Relocation from Central NJ to PA - Need serious help here (Pittsburgh: apartment, renting)

[Kazzy801]

Hi everyone,

Looking to make the move out of NJ within 2 years...Can I get an Amen! Need some help as PA is HUGE and I am getting overwhelmed with looking at maps and Wikipedia 😊

My husband I, both in early 50’s, looking for the following (not in exact order and just preferences). Can anyone help give us an area/location where we should start looking. Appreciate ALL comments.

- House between 250-350K. Would love log cabin or older home with charm in established neighborhood. No cookie cutter homes or developments. We don’t want to see our neighbors house unless we have to part trees from the backyard!
- House should be a minimum of half acre or more, preferably wooded.
- Would love to be near a lake or lakefront. I have a pontoon already picked out 😊
- Need to be near stores within 10-15 mins or walking distance
- Suburban feel...no big cities. We like grass, woods and water!
- Quaint downtown with shops, outdoor cafes, bars, restaurants, etc.
- No more than 2 hours to nearest casino...we love Valley Forge Resort
- Beautiful landscape/mountains. My husband is semi pro photographer...he needs something to do in his spare time.
- Stating the obvious...low crime, low TAXES, low cost of living.
- Parks, walking trails, lake, etc.
- Antiquing
- Bar/ Restaurants (please don’t tell me Sheetz is a great place for dinner )
- Not in a college town unless you can convince me otherwise. I don’t want to sit in hours of traffic when school is in session if I need something quick at the grocery store.
- Job for hubby. He is currently a county worker and drives mini bus. I work in IT and only need an Internet connection.
- Also...the only TV shows that we watch are American Pickers, Log Cabin Living and Modern Family 🤣🤣

OK. I have more but this is a start. We have spent most of our time in New Hope, Bucks County area. While it is a great place to visit, we simply can’t afford living there. We love to walk around a quaint and charming downtown, get some ice cream, or maybe have some coffee at an outdoor cafe.

Would love to hear the consensus. Don’t forget, I am from NJ (good and bad). We love our country folk, but not TOO country ok? 😊

[Wells5]

Can't think of anywhere in PA that meets your criteria. Look into Kalispell and Whitefish, Montana also Sandpoint or Coeur d'Alene Idaho.

[medievalbooks]

Don't let Wells discourage you!

However, take away half those....put down what you would require.

Get to know the state. Parts are rural. Some parts are city/suburban/small town. Find an area that looks interesting. I live in a very small town outside of Gettysburg. Negatives are a lot of the small towns have a strange setup in that the house can be close to each other. A lot of houses are brick or stone construction that are older. There might be some log cabin construction in the more rural areas but haven't seen any. You will need to be near a city, small town for work/internet. Some areas of PA are geared to the tourist - Gettysburg for instance, so learn the short cuts, unknown roads the locals know. Waterfront property is dear, not sure if you could find anything. You have the right price for a lot of properties, just have to be willing to give up some on your wish list. Some wooded and for that amount of acreage or more. Depends on where you choose to settle.

[medievalbooks]

From Help for Potential resident section.


(Thanks to solibs for "borrowing" this from another forum.)


When are you moving?
Where are you coming from?
Why are you moving?
Where will you be working?
Have you been here yet?

Will you buy or rent?
If buying, are you looking for a house or a condo? How much can you spend?
If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? How much can you spend?
Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up?

Are you married or single? Do you have children?
Do you prefer public or private schools?
Do you have pets?
Do you want or need a yard?
Are you keeping a car?
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet?

What do you want to be closest to?
Work
Shopping
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.)
Nightlife
Train or subway stations

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood?

[DonaldJTrump]

Northeast PA might be what your looking for ..Poconos and the surrounding areas

[2nd trick op]

There are essentially "two Pennsylvanias" and they fall (loosely) along the lines of the emerging "red/blue" divide; one involves the urbanized region south of the Blue Ridge, or Appalachian front range, which parallels Interstates 78 nd 81, plus parts of Metro Pittsburgh and the "megaversity" culture of State College. This area did not suffer from the demise of the "coal and steel" culture which collapsed during and after the Great Depression of he 1930's.

The remainder of the state has been re-inventing itself since the demise of the Age of Coal, but there are a lot of success stories. To see them, you need to go exploring in communities along Interstate 80, but west of White Haven and the Lehigh River, usually considered the western limit of the Poconos, which are still somewhat "kitschy", and tourist-oriented. Hazleton is growing nicely, but considered gritty due to its mining-to-warehouse-center transition. but Bloomsburg, Danville, Lewisburg, Williamsport and Lock Haven are more upscale-oriented. Williamsport (pop 40000) is the largest; the other four are centered around colleges or hospitals.

[Patmcpsu]

It sounds like you're describing Lake Wallenpaupack. There would be some houses in your price range, but they'll be outdated and on the smaller side. School taxes there will be "low" by NJ standards (about $2,500 per $100,000 of house) but a little high by PA standards. The nearest casinos would be Mount Airy Lodge, Mohegan Sun, and Sands Bethlehem. There's a few towns around it that look charming on Google Streetview, but I can't vouch for the food scene.

Delaware Water Gap / Stroudsburg should also check-off most of your boxes.

Also consider areas around the following towns, but they'll each lack some of your criteria in their own ways:

• Jim Thorpe
• Red Hill
• Lincoln University
• Bellefonte

[Sicilee]

Originally Posted by medievalbooks

Don't let Wells discourage you!

However, take away half those....put down what you would require.

Get to know the state. Parts are rural. Some parts are city/suburban/small town. Find an area that looks interesting. I live in a very small town outside of Gettysburg. Negatives are a lot of the small towns have a strange setup in that the house can be close to each other. A lot of houses are brick or stone construction that are older. There might be some log cabin construction in the more rural areas but haven't seen any. You will need to be near a city, small town for work/internet. Some areas of PA are geared to the tourist - Gettysburg for instance, so learn the short cuts, unknown roads the locals know. Waterfront property is dear, not sure if you could find anything. You have the right price for a lot of properties, just have to be willing to give up some on your wish list. Some wooded and for that amount of acreage or more. Depends on where you choose to settle.

I agree with this. You won’t get all of that...not at that price. And not if you want to avoid college towns. Try to narrow down your wish list.

Medievalbooks, you made it! I believe I remember when you were getting ready to move. Sure hope your move went well and that you like where you are living.

[NewtownBucks]

If you like New Hope and Bucks County, you can go further out and get closer to your price point (like Hilltown or Plumsteadville or further north). That's also closer to Lake Nockamixon.

[medievalbooks]

Sicilee,
We did indeed. Finished moving in November. Took us a long time!!! Lots of books. Absolutely love Cashtown and our neighbors. We look forward when life has settled down a bit to sampling the amenities of Gettysburg Now that we aren't tourists!