Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thanks guys, for your feedback and support here. I am now quite worried. I may have to raise the budget a tad, because safety IS a BIG factor. I just have to do my best to be okay here.
And yes, I certainly do have a car (an SUV, actually). This must come with me because I need to be able to get to the area hospitals conveniently.
I found two prospective places: one in University Heights (this is newark), but this may be ruled out because the guy told me that this was a safe place and that he had been there for years, BUT I saw a lengthy thread on here about that exact neighborhood and how it most certainly was not safe. Urrr!
The other place is in downtown Newark. She says it is a block away from the Newark museum. I am going to see that one next Wednesday.
Also, what do you think a realistic budget is for a decent (read: not luxurious, but clean and safe) studio or one-bedroom in this area?
If you can afford up to $1000 and drive, you can definitely find a studio or 1BR efficiency in areas that are better than the ones you mentioned. Others have mentioned areas of Bloomfield and Montclair. There's also West Orange, Livingston, and who knows- you might get lucky and find something in Millburn. For your price- these will be older buildings and far from the best stuff around, but some have been kept up relatively well with some interior modernizing. Look generally W / NW or significantly N of Seton Hall. For a larger and nice (but not luxury) 1BR in the better towns in this area you'd probably pay $1100-$1300 in most managed "garden apartment" communities or buildings.
1000$ isn't gonna get you a nice neighborhood.....1200$ will get you a decent neighborhood... Montclair and Bloomfield , and Livingston's nice/safe areas start at 1300....same with West Orange which goes up to 1400 and Millburn. But theres always Harrison and Kearny which are both safe and quiet and they start at 900 in some areas....theres also the Ironbound and Forest Hill parts of Newark a nice/safe area starts at 1100...
$1000 can get you a spot in West Caldwell on Bloomfield Ave but I don't know if you wanna travel that far... West Caldwell is basically the suburbs but it has a lot of stores where you can get anything you need within walking distance
THANKS all. The one near Newark museum cancelled on me, but I had misgivings about her anyway (she seemed cold on the phone, she was quite a bit older than me, I could detect some, er...cultural differences...so thanks anyway . The other one, I'm going to see it next Wednesday and meet the guys. We have talked and they would like to have me as a roommate but I need us all to convene in person and know what's what for real.
The budget is what it is at this point, and I'm just going to need to do what I need to do. At least it would be a roommate situation, and they have actually been in the area for 7 years (they are both attorneys who went to Rutgers law) but have been in the place for two years. I will keep you all posted on that.
In the meantime, I am still looking, just in case. All the areas mentioned have been documented. I'll be back!! Any further insight is definitely welcomed. I still feel nervous, but at least I have some support!!
For example, I found a rent controlled apartment in Orange, with the address of 283-293 South Center Street Orange, NJ 07050. In doing my research here on the forum, everyone says that Orange is garbage, BUT I have also heard that there are "pockets of goodness" to be had there too.
There are pockets of Orange which aren't as bad. That's not in one of them. Personally I'm not impressed by Forest Hill either... and you have to be aware that since it's a neighborhood and not a municipality, real estate ads might fudge and say they're in Forest Hill when they aren't. South Orange is fine except right by the Newark border, but anything near the train station tends to be expensive. West Orange is fine except around Washington Street.
There's a place called 117 Vose in South Orange which is advertising under $900 for a studio. The obvious catches are that they're tiny and it literally backs up to the NJ Transit tracks, but it might be worth a look.
My daughter is a nurse, and as a Mom.......STAY AWAY FROM NEWARK.
I don't care what other people say to defend it. Stay away, stay away stay away.
As other people have mentioned, Harrison, Kearny, North Arlington and even Lyndhurst might be good, although you HAVE to have a car.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
but I need us all to convene in person and know what's what for real. 
