Submitted by Jersey-City-2468 t3_yx6smn in jerseycity
We’ve officially out grown our apartment downtown and are reluctantly looking to move and buy something in the Heights. The Bayonne boxes with the backyard and garage are pretty enticing. Has anyone bought one new from a developer? Any things to be wary of? Pros and cons? Appreciate any advice as I am also a first time home buyer.
Cons:
- Poor sound insulation - primarily affects the downstairs unit.
- The condo association structure seems like a nightmare if the other unit's owners are difficult to deal with. This is why I would never buy a condo in a bayonne box.
- Some of them have a shared (tandem) garage for both condo units.
Pros:-
Downstairs unit have a garage and backyard.
- Newer models have individual entrances and higher ceilings.
I think they are good starter homes. I recommend to buy the entire property, if your budget allows for it. You'll have control in choosing your neighbors (tenants) and no condo association to deal with.
See an older (to the right) & newer model, the interior layout is almost the same:https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/98-Zabriskie-St-2-Jersey-City-NJ-07307/2082299525_zpid/?mmlb=g,22
Yeah, the condo association structure gives me pause as well. You're entirely dependent on your neighbor in this regard
Our neighbor owes 1000 bucks for the HOA and has tried to steal from us a few times. Gonna be fun suing in the new year
Can you give an example of how the other condo unit owners could be difficult to deal with?
There is only two of you, and you may have differing priorities. You might be looking at the place long term, wanting to upgrade mechanicals/landscaping/roofing etc, the other person might be looking to get out in the next year or 3 to get more space in the burbs so just wants to band-aid everything.
Things like putting in solar or doing electrical work to get an electric car charger are two areas I can see where things could be tricky in a two person condo if you aren't on the same page.
Another potential area of concern: Your neighbor can just decide to stop paying the HOA fees--and short of taking them to court, you have very little recourse as to how to collect. They could also decide that those roof repairs aren't their problem, since they're on the lower floor--again, what can you do short of taking them to court? There's no Condo Association or Board to enforce the bylaws or provisions of the Master Deed. It's just you and your neighbor.
That said, you could also end up with great neighbors who follow the agreed-upon rules.
The Heights isn’t for everyone. Maybe rent an apartment there for a year and see how you like it.
Is there any alternative in a similar price range that is for everyone?
There are alternatives in similar price range but no place is for everyone. That is why I suggested trying out before you buy
Following with interest. I've gone to a few open houses, and some of these condos are (superficially) gorgeous. But the prospect of shoddy construction has me... reluctant to commit. (There are so, so many of these things going up)
What’s a Bayonne box?
Unless you willing to risk getting hit with a massive tax bill every few years, I would avoid buying anything in JC. Do a search on Board of Education and City budget tax hikes. FYI, the people responsible for the massive tax hike won in the November election
New construction has a 5 year tax abatement. And compared to buying in the suburbs of NJ (which was our other option), JC has relatively low taxes.
Keep in mind, there is NOT an automatic abatement with new construction. Often, the new homeowner will need to apply for the abatement.
I would do some deeper research into this. In some cases the abatement will cost you more than your standard tax bill depending on the property. Additionally, I just moved to a very high tax suburb and the spread between the suburb and JC wasn’t massive, maybe 4 a year. Which on paper seems like a lot, but when you factor in constantly increasing school budgets, municipality budget increases, and then PILOTs expiring which will cause the municipality to take in less taxes with no guarantee it’ll lower school taxes, they’re destined to go up.
You could say suburb taxes will go up, and they will, but JC’s low rate isn’t out of the kindness of the city’s heart, it’s due to mismanagement and a perfect storm of conditions that will end.
Additionally, since the Bayonne boxes are new, there’s no assessed value on the books so you won’t really know what the taxes are until you’re assessed or if you do the abatement.
I was looking in the heights but the cities tax future scared me, the door to door commute to work would be about the same as where we bought in the suburbs, and I got significantly more space and land for the price. I wanted desperately to stay in JC, we just couldn’t make it work unless we rented forever.
Edit: Also don’t know what your budget is, but the new build Bayonne boxes skyrocketed this year. We saw (arguably the nicest of the bunch) one in April (listed for $650,000 and it sold for $635,000). The last one we looked at in September was listed at $900,000, was not as nice and was on a less desirable block.
Fucking cry more, you dork.
Can you have a conversation without verbally attacking a poster stating facts? How uncouth…
Tired of hearing shit about the BoE when OP asked an entirely different question. Also, look at this dude's comment history.
The Bayonne box typically has only a 10 ft or less backyard, which is sometimes cemented. The City is trying to reinstitute the 30 ft backyard. I think they are horrible in terms of materials, sound insulation, and water runoff. You pay to heat and cool the high "Cathedral"ceiling in a typical living room.
Unless you watch build from ground up dont buy They are plain and simple shit Garbage Also don't rent build code is lower in jc for this Trash
I lived in heights for 5 years and would never do that again. I was close to Manhattan ave and it was tolerable when it was cheap.
LetAffectionate4696 t1_iwojbf1 wrote
If you do, check out the construction company. I've lived her for 12 years and these things go up overnight, neighbors who live in them are getting their roofs and HVACs replaced with 1-2 years.