30 mins from Plainsboro...suggestions? (New Brunswick, East Brunswick: real estate, townhouse, buying)

[mom2cjj]

We are in an awful situation. My husband got a job in Plainsboro....right on the border of Princeton. We currently live in Bethlehem ,PA annd his commute is killing him. We put our house on the market 4 months ago, and have not gotten one bid yet. We need to reduce our price again, but then will have to lower our buying price.

Anyway, we are looking for a house lower at most 350K. Our main concern nis school system and hoping to buy something move in condition. We r hoping taxes won't be higher than 6500K a year. Any suggestions? Good schools and best buy for a little $

[Whoelsebutcharles]

Originally Posted by mom2cjj

We are in an awful situation. My husband got a job in Plainsboro....right on the border of Princeton. We currently live in Bethlehem ,PA annd his commute is killing him. We put our house on the market 4 months ago, and have not gotten one bid yet. We need to reduce our price again, but then will have to lower our buying price.

Anyway, we are looking for a house lower at most 350K. Our main concern nis school system and hoping to buy something move in condition. We r hoping taxes won't be higher than 6500K a year. Any suggestions? Good schools and best buy for a little $

Well Plainsboro is good all around, expensive though. It shares it's school district with West Windsor, which is in the next county. Otherwise there's North Brunswick and South Brunswick which I thoroughly recommend, taxes here will be lower than Plainsboro and you get a little more bang for your buck. Rt 1 south to Plainsboro from my place in 15 minutes. Also right between Princeton and New Brunswick.

[TonyStarksNJ]

350K and less in plainsboro/west windsor/princeton/ gets you a 2 bed/2 bath townhouse.

350K CAN get you a 3/4 Bedroom house in the Kendall Park area of South Brunswick. I'm talking 50 yr old ranches with little to no upgrades. The schools are in the top 1/3rd of Jersey schools.

350K can also get you a 3/4 bedroom house ranging from 10-30 yrs old in the Fraklin Park section of Franklin. Can also get you a 3/4 bedroom house same age in the Somerset section of Franklin. Franklin Schools are in the top half of Jersey Schools.

Taxes for all around no more than 7k.

If you want a newer move in condition house for 350k you're going to have to look south and south west of plainsboro. OR North Of princeton. Problem is all those would be connected to Plainsboro via back roads with lots of lights.

[mom2cjj]

Can u tell me towns that are north of Princeton with good schools? Or soth or west that u mention? DOES franklin park have its own high school?

[mom2cjj]

What about East Brunswick or MMonroe?

[manderly6]

That's a tough combination with the price/taxes/school. Have you considered PA? Perhaps Yardley or Morrisville?

[manderly6]

If you are willing to budge on the commute time a bit you may also want to consider Marlton/Mt Laurel.

[timneh5]

Originally Posted by mom2cjj

Can u tell me towns that are north of Princeton with good schools? Or soth or west that u mention? DOES franklin park have its own high school?

Check here for Franklin Park: Franklin Township Board of Education | Our Schools (http://www.franklinboe.org/165010922046777/site/default.asp?1650Nav=|&NodeID=62 - broken link)

[NJBest]

I live in Plainsboro. The school district is one of the best in the state and a blue ribbon school. It is also recognized for it's broad range of extra-curricular options. Be aware though, you'll be paying a pretty penny in taxes and fees for those options. There are plenty of excellent private schools in the area as well. Peddie, Hun, Lawrence Prep. Excellent location for schools.

Plainsboro can be expensive, but holds value extremely well compared to surrounding areas. Only to be bested by the neighboring town, West Windsor. Plainsboro has less real estate taxes than Plainsboro, so it tends to even out.

Plainsboro is most easily accessible by two highways. Rt 1 and Rt 130. The large office complex in Plainsboro (scudders mill/college rd) is most easily accessed by Rt 1.

Areas above Princeton, other than Plainsboro that I feel you should consider are South Brunswick, east Brunswick, and Hillsborough. I actually would highly consider you take a look at the up and coming Robbinsville. It's actually slightly south east of Princeton, but not a bad commute to Plainsboro. Just take Rt 130 up. My gf lives there so I go there a lot. It's much cheaper than Plainsboro, and is very new.

[jerseyj]

I agree with the South Brunswick and Robbinsville recommendations. Both are an easy commute to Plainsboro.

Robbinsville High School was completed for the '06-'07 graduating class and gets very high praise from the Great School parents comments.

One thing to consider is staying on the east side of Rte. 1 (where Plainsboro is) crossing over Rte 1 during rush hours can add some serious sitting time to your commute.