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Permalink Reply by Anthony on May 9, 2011 at 7:58pm

They have yet to provide a start date. I thought it would be a good idea to start gathering information.

I'll be in NJ next Sat and Sun driving around looking at places. I'm thinking the move will happen end of May/early June.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on May 10, 2011 at 7:26am

Thanks to everyone for all of the great information and recommendations.

So far, everyone seems to be leaning me to Morristown (Morris Plains)...

Anything/anywhere else I need to consider??

(look forward to meeting you all when I get settled)

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on May 10, 2011 at 8:46am

Thanks! I will definitely keep everyone updated.  I have never lived "in the city" and during this relocation I am putting tremendous value in the ability to walk to my social life.  I want to be more involved with the community and have a more active life than i do now (living outside the city).

 

As for the W/D in unit... it's more of a convenience thing.  I'm fine with taking everything to a place that will wash and fold for me :P (they exist right? I've been doing my own laundry my whole life, hehe)

 

Parking.... Yea, I've been parking in a garage or right out front of my APT since I can remember. Parking is important to me.

 

Basically it boils down to this:

 

1) Hoboken and JC seem to not make much sense because my commute will not be ideal (and I can always go out there on the weekends)

2) I want to live in a happening town with young professionals in their mid-20s to early-30s

3) I do not NEED a W/D in unit (but it would be nice)

4) I'd like parking near my apt (in my apt community if possible)

5) I pay $1350 for a 720 sqft apt now with Parking included.  Add in all utilities and I'm out about $1500 a month.  I would like to not go over $2000 for rent/parking/utilities (worst case scenario)

 

OH and to everyone who has been contributing to this thread... FIRST ROUND ON ME :)

 

-Anthony

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on May 10, 2011 at 10:18am

what is considered "Downtown" Morristown? (want to know what streets to live on/around)

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Permalink Reply by Joe Eberly on May 10, 2011 at 12:20pm

Downtown Morristown is typically considered the area around the green.  It's really the heart of morristown.  On a map, there's a square where South Street, 202, and a few other roads all meet.  Most of the bars are along south street and morris street.

 

As for the shady areas, North along Speedwell(202) has a few areas that get a little sketchy at night and I feel like the north west part of morristown is an area I'd avoid living(around the cemetary on the other side of the train tracks). 

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on May 10, 2011 at 1:36pm

You are all awesome! Such great information.  I'm definitely going to print this out before I head up Saturday morning and take notes.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on May 16, 2011 at 10:01am

So future friends... :)

 

I just spent the weekend in the Basking Ridge/Morristown area looking for places.  I'm having doubts about my offer of employment because 40% or so of my income will be going towards rent and utilities.

Simply getting a decent 1 bedroom apartment will run $1700 at best then tack on all the utilities, pet fees, parking, etc and your way over $2000.

Hopefully they will consider a cost of living adjustment :)

My exuberant excitement about this opportunity has been muted by the fact that my net gain is near zero (verging on negative) compared with my current situation.

Keeping my head up and remaining optimistic :)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Brown on May 16, 2011 at 11:32pm

Like many other people in Morristown, I live in a subdivided house -while most units inside the house themselves don't have a W/D in the unit, they are in the basement of the house - with 3-4 units in any one house, you can deal.  I hawked for 3 days hard on Craigslist and got mine for $1600 with all utils included - it does get cold and depending on the altitude it can get windswept, so utils is definitely important. 

 

Geographic borders - not north of Clinton on Speedwell, out to Jardine/Olyphant off of Lafayette, most anywhere to the east/south/west of the green. 

 

I'm a bit insane and will often drive into the city - driving into Hoboken is a nightmare for parking, but New York isn't hard if you learn the timing and aren't trying to drive to MAdison Square Garden or Times Square.  The trains do suck and don't do direct to Hoboken on the weekend.

 

It's not easy, and Jersey is expensive nobody will argue.  The apartment complexes in general are rough to brutal, but there are places like this out there http://newjersey.craigslist.org/apa/2384449519.html which may be crappy or pretty good, need to hunt on your own.  Having the willingness to put some work in to paint/repair your place will help.  Another option is get a short-term roommate and look for a few months until you find the perfect place, the most vacancies on bang for the buck places is during the summer.  Still if you want under $1300-1500 you'll need a roommate.

 

Morristown does get small for nightlife, but for this area of NJ it's by far the best - driving into NYC from here at night is often a 45-minute drive or a 72 minute train ride with a last run at 1:30.

 

New Brunswick is another decent opportunity, it's not as much of a college town as it used to be, some decent "adult" nightlife off of George St, and from there it's not as far to the shore or NYC.

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Permalink Reply by Leah on May 17, 2011 at 12:13am

I've been reading through everyone's posts and find them interesting - I'm learning a lot as well!

I too am surprised that more people haven't suggested New Brunswick. Maybe I'm biased because I went to college there and live closeby, but it's a great town (doesn't get the rep it deserves) and probably not a bad driving commute to Basking Ridge either. Plus, the New Brunswick train station is right in the middle of town. I would also think it's more affordable than Morristown or other "north Jersey" towns where price go up up up..

 

It may be a college town, but you can find some good life - great bars/microbreweries, convenience stores abound, ethnic restaurants, festivals, a famous comedy club, and a great art museum. There may not be as much to do as in Morristown or Hoboken, but at least the parking situation is decent - lots of street parking (free after 7pm and on weekends) and affordable garages.

 

A hint: if you take the time to learn the Rutgers campus bus system (not as complicated as people will make it out to be), you can hop on any of their buses most any time of day/night to get around town. Some run as late as 3am, they're free, and you don't need ID to ride. You can drink and still get home without your car!

 

The downside - sadly, many neighborhoods in N.B. are shady, but that's something you'll see in any city and just have to stay away. If you take a walk around George street and the whole College Avenue/Easton Avenue area, you'll find a lot of lovely historic buildings and all the bars and lounges you'll ever need. Unlike Montclair, they're open past 10pm. :P

 

Like Steve mentioned above, you won't be far from the shore towns, and you won't be far from the Princeton area (very beautiful with its own nightlife) or from NYC either...only about a 40 min commute to any of those places. You're smack in the middle of Jersey so everything is within reach!

 

Hope that helps...good luck!

 

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Permalink Reply by Joe Eberly on May 17, 2011 at 11:14am

Just a little addition, while the "Not north of Clinton Street on Speedwell" is true, once you get past Cory Road and into the Morris Plains area(I still don't know the exact town boarders around there) it gets nice again. 

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on May 17, 2011 at 3:15pm

If anyone knows anyone looking for a roommate that wants to live in Morristown, please let me know.

 

:)

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Permalink Reply by Shannon on May 21, 2011 at 6:23pm

I moved to Morristown a month ago and commute to Basking Ridge. It is wonderful - 20 mins and no traffic. I too wasn't sure where to choose in Morristown and was concerned about the price.

 

I ended up in Hamilton Court Apartments in a very large 1 bedroom, 2 bath. The appliances are old and there is no W/D in the unit but I really like it. There is a W/D on each floor which is better than in the basement though you have to pay 1.50 for a wash and 1.50 for dry.

 

You do get a free parking space right in the back of the building and the units have balconies.

 

The only thing that is a downside is that you are 1 mile from the Green which is where most of the bars are. Not a big deal for a guy but as a woman I don't feel entirely safe walking home at night, especially in heels and taxi's are about 8 plus tip at the end of the night.

 

There are move-in specials so with that taken into account I pay $1550 a month with heat, hot water and cooking gas and parking included.

 

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