New Jersey

Just got the news that we might be moving there... eep!  Not sure exactly where the offices are yet, but just wanting some info about places to live.  Really need a 'walkable' town with good train and bus connections.  A place where I can garden and paint.  With lots of green space, and a low crime rate.  You know, exactly like where I live now..

So far, the Fort Lee area sounds OK.. lots of Japanese people there, and a big Japanese store.  Anyplace with a significant Asian population should be good for shopping, though.  Our budget should run to almost any area.

Any website recommendations welcomed, real estate agencies to try (or avoid), really, any info at all!  I've been to NJ on a buying trip, and spent all my time in warehouses and factories.. it seemed pretty depressing, but there must be good stuff there. 

Thanks in advance!

I know Fort Lee pretty well. There are a lot of Asians in the area. Mostly Korean, although I'm sure a pretty big Japanese population as well. It's very easy to get into the city--no trains, but you can just hop on any bus that is going across the bridge (the GWB exits in Fort Lee). There are single family houses in the town, but a lot of the housing stock is high rise apartment buildings with views of the city. The downtown is pretty typical suburban NJ. Lots of restaurants. Not too exciting, to be honest. I wouldn't say Fort Lee is high on green space--it's pretty congested.

I can PM you some other ideas when I get a moment (just going out to the store now).

New Jersey runs the gamut.

If you see what Iraq looks like on TV and you like what you see then you would like Scranton, NJ. It looks like a war zone.

If you like ivy league then try the Princeton area. Lots of green landscape and money.

When I moved to America the first place I lived was Asbury Park, on the shore. I heard it went down hill after I left and even had some riots there a few years ago but some people said it has turned around and it is picking up.

I agree New Jersey is so diverse. It is completely different from North Jersey (Industrial) to South Jersey (Rural) and then the shoreline has it's own personality. My parents live in Monmouth County which is central on the shore. Even within that county it varies hugely from one area to another. If you can pinpoint which part of Jersey you will need to be in, I am sure you can get some more specific advice.

Thirded the diverse bit. I grew up in Central NJ near Princeton and Trenton, and even those two towns have BIG differences for only being a few miles apart.

Really need a 'walkable' town with good train and bus connections. 

Here's a link to a NJ Transit map. Once you know where the offices are, you can narrow it down to towns nearest the trains.

http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/Rail_System_Map.pdf

If you're set on the Fort Lee area, you might want to look at Englewood Cliffs.

 "A place where I can garden and paint.  With lots of green space, and a low crime rate."  Sounds like Ridgewood, the last place I lived in NJ before I moved west. I grew up in Bergen County, so if you decide to settle there, I can give you some tips.

My aunt's family lives in Egg Habor Township.  They like it, but I bet it would be too far away.  Plus, I don't think they really have a city or town.

Thirded the diverse bit. I grew up in Central NJ near Princeton and Trenton, and even those two towns have BIG differences for only being a few miles apart.

Hey me too!!! I grew up in Lawrenceville, know it?

Hey me too!!! I grew up in Lawrenceville, know it?

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yep.  Grew up in Hightstown and went to church at Dutch Neck in West Windsor.

My best friend's parents live off Bus Rt 1 in Lawrenceville.

Some info.. the office is in Wayne.  Found out the river floods pretty often, so will try to look at high ground.  No train station..?  The bus to NY takes about an hour, so that's good.  Lots of malls in the area.. and what looks like a big park.  And a possibly scary reservoir.  (Google maps had it all smudged in black yesterday.. )  Anyhoo, will start checking out towns in the area.

we just moved to NJ last year, to a small town called Glen Ridge.  it is plenty green, with big gardens and great transport to the city during the week.  no real town, (1 restaurant, 2 coffee shops and a cvs)but it is next to montclair (1 mile) which is a fantastic town. i drive to the mall in wayne (8 miles) in about 15 minutes.  i don't know the area that well, but wayne itself doesn't look that appealing...

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yep.  Grew up in Hightstown and went to church at Dutch Neck in West Windsor.

My best friend's parents live off Bus Rt 1 in Lawrenceville.

Small world then:-)  Your BF's parents probably live right near my mom then. 

Small world then:-)  Your BF's parents probably live right near my mom then. 

Probably! They sort of live across the highway from the shopping centre that has/had Soverign Bank in it...I thikn there used to be a furniture store on their corner?

As you can see from my username - exJerseygirl here.  I grew up in Jersey and still have lots of friends there.  I lived in South Jersey, which as some here have pointed out is a completely different state from North Jersey.  There are lots of people who say Jersey is actually 3 states: South, Central, and North. 

In any case, here are some things that you should know about Jersey:
- It is the butt of many, many jokes, not the least of which about it being the armpit of the nation squished in between Philadelphia and NYC. There are areas that smell funny, but they are generally limited to the area around Newark airport, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and Camden.
- Jersey tomatoes, Jersey corn, and Jersey blueberries are unequaled in terms of their awesomeness. 
- Jersey is EXPENSIVE.  I see you've been living in Japan, so the cost of living in Jersey might not be quite as shocking, but to live in the nice areas it's going to cost a lot relative to a lot of other areas in the States.  Last I knew, Jersey has the highest population density of any state in the Union, which means more people, cars, houses, schools, etc crammed into its borders.  Property taxes are among the highest in the country, as is car insurance.
- Transit links are primarily to get people to/from the big cities not actually located in Jersey - Philly and NYC.  Transit links in the state are not as strong.  If you're trying to commute from one place to another within Jersey - try and be on the opposite side of your communting destination from the city (i.e. live west of your office town if your city is NYC so you've got the morning and evening commutes in the right direction).
- Chose now: Giants or Jets (since you'll be in North Jersey, the Eagles are not an option)

and finally..

- People in Jersey don't got to the beach, they go to "the Shore."  Usually they go "down the Shore"  But only the Jersey Shore; if they go to Maryland or the Carolinas, then they go to the beach.

Also - one last note: if you are trying to live in Jersey without a car.... well, move to Manhattan.   99.9% of Jersey is like 99.9% of the US - built for driving, not walking/commuting.

Probably! They sort of live across the highway from the shopping centre that has/had Soverign Bank in it...I thikn there used to be a furniture store on their corner?

Not far at all.  I think I know where you mean.  I grew up on the other side of Route 1.  Did your friend go to HS in Lawrenceville?