Oh okay I misunderstood and thought you meant they hadn't accepted it yet. NJ always takes at least a month to deposit refunds in my experience, the longest I remember being 3 months. Maybe it depends on the complexity of the return or something, idk.

Weird. NJ accepted mine days later this year, haven't received the refund yet though. Filed on the 30th.

If you have to make a concession to buy a house inside your budget, that's one thing. You can take that risk if inclined. But decommissioned doesn't mean it wasn't leaking, and you're on the hook for soil remediation (ludicrous amounts of money) if you buy the house and it's found that there is soil contamination. If you can, demand the seller have it removed entirely and the soil underneath it tested. That's a hairy situation in itself and they probably won't agree to it, at which you should just walk away. I don't know if the option exists or if you're desperate enough, but ask if they will have it removed and add some of the expense to the sale price provided the soil test comes back clean. Other houses are out there and even more will show up if you can wait. I personally wouldn't take the risk, especially not with the current house prices.

From personal experience ATT isn't any better in the northern areas (Sussex, Morris) and likely not any cheaper either. I do get good reception in most areas but they really dial down the speed frequently, to the point that streaming music has to buffer.

Postpone major appliance use? Do they think people buy stoves for shits and giggles?