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07.09.08, 13:54 PM General Topics
14 replies
Dad (for a change...) posting: looking for a trustworthy real estate broker to help moving to New Jersey (Summit/Millburn). We live in Manhattan with two children (2,5) and both work (we are the "artsy type") as freelancers and need more space, good schools and SANITY. My wife is American, I am European, and while I personally feel any public school we have toured in Manhattan is still ten times better than what I grew up with, my wife very much feels the pressure to send our children to only "the best schools", while we can't afford private. We have pretty much boiled down our options to Summit and Millburn, with emphasis maybe on Summit, as the place to move to, with highly rated schools and still some town feeling, an ounce diversity and stuff to do. I'd like to get a good broker and also hear if we are on the right track. Our absolute maximum for a house is around 850-900 K, cheaper would be nice of course. My wife is Asian, I am white, thought I should throw that in there as well... [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.09.08, 01:54 PM Flag
 

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Ugh, no diversity there. If you want good schools and diversity, go to Fanwood/Scotch Plains. Only place in the area you can really get both (unless you're just giving lip service to diversity) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 01:57 PM Flag
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I live in Fanwood and it's great. My neighbors are Indian, black, Asian, Latino, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Phillipino. But the schools are very good. We love it here, people are not so snotty as in Summit, etc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:02 PM Flag
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We are moving from Ireland to Madison, NJ (which is beside Summit) this summer. Our kids are also 5 and 2 (5 year old starting kindergarten) and we had a wonderful real estate agent called Fran Kasbar. She works for Prudential in Summit -she also lives there and so knows the area inside out. She went out of her way for us. Would highly recommend her. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:04 PM Flag
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Hello, I will look into Fanwood, thank you. What do you mean by lip service? I have not actually gone out there yet, will do this weekend, but based on school statistics alone, both Middle and High school have between 26-29% Non-white students, which in my book amounts to some diversity, unlike in Lower Westchester we looked into (and can't afford). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:07 PM Flag
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By lip service, I mean a lot of people talk about wanting diversity but not actually wanting neighbors who are not white stock brokers. I grew up in Westfield and it has become a snotty rich town. In Fanwood we have neighbors who have professional jobs in NY, work for non-profits, are cops, etc. A great mix. Not as ritzy, but you could get a lot for your money. The downtown area isn't much, but Summit and Westfield are close enough for that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:09 PM Flag
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Yikes, can you find a house for that amount in Millburn/Summit? And, I am pretty sure those two towns are not known for their diverse populations. We live in Montclair, and although the schools have a bad reputation among Manhattanites, Montclair High had a more impressive college acceptance list than the regarded Montclair Kimberley Academy. And, you can find a house for the $amount you listed AND it's diverse, for sure. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:00 PM Flag
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ditto montclair. in summit or millburn you will be surrounded by banker types. in montclair our neighbor plays carnegie hall. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 05:01 PM Flag
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You're European & think that NYC publics are good? You are the first European I have heard this from. To answer your question I have heard good things about Milburn, not Summit so much. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:01 PM Flag
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Ok, maybe I was overstating it to make my point that I am easier to please when it comes to schools than my wife. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:24 PM Flag
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We are moving from Ireland to Madison, NJ (which is beside Summit) this summer. Our kids are also 5 and 2 (5 year old starting kindergarten) and we had a wonderful real estate agent called Fran Kasbar. She works for Prudential in Summit -she also lives there and so knows the area inside out. She went out of her way for us. Would highly recommend her.[ [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:08 PM Flag
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Thank you very much, will contact her for houses in Summit, and will say "hi" from the Irish folks! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:23 PM Flag
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you didn't like my previous recommendation? Tom Esch at Coldwell is one of the top brokers in the area. Go for it, he's a v v nice guy. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:19 PM Flag
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I am sorry, having some issues here at home, with my daughter screaming her had off, and also not familiar with this site, and how to respond. Anyhow, thank you for your recommendation, will contact him! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:22 PM Flag
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head, obviously... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.09.08, 02:23 PM Flag
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