Grew up in Queens, Moved to NJ, wondering about SI (Concord: real estate, credit card)

[mr&mrs+baby]

Hello everyone,

My husband and I grew up in Jackson Heights, NY and moved to Clifton, NJ after we were married, have a baby now and rethinking NJ life. Looking to move somewhere that offers best of both worlds. My hubbie works in the city lower part (hell's kitchen) and I am lucky to stay at home. Sooo, we're thinking of moving somewhere were I can stay at home, good school district, small commute to NYC and decent backyard space. Viewed some homes in SI, but know nothing about it. So information on zip codes 10302, 10309, 10304, 10301 and such would be great help. Also if anyone knows the commute time from areas in SI to the city would be great as well. We're looking around 350-400 range for a house, 3B 1.5bath. thanks again!!!:

[Castro Viejo]

Originally Posted by mr&mrs+baby

Hello everyone,

My husband and I grew up in Jackson Heights, NY and moved to Clifton, NJ after we were married, have a baby now and rethinking NJ life. Looking to move somewhere that offers best of both worlds. My hubbie works in the city lower part (hell's kitchen) and I am lucky to stay at home. Sooo, we're thinking of moving somewhere were I can stay at home, good school district, small commute to NYC and decent backyard space. Viewed some homes in SI, but know nothing about it. So information on zip codes 10302, 10309, 10304, 10301 and such would be great help. Also if anyone knows the commute time from areas in SI to the city would be great as well. We're looking around 350-400 range for a house, 3B 1.5bath. thanks again!!!:

You'll probably find a bigger place for that money in most of the zip codes you mentioned except for, maybe, 10309.

10301 has nicer areas, but much of it includes Stapleton and Tompkinsville, areas that are majority bad.

10304 is generally Concord which is majority not so good.

10309 is Prince's Bay. It's kind of nice out there, but sort of remote. It'll take you at least 30-40 minutes of morning rush hour traffic on Hylan Boulevard to get to the bridge and cross into Brooklyn. If you take the express buses, they usually go through Tottenville, through New Jersey, and enter the city around the Hell's Kitchen area. Prince's Bay is generally nice. Clean, new, large homes. A little pricier than what you listed, though. And like neighboring Great Kills (10308) it's got a teenage hoodlum problem.

My advice? Stay away from Staten Island. Real estate prices here are steadying as the supply far outstrips the demand, I believe. And it certainly doesn't offer "the best of both worlds." Stay in New Jersey until the dust settles and then consider Brooklyn or Long Island City, Queens.

Good luck.

[DITC]

Originally Posted by mr&mrs+baby

Hello everyone,

My husband and I grew up in Jackson Heights, NY and moved to Clifton, NJ after we were married, have a baby now and rethinking NJ life. Looking to move somewhere that offers best of both worlds. My hubbie works in the city lower part (hell's kitchen) and I am lucky to stay at home. Sooo, we're thinking of moving somewhere were I can stay at home, good school district, small commute to NYC and decent backyard space. Viewed some homes in SI, but know nothing about it. So information on zip codes 10302, 10309, 10304, 10301 and such would be great help. Also if anyone knows the commute time from areas in SI to the city would be great as well. We're looking around 350-400 range for a house, 3B 1.5bath. thanks again!!!:

10301 - 10305 for the most part are dumpy. The exceptions are extremely expensive - in the millions. Sunnyside and the cheaper parts of Grymes Hill are nice in 10301. Hour commute to hell's kitchen. 10314 is nice for North Shore.

10307, 10309, 10308, 10312 are probably a downgrade from Clifton to be honest with you. More suburban, more gaudy houses, more spoiled kids. Clifton is much more convenient to the Manhattan too. Unless you want to live in 1960's Bensonhurst meets credit card debt rap star lifestyle in the suburbs, stay away from the South Shore of SI.