Condo and Townhouse Living in West Orange

Whether you are just starting out or downsizing, condo and townhouse living may be the perfect fit for you. And the beautiful, suburban township of West Orange, NJ may be the perfect place for you to plant your roots. West Orange is a large town geographically and population wise, and it has a very wide array of housing types, styles, and price ranges. From the estate section of Llewellyn Park, to 1950’s ranch homes, to small multi-families and newer luxury condo developments, the town really has something for every buyer. West Orange has a number of wonderful and unmatched amenities such as a beautiful new middle school, recently upgraded Turtle Back Zoo, new Safari Mini Golf Course, large indoor tennis facility, a convenient park and ride center, indoor ice arena and proximity to a large county park (South Mountain Reservation) and several local country clubs.

Condo and Townhouse Living

Condos and townhouses are similar in concept, but they do have differences. A condo is a building or complex that contains a number of individually owned units. A townhouse is an individually owned two or three-story unit on a small lot with common walls bordering the adjacent unit. Condos generally have higher Homeowner Association (HOA) fees and less square footage than townhouses.

Some of the benefits to living in a condo and a townhouse include:

• Someone else takes care of the outside work.
• Many of the major costs are shared.
• You can renovate and update the interior to your specifications.
• Some condo and townhouse complexes have many luxury amenities.  
• Condo and townhouse ownership can be more affordable than owning a single family home.
• The location is often within easy access to work, public transportation, restaurants and other desirable amenities

Some of the drawbacks include:

• Homeowner Association fees continue for as long as you own your unit, and high HOA fees can negatively impact the unit.
• Appreciation over time may not be as significant as with a single family home, and major renovations may not increase the value of the home.
• There can be unexpected expenses when a special assessment is done, and homeowners are billed accordingly.
• There are many rules and bylaws that must be followed.
• There is little control over the exterior of the property.

The Township of West Orange has quite a few condo and townhouse developments for you to consider if you are interested in this type of home ownership.

Condo and Townhouse Developments in West Orange

Some of the condo and townhouse developments have many amenities to ensure luxurious living, and they are listed below.

Bel Air at West Orange offers country club amenities that include jogging and biking paths, a billiard room, clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, tennis courts, and fitness center. And, a free jitney to the South Orange train station stops at the corner. It is located near Bear Brook and East Hills Park and the average sales price is $703,500.

Crown View Manor, a luxury building within a secure, gated community, boasts a clubhouse, jogging and biking path, a sauna, storage, tennis courts, pool, billiards room, exercise room and lake privileges. It is located off Eagle Rock Avenue near the Eagle Rock Reservation, and has an average sales price of $298,078.

Crystal Woods features contemporary construction with a playground and outdoor pool. It is located off Pleasant Valley Way near the Rahway River. Its average sales price is $376,205.

Eagle Ridge, located off Prospect Avenue, offers extensive amenities such as a clubhouse, an exercise room, a playground, sauna, tennis courts, sports court, and indoor and outdoor pools. This gated community includes 24 hour security, and the NYC bus and the jitney stop at the entrance to the community. The average sales price in this community is $319,906.

Scenic Hill Community offers a clubhouse, fitness center, playground, pool, tennis court and patio. It is located off Old Short Hills Road opposite the Saint Barnabas Medical Center. This community has an average sales price of $266,920.

The Pointe at Crystal Lake includes a jogging path, clubhouse, exercise room and outdoor pool. This gated community, located off Prospect Avenue by Crystal Lake, boasts 24/7 security with homes selling for $535,286 on average.

Vizcaya offers luxury living with 24 hour security, valet, doorman and concierge service. Some of the many amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, tennis courts, walking paths, a billiard room, clubhouse and an exercise facility. It is located off Northfield Ave near the South Mountain Reservation. The average sales price in this community is $924,000.

West Essex Highlands includes an exercise room, billiards room, a playground, clubhouse, tennis courts and an outdoor pool. It is also conveniently located off Eagle Rock Avenue with easy access to  public transportation. Homes in this development sell for $377,700 on average.

Woodlands features an outdoor pool, sauna, tennis courts, billiards room, clubhouse, and a fitness center. Residents can walk to shopping, and the NYC bus stops at the entrance to the complex. It is located off Pleasant Valley Way near the Wilshire Grand Hotel, and homes here sell for $401,750.

Some of the more affordable condo and townhouse complexes in West Orange are listed below.

Briar Hills Villas include an outdoor pool and tennis courts. They are located off Northfield Avenue and cost on average, $343,300.

The Carriage House, located off Valley Way, offers easy access to the NYC bus. Homes sell for $200,000 on average.

Crestmont Gardens is within easy walking distance of the NYC bus. This development is located near West Orange High School and Degnan Park. You could expect to purchase a home here for $136,500.

Essex Green Villas include an outdoor pool, clubhouse, gym and basketball court. These villas are located off Mount Pleasant Avenue near the Essex Green Shopping Center and have an average sales price of $238,000.

Hilltop Villas, which includes a pool, tennis courts and a deck, is located off Northfield Avenue. Homes here average $265,000.

And listed below are even more condo and townhouse options for your consideration.

Barringer Court is near the Turtleback Zoo and the Montclair Golf Club at Rock Spring.

Forest Creek is located near Redwood Elementary School. Homes cost $476,250 on average in this development.

Llewellyn Gates can be found off Northfield Avenue and have an average selling price of $771,333.

Normandie Estates is located off Northfield Avenue near the South Mountain Reservation. Homes here cost on average, $376,000.

Redwood is located off Forest Avenue near the Atrium Country Club. The average sales price in this community is $388,143.

It is important to be informed when buying a condo or a townhouse. Hire real estate agents and lawyers who have experience in such transactions. Know the specifics of each property, the fees, rules, bylaws and regulations, and find out what major work has been done and what will need to be done in the future. And, if you are an FHA buyer, keep in mind that not all condo and townhouse developments are approved for FHA financing. If you have any questions about buying or selling a condo or townhouse in West Orange, NJ please feel free to reach out to me.

The Allison Ziefert Real Estate Group is a top producing real estate group based at Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct in Maplewood, NJ. Allison Ziefert, a local market expert, specializes in Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn/Short Hills and West Orange, NJ real estate and homes, and the surrounding towns. Allison’s success as a Maplewood/South Orange realtor is driven by earning great testimonials from sellers and buyers of homes in her marketplace. You can read her testimonials at www.azhomesnj.com/testimonials.