Homes for $350k w/commute to NYC - possible?

[NJpoliticiansarecrooks]

Yeah, garbage pick-up and whatever other extra services you get aren't worth 4K more a year.

The property taxes are absurd - mainly because you have things like elementary school art teachers making $105K and other borderline criminal handouts to the layers and layers of overpaid municipal and county employees in West Orange and Essex County

[nykstevenyg]

The only caveat to West Orange taxes is that they have made property values lower because taxes are so high. In a sense this equals out your mortgage. Obviously you rather pay down a mortgage than pay more in taxes. Personally I think eventually major reform will come since the tax bills all over suburban NJ is just insane and there is no accountability of where the money is going.

[nybbler]

I'm pretty sure most of the money in Essex County goes to putting pictures of Joseph D. Vincenzo on everything. :-)

Doubt we'll see reform as long as people are willing to pay. When they aren't, the result will just be blight. Politicians (and I include school board members; the W.O. school budget had quite a bit of gold plating) aren't ever going to let go of the money.

[elisa_cho]

I am familiar with the bergen county area- and there are plenty of adult daycare facilities here that could help you with your sister. A lot of the facilities will also pick her up from your home. Is there anything else other than yard and budget that you're looking for?