Crucial Steps to Take Before Moving to NJ
New Jersey, also known as the Garden State, is a popular destination for a variety of reasons, with the most common one being its distance to two major cities: NYC and Philadelphia. While it’s often overshadowed by New York, there’s plenty of other reasons to move here including affordable housing, parks and beaches, great schools, and more. So whether you’re a young professional, a growing family, or perhaps a retiree, moving to New Jersey is a great option. Below are some hints and tips on how to choose the right place in New Jersey for you.
Check Out Different Towns/Cities
New Jersey might be the fifth smallest state when it comes to land area, but there’s a lot of diversity when it comes to the various towns and small cities. If you want to commute easily to NYC, look at Hoboken or Jersey City as you can simply hop on the PATH train to access Midtown, the West Village, and Battery Park City. Due to its proximity to NYC, both locations have a more urban feel and offer a wide variety of amenities and great night life, making it perfect for young professionals.
However, if you’re looking for something a bit quieter, there are plenty of options to choose from including:
- Montclair – offers an urban/suburban feel with plenty of restaurants and retail shops. It also has highly rated public schools and low crime
- Princeton – home to the prestigious Princeton University, the town of Princeton is often considered one of the best places to live. The historic downtown is very walkable with plenty of food and shopping options.
- Closter – Located in Bergen County, this small town is great if you’re looking for a more rural environment, but still want access to major cities. NYC is about an hour away via NJ Transit buses. Considered the Historic Hub of the Northern Valley, Closter offers a quaint downtown area as well as an outdoor mall that includes grocery stores, restaurants, and a movie theater.
Know what kind of environment you want before moving. You don’t want to move to the suburbs if you’re looking for a more bustling environment. Some factors to consider when comparing neighborhoods include:
- Community – each area has its own culture. Some towns are more conservative while others are more progressive. Find the one that suits you!
- Cost of Living – the cost of living varies widely between towns, but the more amenities you want where you live, the more expensive it will be. Living in Hoboken will be more expensive than a place like Morristown for example.
- Amenities – what do you want from the neighborhood? If you’re an outdoorsy person, you might want to move to a place that has easy access to one of the many parks in New Jersey. Young professionals, on the other hand, might want to move to a place that has an active nightlife. Figure this out before you move so you’re not stuck somewhere that doesn’t offer the things you want.
- Commute – While New Jersey traffic might not be as bad as NYC, you can experience traffic jams during the morning and evening rush hour. If you plan on commuting to NYC or Philadelphia, make sure you are okay with the commute time! An hour might not seem that long initially, but it might slowly wear on you if you have to make the trip 5 days a week.
Decide Whether to Rent or Buy
New Jersey has plenty of housing options and you can choose to buy or rent. For either option, peak season is during the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If possible, try to find a place between October and April as while the supply might be lower, you’ll have a better chance of negotiating the rents and home prices down.
When it comes to renting, there are plenty of options to choose from including apartment buildings to family homes. Tenant laws in New Jersey are meant to protect renters. For example, landlords cannot charge more than 1.5 times the monthly rent for a security deposit. The best part about renting is that you can leave when your lease is up. Have your paperwork ready if you end up finding a place you love as apartments tend to move fast in the more desirable locations. You will need to show proof of income, ID, and occasionally have references ready. Unlike NYC that requires 40 times the rent,, New Jersey landlords are a bit more lenient, requiring 30-35 times the monthly rent as the annual income requirement. You might also need to pay Broker fees, though it’s less common than NYC.
If you want to buy, you have plenty of options to choose from condos to townhomes to family estates. The housing market can be fierce, especially in areas with good schools and access to amenities so you’ll need to move fast if you find a place you like. If you plan on buying a condo, make sure you familiarize yourself with everything you will need to pay for including things like insurance, condo fees, taxes, maintenance fees, etc.
Find a Place That Matches Your Budget
With the cost of living continuing to rise, finding a location that you can afford is imperative. On average, New Jersey tends to be more expensive than the national average, but compared to NYC and Philadelphia, it is cheaper. Still, that doesn’t mean all of the towns are affordable as there are plenty of wealthy areas like Princeton and Montclair. In general, most locations that have great schools, lots of amenities, and access to NYC tend to be on the more expensive side. Likewise, there are more affordable locations like:
- Phillipsburg – A rural town equidistant to NYC and Philadelphia. It has seen an economic revival in the past 20 years due to the Urban Enterprise Zone initiative which has reduced sales tax to 3.3125% to encourage more shopping and businesses. There has also been continuous talks of re-establishing a train from NYC to Phillipsburg so it could become a bustling town in the near future.
- New Brunswick – A regional commercial hub for Central New Jersey, the area is home to Rutgers University, the largest university in New Jersey, and is also a popular commuter town for those who work in NYC.
- Toms River – A perfect location for those who want to live along the water. You get the Toms River that goes right through town and easy access to the beach along the Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of the safest cities in the United States and tends to attract families and retirees.
Depending on where you move in New Jersey, home ownership isn’t just a pipe dream. There are many great locations where you can still get a home for under $300,000. In fact, compared to neighboring states, New Jersey has a higher percentage of homeowners! One thing to keep in mind is that New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the United States. And while HOAs do exist, they aren’t as prevalent as many homes and communities were created pre-1980.
Speaking of taxes, New Jersey does not have any city taxes, unlike New York. That means if you live in New Jersey but work in NYC, your take home pay is more than if you lived and worked in NYC since you aren’t paying NYC taxes. It also has progressive state taxes so you only get taxes on the income you earn above a certain bracket.
Besides housing and taxes, you also have to consider other areas of your budget. For example, if you move to a suburban or rural area, you will definitely need to invest in a car, which means insurance and gas. Luckily, New Jersey tends to have cheaper gas than neighboring states as it is a major shipping hub for gas and oil. There are several options for grocery stores including Aldi and Trader Joe’s for budget-friendly options. You can also pick up fresh vegetables and fruits at your local farmer’s market!
Explore the Town
Have you narrowed down your choice of towns to one or two? Then now is a perfect time to actually spend time in the area. This is a crucial step as it will give you a better idea of the community vibe and atmosphere so even if you’re making a long-distance move to NYC, rent an AirBnB and spend a few days or week in the area. The more time you can familiarize yourself with the area, the better.
Don’t treat this like a vacation! Use this time to act like you already live in the area. Travel to the grocery store, gym, school, work location, etc. to see how long it will actually take you to get to these places via your preferred method of travel. Outside of the major NJ cities, you’ll likely need to rent a car to get around, but you can always check to see if the area is bike and/or pedestrian friendly if you enjoy walking around town. If you plan on commuting to NYC via bus or train, ride it so you get an idea of how long it will take and if it’s something you can handle on a daily basis. You should also travel to areas of interest whether that’s to parks, the beach, or cultural institutions. Don’t forget to check out the local events to see if there’s anything happening. That way you can get to know your neighbors beforehand!
Not everyone can take time off work to explore a new city. If that’s the case, then explore digitally via Google Street View. Check out points of interest and map out how long it will take to get to these locations. While it won’t give you the same experience, it’s better than nothing!
Moving to New Jersey
Your move to NJ doesn’t have to be stressful. At NJ Great Movers, we have helped hundreds of customers relocate with no issues. Our experienced moving team has handled every type of move in every situation from moving during a blizzard to the scorching summer heat. So whether you’re making a local or long distance move we’re here to help. Reach out to us and we’ll answer any questions you might have.
FAQ
Is New Jersey a safe place to live?
As with any state, some parts are safer than others. However, on the whole, New Jersey is considered one of the safest states in the country.
What are some quirks of living in NJ?
There are a few things you’ll need to get used to. For example, there is no self serve gas pumping in NJ, you cannot turn left on red, and some restaurants with no liquor license allow you to bring your own bottle, though they will charge a cork fee.
What are some fun things to do in NJ?
New Jersey is full of things to do! If you like the outdoors, there are plenty of state parks and hiking trails to explore. You can head over to the shore to enjoy a day on the beach or go to Atlantic City to try your luck at a casino. Outside of that, head to Storybook Land, a fairy tale theme park. Depending on where you are and who you ask, Ellis Island is also a part of New Jersey, making it a great place for kids to learn more about US history.
