<p>We continue our house search and have noted a huge price increase as you crossover 287 and gain altitude (attitude?) in the hills. Our youngest has just two years left in hs and she’s at a private school for the duration so we do not need to consider school quality except insofar as it might impact resale. </p>
<p>There’s a 55+ development in the flatlands where we could comfortably afford a brand new single family house with all the modern amenities - kitchen is wonderful. Otherwise we are going to be in a house built in the 70s or 80s on more lot than we need or want and with at least one big project (bad kitchen, bad master bath, bad basement, etc) but in “the hills” which are admittedly quite pretty. The townhouses in the area don’t appeal to us. We are a few years short of 55 but this development seems willing to allow this - they have a big price reduction right now so it seems as if they are motivated to get the inventory moving.</p>
<p>Thoughts? We like the whole area - including a lot of the edgier neighborhoods here on the wrong side of the tracks with great places to eat, a Costco, etc. Would it be a big mistake to invest in this development? Some are telling us this - but they live in “the hills.” DH does a lot of international travel in his position and I hope to accompany him once youngest is in college. Seems as if this new development might give us a house that is much easier to leave for trips.</p>
<p>For those keeping track of my NJ relocation - we passed on the house with the indoor pool. Too far from DH’s job and on a revisit the pool seemed to dominate the entire house.</p>
<p>sewhappy- I am by no means a real estate expert but my experience tells me that over 55 communities take a big hit in a down market at resale time. It seems everyone likes to buy into them new and pay a premium.</p>
<p>I think the edgier neighborhoods may be just that, and if you and your D are home alone a lot (or even if your spouse is there) you do want to think about how comfortable you will be walking around at night, coming home at night, and so on. No matter where you live you are going to be driving to get to shopping and cultural activities unless you are in downtown Westfield or some such place. You will be within relatively easy driving reach of everything, from Costco to Williams-Sonoma from anywhere. </p>
<p>Resale seems like an iffy proposition these days virtually anywhere, but in an edgy neighborhood with less than stellar schools it will be even iffier, your own ability to overlook the school quality notwithstanding. I do wonder how good a fit a 55+ community is for a high school student in terms of having friends over to enjoy the various amenities–but if that is not an issue, a lock and leave place sounds like a reasonable and rather appealing option if you won’t be at odds with your neighbors who are at such a different life stage.</p>
<p>We are seeing good resale in our area for a 55+ community. It’s not a huge development … I think maybe 50 units with a small clubhouse by a respected national builder. We own an investment unit and get regular inquiries about its availability status for either rent or resale. We intend to hold onto it for a few more years … before deciding if we will live in it ourselves.</p>
<p>Check on the school systems before zero in your search. As OF indicated in another thread, S. Orange and Maplewood used to be the last frontier, but not sure how it is now. My aunt had a difficult time to sell her 7 bedrooms behind the “pond”, near the rr station, in S. Orange before the housing crush. I am sure now it will be more depressed. I think the better areas are no longer Essex and lower Somerset counties.</p>
<p>BTW, look at Bergen County also, along the RR there are many good communtable towns.</p>
<p>Most of the hill communitites between R 80 to the north and Hwy 22 have far more prestige than those down in the flats to the south of Rt 22. From Short Hills on out to Oldwick is NJ blue blood land.</p>
<p>Are you thinking about The Hills, between 287 exit 22 & 26, in Berdnards TWP & Bedmister, major road is “Allen Road”? If yes, you are welcome to PM me. We Live there since 2000 when my kid was 2nd grader, now is a high senior (although now he is at a boarding school in NE).</p>