Job at Rutgers, housing? (Somerset, Middlesex: for sale, rentals, house)
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I am considering accepting a job at Rutgers (Busch campus). Moving from the Midwest. We will likely buy a home (at least eventually, assuming our current home sells).
Not sure about price range, but flexible perhaps to as high as 650K. We would appreciate any suggestions for housing areas.
Items important to us are:
1) Safe, relatively quiet area
2) Short commute to campus (say 30 min or less)
3) Prefer relatively new (at least < 30 years, or updated) home with master bedroom on main floor. Seems NJ has mostly colonials. We could do an over 50 area, but did not really desire that.
4) Probably not possible, but we love being on water. Would anything in South Amboy for example maybe work? Is this too far?
5) Reasonable distance (at least within 10 miles) to shopping, restaurants, etc.
6) House size flexible, but probably in the 2000-3000 sf range, if possible.
7) Future resale issues should we move
Not important:
1) School district, except for possible resale problem
2) Night life
3) Size of lots...although we are tired of grass mowing
4) Commute to NYC not in our immediate future
If our home does not sell, we may elect to rent, and if so, would like to spend $2700 a month or less.
Location: Splitting time between Dayton, NJ and Needmore, PA
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Based on your criteria, there are a few considerations.
As with most places, there are the good and bad neighborhoods of any town. I agree that some of the areas in Somerset County may be options, but do be aware that traffic in the mornings can be difficult along I-287 which is the main artery that has an exit onto River Road which leads to the Busch Campus.
South Amboy and a 30 minute commute are mutually exclusive as the roads you would travel are rather heavily congested heading west in the mornings and equally bad in the evenings.
You may want to look at some of the homes for sale around Lake Nelson which is a man-made lake in Piscataway. Piscataway is the town in which Busch Campus is located. By no means is the lake huge, but the area is quiet, safe, within a reasonable distance to shopping and restaurants, and does have homes build between the 60's and 80's. To give you a sense of the types of homes, you can see some here. (Mods: I am not affiliated with the site, nor do any of my friends or family have any interests in Gloria Nilson Realty. This is solely a link for reference.)
Thanks. I would not have looked at Bridgewater or Bedmister, thinking they were too far away. Of course, distance is not as critical as traffic.
Bedmister looks pretty expensive. Is it really worth the investment?
If we should end up moving in a few years it would also be good to know what are the biggest resale factors for the area? Is ready commute to NYC a major selling item, or just one of many?
Thanks. I would not have looked at Bridgewater or Bedmister, thinking they were too far away. Of course, distance is not as critical as traffic.
Bedmister looks pretty expensive. Is it really worth the investment?
If we should end up moving in a few years it would also be good to know what are the biggest resale factors for the area? Is ready commute to NYC a major selling item, or just one of many?
You just don't want to buy in a town that is going downhill. The school districts are the biggest factor in house price since we don't have any (minimal) school choice. Proximity and commute to NYC is another.
So whether a town is worth it for you since you don't need the schools or won't be commuting to NY is a good question to ask.
If you're going to end up moving in a few years, I would take a look at rentals. Maybe plan on renting for a year anyway so you can figure out what town is the best fit for you once you get here.
You can avoid River Road (which you should) to get to Busch. Centennial Rd exit off 287 to Hoes Ln leads right to Busch without the traffic. Bridgewater and Bedminster are fine suggestions and a relatively easy commute.
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