What is Plainsboro like? (Princeton, Middlesex: apartment complexes, home, to buy)

[LittleMissSunshine]

I think Plainsboro is great, I think Basking Ridge is great, but like others have said, I would not want to be stuck commuting from one to the other. Is there any specific reason why you have to live in Plainsboro? There are a lot of closer choices that would probably be the same cost.

[Spongedaddy]

Originally Posted by LittleMissSunshine

I think Plainsboro is great, I think Basking Ridge is great, but like others have said, I would not want to be stuck commuting from one to the other. Is there any specific reason why you have to live in Plainsboro? There are a lot of closer choices that would probably be the same cost.

One of the biggest reasons we looked at Plainsboro was our current apartment complex would allow us to transfer without paying huge penalties for breaking our lease. Then after a year we would know the area and be able to choose where to go.

Is Piscataway nice. I know wj likes it a lot. Is it a big college community? I would not like being stuck in a complex full of partying kids....mixture of annoyance and jealousy

[wjcheng]

Piscataway is NOT college town, or, at least, not the kind of college town you have in mind. That part seems to be at New Brunswick, across Raritan River from Piscataway... Location wise it is very easy commute to Basking Ridge.

If your apartment only allows you to move to Plainsboro, I assume you will not be there for too long, less than one year? so may long commute would be a plus for you to get to know NJ well

I can not tell you much on Rt 533, but from Rt 22 to Rt 525 has very few traffic lights and traffic on Rt 22 that section is very smooth. Rt 525 is back route, many local people take that route and nice view ...

What other locations your apartment company offer?

Also, how much is the "penalty" from your breaking lease should you not move to Plainsboro ? If you give me a number, I will calculate for you if it worth commute or not ...

[Spongedaddy]

The penalty would be close to $1500. At this point Plainsboro looks to be it. I can tough it out for a year and then have a better idea of where we want to be.

[kong0003]

How bad is the parking in Princeton Junction? Are there houses in walking distance to the train station. We are thinking to get a house from 400k to 550k there and commute to Rahway.

[jerseyj]

The parking is pretty bad at the Princeton Jct. station. There is a "many" year wait for parking permits. There is daily parking but you would have to get there very early to get a spot.
There is housing very near the station (5 minute walk) and it is priced in your range. The neighbourhood is called Berrien City and is one of the oldest areas in West Windsor, smaller, charming little homes. I think there are a couple of these homes for sale right now, they typically sell rather quickly. Look at realtor.com zip code 08550. The listing usually mentions Berrien City in the description as this is a huge attraction for commuters.

[kong0003]

Thanks jerseyj. I will check it out and may go have a look next week.

[kong0003]

Hi jerseyj,
Do you know if there are buses to Princeton Junction from Plainsboro or somewhere in West Windsor?
Thanks.

[jerseyj]

I do know there are buses from Plainsboro to Princeton Jct train station but I am not familiar with where the pick ups are.
In West Windsor-
There is a shuttle from the Estates at Princeton Jct, on Bear Brook Rd (a development of large SF homes, town homes and apartments). There is bus pick up from the Avalon Watch apartments on Clarksville Rd and there has been talk of buses from Windsor Pond development on Village Rd (a townhouse development) but I don't know if that has happened yet.

[kong0003]

Thanks again.