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If new construction is an absolute must, you're probably looking at $1.5M MINIMUM for a single family house right now, and in the more blue-ribbon towns certainly higher than that. And while this would need more vetting, I believe you will also pay more in taxes for new construction, at least that has been the anecdotes I have noticed over the years. You can probably find a condo or townhouse in your price range, though.
I'm curious if you have been looking online in these towns and if you are finding anything to your liking?
Yep. Insistence on new construction in an area developed and built up long ago is going to be a problem.
Bergen County native here. Now live in Mercer. Really wish I lived in Bucks. Co. That being said, visited Bergen County a few months ago. I was sick of the traffic and congestion within a few hours. They were out of room 25 years ago. I couldn't believe all the crevices they managed to sneak new homes into. The place is just not built for more population.
Bergen County is surprisingly inconvenient, being so convenient.
Those first two are my neck of the woods. I’m in the minority here but I don’t think the traffic in Bergen County is all that bad. This is coming from someone who lived most of his life in Hudson County, so I guess perspective matters. I enjoy the extra few minutes to catch up on some podcasts or put on my Spotify playlists.
I was also looking for a new build in the northern part of the county, and prices ran away from me... just 3 years ago you could get a high end SFH for ~1M, but as others have said, that figure has blown up by about 50%, or more. If you look carefully you will occasionally see a new build go up for ~$1M but you get less and less, i.e. smaller and the garage will now be detached, etc. The townhouses are certainly something to consider, they are very nice, but for the most part they are over 1M.
Westchester is more expensive... a LOT more expensive in fact, with the worst taxes in the country. You will get a lot more for your money in Bergen in general... you also have to be careful with addresses in Westchester. Some houses that have Scarsdale or Bronxville addresses are actually in adjacent towns with less desirable school systems.
Good luck. It's a very hard time right now and has been for a couple years. My colleagues who bought beautiful homes in Bergen 3-4 years ago, with the same job and salary as me, would also be priced out if they were shopping right now. Who knows how it will all shake out.
I was also looking for a new build in the northern part of the county, and prices ran away from me... just 3 years ago you could get a high end SFH for ~1M, but as others have said, that figure has blown up by about 50%, or more. If you look carefully you will occasionally see a new build go up for ~$1M but you get less and less, i.e. smaller and the garage will now be detached, etc. The townhouses are certainly something to consider, they are very nice, but for the most part they are over 1M.
Westchester is more expensive... a LOT more expensive in fact, with the worst taxes in the country. You will get a lot more for your money in Bergen in general... you also have to be careful with addresses in Westchester. Some houses that have Scarsdale or Bronxville addresses are actually in adjacent towns with less desirable school systems.
Good luck. It's a very hard time right now and has been for a couple years. My colleagues who bought beautiful homes in Bergen 3-4 years ago, with the same job and salary as me, would also be priced out if they were shopping right now. Who knows how it will all shake out.
Sure you get a lot less for your money now than you would have 3-4 years ago, but we’re still talking about $1 million. There’s plenty of options if expectations are lowered a bit. Now the people with budgets below, say, $450,000…. it’s slim pickings.
Those first two are my neck of the woods. I’m in the minority here but I don’t think the traffic in Bergen County is all that bad. This is coming from someone who lived most of his life in Hudson County, so I guess perspective matters. I enjoy the extra few minutes to catch up on some podcasts or put on my Spotify playlists.
Yeah I live right next to Hackensack, and while I don't think the traffic is horrible, its definitely consistently 'bad'. Especially if you get closer to that 17/GSP/Route 4 junction mess lol.
NJ Transit is also terrible in Northern NJ (Specifically Bergen County), so that is also a huge blunder to the area.
Yeah I live right next to Hackensack, and while I don't think the traffic is horrible, its definitely consistently 'bad'. Especially if you get closer to that 17/GSP/Route 4 junction mess lol.
NJ Transit is also terrible in Northern NJ (Specifically Bergen County), so that is also a huge blunder to the area.
How so? The Bergen County/Main Line has frequent service and a good on-time record. I took it to the city (Hoboken actually, with PATH/Ferry connection) for decades. Pascack Valley line did have fewer trains.
How so? The Bergen County/Main Line has frequent service and a good on-time record. I took it to the city (Hoboken actually, with PATH/Ferry connection) for decades. Pascack Valley line did have fewer trains.
Everything East of Ridgewood has to rely on the Packsack valley Line or busses. Packsack has limited frequencies and I kind of just gave up on them. Now I take the 164/165/177x or 167t depending on where I am in the morning. NJT bus saves my life, such a great system and should be a model for other cities.
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