patrick.net

What area are you looking in?

Scotch Plains area (Berkely Heights, Fanwood, Westfield, Cranford)

Nice areas. We have friends and family in a couple of those towns who are very happy there, but I can't really speak about them personally. If your job is in NY, I couldn't really recommend going further west. But if it's in the area, such as Bridgewater, then there are plenty of towns west and southwest of Scotch Plains that are very nice as well. If that were the case, you could even go out into Hunterdon County (White House, Lebanon, Clinton, etc.) but your commute might be a little tougher.

I would probably be helpful if where knew where (geographically) you will be working.

Obligatory:

I'll be working in Rahway.

Thanks for the Jersey Shore pic--believe me, I've heard that joke a few times.

I looked at Bridgewater but was afraid to go any further west because everyone says the traffic on 22 and 202 really sucks. Plus I really like the family feel of Scotch Plains.

Have you tried looking for a vacation/furnished rental on Craigslist, home away, or other similar site? You will probably want to take a little time to check out the job and check out the area before going under contract.

Call it Crazy says

That's the most important question. Where is your work location?

I must have replied as you were writing this--I'll be in Rahway

KILLERJANE says

Have you tried looking for a vacation/furnished rental on Craigslist, home away, or other similar site? You will probably want to take a little time to check out the job and check out the area before going under contract.

Yes--I'd prefer not to have to move twice. Moving the kids into potentially two different schools in the same year is not ideal.

Furnished rentals are $$ too. $3000/mo. and up from what I could find.

Yeah but you may rethink the option because you could be hasty in all the excitement. You may want to scour Craigslist. NOt everyone is asking top $ for a rental. The kids can be flexible you know, it's an adventure. Plus, if you end up in a short sale, 6 months goes by anyways. Good luck with your new adventure!

KILLERJANE says

Have you tried looking for a vacation/furnished rental on Craigslist, home away, or other similar site? You will probably want to take a little time to check out the job and check out the area before going under contract.

Along the same lines, it would be helpful if we knew how familiar with that part of NJ they were familiar with.

In so far as a vacation rental in NJ, I assume that most would be near the shore and only reasonably priced when it's not summer.

Obligatory:
http://www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/funny-new-jersey-area-map.jpg

Call it Crazy says

but I'm sure he can find someone who is trying to sell but is underwater and would consider renting to him instead of foreclosing.

How would one go about doing that? Unless they are on the MLS, how would you know?

Try this, since there are a lot of short sellers and messed up situations, someone may do a short rental, non furnished, until the property closed which takes a while anyways.

KILLERJANE says

Try this, since there are a lot of short sellers and messed up situations, someone may do a short rental, non furnished, until the property closed which takes a while anyways.

I only saw 1 short sale among all the properties I looked at on the internets. And I'm not sure what incentive a short seller would have to rent out their place.

I'm not against the idea in theory, but I don't see how to actually do it.

The incentive is to make the short seller a little money before they lose their house. I rented from one short seller once. It was a bit of a pain, but it was what we did when we needed to. You have to be willing to allow strangers in to view, inspect property when asked. Also, the closing can be up in the air a lot.

Rahway is on both the NJ Transit line connecting NYC/Newark with New Brunswick and Princeton, plus the line that goes down the Jersey Shore, isn't it? That's a pretty convenient place to live -- though I've never stepped outside the train station myself. Many fond memories of waiting for the other train to come, though.