CT/NJ/PA Yaardies

[Marie876 0]

Hey all you yaardies that live in CT/NJ/PA (or any other state within 3 hrs of NY lol)

I'm thinking about moving that way and need a headstart on researching up there

driving times to NY, nice living cities/communities, housing costs, cost of living, school systems, JAMAICAN restaurants, etc

((please))

- Marie

[sus 70]

Are you thinking about work in NYC, Marie? Lots of people in CT live and work in the city -Costs are high living expense wise though -

If you want CT, you want to be on the Metro-North trainline -

Highest cost - Greenwich / Stamford area (closest to NYC)

http://www.ci.stamford.ct.us/ - expect to pay at least $1400 and up for a one bedroom in an okay neighborhood -

Or Fairfield - http://www.fairfieldct.org/ - a little further north, still on the trainline, but apartments for around $1100 and up -

Best bet cost wise is Bridgeport - http://ci.bridgeport.ct.us/ - can get a one bedroom for around $900 a month, but there are MANY not good areas, so you have to be careful.

Lots of JA restaurants in Bridgeport and some in Stamford -

For a ton of JA stuff in CT, look at the Hartford area - one of the largest West Indian populations in the US, but furthest from NYC

[SweetSugahDumplin 0]

Are you thinking about work in NYC, Marie? Lots of people in CT live and work in the city -Costs are high living expense wise though -

If you want CT, you want to be on the Metro-North trainline -

Highest cost - Greenwich / Stamford area (closest to NYC)

http://www.ci.stamford.ct.us/ - expect to pay at least $1400 and up for a one bedroom in an okay neighborhood -

Or Fairfield - http://www.fairfieldct.org/ - a little further north, still on the trainline, but apartments for around $1100 and up -

Best bet cost wise is Bridgeport - http://ci.bridgeport.ct.us/ - can get a one bedroom for around $900 a month, but there are MANY not good areas, so you have to be careful.

Lots of JA restaurants in Bridgeport and some in Stamford -

For a ton of JA stuff in CT, look at the Hartford area - one of the largest West Indian populations in the US, but furthest from NYC

Super expensive, thats why i just left NJ my rent was 1535. I lived in New Brunswick, i drove often to east orange, thats where i found all the carib spots. Its stra8 hood but i can get what i want there! plus get my hair done like i want it. Decent place will cost 1200 and up. Took me 35-45 min driving in good traffic to manhattan and the train is like 7 min walking so that was great. Lots of JA Restaurants, food shopping etc. I could always find what i needed there. If ur looking for the convenience of finding anything carribean, cultural melting pot(which i loved the diversity), shopping and lots to see the tri cities area is great. I found it not to be the most friendly place out of all ive lived, experienced much rudeness! My reason for leaving is i want a more frienldy relaxed place to live and most of all since starting a family i want to get the most for my money so im moving south where its more affordable and i can get more for my money. The further south Jersey u live the cheaper it is. I was exit 9 off the NJ turnpike. Newark airport was 30 min ride if that, i loved that part, goin to JA i would park and ride. Spent bout 90 bucks. OR u could catch the train, which stops right at the airport. I alwaays had to many bags for that!

[*JG* 2]

Everytime I read the rental prices, I thank God I live in the midwest.

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Girl,

After looking at those rental prices, you don't even want to step foot in the DC/MD/VA area. Pay is great, but housing will hurt.

[sus 70]

Girl,

After looking at those rental prices, you don't even want to step foot in the DC/MD/VA area. Pay is great, but housing will hurt.

Lawny, I am giving the very bottom line rental prices - and they aren't easy to come by. Our areas are fairly comparable.

[*JG* 2]

You know I can rent a nice 3 bedroom house for $900 a month. For $1500, I can get amazing houses or schwanky apartments downtown here. Hell, I owned a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, full basement, and a half acre of land for a total of $660....including yearly homeowners insurance and property taxes.

See what I am saying here?

[Islandwoman 0]

You know I can rent a nice 3 bedroom house for $900 a month. For $1500, I can get amazing houses or schwanky apartments downtown here. Hell, I owned a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, full basement, and a half acre of land for a total of $660....including yearly homeowners insurance and property taxes.

See what I am saying here?

Wooieee!! Same here JG - $600 is a nice 2 bedroom apartment where I live. But only JA food around is when the local restaurant features Jamaica night. Albany, NY has a Jamaica crew there - its 3 hrs north of NYC.

Has a carnival too - http://www.carama.org/

And of course, don't forget the snow.........

Edited October 6, 2008 by Islandwoman

[*JG* 2]

We don't stress the food or the community part. Andre cooks most of the time anyhow.

But, yah.....no way I could deal with those housing prices.

[sus 70]

Housing is outrageous - My cousin owns a small (really small) two bedroom house in the town where I work - cute, they did a lot of work on it - but it has no backyard, one bath, and the wiring is old and needs to be updated - It's on the market for $575,000.00 - They are building new condos downtown, a highrise - the sign on the front says luxury living - prices starting as low as $1.5M - Whose world is that low in?

[*JG* 2]

Ever watch that show on DIY where they compare properties in 3 completely different areas/states in the US? I cringe at some of it. It is really amazing, the disparity of the housing prices in the US.

Sus, if I spend 1.5 million, it better be my own island like Richard Branscom!

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Housing is outrageous - My cousin owns a small (really small) two bedroom house in the town where I work - cute, they did a lot of work on it - but it has no backyard, one bath, and the wiring is old and needs to be updated - It's on the market for $575,000.00 - They are building new condos downtown, a highrise - the sign on the front says luxury living - prices starting as low as $1.5M - Whose world is that low in?

$1.5M for a condo, is that all.

JG, remember the condos I showed you. They're starting at 2.5 million (NOW)..........

[sus 70]

Sus, if I spend 1.5 million, it better be my own island like Richard Branscom!

I agree completely!

Here's a sample of available condos:

Hi end:

http://www.raveis.com/brokerpropdetail.asp...LASTKEY=2446291

Low end (not a good area)

http://www.raveis.com/brokerpropdetail.asp...LASTKEY=2469413

[*JG* 2]

Wow! That one is gorgeous. But, seriously, if I am buying something, why would I buy a condo? Not till we are old and decrepit and can't care for some of the things around the house.

And, if you remember right, Tre, I said you were CRAZY then too.

Housing is outrageous - My cousin owns a small (really small) two bedroom house in the town where I work - cute, they did a lot of work on it - but it has no backyard, one bath, and the wiring is old and needs to be updated - It's on the market for $575,000.00 - They are building new condos downtown, a highrise - the sign on the front says luxury living - prices starting as low as $1.5M - Whose world is that low in?

$1.5M for a condo, is that all.

JG, remember the condos I showed you. They're starting at 2.5 million (NOW)..........

Didn't you say you were buying 2 of them?

[SupportOAFJF 0]

Sus isn't that the truth..CT is not cheap..