My fiance and I are seniors at Virginia Tech, both graduating in the spring. She is going to law school and I am going to start working full time (hopefully magazine or newspaper writing), and she is looking at Hofstra and Rutgers Law Schools.

So, there is a strong possibility I will be joining you all in the NorthEast. We don't want to live in the city, suburban areas would be nice. Where are some good places to start looking for an apartment, say $1000 a month rent or less (pet friendly)?

Any advice?

Thanks

Mike

 

White Castle...mmmmm

 

lol never had the pleasure of eating there - lived in Virginia and North Carolina all my life.

I'll actually be in Tom's River NJ this weekend

 

Be careful in Newark man. Bent two rims on potholes there while dropping my off at work once. The neighborhood isnt exactly friendly either. Try to look for a place in towns nearby. I.E Clark, Woodbridge (I'm from woodbridge), possibly Bloomfield. I hear bloomfield is pretty cheap.

 

Yeah, i live the next town over from woodbridge, theres some nice places. I live in Edison, just 20 mins from MRC and a littel further from Englishtown (track). I've lived in bloomfield before, its an old town with old houses -- the kind with the oil-heated houses and cast iron heat radiators. Just wanted to give you a heads-up. Keep us posted.

 

Ah ok. How is the cost of living up there? I am going to be writing (hopefully) and that starting out is in the $35-$40k range, wifey will be in law school so she can't work yet.

Am I going to have to sell the Z for food or should I be fine?

 

I'd say the cost of living in jersey is more here than in VA. I have a friend who grew up here, moved to Richmond for 2 yrs and now he's back again. He said the cost of living is cheaper in Richmond, by how much i don't know. The 40k salary i'm not sure about either.

 

Where in Newark are u guys staying. Its real shii hole there/ ghetto! lol

 

Mmmm Brazillia Grille. Lotsa south american women working the local jiggly wiggly bars....

 

I looked it up online and it said cost of living was 20% higher in Newark than it is in Richmond.

I don't even know for sure yet, she has applied and will find out february/march, but she seems to think this is where we will end up.

So what areas are nice that are near there?

Nice is relative - as in I won't wake up and find my car stripped, but living is relatively affordable.

i.e. not super nice but not a ghetto either

no money for a downpayment on a house either, unless the Z goes - so we'll just rent for now

 

Woodbridge aint bad

 

Woodbridge is a big town, so there are some sketchy places within. Just make sure you visit the places before you buy. From what i've seen, south jersey places tend to be cheaper, but more sparsely populated (more roads to speed). Central jersey is juuust right. Just leme know if you ever come to central jersey, i'm sure u'll get a warm Z welcome.

 

Newark is not that bad, just depends in what part of newark youre in, for ex. A house in forest hills is in the 600+ area. Most apartments run about 1500 down here in an new home.

 

thanks for all the responses guys

there are two schools Holly is looking at - Hofstra (in Hampstead NY) and Rutgers, I think their law school is in New Brunswick.

We really dont know all that much about the area, but that is where we are looking at

 

its hempsted by the way

 

I'm a Rutgers graduate, and i live/work the next town over. I'm sure theres a bunch of people here who still go there or graduated from there recently.

 

If Rutgers wins the battle, you can look in New brunswick or Somerset. Not bad towns and the train from New Brunswick runs direct to Penn Station NY. New Brunswick is a 'downtown' type of area and Somerset is more suburban. I've done a lot of partying in New Brunswick in my younger years and it's a fun town. Make sure you visit Cluck-U Chicken for some outrageous buffalo wings!!!

If Hofstra wins the battle, then I really can't help you out too much.

 

i really thought that rutgers law was in Camden, (most dangerous city in america 2005) and if that is the case you need to move somewhere east of that......try burlington county, much cheaper. or live in PA and cross the bridge each day. and you could get your big job in philly.

just looked, yes it's Camden
http://www-camlaw.rutgers.edu/

 

all the surrounding towns of new brunswick are ok...most of them have theyre good and bad parts, just like everywhere else...rutgers is right in the middle of alot so u can find a good spot to live pretty easy around here...i have to agree wit streetOC, cluck-u chicken is pretty good too...i guess after a night in the bars there anything would be good though too.

 

Newark is a rat infested, poverty stricken,drug infested,gang run town full of lowlives..Stay as far away from Newark as possible..East brunswick area is nice, edison,spotswood..