Need some advice about New York/Jersey

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siamsa24 -> Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 11:36:25 AM)
Alright, there is a large chance that my man and I will be moving to the area around New York City. I have visited the area once (I got lost) and I would not like to move into New York City itself. I want to buy a house and have a yard (not a large yard, but a yard). Can anyone recommend a small area outside the city where affordable houses may be found? I am open to any state as long as it is within reasonable distance from New York City. I assume that is New York and New Jersey and maybe Connecticut, but I don't really know, it's hard to tell from the map. I can find the properties, I just need some cities or areas to look in. On a similar, but kind of unrelated note. I just started making friends here (after 2 years) and I am scared to move to another city and state and start all over. Does anyone have any advice? I am more concerned with the top issue then the bottom one. The second issue is more of a side note.

Aileen68 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 1:12:49 PM)
Areas around commuter train lines tend to be more expensive. You can be in NY in about 45 minutes by train from central Jersey (Union County area), but houses cost a fortune. As you get closer to the city...more congestion, less choice of houses with yards, higher rents, but quicker commutes. Check areas that have ferry service into the city. Bus lines too. I'm out by the Pennsy border and it takes me almost two hours to get in. Email me on the other side if you want. edited to add....if you commute in by car it opens up more possibilities of living areas, but then add in the expense of tolls, parking, gas and traffic.

LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 1:16:37 PM)
You're looking for the golden ticket here. It's pretty much a tradeoff in the NJ/NY area- you either pay a ton to stay somewhere you don't have to commute, or you pay reasonable prices and pay and spend time to commute. I lived near Woodbridge, NJ which has a great direct half hour commuter train to NYC- so you'll pay reasonable living costs, but spend lots of time and angst over commuting. I understand this is how life takes us sometime, but I'd NEVER recommend anyone moving to NJ if they could help it. I'd recommend moving into NYC only if it suited your temperament and you had tons of cash flow.

Aileen68 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 1:21:53 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross but I'd NEVER recommend anyone moving to NJ if they could help it. Laughing...I completely understand and agree with this.

siamsa24 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 1:41:01 PM)
He is insisting that we can get an affordable house close enough to NYC so that he can work there. I was hoping this wasn't another "stretch of the truth" but I am starting to think that it is (this is also based on the research that I have been doing trying to find a place to live). I really hate the city, it's hard enough living in Cleveland and I was looking forward to moving to Parma (a small suburb about about 20 minutes from downtown), but plans have a way of changing. Is there something horribly wrong with New Jersey? I have never been there, but is it really that bad? I heard that it was a not-so-bad place to live from my brother. Please keep in mind that I live in a dump/ghetto right now (no joke, I don't leave my house after dark and I have to drive almost half an hour to get to the nearest grocery or market the closest thing here is a 7-11 type thing) All I want is a place to live that I can own. I'm not horribly picky. In fact, I would be happy to stay here if we weren't renting. I just hate paying thousands of dollars and having nothing to show for it at the end. Oh, edited to add that I already commute almost 40 minutes to one job and over 20 minutes to the other (and about half an hour between) and in the past I have had over an hour drive each way so a long commute is nothing new.

Aileen68 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 1:51:23 PM)
Actually, I love most of NJ. I've lived here for the majority of my life. There are very nice areas to live in. It's just an expensive state. High property taxes where 3/4 is from school taxes. Politically...not even going to get into how corrupt it is. Be prepared to pay as a homeowner. I would say that the average house in a not so desirable neighbrhood probably starts at 200-250,000. A decent starter home (small cape) in a good neighborhood...easily 350,000.

siamsa24 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:00:37 PM)
Ah, well, that's waaaaaaaay too expensive (we are currently looking at houses in the 85,000 range). I thought that might be the case based on my searches of the realty web sites........ I know it was too good to be true (you know, reasonably priced housing, great job for him, good schools for me, the whole package). Well thank you guys for your help.

nikaa -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:07:57 PM)
siamsa, My Master is from Long Island, New York. Orginally he and I had discussed finding a place in New York or more specifically Long Island. However, after looking through the New York Times property search and listings for rentals on sites such as apartments.com I quickly realized that that was unrealistic. Here is the link to the New York Times Property Search page. http://www.nytimes.com/pages/realestate/index.html

Level -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:11:25 PM)
general comment.... Where do the poor people live in NY city? I'm sure that sounds like a stupid question lol, but really...

siamsa24 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:12:47 PM)
I don't think that sounds like a stupid question at all, they can't all be wealthy. As a matter of fact, where do the average income people live? Do they just keep the hell away?

petdave -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:13:52 PM)
Whoah, $85k? Yeah, with that you'll be making a five-hour commute in from, say, Binghampton or Syracuse.

siamsa24 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:23:24 PM)
It's not that uncommon around here. Actually, we just looked at a lovely 3 bedroom brick bungolow in a good school system and neighborhood with a fenced in yard for about 90,000 I guess I was just hoping for something in the 100,000 to 150,000 range.

Aileen68 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:25:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: siamsa24 Ah, well, that's waaaaaaaay too expensive (we are currently looking at houses in the 85,000 range). I thought that might be the case based on my searches of the realty web sites........ Would you be expecting a roof and walls on that house for 85,000? I can honestly say that I don't think there is anything available in that price range that could be considered liveable, let alone a house.

siamsa24 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:27:58 PM)
Like I said, it's very easy to find around here. Even in Columbus and Cinci I don't know everything about everything, that's why I ask questions. I know that they post the most expensive real estate on the internet, I was hoping that there was a significant difference between what they were showing online and what was really there, but I guess there isn't.

Level -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:30:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: siamsa24 Like I said, it's very easy to find around here. Even in Columbus and Cinci I don't know everything about everything, that's why I ask questions. I know that they post the most expensive real estate on the internet, I was hoping that there was a significant difference between what they were showing online and what was really there, but I guess there isn't. Don't give up hope, siamsa. Our real estate prices in Texas are more like yours in Ohio, it sounds.

MasterDoc1 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:31:10 PM)
SIgh... don't get me started on the peoples state of NYC. Basicly the system is set up to screw someone like you. Poor people IN NYC proper either live in government subsidized apartments (part of the reason why rent is SO high for the less poor; the taxes are very high) or they live in rent stabilized apartments passed on from generation to generation. The government prohibits the landlord of those apartments from charging a market rate. This means that little old ladies whose family has moved out and husband has died live alone in 4 bedroom apartments cause its cheaper for them to stay there than get a 1 bedroom elsewhere. To OP: I'm sorry but your dream is impossible. If we assume a 90 minute (EACH WAY) commute and your willingness to live in even the worst possible neighborrhood you STILL could not find a house within commuting distance of Manhattan for $85,000. Look for an apartment and be prepared to be shocked by the rent of those.

siamsa24 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:33:46 PM)
We have looked at Texas and I would much rather move there then NYC to be honest. But, I have to go where he can get work (I can work anywhere that there's a drug store, which would be anywhere). I knew that it would be more expensive out there, I guess I just did not expect it to be more then double.

Aileen68 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:35:50 PM)
The problem is...when you start to move away from NY commuter areas you begin to overlap with Philly commuter areas. Prices remain high.

nikaa -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:35:59 PM)
siamsa, My Masters parents are not wealthy. They are working class folks who struggle to get by because they choose to live where they do. I know for us we choose not to move to an area that would force such an ongoing struggle. I know many people who commute from my local area to D.C and New York daily because the cost of living here is so much cheaper. Level, My honest answer is most low income, or even average income house holds don't own homes they rent.

siamsa24 -> RE: Need some advice about New York/Jersey (11/24/2006 2:37:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MasterDoc1 To OP: I'm sorry but your dream is impossible. If we assume a 90 minute (EACH WAY) commute and your willingness to live in even the worst possible neighborrhood you STILL could not find a house within commuting distance of Manhattan for $85,000. Look for an apartment and be prepared to be shocked by the rent of those. Not my dream really, I was just looking for some information and advice. My soon-to-be-husband was offered a job there that pays almost double what he makes now and he was seriously considering accepting. But if housing is so stupid-expensive that would be a deal-breaker.

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