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Mark Salamon
Citizen
Username: Maybe_moving
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 10:45 pm: | 
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(Note: I have posted this message in both the “South Orange Specific” and “Official Maplewood” forums.)
My family is thinking of moving to South Orange or Maplewood in the next 6 months -- from the Upper West Side -- which must be a first.  We have already visited the towns to get a sense of them and have a few friends who live there who we have peppered with questions.
I am trying to determine how much it will REALLY cost us to live in either town. Information about regular home ownership stuff I can do myself. But the tax-related details are difficult to pin down. So I was hoping someone could give me details on the following, for the town in which this message is posted:
(a) Property taxes seem very high. I have heard rumours that taxes are likely to go up a lot this year (or have already done so?) and will go up a lot again next year. Is this true, and, if so, can I get details, such as the percentage increase, by the type of property tax?
(b) I also know that the property taxes are a combination of things, including school taxes, municipal taxes and county taxes. Can someone give me the correct breakdown, in approximate percentages, of each type of tax, in the overal tax bill? Also, if taxes have/are going up a lot, which of the taxes are we talking about, school, municipal and/or county.
(c) I know that water, sewer and garbage pickup are not included in the property taxes. Can someone give me an idea of what each of these costs per month.
(d) I have also heard that Maplewood recently did a property valuation reassessment. Is this true? How often do these occur? What were the increases like? When is South Orange scheduled to do their reassessment? (I ask this question on the assumption that a reassessment is likely to raise everyone’s taxes.)
(e) Are there any other types of taxes/fees specific to South Orange and/or Maplewood that I should be aware of?
Finally, and this is broader question, for residents of the two towns, can you give me the plusses and minuses (if any) of moving to SO-M, and perhaps some description of how the two towns differ. And if anyone has a recommendation about the best neighborhoods to live in in SO-M (not too expensive neighborhoods), that would be appreciated.
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peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 276
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 9:24 am: |
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Mark --
I'll save the hard $$ figures until I get home tonight.
What I will say is for me -- the quality of life is what makes it all worth while.
I am New York commuter, single Dad, with two kids - 7 and 15. I used to live north of Princeton -- and had a 2+ hour commute each way.
Now the train time is about 30 minutes, maybe 50 - 60 minutes door to door. Huge difference. Means I see my kids every morning (they used to be asleep most mornings when I left for work). Priceless! (well -- not really -- this can be quantified!)
That said -- if I didn't commute to New York [or had a wife to help out with the kids ;-)] , I'm not sure I'd live in this area. Housing is expensive. The price of homes is about 1.5 - 2 times higher, taxes almost 3 times higher than where I used to live in NJ. Car insurance is higher.
But again -- its all relative. I could never afford to live in a similar house in any of the New York boroughs!
In terms of the towns -- schools are very important to me. My son (2nd grade) -- I think is in a very good place. My daughter (11th grader) -- Columbia High should offer her alot. I went to a similarly large high school -- and I think its a pretty decent school in comparison (and this is a few decades later) - especially to the top kids and those who are involved in sports and activities.
One thing I really value in these towns is the diversity -- where I lived it was strikingly homogeneous. When I say diversity -- its really not so much about race -- its about the types of people, their back grounds, their work, their interests. And its about race and cultures, too. I used to live in a neighborhood where there were whispers when a black or Indian family came to look at houses -- not how I wanted my kids to grow up.
Ok -- but diversity is also about being exposed AND having access to those things that relate to cultural, spiritual, etc. -- and that is very much here as well.
About quality of life -- I really enjoy the "downtown" areas of both towns. My son and I will come down to the duck pond (SO), check out the critters, he has a radio controlled boat that is fun. Then walk over into the village for a bagel, donut, whatever. Maybe pizza. Or grab a newspaper and coffee on a Saturday. Maplewood is great on weekend nights -- movies, food, etc.
To me, its better than living in the mall -- which is pretty much the routine in the burbs -- we had no town center to speak of.
Enough rambling -- yep, housing is not "cheap" here. Come spend a Saturday here -- walk the villages, have something to eat, chat with the people to get their impressions. Then come back on Sunday -- get up early, buy the papers -- and hit all the open houses (if you're thinking of buying).
You may well find this is the area for you.
All the best -- Pete |
vermontgolfer
Citizen
Username: Vermontgolfer
Post Number: 109
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 10:33 am: |
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Mark,
I don't know peteglider, but I would say his thoughts and opinions are right on. We have lived in SO, two different homes for over 18 years and we are very happy. The taxes are a killer and the threat of even higher taxes is very scary. Having said that, I'm not sure you could find a nicer community, either SO or Maplewood to move to.
Now for some of your questions, I'll give it a go.
a) increased taxes, yes there probably be a tax increase in SO over the next two years. There seems to have been some issues, that maybe could have been avoided that will cause this, but the bottom line, it looks like it's happening. Can't speak about Maplewood.
b)please don't hold me to these numbers, since I'm not 100% sure, but here is the breakdown I have for SO. Municipal 25.75%, School 56.30% and County 17.94%. As I mentioned earlier, the SO municipal will proabably increase for sure. I would also be surprised if both the school and county don't increase, but we haven't heard anything about those at this point.
c)water is billed as used, so depending on your circumstances is difficult to answer. Garbage is about $90/qtr and sewerage is about $100/annually.
d) there has been some discussion in another thread here about re-val. One misconception is that a re-val automatically increases everyone's taxes. Not necessarily true, since some homes may have had significant improvements since the last re-val and have never had an adjustment to their taxes. As for when SO is scheduled for one, as far as I know there is nothing on the horizon, but that too can change insatantly.
e) I don't believe there are any other hidden taxes that you need to know about.
As pete says, take a visit on Saturday and Sunday and see for yourself.
Good Luck! |
Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 58
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 7:42 pm: |
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Taxes have always been an issue in these towns.
We moved to South Orange in 1977 from Jersey City, sent (7) kids through the schools and my wife is a CHS Grad.
Go for it!
Michael K. Mc Kell
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chocoholic
Citizen
Username: Shrink
Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 4:20 pm: |
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Hi,
I and my family recentlely moved from the Upper West Side of Manhattan just this past April to SO. We couldn't be more thrilled with our move. We love the community. we am surrounded by very interesting people, I feel absolutely comfortable here. The quality of life is much better ( the parking is better, too). South Orange is a beautiful community. If you love grand and beautiful old homes for a decent price, a pleasant community, interesting lectures, a place that will probably have appreciating real estate values (judging from the amount of newcomers) this is the place to be. |
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