HELP!!! Considering Purchasing Condo/Townhouse in South Jersey (Burlington County area)!!! (Elizabeth: real estate, insurance)

[JuanitaMoore216]

Hello everyone....

I truly find this forum helpful, but I need some hard facts and/or opinions. I am a single Mom that is in the position to buy my first home. I currently live in Rahway (nice area) and work the next town over. Naturally because of the extremely high prices, I cannot afford to live here. I am looking in the Burlington county area for condos/townhomes under $190K-as it seems you get more for your $$. Please give any advice on areas to avoid. My daughter is going into the 6th grade so a good school system is very important to me although I'm considering keeping her in her current school as I work close by and would have to commute every day. I know people do 1.5 hr commutes, I just want to know if it is worth it. It is truly sad that the prices are so high that hard working people can't afford to buy a home. My parents keep saying to hold out and the prices will start to go down but there is alot of development in Rahway. The hard working people will have to squeeze tighter as the people come over from NYC and buy the newly developed real estate....further increasing the prices....Please help....any advice would be useful....

[BobKovacs]

The first thing you've got to find out is if you'll be allowed to keep your daughter in her current school. If it's a public school, you're not going to be able to keep her there unless you falsify an address saying that you still live in Rahway.

Something else to consider if you're going to travel 1.5 hours each way- what if you wake up sick, and don't feel up to going to work- are you going to want to drive 1.5 hours to get your daughter to school? What about when there's a large accident on the way to work (never happens in NJ during rush hour, right? lol), and your daughter is an hour or more late for school? What abot when she's sick and you have to go to work 1.5 hours away?

I'd seriously consider all of these things, and if you've got to move to Burlington County to afford to buy a home, look at changing jobs too. Unless you're in a highly specialized field or making six figures+, that job in Rahway likely isn't worth the commute and the cost in gas and wear and tear on your car.

Bob

[christina0001]

Overall Burlington County is very nice, with good schools. Perhaps you could eventually find a job in the area, too. Probably the only area I would advise you to stay away from is Willingboro, perhaps certain areas of Burlington City. And even those areas aren't terrible, just less desirable than the rest of the county. Moorestown, NJ, in Burlington County, was Money Magazine's #1 Place to Live in...I think it was 2005, give or take a year.

[mbrown29]

Speaking from experiences, my Dh and I moved to Gloucester County from Elizabeth about 4 yrs ago......due to better school for my daughter. I had to stop working b/c we didn't know anyone here to watch my daughter after school. My DH commuted to Elizabeth for work for about a year and then he stopped. It was too much for him and for me. He had to leave early in the morning to be at work around 6am and he wouldn't be home until around 8pm due to traffic.

As far as leaving your daughter in the same school, I agree with Bob........ I can only say that the school system my daughter is in is better than any Union county school. You should consider putting her in school in Burlington.

Burlington county has good parts and bad ones. My friend lives in Willingboro and she likes it there and she also likes the schools, but I also hear that the town is getting bad. I also heard that Delanco is pretty and their school district are great.

You should also look into Gloucester County- they have plenty of towns that are great and their homes prices are too bad..taxes are low as well.

Do you know anyone in Burlington cnty? If you decide to move to Burlington- do you have someone to watch your daughter after school-just in case of emergency?

Good luck in your decision...

Maria
Any info I can help you with....I'm here.

[JuanitaMoore216]

Thanks to evryone that replied. This certainly gives me a lot to think about. I am going to see some listings tomorrow (In Willingboro...should I be really concerned?...I thought that area was ok...). I am also trying to find a place closer by but the taxes & prices are so high! Thanks you guys....

[mbrown29]

I think you should go look at the listings and one day during the week when you are off at work, take a ride down to Willingboro......check out the town while the kids are at school and check out the town when school is let out..it will give you an outlook at the town on a normal day.

hope this works-
Maria

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by JuanitaMoore216

Thanks to evryone that replied. This certainly gives me a lot to think about. I am going to see some listings tomorrow (In Willingboro...should I be really concerned?...I thought that area was ok...). I am also trying to find a place closer by but the taxes & prices are so high! Thanks you guys....

Willingboro at one time was a nice place (it's a "Levit" town). The school system now is HORRIBLE, it's thisclose to being an Abbott District. I saw that 54% of students were suspended in the 05/06 school year. Crime I believe is significantly higher there than anywhere else in Burlington County - do a search - 121 violent crimes in 2005 with 33K residents. A lot of houses are run down, which is why they are inexpensive.

My husband grew up there, my inlaws still live there. We are there quite frequently and while on the surface it looks like surburbia, it's really different once you pull back the covers.

One thing it does have going for it however is the BEST cheesesteak and sub place on the planet - Gaetano's.

[jersey2nm]

Have you considered Bordentown or Fieldsboro or Florence Township? The commute would be easier and towns/schools are decent too. If you do look in Burlington City, be certain to check into whether or not flood insurance is required. As to Willingboro, do check out the area before you buy and ask a ton of questions about the school, the budget, and the recent deficit issues. Moorestown is pretty pricey and recently had some activity in their schools prompting lockdowns. You may also want to look into Mt. Laurel, a ton of condos and townhouses but limit your search to be close to Route 295 to save some time on the commute. In any event, you should check out any of these towns with the kids in school and out of school. Good luck and hope I have been of some help.

[jersey2nm]

BTW, Burlington City is already an Abbott District. If only the schools were as good as the cheesesteaks...

[cow333us]

Hi I live in Burlington Twp and have for the last 7 years. I moved here from Hamilton Twp. I love Burlington Twp, schools are good and the community activities (especially the sports for kids is wonderful) I would stay away from Willingboro. The crime is high and the schools aren't that good. I would also stay away from Burlington City also. Mount Laurel is nice and the school system is good. Also Moorestown and Medford. Medford is alittle pricey though. I hope this helps.