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Hi, I am doing some basic research for some good family friends of ours. Unfortunately, they are moving to the east coast because the wife got a very good job offer in NYC. I will miss them dearly....but you have to do what's best for your family!
Anyway, I told them I would help them find some communities to look at around the Tri-State area. I'm from San Diego and am not familiar with New Jersey at all. My grandma and aunt live in Darien, CT, so I have already told them of that great town. That's where I would choose, but I'm biased.
I post here because I have heard great things from my college friends about New Jersey. They are looking for an upscale, residential town that is within a reasonable distance to NYC...like under an hour. The family enjoys sports and outdoor activities (although I don't know how much they'll spend outside in New England winters! ). They aren't really into shopping and the whole country club/golf club scene, so that doesn't matter. They're looking for a safe town with great schools, a great atmosphere that is family focused with activities for kids (two boys, 8 & 11).
I don't think housing prices are an issue. I would bet they're spending 5M and up.
I post here because I have heard great things from my college friends about New Jersey. They are looking for an upscale, residential town that is within a reasonable distance to NYC...like under an hour. The family enjoys sports and outdoor activities (although I don't know how much they'll spend outside in New England winters! ). They aren't really into shopping and the whole country club/golf club scene, so that doesn't matter. They're looking for a safe town with great schools, a great atmosphere that is family focused with activities for kids (two boys, 8 & 11).
I don't think housing prices are an issue. I would bet they're spending 5M and up.
So, what do you suggest?
Somerset County fits that bill PERFECTLY. We are close enough to NYC that commuting there isn't a big deal. We have great schools, very low crime rates, excellent sporting & recreation facilities, fantastic parks, and recreation facilities, beautiful neighborhoods. We're convenient not only to NYC, but also to Philadelphia, the Jersey shore, the Pocono mountains. All in all a GREAT place to live. And while you can certainly find plenty of $5M homes & estates in this area, you can also find great properrties for less.
Specific towns in Somerset County would include Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Far Hills, Peapack & Gladstone, Warren & Watchung. Nearby towns in Morris County that fit the bill would be Harding, Mendham, and Chester, though Chester starts to stretch the commute a bit.
Last edited by Bill Keegan; 05-01-2009 at 07:51 AM..
Reason: Added the town names.
Somerset County fits that bill PERFECTLY. We are close enough to NYC that commuting there isn't a big deal.
Spoken like a guy who doesn't commute to NYC.
If you're going in a handful of times a year to eat or go to a show, no it's fine
But, it's a bear of a daily commute. Period.
Spoken like a guy who doesn't commute to NYC.
If you're going in a handful of times a year to eat or go to a show, no it's fine
But, it's a bear of a daily commute. Period.
Well, it's a bit long, perhaps, but not particularly difficult. And thousands of people do it every day. I was one of them for a while, but yes, I will admit I no longer do it, so may have lost so may have lost some of the feel for the drudgery of it.
The Jersey shore has some great communites also (Rumson, Fair Haven, Red Bank, etc) and is quite easilly commutable to the city using the 'high speed ferries' that run from the bayshore.
They might look at Westfield NJ too.
Nice walkable downtown area with lots of restaurants.
Good schools.
Lots of luck in the search.
I definitely second Westfield. Schools are one of the best in the state, the downtown is really nice, and overall an upscale nice town. 5 mil in Westfield can you buy you any house in town: Westfield Real Estate & Westfield Homes For Sale — Trulia.com
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). They aren't really into shopping and the whole country club/golf club scene, so that doesn't matter. They're looking for a safe town with great schools, a great atmosphere that is family focused with activities for kids (two boys, 8 & 11). 
Amusing...
