[RiskReturn]

Originally Posted by JayCT

You are right. Delaware Water Gap, PA is about as close as you can get to Manhattan and it is about 80 miles. New Haven is 75 miles from Manhattan.

To get to Manhattan a commuter from the Delaware Water Gap would have to drive 25 miles to the train in Hackettstown, NJ. It is a 44 minute train trip to Newark where they switch trains. It then takes another 25 minutes to Penn Station. According to NJ Transit it is 132 minutes from Hackettstown to Manhattan. Add in about 30 minutes for the drive to the station, you are talking a total of about 162 minutes or 2 hours 42 minutes. That’s a very long commute.

To give you an idea of similar commute from Connecticut, the train from New Haven is 2 hour, 12 minutes on one train. So a person could easily live in one of the suburbs east of New Haven and commute into Manhattan in the same time. I’d say that’s not all that realistic. Jay

Realistically the Easton/Bethlehem areas are the most "commutable" (FWIW) from PA -> NYC. It'll be around 70-80 miles driving (or 1.5h along I78 with little to no traffic, no idea w/ traffic - probably along the lines of 2-2.5h).

I have relatives in that area, so I have some experience taking public transit from NYC. You can go from Penn Station to Bridgewater/Somerville on the Raritan Line (switch @ Newark Penn Station), IIRC this takes ~80 minutes. Easton is about 45 minutes (no traffic) from Bridgewater. I think a realistic estimate from Easton is ~2.5h to Midtown or FiDi during peak hours. Far from ideal, but pretty similar to a New Haven -> NYC commute.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by RiskReturn

Realistically the Easton/Bethlehem areas are the most "commutable" (FWIW) from PA -> NYC. It'll be around 70-80 miles driving (or 1.5h along I78 with little to no traffic, no idea w/ traffic - probably along the lines of 2-2.5h).

I have relatives in that area, so I have some experience taking public transit from NYC. You can go from Penn Station to Bridgewater/Somerville on the Raritan Line (switch @ Newark Penn Station), IIRC this takes ~80 minutes. Easton is about 45 minutes (no traffic) from Bridgewater. I think a realistic estimate from Easton is ~2.5h to Midtown or FiDi during peak hours. Far from ideal, but pretty similar to a New Haven -> NYC commute.

The difference is that from New Haven you have just one train. There is no need to change trains. Any commuter will tell you that is a BIG advantage. A commuter can get a lot done during that time or they could nap. Makes a long commute more productive. Jay

[qwerty14]

Originally Posted by JayCT

The difference is that from New Haven you have just one train. There is no need to change trains. Any commuter will tell you that is a BIG advantage. A commuter can get a lot done during that time or they could nap. Makes a long commute more productive. Jay

Agree. Switching trains on a wintry early morning commute is a pain. A single train means I can focus and be productive.

[Stylo]

Also consider in “normal” times after they catch up on construction and we are out of the pandemic, the New Haven express is about 1 hour 45-50 min.

[jacoby23]

Does everyone expect a huge amount of home inventory to hit the market once the lockdown is lifted in May? Inventory in Fairfield, Easton, Weston and Trumbull is so low

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by jacoby23

Does everyone expect a huge amount of home inventory to hit the market once the lockdown is lifted in May? Inventory in Fairfield, Easton, Weston and Trumbull is so low

There's a ton of inventory in Fairfield but its the scrap heap, so in a sense you're right.

The area is showing great resiliency. Homes are still turning over despite the circumstances.

[Stepfordct]

Lot of people are probably not crazy about the idea of strangers coming into their house right now....

[ryanthegoldengod]

With the economy in free fall and likely to be sputtering for a while, can one expect a buyer's market for a house or condo in the near future?

[SlimCharles69]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

With the economy in free fall and likely to be sputtering for a while, can one expect a buyer's market for a house or condo in the near future?

Not likely, Son. Lots of buyers from NYC coming into Fairfield & Black Rock. Raise the Roof, Son. It'll be a sellers market from here on out if you have turn key property. You feel me?

[Stylo]

My friend is trying to buy in Milford, Shelton as a backup. Houses selling very fast, multiple showings a day. He was in a house with 2 other couples recently, hopefully masked!