Thinking of moving to Monroe in Orange County (Warwick, Blooming Grove: for sale by owner, buying a house)

[bookgirl13]

We live in NJ and are looking for a place we can actually afford to buy a house and still commute into the city. We've heard good things about Monroe in Orange County, but I was curious if anyone on here had anything to say about it. The houses look nice, but what is the community like there? Thanks!

[hjlacey]

Monroe actually is a very nice community. Schools are excellent, Woodbury Commons for outlet shopping, Museum Village and lakesif you like swimming or fishing. We have the 'cheese festival' every year as velveeta was invented here. crossroads are NY State Thruway and 17. Drawbacks are taxes and Kiryas Joel which is a very large ultra orthodox Jewish community that has continued to grow unchecked. People are generally nice and friendy.

[Sugarloaf resident]

Monroe has one of the best public school systems in NY. The school system has outstanding facilities. Lots of good stuff in Monroe that make the quality of life better than NJ where I grew up 30 years ago. Our first home was in Monroe, we have sinced moved to Chester, next town over. Some Chester residents qualify for the Monroe Schools, my kids go to Warwick which is also great.

We moved to Orange County for the ability to own a home. I did a Quantative analysis of the factors. Maybe this works for you. I took a metro map, then put a dot on my office location, same for my wife. Then make a 25, 35, 50 mile circles. Look for the overlaps. Score each town for positives schools, taxes, parks, access to highways, recreation, anything that makes sense to your household. Also mark negatives. For us positives included easy access to Harriman State Park. Within the towns look at the price of homes, and taxes. That pushed us to Orange County.

For homes we scored houses based on number of bedrooms, baths, full basement, yard, age, sewer, for sale by owner, etc. Some homes we looked at before this "scorecard". We developed emotional unqualified easons for liking different houses. When we appied this scorecard from a math teacher friend, it made a lot of sense. We ended up buying a house that my wife wouldn't initially visit because of the color, which we changed.

After about 2 years we sold that home, and built a new house in Sugar Loaf.

Good luck!

[mjones1161]

I live in monroe agree with sugarloaf. monroe is too grown,and growing, High school is maxed out going to need more schools with the growth higher taxes. I feel you can get more in surrounding towns.Do your home work,

[gig harbor]

Stay away from Monroe, Chester, Blooming Grove, and connecting areas. The taxes are insane and its loaded with the Hasidic Jews which are overtaking, plus its very crowded. Hope this helps

[settlepa]

No..I wouldnt do it. Way to overcrowded and half the people cant drive.

[GCGuy]

Originally Posted by reej

monroe has a huge hasidic community. thats neither a positive or negative factor. it is just true.

Well, let's be honest. You're property value may go up as more Jews may want to buy your house. Your quality of life, if a non-Hasid, will likely go down as the areas gets overcrowded and all of the stores turn Kosher, etc. Schools will get worse as they take over the board and vote down spending...as their kids go to their own schools. They take over areas. Take a look at 5-Towns on LI. There's big issues there, and that's only Orthodox, not even Hasids.

Go into Williamsburg, Brooklyn and let me know if they want you on their turf.

I don't have any issues with them, as they don't affect me. I do business with many of them. Fine people, but it's certainly not a zero sum gain if they move to your town.

[TheSeventhBrady]

There he goes again. Of course, if a town is predominently Irish Catholic and many of them send their kids to parochial schools, that, of course, is perfectly fine.

Any other religious or ethnic group predominating is clearly un-American.

[OC-Gal]

You can definitely get a lot more home for your money here. All of lower Orange County offers reasonable commutes and better pricing. In addition to Monroe there is Woodbury, Corwall, Chester, Goshen... all within commuting distance. Moderator cut: realtor soliciting

Originally Posted by bookgirl13

We live in NJ and are looking for a place we can actually afford to buy a house and still commute into the city. We've heard good things about Monroe in Orange County, but I was curious if anyone on here had anything to say about it. The houses look nice, but what is the community like there? Thanks!