Sweet story and gorgeous home. I think they got the best one!
2
It is so good to read stories like this. I wish them well. It is a lovely home. And guys, just remember that the surprises of home ownership are nothing to what's coming when you're parents.
4
I love the house! Is that a sleeping porch on the second floor? Charming.
Best of luck fellas
2
Awww...what a wonderful article! Best wishes, guys! Lovely home!
9
It is a beautiful and charming, sun-filled house! May your lives be full of joy, and may all your dreams come true! Home ownership does come with aggravation, for sure, but it comes with a lot of wonderful things, too...and you cannot beat that small town living...in my opinion. It looks like a lovely place to start and raise a family. Best to you!
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It's tough owning a house. I went from a rental apartment to a house back to renting. Owning a house will be terrific for you both with children on the way. Just be prepared for clogged pipes, roofs needing repairs, etc.
9
Hey Joyce Cohen, take it from this Ivy League scholar: you write good.
4
I don't think Ms. Cohen needed any reassurance to boost her self-confidence. And you describing yourself as an Ivy League scholar along with photo is just trying to boost yours.
14
How wonderful for you two! You chose the right home and town ...and, in time, I hope you begin the great adventure of adopting children too if that is what is in your hearts...
10
I assume that neither grew up in a house? If they did, how could they possibly be so ignorant about home ownership. Good lucky, guys!
5
I grew up in a house and then lived as a renter in dorms and apartments for nearly the next twenty years. In those years, I didn't deal with pipes or heaters or even thermostats - in NYC, just open the window or close the window to adjust heat :)
Owning a home was as an adjustment and the first few years seemed to find a problem every few months. But we all adjusted and I assume these guys will, too.
10
Welcome to New Jersey and congratulations on finding a great home and town!
13
Looks like a lovely place to start a family. Thanks for sharing your journey and the pics of your beautiful home. Best wishes!
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It looks great, guys. Best wishes.
30
Swoon! This home is so sunny and spacious and beautifully decorated that it made this Manhattan girl consider New Jersey...if only for a few minutes! :)
27
Brought a smile to my face. Wishing you two all the best!
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Lovely house, bright and sunny and beautifully decorated!
Congrats, you two!
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I grew yp in Essex County and lived in Maplewood for about 15 years, then Short Hills and then back to Manhattan. Great old town, unique housing stock( that is not cookie cutter sub-divisions) wonderful old trees. In Spring the Dogwoods, Apple Blossoms and Hydrangeas are stunning. Good schools, a GREAT pizza place( Roman Gourmet) and relevant and small downtown. I lived in Washington Park across from George's sisters house that had a tree he tied his horse to, that is still there, as well as the house. Great place for gay couples as well, of which I was one. Welcome to the burbs guys!
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Just on curb appeal alone I think they got the best one! Congrats.
36
Congregations sometimes wonder if their rainbow "welcoming" signs and banners really make a difference. It's touching to read what a church's decision to discuss, buy, and hang a banner meant to this couple.
114
Heh. Our water heater went out the first weekend we bought our first house. We're on (I think) our sixth house now--I swore we would never move again, and every time I do that, it's like a signal to the moving trucks--and we've replaced every major appliance within the first year. (Fortunately, the country home still has the stuff that came with it over 20 years ago!) Welcome to ownership.
20
I'm surprised they didn't consider one of the boroughs, e.g. the Bronx or Queens. They still would have been in the city, much lower property taxes, no car, etc. as Mr. Gera pointed out. I've lived in the 'burbs and I much prefer city living.
10
City Dwellers, don't despair. While owning a house can be wonderful, you need not give up city living. I've lived in Maplewood and Montclair, and now I live in the Bronx. All three places are nice, but life in NJ forces you into dealing with all sorts of things that you probably would rather avoid: car(s), snowblower, lawnmower (or gardening contractors), incredibly high property taxes, horrible public transportation within the state, etc. I don't regret leaving NJ for the Bronx, where you can still get fantastic 3 BR co-op units for around 40% of what you would pay for a similar NJ 3 BR house. Think about that, especially as you get older. My $122/month unlimited MTA Metrocard is the best bargain around. The realtors in NJ will tell you about the great public schools, and in some places they are great, but in many places like Maplewood, South Orange, and Montclair, people with decent incomes end up sending their kids to private schools anyway. So think twice before leaving NYC. The Bronx is fantastic!
26
Some of us love cars. Part of the reason I want to move out of the city (Armonk/Greenwich) is to have more parking! I dream of a six car glass garage. I WANT an excuse to drive into the city many days a week. I work at home. therefore, I'd make a reverse commute. I'd go to the city at 5PM and come home at 11PM. No more would I have to move my car for street cleaning.
4
Perhaps they wanted a yard as well for the kids they hope to adopt. Sounds like they were ready for a house, not a condo, along with a small village feel.
18
Mike, you don't get it do you? You're still in an apartment, they have a house, they want space, they want to raise a family. Don't worry, one day when the kids are grown up & the stairs begin to be a bother, they too will most likely move into an apartment. Their stage in life may be completely different from yours. Let them enjoy the freedom from not sharing walls with a bunch of different people!
It's a smart move, given all of parameters of this couple. The "price" (both in $ and other intangibles) to pay for stay in the city is enormous, even for two working professionals with good-paying jobs.
16
Welcome to NJ! Maplewood is a lovely town! Be sure to check out the local pub St. James Gate and the french restaurant Lorena's.
29