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After spending our 20s and early 30s travelling the world, living in NYC and most recently London, my husband and I have decided it's time to put down roots and start our family. However, as we're both from out of state, we need your help narrowing down the options of potential towns/counties.
We're both fortunate to be able to WFH majority of the time, but post-COVID will be expected to be in East Hanover 1-2x per week and NYC 2-3x per month. That said, we're really drawn to the larger open spaces a bit further out. Anyway, here are our details: Where are you coming from? London Why are you moving? Work & to start a family Where will you be working? East Hanover 1-2x per week; NYC 2-3x month If NYC, what part of NYC? Varies - midtown to WTC Will you buy or rent? Buy What is your budget? $1.2M, but looking for under $1M What kind of place are you looking for? 4 bedroom house + in-law suite (or ability to build) Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you? Yes; husband + dog immediately and kids + mom near future Do you need/want good public schools? Yes Briefly describe the kind of neighborhood you'd like to live in: Sweet and safe. Family oriented without the suburban sprawl. Less big box stores, more cute coffee shops. List three things that are important to you in order of importance.
- Walking/hiking trails; my husband and I walk with our dog 2x a day and love the fresh air
- Decent commute; we'll both be WFH majority of the time, but looking to be within 45 minutes of East Hanover and 90 minutes of NYC
- Good schools with parent connections; while we're consciously making the move from city life to open space, we're banking on our unborn children's parents for social connects and dinner parties. (Typing this out, I see how crazy I sound. But it's honest!)
Sparta is really pretty, family friendly, extremely low crime, homes are very very affordable, there are trains to NYC and its close to east Hanover and the schools are good.
The great thing about being in North Jersey is that just about anywhere you will be will within 90 minutes from NYC. The more west/north you go in the state the more rural it will be and with your budget just about every town is open to you. Like the poster above mentioned I was going to recommend all the same towns look into (in order) Chester, Mendham, Bernardsville and Morris Township. Some other towns id open your search up to is Mountain Lakes and some towns in Sussex county like Hamburg, Lake Mohawk/Sparta or towns within that vicinity.
Morris Township, Mendham, Bernardsville, Chester Township. Your budget may not be enough for a house in those areas.
A million dollar budget wont get you one of the massive estate homes that everyone gaggles around but its enough to get a very nice home in any of these areas.
Sparta does not have a train to NYC. You have to drive to Netcong (limited service) or Dover. Otherwise, you will get your open land there, and since you only go to NYC a few times a month, it’s not the worst. Better yet, you could be a little closer in to both East Hanover and NYC and still have enough open space in Denville, which has two train stations in town. I would look there first if I were you.
Sparta does not have a train to NYC. You have to drive to Netcong (limited service) or Dover. Otherwise, you will get your open land there, and since you only go to NYC a few times a month, it’s not the worst. Better yet, you could be a little closer in to both East Hanover and NYC and still have enough open space in Denville, which has two train stations in town. I would look there first if I were you.
Super helpful - would you consider ranking Tewksbury/Califon in this set? There seems to be a number of properties in our range and taste.
I dont personally know enough to make enough to make an expert comment on these town but Tewksbury/Califon are beautiful areas especially this time of year. They are more out there in the sense of being in a rural area of alot of farms and horses. Trump spends many of his weekends right next door in Bedminster Golf Course.
Also when you get further south its more Bridgewater centric versus Morristown. Both are nice areas Bridgewater is more commercial in shopping centers/malls and Morristown is more downtown mainstreet vibes.
All the towns mentioned above have their own small mainstreet (not sure about Tewksbury/Califon).
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