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10-21-2013, 09:20 PM
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21 posts, read 47,954 times
Reputation: 16
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Hi! We are looking to buy a 3 bed, 2 bath house and our max is 450K. This weekend we explored North Edison and Metuchen. We found we get more space for our money in North Edison as compared to Metuchen. The homes here were older and very small. We are okay with a house which needs to be renovated as long it doesn't mean changing the layout etc.
What we are looking for is the usual good schools, safe neighborhood with an easy commute to Port Authority.
The homes in North Edison were bigger but seems like door to door commute to Port Authority will be over an hr. And then it seems it is tough to park at Metropark. I doubt we will get much for our money in Metuchen. We currently rent in Secaucus and wish schools were better here : ( Its such a diverse town. Love the easy commute to the city and the extra time we get to spend with our kids. Don't think we can buy a house and send our kids to private schools.
We have been to Rutherford several times. Commute is okay to city and school better than Secaucus. But houses are again so small. We so much want our boys to run around in the yard then sit in front of the ipad.
Haven't been to Fairlawn as yet. I have heard that it floods a lot here.
Please can anyone suggest where else we can look?
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10-21-2013, 10:11 PM
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10,083 posts, read 17,763,755 times
Reputation: 10672
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Hard to find a town with a commute under an hour and a lot of space. The western part of West Orange has larger lots than the train towns, and an express bus to Port Authority, but you won't like the taxes and schools after elementary are mediocre.
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10-21-2013, 10:31 PM
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Location: South part of Northern NJ
22 posts, read 31,290 times
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South Orange, train to Penn station is about half an hour. School is pretty good until high school, even high school is decent as long as you appreciate diversity.
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10-21-2013, 11:32 PM
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390 posts, read 1,302,168 times
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You'll get less house and space for your money in South Orange than you will in Rutherford, Metuchen, or Fair Lawn, especially when you factor in the taxes. Its a much more expensive town.
New Jersey Monthly ranks South Orange's high school above both Rutherford's and Fair Lawn's, but you won't see it get any love on this board. Gee, I wonder why.
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10-22-2013, 04:44 PM
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1,645 posts, read 2,551,609 times
Reputation: 2843
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What size lot are you looking for?
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10-22-2013, 06:09 PM
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21 posts, read 47,954 times
Reputation: 16
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Not a huge lot but a 3 bed house with garage and living room and a family room/finished basement. Seems like North Edison homes seem to be spacious and newer.
Any suggestion on Fair Lawn please? We have never been to this town and nor have friends who live nearby who can tell us more.
Any other town please?
Thank you!!
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10-22-2013, 07:18 PM
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Location: Fair Lawn, NJ
258 posts, read 500,580 times
Reputation: 290
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10-22-2013, 07:50 PM
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Location: Glen Rock, NJ
667 posts, read 1,661,580 times
Reputation: 381
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmeg
Hi! We are looking to buy a 3 bed, 2 bath house and our max is 450K. This weekend we explored North Edison and Metuchen. We found we get more space for our money in North Edison as compared to Metuchen. The homes here were older and very small. We are okay with a house which needs to be renovated as long it doesn't mean changing the layout etc.
What we are looking for is the usual good schools, safe neighborhood with an easy commute to Port Authority.
The homes in North Edison were bigger but seems like door to door commute to Port Authority will be over an hr. And then it seems it is tough to park at Metropark. I doubt we will get much for our money in Metuchen. We currently rent in Secaucus and wish schools were better here : ( Its such a diverse town. Love the easy commute to the city and the extra time we get to spend with our kids. Don't think we can buy a house and send our kids to private schools.
We have been to Rutherford several times. Commute is okay to city and school better than Secaucus. But houses are again so small. We so much want our boys to run around in the yard then sit in front of the ipad.
Haven't been to Fairlawn as yet. I have heard that it floods a lot here.
Please can anyone suggest where else we can look?
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Fair Lawn is pretty big. I know the side that borders the Passaic River can flood but that's a small section of the town and that it takes a big catastrophe type of event (Irene, Sandy) for the area to suffer heavy flooding. Rutherford has a similar section also along the Passaic that is also prone to flooding. Fair Lawn is the best deal for your buck in towns north of rt 17/rt 4, which has the wealthier burbs of Bergen County (think Ridgewood, Saddle River, Franklin Lakes). Rutherford is the best deal for your buck south of rt 17/rt4, surrounded around mostly blue-collar neighborhoods and heavy manufacturing zones (think East Rutherford, Carlstadt, Teterboro airport area). Schools are solid in both Rutherford and FL. Commute to NYC is pretty darn good (bus/train). Most homes are .25 are lots with limited space. And unless you're getting your home for approx 300k a major renovation can still run you a lot (finishing basement, woodwork, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, roofs, pavement, new electrical, etc) are all expensive realities (not counting changing layouts). Also, expect property taxes to easily be north of $8500 for most homes above $350k (that's without changing layouts) 
Other options : Westwood (train/bus) line, diverse, downtown and decent public schools. Waldwick and Midland Park dont offer train lines but plenty of folks commute to NYC. |
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10-22-2013, 08:02 PM
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Location: Glen Rock, NJ
667 posts, read 1,661,580 times
Reputation: 381
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rocknyc
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Kind of an oddball of lists. While Ridgewood is lovely and surely one of the best towns it's not easily affordable for the average young family. At monthly owner costs of approx $4,000, that's a lot of money for most young families to be able to afford considering all the other costs for young families: children, food, commuting costs, rising taxes, upkeep, renovations, etc. I mean they might as well only have all the wealthy towns (they included 3 - RW, Summit and Westfield), yet they include towns like Bergenfield in the same top 10 list? the list is all over the place... |
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10-23-2013, 11:02 PM
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Location: South part of Northern NJ
22 posts, read 31,290 times
Reputation: 12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by labcjo
You'll get less house and space for your money in South Orange than you will in Rutherford, Metuchen, or Fair Lawn, especially when you factor in the taxes. Its a much more expensive town.
New Jersey Monthly ranks South Orange's high school above both Rutherford's and Fair Lawn's, but you won't see it get any love on this board. Gee, I wonder why.
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True that taxes all over Essex county is excetionally high. But the South Orange's main appeal is that it is a major train hub with diversity and good schools. I don't think Rutherford, Metuchen, or Fair Lawn really come close to that. |
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