I'm back working in Manhattan, downtown FiDi... need a house! (Monroe: houses, transfer)

[Shyatic]

Hi all,

I'm back working in Manhattan (after a long hiatus) and at the same time, I'm looking for a home. Right now I work in the Financial District, but I don't know that I'll be there forever. I'm ALL the way downtown (Water Street).

That said, I'm looking for homes. I want good schools, four bedrooms, basement (finished is not important right away), and more modern building -- forced air heat/air, 2 car garage etc. Thus far, I've been able to find what I want in central jersey, with taxes being a hair under 10k/year, and priced in the 450k range. I looked in North Jersey (Fair Lawn, Rutherford) but found the houses are FAR too old, and need too much work. I prefer colonials because my kids are young, and I don't want them on different floors.

That said, any other suggestions? I am open to Long Island, or whatever as long as the door-to-door isn't more than an hour and a half. Right now I take the train into Newark and then take the Path, then walk 20 minutes. It's about an hour and a half for me from central jersey (roughly). The *EASE* of the commute is important... I don't want to transfer 4 times because then it's going to wear on me. If i get an hour on the train into NY Penn, then on a subway downtown, that's not too bad. But where should I look? And for my price range?

Thanks for any help!

[Dreamshot]

Look in to Monroe-Woodbury in Orange County (served by Harriman NJT, 1 hr to Penn). Great schools and in your price range.

I would also look in to the Mahwah/Ramsey area of North Jersey (served by Ramsey Route 17, 25-30 min to Penn). Great schools and in your price range.