Reasonable rents for houses within 1.5 - 2 hrs of NYC?

[Flaxbee]

OK, I don't even know if what I'm looking for exists, but anyway, here's the situation:

My husband and I have a start-up, we might be getting "angel investment" in a month or so. We currently live in Virginia and are trying to sell our house, and the angels and other business partners are all based out of NYC. The various potential angel investors have requested that we move closer to NYC, at least for a year or two, once we sell our house. Now, both my husband and I have lived in NYC before and don't want to go back into such an urban environment for many reasons: we have 4 cats, the rents are quite high in the NYC area and we're gonna be living off a shoestring trying to get this venture moving.

So, we'd like to find a rural/semi-rural (or at least not intensely urban) area to rent a house for a year or so within about 2 hours, max. of NYC, preferably with a good commuter rail line into NYC within about 1/2 hour of wherever we rent.

Anyone have any suggested communities? New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York state?

[OneBlueSky]

1. might look in Sullivan County in New York . . .

or the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, near Port Jervis NY (not sure which PA county that would be) . . . both are within the range you're looking for . . .

[On the Road]

2. Mike Doonesbury Tried

"Pennsylvania -- the next New Jersey." Nothereastern PA is probably a little far away.

You might try central NJ, or possibly northwestern NJ. I grew up between Princeton and New Brunswick. There are commuter rail lines. Some parts are pretty rural, or at least used to be. Princeton and Morristown have been upscale for awhile, but there are lots of pockets here and there.

[LynneSin]

4. You're not going to get cheap real estate anywhere in New Jersey

Cheap real estate will put you in the slums of Newark or Hoboken. And there is very little rural land available in those areas. Northeast Pennsylvania is the way to go.

[LynneSin]

3. Look into North Eastern Pennsylvania

around the Poconos area. Some parts can be like "Deliverance" country but in general it's a nice area.

http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?ed=xTowJeV.wimQQVd6MsEKU7USFw--&csz=New+York+City&country=us&tcsz=East+Stroudsburg%2C+PA&tcountry=us

I used East Stroudsburg as a point of reference - it's about 90 minutes from NYC - just take Rte 80 right into the city.

You could probably go as south as Upper Bucks COunty on up, as long as you stay east of Rt 476 and you should be within 2 hours of NYC

BTW, I highly recommend the town of Jim Thorpe. I have driven through that town plenty of times when I would go to my grandfather's house in NC PA. It's a beautiful town in the hills of Pennsylvania with plenty of great outdoor sports available

[robnycny]

5. New Haven Area

There are nice areas on the Long Island Sound shoreline, such as Branford, Guilford and Madison. New Haven is about 1 hour and 45 mins from NYC by rail, the Metronorth. Add 15-30 minutes travel time as you move north along the shore.

The trains are older and not exactly comfortable, and there can be problems in the winter, but I find them generally reliable (I ride frequently). The MTA recently announced new train cars will replace some of the older ones later this year and in 2005. The Metronorth goes as far as New Haven. There is a weekday Shore Line East commuter train that connects in New Haven and goes out to New London, stopping at many towns along the way.

Once you are out there it is difficult to get around without a car, IMO, unless you are in New Haven central. The rents vary depending on area. I have seen pretty nice houses in the shoreline communities near 900-1300, depending on size and proximity to the water. Rents in the inland towns (North Haven, etc) tend to be lower. Further inland can also be more rural.

Hope this little bit of CT info helps you. :)

[sleipnir]

6. The Entire State of Connecticut is pretty much open for you.

Really, I'm not sure about how you like to live, but Eastern Penn. and Jersey aren't the best places to move to in the East. At least in Conn., you can find a town or area to suit your needs. I'd say move to Middletown or perhaps West Hartford, nice areas with reasonable rates on homes (for the Northeast, of course.) Or, better yet, try Fairfax County, a little pretentious and tends to be on the more affluent side, but nice homes and if you're near Metro North, it's only a 30-45 min. train ride into the City.

[Flaxbee]

7. Thanks, everybody...

for your suggestions. Sounds like I might find something suitable after all!