Moving to NJ Thoughts on Union Township, Montville,Maplewood, Montclair, Westwood, Caldwell, Bloomfield (West Orange: sales, real estate)

[blaplante]

Thanks in advance for reading this post. My husband and I relocated to Omaha, yes Nebraska from Boston 2 years ago for work and we are looking to get back to the East Coast. I am from Long Island and he is from MA so we thought NJ would be a happy medium for us. Can you give me your thoughts on these towns? He is traveling for outside sales around the tristate and I will be working on W. 40th St.

Below are some towns that looked close to NYC with some decent real estate but I don't know a lot about NJ.

Union Township, Montville, Maplewood, Montclair, Westwood, Caldwell, Bloomfield, South Orange, Springfield Township, Ridgewood, Westwood

Our budget is about $450k and we want @ least 3 bed/2 bath with a yard for our dogs.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[RiggerNY]

These towns are very spreadout from each other and I'm not sure if there are kids involved. Also quite a lot of socioeconomic difference between these towns as well with Ridgewood/Montville being high end and Union/Bloomfield being low end with the others you mentioned somewhere in the middle. If schools and trainline are both factors and you must stay under 450k, then I would also throw in Cranford and Metuchen. I had looked in several of these towns before I bought my house, I think most here would agree that Ridgewood is the nicest of those mentioned but youd be hard pressed to find anything at all for 450k.

[ansky]

Add West Orange and Verona to your list. Both are nice towns that should have plenty of homes that fit your budget.

[blaplante]

No kids involved yet, we are thinking of this as a 5 year or so house. Obviously we would like a better neighborhood within 35-45 mins from NYC.

Thanks for the West Orange suggestion lots of good real estate.

[Ann77]

Originally Posted by blaplante

No kids involved yet, we are thinking of this as a 5 year or so house. Obviously we would like a better neighborhood within 35-45 mins from NYC.

Thanks for the West Orange suggestion lots of good real estate.

Don't buy a house thinking it will be your five-year house. Those days are over. Buy one you can live in forever if you have to, or just rent.

[Goldendoodle1969]

I think you can still buy a house for 5 years...just don't go into it expecting to sell it for a profit.

[HalfFull]

Originally Posted by blaplante

No kids involved yet, we are thinking of this as a 5 year or so house. Obviously we would like a better neighborhood within 35-45 mins from NYC.

Thanks for the West Orange suggestion lots of good real estate.

You may also need to adjust your commute time expectations, if 35-45 is what you meant to commute to W 40th. Many of the towns mentioned would be closer to an hour (or more)

[blaplante]

I'm thinking the house I buy now isn't the house that I will want in 5 years and will be able to afford something bigger in a nicer neighborhood. I bought and sold my condo in Boston within 5 years of buying breaking even which is fine by me if that happens. I'm ok with a 1 hour PT commute, I am just thinking if my husband is driving for work he will want to be within 35-45 mins driving distance of the city.

[momofbride18]

Definitely look at Maplewood. Mid-town direct train, great ethnic and racial diversity, school system still good. Houses can be pricy, but you can still find homes for your price range.

[RiggerNY]

Make sure to look at the taxes while looking at those listings in Maplewood..