Suggestions for more affordable parts of Ny or Nj 30-45 min from manhattan (Ridge: lease, neighborhood)

[ShowYouChicago]

Thank you all very much for your info. I realized it was a bit of a stretch but thought I would ask. How do people do it? I know there are people that live in or near the city that don't make a lot of money. Are the wages that much higher? Or are they single with 2-3 roommates? I see there are other threads on this topic so I will spend some time reading them. Thank you.

[clevedark]

Maybe try Bloomfield or Belleville, NJ. Right outside Newark.

Wallington or Garfield NJ? Right outside Passaic, NJ.

Bayonne, NJ, possibly?

Bergenfield, NJ?

I'm just trying to think of the "blue collar" towns in NJ closest to NYC that are not in cities like Newark, Passaic, and East Orange..... There are bazillions of them.

[bmwguydc]

Bogota, NJ is not far out, and is one of the areas that clevedark referred to in New Jersey. Ridgefield Park might also work, though there would still be a hunt in that price range for a real 2BR. For a 1BR, you'd find something easily, but that would not work with two children, unless you found a JR4 with a dining alcove/room that could function as a bedroom.

Parts of Jersey City would be in range, though they may not be the nicest blocks or buildings, but it's certainly close to NYC. Schools, however, are a concern in some NJ cities, and Jersey City schools are not the best, comparatively. While there is much attention on the gentrifying areas of JC that cater to professionals, most don't have children, and that's primarily in the waterfront area. Aside from that, its a dense, urban neighborhood that would not be a first choice for a family with children.

What some people do, however, is rent a mother-in-law apartment or similar from a landlord who owns their own home and rents it out. I think that if you're flexible enough to live in that sort of arrangement, or to deal directly with an owner, not in an apartment building or a managed property, you should be able to find something in a decent area. For some listings, check Craigslist, but remember that many can sound too good to be true, but dealing with an individual owner will cut the cost to them, and you should stand a better chance of finding an apartment that would work for your needs.

[shelly1234]

Everyone always forgets about Staten Island. South Staten Island has some pretty cheap rent and is very safe. My cousin has a roomy 1 bedroom in Great Kills for less than $800 a month. It's pretty boring and residential, but you're still technically in NYC.

[ShowYouChicago]

I have a co-worker from Staten Island. She loved it there. She now lives in Charlotte but misses a lot. I will check it out. The only down side is I heard part of the island smells....Is that true?

[ShowYouChicago]

Also, I know there is ferry but if I wanted to drive or take public transportation , how would I get to manhattan and how long would it take?

[bmwguydc]

The express bus to Staten Island can take up to an hour and a half or more from Tottenville, which is the southern part of Staten Island, to get to Midtown. Driving to Midtown from Tottenville would take about an hour and a half as well, with traffic, and at least 45 minutes with no traffic. IIRC, the express bus routes operate weekdays only on SI, while some other express bus routes in the city run on weeknds.

[clevedark]

If you rent from elderly landlords many times the rent is super low and they don't ask for things like security deposits. They don't list on Craigslist, tho!!

[Chava61]

You might be able to find a 1 bedroom apt. for approx. $1000 if you are very lucky in NYC, but the chances aren't good.

[goldengrain]

Originally Posted by clevedark

Maybe try

Bloomfield or

Belleville, NJ. Right outside Newark.

Wallington or

Garfield NJ? Right outside Passaic, NJ.

Bayonne, NJ, possibly?

Bergenfield, NJ?

I'm just trying to think of the "blue collar" towns in NJ closest to NYC that are not in cities like Newark, Passaic, and East Orange..... There are bazillions of them.

These are good suggestions.

Also Kearny, outside Newark

Secaucus

Some people have private homes and have converted to an extra apartment to rent, but it is illegal.
Sometimes they charge lower rent for a tenant who is no trouble and will take care of some repairs themselves, etc.

I have no idea how these people get tenants, just word of mouth, I suspect. I mean, they are not paying taxes for a 2 or 3 family, so I doubt if they advertise or put a sign on the lawn.

Newark seems to really be building up. Blocks have been torn down and decent looking town houses have been erected. There are professionals who work there who actually LIVE there now. The new mayor, Booker, is doing a great job, ending much of the corruption and trying to restore pride in the place.

I just, in some areas, would not go out at night - and this person wants to go to school. I assume she is working days, so she would have regular habits in the evening.

A homeowner might have reservations about kids, too.