Hello
if you need a train and only have one car for instance, the houses closest to the train will be more desirable. Both towns are in demand now. The town and train are making for a great "marriage". There is a jitney bus for those living further than "foot" allows.
I am a top realtor for Weichert in the area. Call me 973 951 6665

It is all about location, location, location. The closer to the train station and downtown the more you will pay for the home. Some streets and sections command a premium for their appeal, historical values and character (quite, treelined, etc.)

Living in South Orange myself I can tell you that it definitely has to do with the proximity to bordering towns. For example there is a side of South Orange that borders Millburn, West Orange & to the other extreme there is a side that borders NEWARK (not so great). Same for Maplewood there is side which is closer to South Orange (good) & a side that borders Irvington, Union (not so great). The closer to South Orange, Millburn area the better. Also South Orange has an amazing little downtown area by the train station with some great little restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, schools, parks & pools, etc. This is where you want to be!

This is where an agent with good local knowledge can make a huge difference! The houses that are priced due to the amount of work needed are obvious. Other differences may be subtle, but meaningful. Is it near a busy corner that seems fine on a Sunday afternoon, but is congested at 3:00 weekdays? Proximity to transportation and shopping is increasingly important to many buyers. A lot of Essex County towns allow people to be independent from their cars and buyers are willing to pay for it.

Both KJ and Marc are on target. Additionally, there are some simple "old school" techniques you should use. Walk around the areas you are looking at with a friend and speak to the people that live there. You can also speak to people that work in the area (restaurants, small stores, professionals...). These are some of the best ways for you to determine if the area is right for you.

Feel free to contact me for more information. I don't make money for referrals, just my inspections.

Rafi Footerman
Mid Jersey Inspections
732-906-4100
NJ Home Inspector Lic. #076900

Every town has sections that are perceived to be more desirable than others...of course...many in a particular town would argue that their part of town is best. As you noted in your question, there are a lot of factors that go in to home values and it does require some homework on the buyers part. Of course, the first clue to which homes are in the so called "more desirable" locations is the price. As you astutely noticed, there is a wide disparity in price for seemingly similar homes.

As a real estate professional, I (or one of my colleagues) can help you find sites and information that will help you gather the necessary information, like finding the right school for your situation. Once we have an idea of your needs and housing preferences, we can assist you in locating homes that are also convenient for your transportation and your lifestyle (ie, near parks, shopping, etc). It's a process and once you spend some time in the towns and compare the housing inventory, your questions will ultimately be answered.

Feel free to give me a call and I would be happy to get you started on your search.

Hi Lisa,

In all towns some areas are more desirable than others based on incomes, proximity to transportation, schools, shopping, etc. Generally those areas command a higher price.

However, it is unethical for Realtors to engage in "steering", meaning saying anything like "oh that neighborhood is bad, you don't want to go there". Making those kind of observations is unethical and illegal under the fair housing laws. Therefore, you have to do your own research and determine your comfort level with any given area.

If you would like more information, contact me through my website. You can also search for homes on my website. Any house you save as a "favorite" will automatically generate a listing sheet with the address that will be e-mailed to you.

Happy house hunting!

-Marc