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I'm always amazed people are content with $12k tax bills. Just because you earn a good wage doesn't mean you'd be willing to give it away!
I'm not sure anyone is content with them, but what can you do? If you want a single family home with a reasonable commute to nyc, then you are likely paying that or more. If you don't have to commute to nyc, then that is a different story.
I'm always amazed people are content with $12k tax bills. Just because you earn a good wage doesn't mean you'd be willing to give it away!
Obviously very content...NJ voters almost routinely vote for higher taxes...and more higher taxes to come....Fitch downgraded NJ again. We owe too much money so we have to increase taxes to pay our bills.
I'm always amazed people are content with $12k tax bills. Just because you earn a good wage doesn't mean you'd be willing to give it away!
$12k is well below the average here in WF (unfortunately).
But I don't mind paying high taxes in Westfield because at least we get it back from the town in the form of good schools, town recreation, good library, good aggressive police, etc. I just wish we all could say the same about high taxes everywhere in NJ.
There are some good suggestions here, including the Bergen County one (Ridgewood is very nice). Alternatively, you could try driving to Summit to park, to avoid the Westfield train line which I hear is particularly awful for time to the city. My realtor colleague told me lost of Westfield people drive to Summit to avoid the problem you describe.
BTW, like the last person above said, pat yourself on the back: you have two kids, a fulltime job, you work in the city-that's a big job you're doing. If I had that sort of commute, I'm not sure I would have handled all this.Congrats on being so amazing I really hope you find something soon to lighten your load.
There are some good suggestions here, including the Bergen County one (Ridgewood is very nice). Alternatively, you could try driving to Summit to park, to avoid the Westfield train line which I hear is particularly awful for time to the city. My realtor colleague told me lost of Westfield people drive to Summit to avoid the problem you describe.
BTW, like the last person above said, pat yourself on the back: you have two kids, a fulltime job, you work in the city-that's a big job you're doing. If I had that sort of commute, I'm not sure I would have handled all this.Congrats on being so amazing I really hope you find something soon to lighten your load.
It will probably cost quite a bit of money to park in Summit. I think I looked into it once, and it was like $280 per month. Not sure if you are allowed to use it, but Springfield has a jitney/shuttle that runs to the Short Hills train station (same line as Summit) for $50/month. I don't know if you need to be a Springfield resident or not.
Selfishly bumping a few threads, but would be interested in where you will end up. We too need a good NYC commute and was encouraged by the good schooling in Westfield but not at the expense of hardly seeing our young kids
You may want to check out Secaucus. I know the schools are not that great. But the commute surely is. We are in a similar situation as you except that I have a husband who works late hours. So I can understand as a working mum how much you long to spend more time with your children rather than commuting. There is a gated community known as Harmon Cove Towers here in Secaucus which has a shuttle service to the Secaucus station or direct bus to Port Authority. My husband works around 47th street 11 Ave and it takes him not more than 40 mins door to door by bus. There are so many professionals with young children living here. Some send their kids to private schools who don't like the public school system.
Another town to consider is Rutherford its just next to Secaucus. Again not excellent schools but okay. You have the bus option or train.
I am not sure how much the school system can do wonders. But my 2 boys are in Kindergarten and 1st grade in Secaucus public school. One always has Outstanding result and the other above average. We send them to Kumon for Maths to supplement their education.
Btw we are renting and looking to buy in Bergen county. Seen so many houses but there is nothing we like our budget is mid 400K only. But for your budget I bet you can find a nice place in Bergen commuter towns with excellent schools such as Glen Rock or Ridgewood. I know friends who commute to midtown from here and it takes them 1 hr up but they are all living at no more than 5-or 10 mins walk to the station.
In short you will have to sacrifice somewhere I doubt in NJ good schools and easy commute go hand in hand. Good luck!
So Glen Rock and Ridgewood would keep commute to a little over an hour and regardless be a measurable difference in commute than say Westfield? And would ridgewood be another 5 minutes since it is just one stop away?
Find a job in Newark, NJ. That's right, Newark. your commute will shorter and cheaper. There are plenty of jobs in Newark. Since you are a lawyer, try one of the legal firms in Newark.
Once you have a job, find a house around the Metro Park train station.
Winnifus, where did you end up moving? How do you like your new town?
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I really hope you find something soon to lighten your load.
