Should I consider buying a home in Wanaque/Haskell NJ? What should I know? (Morristown: real estate market)

[Dingo99]

Where are you coming from? Hawthorne NJ
Why are you moving? I want to purchase a home
Where will you be working? Morristown NJ

Will you buy or rent? Buy
What is your budget ? $200,000
What kind of place are you looking for ? If I buy in Haskell, it would be a small house.

Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you? no, but this would likely change. Girlfriend will be spending a lot of time at my house, and I would not be opposed to renting a room out to a friend
Do you need/want good public schools? I am 25, not really on my radar. As long as they are decent that is fine.

25, grew up in Hawthorne NJ. Went to college, got a job in Morristown 2.5 years ago. Been saving up to buy a house since. My job is going very well and I anticipate being there indefinitely. My friends and family are mostly around Hawthorne and the nearby towns in Bergen county.

My commute is pushing an hour and its starting to get to me. I am growing tired of living at my parents house as well.

I was considering buying a 1 BR condo in Morristown (It would be around $180,000). But now I am reconsidering. I could buy a 3 BR cape in Wanaque right off 287 for that amount and I would cut a solid 15-20 minutes off my commute. Plus I would only be 15 minutes from Hawthorne which is a big plus to me.

Looking to get some outside perspective/thoughts. There is surprisingly little info online. Thanks.

[Blue biker]

Haskell/Wanaque isn't a bad town, all depends on which end of town you end up. The biggest problem is there is only 1 way in and out Ringwood Ave. When they close Skyline Drive in the winter all the traffic for Ringwood ends up going through Wanaque. I understand that you don't care about schools but......girlfriend stays over, nature takes it's course and you'll need the extra bedrooms. The schools aren't that bad in Wanaque and quality of schools does have an effect on the price.
Not sure if the real estate market has bottomed out but a lot of young people buy a 1 bedroom condo, and then baby comes along and they have trouble selling. At least if you buy a house now you won't get jammed up in the future. There are some younger people by me that live in 1 bedroom condos with young children.

[Dingo99]

Originally Posted by Blue biker

Not sure if the real estate market has bottomed out but a lot of young people buy a 1 bedroom condo, and then baby comes along and they have trouble selling. At least if you buy a house now you won't get jammed up in the future. There are some younger people by me that live in 1 bedroom condos with young children.

Yea thats a good point.

I would make a point to be within a mile of 287 if I made the move.