Affordable Towns in New Jersey: Best Places to Buy a House on a First-Timer's Budget
Where to buy affordably in New Jersey — South Jersey markets, commuter towns under $400K, and how to weigh price against property tax rates before making offers.
Blog
All articles about New Jersey First-Time Home Buyer Guide.
Alternatives to Generic Home Buying Checklists for NJ Buyers
Generic guides like NerdWallet and Bankrate miss what makes New Jersey unique. See what NJ-specific alternatives cover that national checklists leave out.
Best First-Time Home Buyer Guide for NYC to NJ Movers
The best home buying guide for NYC expatriates moving to New Jersey. Covers commuter cost calculus, property tax shock, and rail-line town selection.
Best NJ Down Payment Assistance Resource for First-Time Buyers
The best resource for NJ down payment assistance. Compare NJHMFA website, lender advice, Reddit, and the NJ First-Time Home Buyer Guide for DPA eligibility.
Buying a Condo in New Jersey: HOA Fees, Warrantability, and What to Check Before Closing
What NJ condo buyers need to review before closing — HOA documents, warrantability, reserve funds, special assessments, and how condo financing differs.
FHA, VA, and Jumbo Loans in New Jersey: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know
FHA loan limits, VA loan eligibility, and jumbo loan thresholds in New Jersey — with rate lock strategy for NJ's 45-60 day closing timeline.
How to Navigate Attorney Review When Buying a House in New Jersey
Step-by-step guide to NJ attorney review: what the 3-day window means, how the Notice of Disapproval works, what your attorney must add, and how to protect yourself.
New Jersey Home Buying Process: Timeline, Steps, and What Makes NJ Different
Step-by-step guide to buying a house in New Jersey — from pre-approval to closing, including the attorney review period, earnest money rules, and typical 45-60 day timeline.
New Jersey Property Tax Rates by Town: How to Calculate Your True Monthly Cost
NJ property taxes vary from 0.79% to 3.65% by town. Learn to read effective tax rates, find rates by municipality, and calculate real monthly ownership cost.
NJ ANCHOR Program: How Property Tax Relief Works for New Homeowners
How New Jersey's ANCHOR program works, who qualifies, how much you can get, and why your October 1 move-in date matters as a first-time buyer.
NJ Attorney Review: Notice of Disapproval Explained for First-Time Buyers
What is the Notice of Disapproval in NJ real estate? How the 3-day attorney review works, what the notice does, and how to protect your deal from falling apart.
NJ Certificate of Occupancy: What Buyers Need to Know About Resale Inspections
NJ certificate of occupancy and CCO requirements explained — what municipal inspections check, what can delay a closing, and how to avoid CCO-related surprises.
NJ Closing Costs: What Buyers Actually Pay and Why the Numbers Shock People
Real NJ closing cost breakdown for buyers — attorney fees, title insurance rates, attorney fees, deed types, and why the escrow prepaids catch first-timers off guard.
NJ Home Buying Guide vs. Hiring a Real Estate Attorney Alone
Compare using a New Jersey home buying guide alongside your attorney vs. relying on your attorney alone. What the guide covers that your attorney won't.
NJ Lead Paint Inspection: What Buyers Need to Know Before Closing
Lead paint disclosure rules in New Jersey, what inspections reveal, who pays for remediation, and the 2021 rental inspection law that affects multi-family buyers.
NJ Realty Transfer Fee: Who Pays, How It's Calculated, and the 2025 Mansion Tax Change
NJ realty transfer fee explained — graduated rates, who pays, calculator breakdown, and the July 2025 shift of the mansion tax from buyer to seller.
NJHMFA First-Time Homebuyer Program: DPA, Income Limits, and How to Apply
How NJHMFA's down payment assistance works in New Jersey — income limits, forgivability rules, and stacking first-gen grants up to $22,000.
Oil Tank Sweep, Radon Testing, and Well Testing in New Jersey: What Buyers Must Know
NJ-specific environmental due diligence explained — oil tank sweeps, radon testing, the Private Well Testing Act, and flood insurance requirements for shore buyers.