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We've been looking for a few months hoping someone can suggest someplace we haven't thought of. We would prefer to be in Monmouth County closer to the beach but proving to be difficult within budget and our wish list. Open to northern ocean county as well.
Where are you coming from? From northern NJ but currently renting in Monmouth County
Why are you moving? Want to buy our first home rather than renting, need more space for growing family & a yard.
Where will you be working ? work from home so commuting is not a problem
Will you buy or rent? We are looking to buy.
What is your budget ? $450k max (need 3 bedrooms/ 2 baths)
What kind of place are you looking for ? Neighborhood feel, still close / short drive to beach, good schools, safe
Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you ? Me, my husband and baby daughter.
Do you need/want good public schools? Looking for good public schools, yes.
Briefly describe the kind of neighborhood you'd like to live in: Families with young children, safe, close knit, would prefer to be close to beach, a downtown nearby with shops, restaurants to walk around is always a plus.
List three things that are important to you in order of importance.(examples: nightlife, outdoor activities, rural/urban, safety, downtown area, charming, new construction, proximity to XYZ, family oriented, easy parking, short commute, etc) 1. safety 2. family oriented 3. outdoor activities/ proximity to beach
Check out Pt Pleasant Beach or Pt Pleasant ( it is either the Beach or the Boro, technically both are Boroughs). The budget is tight for Pt Pleasant Beach, but it is close to the beach. The very Northern end of Ocean County. Pt Pleasant Beach has a nice downtown and walk to the beach and boardwalk, nice to not have to drive/park. I grew up there and it was a great place to grow up. Schools are good in both towns. Although separate towns not a huge difference. Brick Township may be a bit cheaper but more "sprawly"
450K would def get you in Shrewsbury and Oceanport, maybe even Little Silver but house would prob. need some work. Schools in Shrewsbury and Little Silver are better than Oceanport. Oceanport does have flooding issues too. A bit further from beach but still really nice and you get more land/house would be Lincroft and possibly Oak Hill sections of Middletown.
A red flag always goes up when I see people talk about "starter homes" and "growing a family". I've had plenty of friends buy "starter homes" right after getting married, 2-3 years later they're onto kid number 2 and need to sell the house for something larger or in a better school zone, safer area.. take your pick. If you're looking at a $450k home in NJ you could be looking at $30k in realtor fees alone when you go to sell. I'd recommend looking for a home you can afford and truly grow a family into over the next 5 years minimum. Otherwise, you'll likely be looking at a loss when you sell.
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