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All, we're considering relocating to the NY area this summer....we're looking at living in either New Jersey (probably Somerset County), New York (Westchester) or Connecticut Fairfield County). I've found areas in each that seem very nice for a family, nice houses (albeit expensive, although we currently live in Northern Va. so it's all relative!!), and possibility of nice lot size too, and good schools. But, I'm torn......my husband will be working around Manhattan, although he'll have clients in NY, a couple in Conn., and a couple in NJ. I don't want him on the train forever, but, right now his commute is at least an hour each way, so we're used to that.....BUT....big question, how do the property taxes compare in these areas? I know I've read all three are high, but just interested in any input.
So you know, we were both born and raised in Va. We've never lived anywhere else.....so this would be a BIG move for us!!! And property taxes in Fairfax County, Va. aren't as horrendous sounding as up there!!!
Location: Danbury CT covering all of Fairfield County
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Bemn,
Property taxes vary from town to town , so you need to pay close attention. I live in one of the most affordable towns in Fairfield county, about 80 minutes by train to Grand Central. I can make it to northern NJ on the eastern end of the 287 corridor in about 65 minutes. My taxes are about $4000 a year for a 4 bedroom, 2 bath 1900 square foot 1960's split level with lots of updates in recent years (new siding, carpet, master bath, deck, paved driveway,new furnace & water heater, shed) on a level acre at the end of a cul da sac that I would list for $399,000.If my home was 1 town to the south, I would pay about $1000 more (and sell for $125,000 more!) and if it were 15 minutes to the east, maybe $2000 more (and sell for about $30,000 more). However if it was in NY state, Putnam county (5 minutes away), it would be about twice at the amount but prices would be about the same.
Westchester is very expensive in terms of both home prices and taxes. My aunt and uncle downsized to a home similiar to mine and I think they paid around $725,000 but I'm not sure and pay about $12,000 a year in property taxes! Another agent in my office assisted a couple that moved up here from Larchmont that were paying almost $9000 a year on a regular 2 bedroom, 1 bath 1100 square foot condo!
I'd rather keep my mouth shut about Somerest County because I don't know enough to answer your questions about it intelligently. If you want to know more about Fairfield County, feel free to ask me any questions.
Since I don't know your price range, I will try to give you a general idea. I also work in Mahattan, downtown, and I live in Morris County for over 20 years and love it!!! I would also look at the towns along the Morris train line, Summit, Chatham, Madison... but please make note that these towns are very pricey! Coming from northern VA, perhaps you are used to high property prices. Morris has relatively better taxes than its adjacent counties. Some towns in Somerset county are very nice, but any town with a train station, your husband's commuting train ride alone would have to be over 1 hour. Westchester, assuming you'd be looking at houses right above the Bronx, would be the best bet for you since you mentioned he will have to visit clients in both CT and NJ. But as JDhall1 stated, not only taxes but property prices are also very high there. IMO, I think you'd be very happy with living either in Northern NJ or Eastern CT. Lots and lots of folks from NY are moving to NJ, after they realized what a beautiful and safe place it is (many NJ towns are ranked as safest among the top towns by CNNMoney).
Location: Danbury CT covering all of Fairfield County
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cattnj
. Westchester, assuming you'd be looking at houses right above the Bronx, would be the best bet for you since you mentioned he will have to visit clients in both CT and NJ. But as JDhall1 stated, not only taxes but property prices are also very high there. IMO, I think you'd be very happy with living either in Northern NJ or Eastern CT. Lots and lots of folks from NY are moving to NJ, after they realized what a beautiful and safe place it is (many NJ towns are ranked as safest among the top towns by CNNMoney).
Hope this helps.
I think you mean western and southwest CT. Eastern CT is over by the Rhode Island border and there are a couple of casinos out that way. That would be about a 2- 2 1/2 hour commute to NYC so I think that would be out of the picture. Both of my neighbors moved here from Westchester County to avoid the high taxes and prices. I can not say what towns are the safest here per by CT licensing laws (I'm a realtor) but I never felt unsafe here and my city is building a new large police station downtown to accomdate the extra staff ended since the area has grown a lot in the last 25 years, when the current station opened.
Thanks for the responses thus far.....any place on the web to go look for tax rates specifically per town......and to clarify. Here's where we're looking:
NJ....we like Basking Ridge, Bernardsville ( I know they overlap), possible Bridgewater too....houses nice, nice lot sizes and good schools.
NY....the areas close in the houses are much, much older than we're interested in and lot sizes WAY too small. We want at least an acre. Thus far, I've liked the following for the same reasons as NJ:
...Katonah/Lewisboro, South Salem, possible Yorktown Heights.....
CT....by FAR my favorite, like Redding, Ridgefield, Westport, Wilton, areas of Fairfield, and Easton. Lately, Easton is becoming more, and more appealing for house size, lot, etc. and I know the school districts in these areas are supposed to be excellant......
Location: Danbury CT covering all of Fairfield County
2,620 posts, read 7,389,291 times
Reputation: 1365
Quote:
Originally Posted by bemn
Thanks for the responses thus far.....any place on the web to go look for tax rates specifically per town......and to clarify. Here's where we're looking:
NJ....we like Basking Ridge, Bernardsville ( I know they overlap), possible Bridgewater too....houses nice, nice lot sizes and good schools.
NY....the areas close in the houses are much, much older than we're interested in and lot sizes WAY too small. We want at least an acre. Thus far, I've liked the following for the same reasons as NJ:
...Katonah/Lewisboro, South Salem, possible Yorktown Heights.....
CT....by FAR my favorite, like Redding, Ridgefield, Westport, Wilton, areas of Fairfield, and Easton. Lately, Easton is becoming more, and more appealing for house size, lot, etc. and I know the school districts in these areas are supposed to be excellant.....
.
Any addditonal help is MUCH appreciated!!!!
I consider Easton to be the most 'rural' of the towns in CT. A good portion of the land is owned by a water company, so it won't come as devolped as the other towns. I am most familiar (in my work as a realtor) with Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton but I do not have time know to discuss them in depth.
Let me know what kind of property you are considering(square footage, # of bedrooms/baths, style, age, amenties) I can show you comparisions in CT.
I think this might help you... I have a sister who lived in the neighborhood of South Run off of Ox Rd in Fairfax County,VA...she just moved to Chaddsford,PA, Ironically enough, another sister lived in Ridgefield, CT (absolutely loved it there) but they were transferred to NJ from Manhattan and couldn't make the commute work, so, they live now in Mendham, NJ and love it...Basking Ridge and Madison are also top areas from what I hear over there... hope that helps... they have kids in the public schools and could have afforded private but schools were so good --even better in public here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bemn
Thanks for the responses thus far.....any place on the web to go look for tax rates specifically per town......and to clarify. Here's where we're looking:
NJ....we like Basking Ridge, Bernardsville ( I know they overlap), possible Bridgewater too....houses nice, nice lot sizes and good schools.
NY....the areas close in the houses are much, much older than we're interested in and lot sizes WAY too small. We want at least an acre. Thus far, I've liked the following for the same reasons as NJ:
...Katonah/Lewisboro, South Salem, possible Yorktown Heights.....
CT....by FAR my favorite, like Redding, Ridgefield, Westport, Wilton, areas of Fairfield, and Easton. Lately, Easton is becoming more, and more appealing for house size, lot, etc. and I know the school districts in these areas are supposed to be excellant......
I currently live in Essex County and the commute is wonderful from here about 35-45 minutes by train. However, we also pay above $11K in taxes for our home. South Orange, Maplewood, Verona are all really nice towns, with nice downtown areas.
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Property Taxes
