UrbanBaby - budget 500k. planning on using public sc...

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budget 500k. planning on using public schools. dh commutes into nyc. where should we live? I want a house with a lawn.
38 replies
- New York City
- Toddler
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05.17.08, 08:26 PM [ Flag ]
- Glen Ridge, NJ? Taxes may kill you.
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  05.17.08, 08:27 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- Yikes
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  05.17.08, 08:27 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - why yikes/?
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    05.17.08, 08:28 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - 500K won't get you much close to the city to make the commute manageable
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      05.17.08, 08:30 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      - this is life. not everyone is loaded.
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        05.17.08, 08:31 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        Thank you
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        05.17.08, 08:32 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        I'm just saying you'll be living 2 hours away from the city, which to me is yikes, because that means 4 hours of commuting time for dh.
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        05.17.08, 08:32 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        thanks for making me feel so much better about my life.
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        05.17.08, 08:34 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        I think np was just trying to be honest.
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        05.17.08, 08:40 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        How old are your DC? You don't need to run out of NYC just yet - many nabes have great elementaries.
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        05.18.08, 03:59 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        You can find houses in Putnam County NY in that range. Commute is long, but not really 2 hours. Try Yorktown, Yorktown Heights, Mahopac, Carmel.
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        05.17.08, 08:35 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - what does that mean? too rich or too poor for your tastes?
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    05.17.08, 08:29 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- that's rough on the midtown direct but if you'll take a fixer upper, look at morristown or convent station (high taxes) or millburn
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  05.17.08, 08:29 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - http://www.weichert.com/search/realestate/PropertyListing.aspx?P=19793777&cityid=9044&pg=15 here, this has a lovely yard and some of the best schools in NJ (but they encourage cheating) and the town is racist
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    05.17.08, 08:36 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - LOL!!!! $500K in Millburn?
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    05.18.08, 03:57 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- You aren't going to find anything in that budget in W'chester or NJ with less than a 75 - 90 minute commute attached. Try LI, maybe Rockville Centre.
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  05.17.08, 08:31 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - You can find stuff in the 500 "range" in Maplewood NJ.
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    05.17.08, 08:33 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - how about the schools?
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      05.17.08, 08:34 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      - I don't live there so no first hand knowledge. Some on here say schools are good. Others trash them.
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        05.17.08, 08:36 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        I am not in Maplewood, but I think it's like Montclair -- where the elementaries are fine, but it's downhill from there. THat's why I suggested Glen Ridge. If you go to the NJMOnthly site, there is a list of top high schools in the state.
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        05.17.08, 08:37 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        I grew up in the area and Maplewood/South Orange go to the same high school (when I grew up, it was okay, but think it has gone downhill from there). Montclair was never very good.
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        05.18.08, 03:56 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        ^^that said Montclair schools might change b/c in recent years, so many young families esp. from NYC have migrated there...so since the population is changing if the parents send to public, the schools will eventually turn over too
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        05.18.08, 03:56 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - Beware...the homes that are in that range are in the bad side of town that borders Irvington...which is a horrible town.
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      05.18.08, 03:54 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- Honestly, I think you need to be realistic about things. For $500K, you will not find a nice house in a decent time with a reasonable commute for your DH. So if you're dead-set on a house, then the commute will be long - 2 hours each way for that price. You can possibly buy an older townhouse or condo though in a closer proximity. But honestly, for $500K you'll be buying a 2BR dump in the sticks or in a bad town. Rethink things IMO
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  05.18.08, 04:02 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - Said with such authority.I have news for you, and all the other UB know-nothing know it alls: you can actually find plenty of houses in fine places in far less than a 2 hour(!) commute from NYC, in the $500K range. We have friends who have their house on the market now for less than that,(they are moving to another house here) you can walk to the 29 minute train into Penn, in Maplewood, where the schools are actually very good, if you value high academic achievement, the arts, and diversity.
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    05.18.08, 10:47 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- Floral Park or Stewart Manor. LIRR commute is about 35 minutes.
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  05.18.08, 04:32 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- I can't imagine what you would get. I looked, with the same budget, 5 years ago. We were looking at the north end of Wilton and Ridgefield, CT. We looked at the northern most areas of Westchester and areas I didn't like in Jersey. They were all 2 hour commutes easily. No garages, original condition ranches - it was awful.
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  05.18.08, 04:38 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- I know somewhere you can get a nice house with that budget and an easy commute
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  05.18.08, 04:48 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - but you're not telling?
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    05.18.08, 04:52 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - because I'm going to get flamed from ignorance
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      05.18.08, 04:54 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      - well, suit up
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        05.18.08, 05:07 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        lol...Bayonne NJ, especially the west side by the park. Some really beautiful homes- OP might get something for that price in this area
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        05.18.08, 05:09 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- I live in Commack Long Island. its beautiful here. Bought my house 2 years ago 525,000
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  05.18.08, 04:57 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - Part of it are, but it's along commute- although people do it
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    05.18.08, 05:00 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- Your only decent option is to take a condo/coop in a place like Fort Lee. You can get a nice 3br coop with pool, playground, doorman etc for well under $350
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  05.18.08, 05:26 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- Believe it or not there are houses in Westfield, NJ in that price range. They are small and generally not in great condition, but they exist. Most are on the South side of town in either the McKinley or Jefferson elem. school districts, which are both great schools.
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  05.18.08, 05:28 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- we just bought in ridgwood nj at 550K; prices will work in your favor
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  05.18.08, 05:30 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- you can look at some older homes in Bergen or Passaic County. Towns with lower home prices and better schools are River Edge, Oakland, Fairlawn, Hawthorne and Ringwood. You are looking at about 30 miles top commute (45- 1 1/2 hours with traffic)
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  05.18.08, 11:45 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

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City vs. Suburbs

Moving to the suburbs and suddenly feel sick to my stomach. anyone else btdt and ended up liking it??

Posted June 5, 2008 (50 replies)

budget 500k. planning on using public schools. dh commutes into nyc. where should we live? I want a house with a lawn.

Glen Ridge, NJ? Taxes may kill you.

Yikes

why yikes/?

500K won't get you much close to the city to make the commute manageable

this is life. not everyone is loaded.

Thank you

I'm just saying you'll be living 2 hours away from the city, which to me is yikes, because that means 4 hours of commuting time for dh.

thanks for making me feel so much better about my life.

I think np was just trying to be honest.

How old are your DC? You don't need to run out of NYC just yet - many nabes have great elementaries.

You can find houses in Putnam County NY in that range. Commute is long, but not really 2 hours. Try Yorktown, Yorktown Heights, Mahopac, Carmel.

what does that mean? too rich or too poor for your tastes?

that's rough on the midtown direct but if you'll take a fixer upper, look at morristown or convent station (high taxes) or millburn

http://www.weichert.com/search/realestate/PropertyListing.aspx?P=19793777&cityid=9044&pg=15 here, this has a lovely yard and some of the best schools in NJ (but they encourage cheating) and the town is racist

LOL!!!! $500K in Millburn?

You aren't going to find anything in that budget in W'chester or NJ with less than a 75 - 90 minute commute attached. Try LI, maybe Rockville Centre.

You can find stuff in the 500 "range" in Maplewood NJ.

how about the schools?

I don't live there so no first hand knowledge. Some on here say schools are good. Others trash them.

I am not in Maplewood, but I think it's like Montclair -- where the elementaries are fine, but it's downhill from there. THat's why I suggested Glen Ridge. If you go to the NJMOnthly site, there is a list of top high schools in the state.

I grew up in the area and Maplewood/South Orange go to the same high school (when I grew up, it was okay, but think it has gone downhill from there). Montclair was never very good.

^^that said Montclair schools might change b/c in recent years, so many young families esp. from NYC have migrated there...so since the population is changing if the parents send to public, the schools will eventually turn over too

Beware...the homes that are in that range are in the bad side of town that borders Irvington...which is a horrible town.

Floral Park or Stewart Manor. LIRR commute is about 35 minutes.

I know somewhere you can get a nice house with that budget and an easy commute

but you're not telling?

because I'm going to get flamed from ignorance

well, suit up

lol...Bayonne NJ, especially the west side by the park. Some really beautiful homes- OP might get something for that price in this area

I live in Commack Long Island. its beautiful here. Bought my house 2 years ago 525,000

Part of it are, but it's along commute- although people do it

Your only decent option is to take a condo/coop in a place like Fort Lee. You can get a nice 3br coop with pool, playground, doorman etc for well under $350

Believe it or not there are houses in Westfield, NJ in that price range. They are small and generally not in great condition, but they exist. Most are on the South side of town in either the McKinley or Jefferson elem. school districts, which are both great schools.

we just bought in ridgwood nj at 550K; prices will work in your favor

you can look at some older homes in Bergen or Passaic County. Towns with lower home prices and better schools are River Edge, Oakland, Fairlawn, Hawthorne and Ringwood. You are looking at about 30 miles top commute (45- 1 1/2 hours with traffic)

UrbanBaby Asks...

When I ride in a taxi cab with my DC I:

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