to suggest, can you give an approximate idea of the price range for houses.

Thanks!

Haley

Watchung, maybe Mountain Lakes (many home there tend to have smaller lots), Mendham (although this is getting kinda far away already)

[Sergio M]

Scotch Plains, Mountainside price ranges from 600K and up for that type of property.

[Lusitan]

Originally Posted by metaphase

Hi,

We are thinking of moving out of the city. We would like to find a town that meets the following criteria, but perhaps it is unrealistic:
1. large lots (1+ acres, but we actually don't want a huge house itself) or conservation land that gives it a less densely populated feel
2. approximately 1 hour commute to downtown nyc/financial district
3. great schools

No - there are no towns that meet that criteria. (Sorry, but someone needs to break it to you.)

Even from the first "inner ring" suburbs with good schools (let's set "great" aside for the moment) that are closest to NYC will leave you with a 75 to 90 minute door-to-door commute to the financial district.

These are towns like Maplewood, South Orange, Cranford, Millburn, Montclair (there are others); basically, the first set of "nice" towns (as people generally consider the term) as you move out from NYC along the NJ Transit train lines. You will find few (if any) 1+ acre lots in these towns, and as I said, the commute to the financial district will be more like an 1.5 hours door-to-door, each way. Pretty much all of those towns have good schools.

As you move farther away from NYC, yes the plots of land will get bigger and you'll find mroe 1+ acre lots, but your commute will grow longer.

The reality is, the commute from pretty much all "nice" suburbs in NYC to the financial district is a drag, and you shouldn't be under any illusion about that. It may be slightly better for towns in West Chester (suburban NY) and CT, along the Metro North train lines, because they'll put you into Grand Central where you can hop on the 4/5 which gets you downtown more rapidly (and trains in/out of Grand Central have fewer delays than those in Penn Station).

Just FYI.

[Obrero]

There are towns that fit your bill....but it depends what your budget it. Boonton Township or Kinnelon come to mind. Possibly even Montville. It's all about the $$$.

[ghuber]

sparta

[sds1350]

I moved out of Watchung last summer (out of state). Watchung has what you are looking for. We lived in a 4 bedroom cape cod that was 1800-2000 sq ft and the lot was about 1-1/2 acres (though if you included city easement the property was actually 2 acres). We had lots of trees for privacy and lived on a quiet cul-de-sac. We bought and sold in the low $600k, but now the homes are in the $500s. The school district is one of the best. I had 3 kids in the middle school and they had an excellent education! We used to drive into NYC as well as take the train. Depending on traffic, 40 min-1hr commute. Train station was about 10-15 min away from our house. I loved the small town feel, large lot, trees, great schools and close proximity to NYC. In Winter (when trees were bare) we could see a partial view of the Manhattan skyline.

[hrjersey]

Someone could correct me but I thought some of the homes in Short Hills had some pretty big pieces of property but I'm not sure if they are an acre. Of course the prices are over $1M. School system is awesome and the commute meets the requirements.

That said, I think many towns may have some homes that are on 1 acre but those properties are the exception. For example, I grew up in South Orange. The home behind our house sat on an acre. It was the original Farm house of the area. Eventually the property was sold and all of the homes around it were built on small parcels but that house remained on a much larger lot.

[metaphase]

Thanks for all the input. To clarify, ideally we would like something around or below $1M, but might consider below $2M (especially if real estate continues to depreciate).

I guess there may be a lot of towns that might have a couple large properties, but we would be interested in a town that that is more the norm (for a less urban feel). The other problem with buying one of a few large properties in a town is that generally comes with an enormous house -- which we are not looking for. I'd rather have a smaller house to keep costs down in the long run.

Any more suggestions would be great.

Haley

[Lusitan]

Originally Posted by sds1350

Watchung has what you are looking for .... We used to drive into NYC as well as take the train. Depending on traffic, 40 min-1hr commute. Train station was about 10-15 min away from our house.

No way did you have a 40 minute or one hour commute from Watchung to the financial district of Manhattan, unless you were working the night shift and driving in during times with no traffic.

It's simply not possible to do if you're working during the day like most people.

1.5 hours door-to-door, at least.