Escape pick of the week

Escape from New York into this Montclair, New Jersey idyll

By Lucy Cohen Blatter  | August 18, 2017 - 12:00PM
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This century-old house could be the lush landing pad for an apartment-bound city family.

Zillow

Ever popular with New Yorkers-turned-suburbanites for its liberal, artsy flair, Montclair, New Jersey, also happens to have a Midtown Direct train line that reaches Penn Station in 29 minutes. This $689,000 four-bedroom, two-bathroom Upper Montclair house is just the kind of home that might convince even the most die-hard city-dweller to try out the Jersey suburbs.

Built in 1909, it sits on less than half an acre, so while you'll be living in pretty close proximity to your neighbors, there still seems to be a decent amount of outdoor space, including a wide driveway that currently has a basketball hoop.

At 2,176 square feet, the asking price is about $300 per square foot (try finding that in NYC!). But note, to buy in Montclair, the taxes are gonna cost you—a total of around $20,000 a year and according to records, the taxes have been going up by about 3 percent every year for the past 3 years.

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The old-fashioned wooden detailing throughout the house is complemented nicely with more modern trims and finishes. There's also a newly renovated heated sun-porch with storage window seats, and a view of the front yard.

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The kitchen is a standout here, with plenty of room for a dinner table, if you don't feel like using the more formal dining room. There are two sinks, a Wolf range, granite/butcher block counters, new stainless steel appliances and a wet bar. There's also a ton of cabinet storage, plus a china cabinet built into the wall.

According to the listing, upgrades include the two bathrooms, new central AC, a new roof and a new driveway.  The second floor features a large master bedroom with two deep closets and at least four windows.

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Outside, there are landscaped front and back yards. Out back, in addition to the aforementioned basketball hoop and big driveway, there's a deck that overlooks the remaining section of yard. Much of the back, though, is taken up by asphalt. One other drawback: the house doesn't seem to come with a garage.

 

 

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