Submitted by bigicky1 t3_10fmy12 in newjersey

A soon-to-be retired single woman who wants a small house near water. Not too expensive. Coves and rivers rather than ocean. Safe yet interesting and vibrant. Im just starting looking and am looking for other's experiences and perspectives.

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HeyItsPanda69 t1_j4xzhkc wrote

Cheap and waterfront don't really go hand in hand. Try Atlantic City maybe?

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murphydcat t1_j508jda wrote

Came here to say the same thing. AC may be the only town left along the shore where real estate is affordable for middle class folks.

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HeyItsPanda69 t1_j509452 wrote

Yeah, this is why I think it may be next for gentrification. It would nice to see the city rebound in the way Asbury Park has.

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BYNX0 t1_j52ht2g wrote

Atlantic city also isn't very safe. Some areas are nice, but most of the city has a very high crime rate

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HeyItsPanda69 t1_j52if77 wrote

That's what I said, cheap and waterfront lol. It's the only way you're getting both of those. You give up the chance that you'll die

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BYNX0 t1_j53lkra wrote

You're not wrong. Waterfront is expensive. But I'd rather pay a little more and stay safer.

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D_A_H t1_j4xvt9s wrote

Not the shore but check along the rancocas creek, plenty of houses with docks and while it's not the ocean it's def a cool body of water to live on.

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Paramouse t1_j506kmx wrote

Sounds like you want something in Ocean County near Barnegat bay. Maybe Beachwood, Ocean Gate or Forked river.

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notgonnatakethison t1_j4xsvob wrote

Highlands or Ocean Grove

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D00TZpop t1_j4yacil wrote

Ocean grove is the correct answer

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LemurCat04 t1_j4yf09t wrote

… in 1994. Median is over $600k now. And you need to dump serious $$$ into anything under that … while dealing with their historic preservation commission. And did I mention the parking situation?

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Quintessince t1_j500nx6 wrote

Ocean Grove? Has it changed? Only the rich kids families rented or had a house in Ocean Grove when I was a kid. Other than taking walks over from Asbury Park I haven't paid attention to Ocean Grove in over a decade.

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notgonnatakethison t1_j503yax wrote

It’s kind of New Hope, hippie, new agey. Quiet. Still a dry town. Still has some church aspects to it. They do a nice big craft fair once a year.

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EmbracedByLeaves t1_j4xr4ya wrote

I want the most expensive aspect of NJ real estate (waterfront), but I don't want it to be too expensive.

Depending on your budget, looking at Ocean County and south.

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bigicky1 OP t1_j4xtaqp wrote

And im coming from Hudson County so any place is cheaper than house prices and taxes here 😄

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TimSPC t1_j4y2z2w wrote

> any place is cheaper than house prices and taxes here

They're actually not.

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jimo95 t1_j4zo1kp wrote

Tuckerton/ Mystic Island

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NYRangers42 t1_j4yp2il wrote

Manasquan. The true border between suburban year round beach and seasonal beach. Best of both worlds

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friendfromjersey t1_j5gsuit wrote

So true. Squan has great bars, restaurants, and shopping that are open year round and do well.

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B-E-Z t1_j50d139 wrote

Check out brick, Toms River, point pleasant,

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YetiBeachRainbow t1_j51em34 wrote

Shore Acres- a section of Brick is on Barnagate bay. A little lagoon community.

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CapeManiac t1_j4xvu26 wrote

Look into Corbin City, not vibrant but not far from the beach and Busier areas like EHT and AC etc.

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stoco91 t1_j4yj89b wrote

Just saw a beautiful ranch for sale in Corbin City. I think 275k

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CapeManiac t1_j4yjh4r wrote

It’s tough to be “lower” priced AND be in a “vibrant” area. At least with CC it’s not a far drive to decent activities, shopping and beaches and the tuckahoe river is right there.

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stoco91 t1_j4yjkwe wrote

Yeah the only other place I can think of is maybe commercial twp

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blueteall t1_j4yf4f2 wrote

If you prefer coves and rivers consider near the Delaware Watergap. It's scenic and plenty of activities and picturesque small towns.

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Tomorrowsworry1 t1_j4yp35n wrote

Red bank

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moe_frohger t1_j4yq4qo wrote

Red Bank or Atlantic Highlands for sure. Plenty of things to keep yourself occupied and easy access to NYC. Can’t beat it.

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sirzoop t1_j5083gq wrote

Trust me if you are soon-to-be retired you don't want a house near water. Too high of a risk of a flood zone. Do you really want to deal with demolding the house from water damage in retirement?

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murphydcat t1_j508sqh wrote

This is a great point. Bring a young homeowner was OK, but being an older homeowner as flood damage from storms and high tides increases every year, owning a home near the water may result in many expensive headaches.

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Here_for_a_laugh82 t1_j52hf5m wrote

Try Waretown, you’ll get great views of the bay and the lighthouse

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TriggerTough t1_j4zvnb6 wrote

Try Beach Haven West

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Old-Assistance-2017 t1_j50a1fa wrote

There’s nothing in the West for under $600k unless it’s a lot or Sandy damaged

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TriggerTough t1_j511n7e wrote

$600k is a bargain down the shore IMO.

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Old-Assistance-2017 t1_j5127p0 wrote

It’s def cheaper than buying on the island but I’m guessing over a million on a move in ready house might not qualify as “not too expensive”.

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TriggerTough t1_j513x95 wrote

The ones I was looking at were in the $2 mil range for myself. That's a "starter house" down there IMO.

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Old-Assistance-2017 t1_j515mlk wrote

That’s awesome. Most of us cannot afford two million dollar starter homes. Big flex

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TriggerTough t1_j5164h4 wrote

Thanks. The stock market sucks this year so lets see...

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oodja t1_j50ah4o wrote

Fortescue maybe? It's not for everyone but I have friends who love it down there.

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playdohplaydate t1_j51n27l wrote

Id say look in Ocean County. I grew up in Brick which is exactly what your asking for coves and small houses. It’s a massive town so there’s no vibrant main street with bars and such. Could also look around Forker River, Lacey, or Tuckerton.

I think the taxes and home prices are more reasonable than Monmouth County, but Monmouth may have better nightlife. I’m not certain what you mean by vibrant, if you didn’t mean bars and nightlife.

Atlantic County could be even better on prices too but I’m not the most familiar with it. Cap May county has ocean city, wildwood and cape may too

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bigicky1 OP t1_j520w36 wrote

Thank you. That is what i am finding too. Im liking brick especially

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bigicky1 OP t1_j5214xe wrote

Especially after spending much of my life in Hoboken!!! Thanks

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chisk643 t1_j52424i wrote

somers point is a good spot, not too far from ocean city but far enough for traffic to not pile up

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Ohmysmut t1_j53w9ng wrote

Mystic island/silverton

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MycoMushLove t1_j552t6d wrote

Hmmmm I’m pretty sure you’re thinking of Rhode Island lol the place you describe DOES NOT exist in jersey lol

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fairytalejunkie t1_j571jsq wrote

I am a realtor in brick I’m going to send you a private message

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Goldfish2022 t1_j50ynia wrote

Not the shore, but what about the Ringwood area? Lakes and lakefront houses that are reasonable (or at least used to be)

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Laker701 t1_j4ykw9f wrote

Plenty of awesome lakes to live on in north jersey, Hopatcong, Mohawk, Culver’s lake, and highlands lake just to name a few.

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