Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am moving back to NJ after having been away for five years. We are looking for a home in the Toms River or Manchester area. I've noticed many homes for sale in the development that backs up to Winding River Park and was wondering: #1) Why so many homes for sale in that area? and #2) Why are the prices for what seem like really nice homes so much less in that particular area than other areas of Toms River? (It kind of sent up red flags in my mind.)
Any advice you can give me as to what areas/neighborhoods of Toms River or Manchester to avoid and which are preferable. We're also considering the Pine Lake Park area of Manchester. We are looking for a 4 BR, 2.5 bath home 2000 s.f.+ under $375,000. What am I looking at when it comes to taxes for that type of home?
Perhaps because that area backs to the former Ciba Geigy plant which had pollution issues with the water back in the 80s and 90s. I am pretty sure there is no problem with the water anymore but maybe there is still some apprehension. I personally like Manchester better than Toms river just because its more country and not as crowded.The Pine Lake park section is affordable but its near the Ocean county landfill and you can get a pleasant smell wafting over from the dump and into your house. I personally like the Whiting Section of Manchester. Whiting has alot of adult communities but look in the "Roosevelt city" section of Whiting. Nice houses to be had, alot of them on 1 acre lots. Taxes should run you between 4000-5000 on a 350k house. Its a little further out but it shouldnt take more than 15 minutes to get into the heart of Toms river. Bigger lots and more country. Really nice. There is shopping nearby too with a Cvs, wawa, stop n shop and some other small stores. Hope this helps. I have a good link for house searching so you can look in that area without having to sift through all the adult communities. Not sure if i can post it here though
Ahhh... Winding river park area I grew up in TR andand as previous poster said it has a bad wrap due to history.
There are some nice homes near the hospital a newer small development on Wrangle brook road I believe it is ... mid size lots 4 br homes good price better location than being in the heart of TR trafic that never ends...
I am a realtor a bit further north but I have family in TR, Pine beach and in that general area. I sell a house or 2 down there a year. Most recently a couple small places in pine beach and beachwood but on the river side next to pine beach. I may have a listing on Wranglebrook I was quite impressed with the homes 2 owneres called me this past week looking to talk they are moving out of state Relocating for work they are at same company.
Sorry cannot disclose any info untill they sign papers... Best of luck in your search
I'd stay away from Beachwood. Not a bad town per se, but it's "in flux" and some seedy elements have moved in, possibly capitalizing on cheaper real estate prices. Hopefully they'll get their act together.
As far as TR goes, Silverton has always been my favorite section. There are some wonderful lagoon neighborhoods off Silver Bay Road and South Shore Drive that are wonderful, and lots of great streets off Fischer Blvd. too. That's just my personal preference as it really blends the Shore nature of the area with year-round living in nice neighborhoods. Plus this could be your last chance to nab a waterfront property without completely breaking the bank.
I would suggest the downtown area known as the village of TR. You could probably find a home with what you are looking for somewhere between 280-340 with taxes around 4,200-5,000. Good luck.
Toms river is transforming from a suburb into a city, seriously. Twenty years ago it was rural, and only two or three developements existed. Ten years ago full fledged suburb, with a few farms left in 'north dover'. Now 'North Dover' section is all brand new developements, and people prefer that area for larger property sizes (bigger lots) and huge, huge homes. The area you refer to is great, but alot of people want to 'move up' to north dover. Also, alot of natives are leaving for jackson and manchester because they want their rural surroundings back!
Figured I'd put my 2 cents in here. The Winding River Park is an asset to the area, so thats a plus to Toms River. I never even knew there was a chemical plant near there (are these the woods north of Oak Ridge?).
Anyway, those were my 2 cents. Now here's 2 photos why Winding River is such a nice place to live.
Toms river is transforming from a suburb into a city, seriously. Twenty years ago it was rural, and only two or three developements existed. Ten years ago full fledged suburb, with a few farms left in 'north dover'. Now 'North Dover' section is all brand new developements, and people prefer that area for larger property sizes (bigger lots) and huge, huge homes. The area you refer to is great, but alot of people want to 'move up' to north dover. Also, alot of natives are leaving for jackson and manchester because they want their rural surroundings back!
Similar to the fate of many towns, because of overdevelopment. Its really ruining the reason ppl dont want to live in the city in the 1st place.
The GSP Widening project will help bring more congestion to the area.
Such a shame about the farms too. We have had a similar situation on Long Island, as many of the farms now grow McMansions.
Pine lake park area of manchester is more closed in then the open Whiting section (non-senior Roosevelt City area).Pine lake park has lots at 50x 100/100x100 while Whitings has 200x200 (acre). Only problem in the Whitings non-senior area you better like well water and septic systems..because thats what they got..as of now they are installing nature gas lines in Whitings area but be a few years before all get it hooked up..now its oil, electric,propane or heat pumps to heat a home.And as told in other posts for a $375k home in manchester the RE tax runs around 6k-7k.
I think the RE tax in Toms River is much higher due to the school tax there (people are leaving it)..18,500 students in TR and 2600 in Manchester. The population of Toms River is around 110k Manchester is around 45k ( manchester has lower taxes not only because of less school tax but its also 80% seniors (most live in private developments)..keeps the RE taxes low.
Last edited by carlo2009; 04-24-2010 at 08:23 PM..
oh, we live in beachwood and its not bad at all(now south toms river, stay away from their).
we lived in brick and point pleasant growing up and as adults. although both towns are more expensive, point is too expensive and gets too congested in the summer, and brick, well its just one big strip mall with nonstop traffic. anyway, we moved to beachwood, and its great. its super small but has such a nice small town feel. they do their own fireworks for the 4th of july, great egg hunts, breakfast with the easter bunny and santa claus at the firehouse, lots of community movies at the beach or school sponsored events. its 5 minutes to get to huge ocean county library(although beachwood has its own which is super tiny but they are so nice there) or huddy park in toms river which does all the festivals in the summer. even the post office has a small town feel. for such a small town, it does have one very large park, then about 3 other playground areas. and also is the new state park which is gorgeous, huge, and not well known yet(james branch i think). at halloween, there are so many kids, its great, definately a younger family neighborhood.
now, im not saying that there may be a slightly higher level of lower income people in beachwood. there are many smaller houses making them less expensive and also more popular with investers renting until prices rise. however, that also means more chance of knock down and rebuilding large houses increasing property values.
beachwood is literally one big neighborhood. the easiest way to explain is to compare to bricktown. in brick, you have different areas of town, some areas are less desirable due to the type of people living there. in beachwood, there are no defining areas since its just all roads running perpendicular. there arent really bad parts, just may have bad people mixed throughout instead of other towns having a whole neighborhood designated as "bad".
its location removes me from the hustle and bustle, and traffic, of downtown toms river, gives me immediate access to the parkway, and gets me to all the major stores with no problem. you just cant go south on route 9 in the summer.
toms river has some very nice areas, but they will reflect that with their prices. although silverton is a very nice area, it is not conveniently located, imo when you pull out of the neighborhood onto hooper. as someone said, fisher and silver bay are nice areas, as well as areas off new hampshire. i dont feel the neighboorhoods off rt37 toward the east are as nice though. toms river schools taxes have been kept in check very well due to revenues until the new governor just took all of the schools surplus money. in general comparison, toms river spends less than the states estimated cost of operating a school system that size.
now pine lake park in manchester, we seriously looked there, and im so glad we didnt go there. i dont like septic and even think some were wells which being near ciba, i would never. ciba def hurts property value. it is not conveniently located at all, and honestly, feels a little hickville at times. im not sure what it is, but there is just something about it. and as for taxes, toms river supports their schools more than the manchester residents due to the high senior populations. if you have children, this is an issue to consider. there are other areas of manchester, not whiting though, that are nicer, but again, not as conveniently located. AND keep in mind, although taxes may be less, you do not have garbage pickup and will either have to haul it to the dump or pay a private company to pick it up. that cost should be added to property taxes to get a better comparison of true cost.
if you found one for sale, you could get new construction in beachwood for about $380000 taxes will be around $6000. beachwood has its own elementary school and then flows into toms river intermediate(which actually is in beachwood) and toms river south high school. if you have more $$$, check out pine beach. it would have been our first choice.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
