| Author | Message | ||
     Arnomation Citizen Username: Arnomation Post Number: 36 Registered: 7-2003  |
As I was reading through all of these posts about how all these people are moving to Maplewood (myself included) it occurred to me that all of 'these' people couldn't be moving to Maplewood unless all of 'those' people were moving out.... So, is there really a great migration "to" Maplewood or is it a great 'exodus' out of Maplewood??? Do they know something that we don't know??? Stepford Wives maybe??? Or is it the same as it ever was...this is not my beautiful house... And where are they all going??? | ||
| Nlanzieri Citizen Username: Nlanzieri Post Number: 152 Registered: 1-2003 |
Arn, I cant speak for everyone cause I am new in town like yourself, but I do know one person that had to move when they got hit with the reval and their taxes doubled. It took place right before we moved here. Ive heard other similar stories to the same tune. Also consider that since this a being desirable area many natives are taking advantage of the sellers market and getting out while the going is good. I for one probably made the old folks that sold us this house financially comfy for the remainder of their years with plenty left over for their kids. As you know this town has received alot of press. Right after we closed on our house the money magazine article came out and it seems like the frenzy just continued. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1705 Registered: 9-2001 |
Don’t be concerned…. There are also a good number of employment transfers, retirements, up-grades, and unfortunately deaths. | ||
| nova87 Citizen Username: Nova87 Post Number: 246 Registered: 6-2001 |
I think its a combination of a few things. How many of you newcomers purchased your houses from elderly? We did. That coupled with the fact that some people who moved here recently, like our neighbors, have come to find out that the urbanization (their words, not mine) of the schools made them re-think their decision. Especially in light of the fact that our school taxes are so high. So their off to a neighboring town. They were here less than three years. | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 689 Registered: 6-2001 |
Informal survey of the most recent turnovers on my block: death, move to Winchester Gardens, remarriage and move up in town. | ||
| anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 756 Registered: 6-2002 |
There is a lot of moving within Maplewood. Younger people sell their first house and move to a larger one. Older people move to Winchester Gardens or to a smaller house. I wonder if that happens to such a great extent in other towns of this size. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1708 Registered: 9-2001 |
"I wonder if that happens to such a great extent in other towns of this size." I’m pretty sure it's universal... | ||
| ErinS Citizen Username: Erins Post Number: 28 Registered: 2-2003 |
The seller of my place moved from Maplewood to South Orange. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3279 Registered: 5-2001 |
We live on a block with around forty houses. Since we have lived here maybe one house sold per year. This year at least five houses have sold. Three of these were empty nesters who decided to leave Maplewood because of the tax burden and wanted to recapture cash, in some cases to pay college costs. Two of the sales were young families with elementary school age children who in both cases moved to Milburn, presumably for the educational opportunities. We also know of at least two families with kids in college who moved to smaller homes in Maplewood or South Orange, which I consider very positive. I was talking to a 30 something guy a month or so ago who made the comment, "people are leaving once their kids get through school and don't want to pay the taxes anymore". Think about this for a minute. If people in their late 40s and 50s without kids in the schools leave they will be replaced by, in all probability, young families with kids in school, increasing the tax burden. Us empty nesters don't use a lot of services. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1845 Registered: 5-2001 |
When we moved to Maplewood about 20 years ago, the average homeowner remained in this town for about 5 years. Expressed another way: about 20% of the town's population moved out every year. A lot of these moves were accounted for by corporate transfers. Need for more/less space, retirements, death, serious illness, kids out of school, financial constraints, new job, or just the urge to move on accounted for most of the rest. On average, I think people are staying on in Maplewood longer now but I don't have the statistics to back that up. I've also observed fewer unoccupied houses in Maplewood lately and an increasing number of people adding on to their homes here in town rather than moving on. For a number of years, there were several very large houses in my neighborhood which remained unsold due to high mortgage rates and high energy costs. At least one fell victim to bank foreclosure more than once before the present owner took it over. Vitually all of those houses have been restored to near mint condition by new owners in the past few years. | ||
| hello Citizen Username: Hello Post Number: 32 Registered: 7-2003 |
everyone moving to maplewood is aware of the fact the town is integrated. it stands to reason quite a few of those leaving maplewood- those most inclined to sell and thus willing to accept a lower price- are doing so because maplewood is integrated. i believe it's helpful for people to not lie about these things- it's not a maplewod-specific issue- it dominates and in fact defines the real estate market in the entire northeast US. by my way of thinking, this is all great, and bon voyage and good riddance to those families with children "fleeing" to short hills! we choose to raise our children in an integrated town, we selected maplewood over connecticut for this reason, and we hope our white neighbors feel the same way. most seem to, so maplewood has so far been a great decision for us. | ||
| Arnomation Citizen Username: Arnomation Post Number: 38 Registered: 7-2003 |
So, why are the taxes so high here in Maplewood??? | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 1928 Registered: 5-2001  |
Taxes on homes are high, because we're primarily residential. We don't have large swaths of commercial property or office parks, especially when compared to West Orange or even Millburn. That, combined with the "extra cost" of Essex County government, raises property taxes for homeowners. | ||
| bklyntonj Citizen Username: Bklyntonj Post Number: 67 Registered: 7-2003 |
I tell you, I read these notes and people from Maplewood seem to be some of the most knowledgable, informative, constructively critical and proud people I've ever heard. No matter what the problems are, they're acknowledged. Not many heads in the sand around here huh? Thank God, no more alternate-side street parking! | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1711 Registered: 9-2001 |
My second most favorite subject! So what's this you say about parking???  | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 195 Registered: 6-2001 |
High taxes due to largely residential areas... Turning Olympic Park into an industrial area never did raise the revenues it should have did it? Perhaps we should look at zoning in a supermarket on that land... if you don't mind shopping with people from Irvington. This assumes the land is more valuable as a supermarket instead of whatever it is now. ---John | ||
| Chris Dickson Citizen Username: Ironman Post Number: 717 Registered: 8-2001  |
Extuscan: " ... if you don't mind shopping with people from Irvington"?? Uh, what exactly do you mean? | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 690 Registered: 6-2001 |
I have wondered if that might not be a site where Wegman's could set up. A recent article in the Times said they couldn't find the right amount of space at a price that would work in northern NJ so they are going central and south at this point. | ||
| jrf Citizen Username: Jrf Post Number: 347 Registered: 5-2001  |
Chris, Don't always assume the race card in extuscan's comment/question..... i think it is clear to anyone that Irvington is riddled with crime and gangs. I know I would not want to shop with my family in that environment. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 78 Registered: 3-2003 |
AJC - don't go there (parking). Nohero will jump in with a thread-drift accusation. Joan, your 20% is way off base, 6300 homes,(estimate) 20% is 1260 homes turnover. Try 500 or 600 homes a year or 10%. BobK: Comment- residents who put their kids thru school, participate in the community as volunteers, develop friendships, and are are perfectly positionned to be solid citizens enjoying and giving back to Maplewood, can't afford to live here and move. A sad tragedy! |
