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Where are you coming from? Connecticut
Why are you moving? Got a job in NYC
Where will you be working ? Near the Port Authority
Will you buy or rent? Rent
What is your budget ? Up to $3,500/month not including utilities
What kind of place are you looking for? Ideally a 3 bedroom apartment/townhouse. My main goal is to keep my commute under an hour. Ideal would be under 45 minutes but I know that might be asking a bit much.
Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you ? Pregnant spouse & dog
Do you need/want good public schools? Eventually but not right now. Baby not due for while
Briefly describe the kind of neighborhood you'd like to live in
(examples: families with young children, young, mature, artsy, diverse, safe, close-knit, block parties, etc) Safe; A nice, walk-able downtown; Near parks and other young families also rank high on our list
List three things that are important to you in order of importance.(examples: nightlife, outdoor activities, rural/urban, safety, downtown area, charming, new construction, proximity to XYZ, family oriented, easy parking, short commute, etc) Safety, short commute, family oriented
In reviewing some of the other threads, it sounds like Hoboken, Weehawken, Montclair, Rutherford and parts of Jersey City (Historic Downtown) might be good fits. Are there other places we should be looking? Are there places we should avoid? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!
You may enjoy the village of Ridgewood as well. Lovely downtown, safe, trains and buses, lots of town services, family oriented......you may just may want to keep it in the mix.
Montclair would be a good choice. At the upper end of your commute time, but you can find some nice places in your price range. If you'll be near PA, the rt 3 corridor is a good choice.
You may enjoy the village of Ridgewood as well. Lovely downtown, safe, trains and buses, lots of town services, family oriented......you may just may want to keep it in the mix.
I'll second Ridgewood. The commute to and from the Port Authority area should be 50 minutes - 1 hour, depending on mode of transportation and your commute time. Downtown is very walkable, there are lots of families with young children, and your $3,500 would go a lot further there than in a Weehawken or JC. Bonus points for being one of the top ranked school districts in the state if you enjoyed the area enough to stay.
West Orange would be worth a look if you found something near a CoachUSA #77 bus stop. No nice downtown in W.O. itself (they're working on it but results remain to be seen) but easy drive to Livingston, South Orange, or Montclair.
Thank you all for the responses! They are greatly appreciated and have given us new areas to look. Looking at them online, they all seem like good fits. Now to visit in person. If you think of more, please don't hesitate to let me know.
I would strongly recommend Rutherford/East Rutherford. We lived there in exactly your situation and loved it. Super convenient to NYC, nice walk-able downtown, and easy access to everything else. Plus they have 2 great rental buildings:
just a thought but with 3500 a month you can easily afford a $500K house. provided of course you have a downpayment.
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