LAKEWOOD neighborhoods/prices question

hi!
we are a young kollel family with not too much money Wink

, looking to move to lakewood (dH will be learning in Beis Medrash Gavoha.

We are pretty out of town, not into the judgementalness, we live simply, and torahdik-ly. just looking for a pashut crowd of bnei aliyah.

what are affordable areas in lakewood to look into? how much is 2+ bedroom apartment rent, or to buy 3+ bedroom house in that area?

I dont know if this would be way out of our range, but dH doesnt drive, so if it could be walking distance from yeshiva what would be great!

thanks in advance, and advice is much appreciated!

please? anything you know about any area in lakewood would be so helpful!

It's not likely that you would find something affordable within walking distance of Yeshiva (based on your descriptions). It was already expensive 10 years ago when I bought my very small house.....

West Gate sounds like an option for you in terms of type (though it's very mixed but there are lots of simple Kollel type people.). One advantage is that I've heard that people give each other rides from there. There are "ride spots" and those going will stop so you can get in.....If you opt for West Gate, I think type can vary by block. Also, if your DH doesn't drive it would be convenient for you to live in a neighborhood that has many stores you could walk to, as West Gate does.

Spruce St area also has alot of Yeshiva people. Also not near Yeshiva, and more spread out with less options for a non-driver.

Would your DH consider learning to drive?

Sorry but I don't know much about pricing.
_________________
Chayalle

Executive Member Joined: Feb 23 2011 Posts: 413

Welcome to Lakewood! Great place to bring up your kids!

A word to the wise-check into getting your kids into school (if you have anyone of school age-4 and over) before coming, or you might be in a tough spot come September...

Affordable in Lakewood has gone out the window a long time ago! If you need anything larger than a tiny one-bedroom, be prepared for sticker shock. I don't know of any particularly affodable areas, just some cheaper than others.

Before buying a house, though, unless you get a great deal, is to live in the community for a while so you can get a feel for the different areas and choose based on your preference. Other people's advice usually does not work out too well.

op here

thanks so much for your responses. they were both so so helpful.

Chayalle: I am going to look into westgate. and maybe spruce area. dH might see how important it is to drive once we get there, he hasnt needed it yet! I guess we will see. thanks!

lkwdmommy: which areas are the cheaper ones and which were the more expensive ones you meant when you said "just some cheaper than others" ? although I hate to thow out money on rent, what yu say about getting a feel for the neighborhoods before buying is a good point. I think we will start with renting.

any more neighborhood-in-a-nutshell descriptions would be great! I would love to know about different areas: type of crowd in terms of hashkafa, simplicity, and trendiness, price, whether its walking ditance to a grocery store.

thanks so much!!

On the note of renting, Westgate has many nice rentals. It's a great idea to rent there to see if the neighborhood works for you.

My sister rented in Westgate for a year, and in the end she something different. Renting first is a good idea.

Executive Member Joined: Feb 23 2011 Posts: 413

Westgate is a very nice neighborhood. Shopping Center right there, so that would not be an issue. It is kind of isolated from the center of Lakewood (not that that bothers everyone.)

Also, the complexes down Route 9 have a lovely mixture of young, nice families. Traffic is horrific, but you do get the hang of some shortcuts after a while. There is also a new bus service that travels down the 9 before and after seder in Yeshiva so that the men don't have to take their cars.

One piece of advice: You probably will be happier starting off in a complex (what we call those neighborhoods of houses built together in small sections of Lakewood). There you will be able to find lots of friends for you and for the kids and being new in the neighborhood will wear off a lot quicker than otherwise.

[b]OP:
thanks again for the responses!
is their some kind of map of lakewood so I can see where the complexes are on the nine, and elsewhere? google maps doesnt seem to be helping with this, I cant tell where these complexes are and if something looks like homes, I obviously cant tell if its frum people.

there is also agway /kew gardens... which is cheaper and has a simpler crowd. forest park also.

agway has a shopping center there and pharmacy etc. in most of the developments you can get rides to and from yeshiva.