Unless you willing to risk getting hit with a massive tax bill every few years, I would avoid buying anything in JC. Do a search on Board of Education and City budget tax hikes. FYI, the people responsible for the massive tax hike won in the November election

Just saw my friend's tax bill. They'll be paying over $16,000. I feel bad for all of you for having to pay this outrageous tax bill. And, it's only going to get worse next year. Remember to VOTE ON NOVEMBER 08!!!

Car manufacturing jobs made up most of the jobs in Detroit back in the 60's. With the new upward mobility from the jobs in Detroit, young families realized they could live in the suburbs and they started moving out of Detroit, just like the people did in Newark in the early 60's.

The manufacturing jobs didn't start leaving until the late 70's and accelerated into 90's with NAFTA. But, the major point is the families were leaving the cities in the 60's because they could get a bigger home, better schools, and safer neighborhoods with their tax money than the inner city.

JC suffered the same fate in the 70's and it lasted all the way into the early 2000's. If it wasn't for the cheap tax, low rent, and close proximity to NYC, JC wouldn't be so attractive to young people. Hence why my friend bought in 2010. He thought he could live here and retire here, but he was wrong. And, it's a shame because JC needs young families like them to make the school system better, to make the city safe by voting for a Mayor that cares, a school board that cares, but instead they'll move away and take that tax base with them to the suburbs.

JC will not survive in 20 years if things don't change.

It's going to get worse. Rents are sky high and when taxes go high so do rents. Forcing people to move out as well. Not to mention the small mom and pop landlords selling off their rent control properties and rich land developers buying the land and turning them into so called luxury rentals.

JC can turn into Detroit if they can't control the tax hikes. Families like my friend are leaving, and in a decade or two what will be left? I don't see JC doing well in the future.

They can't afford to pay that and most people can't pay that. Hence why they are moving. You didn't even attempt to put yourself in a position were your taxes went up that high. And, you're angry for some reason which I don't understand.

No offense taken with the tone of conversation. As the saying goes the devil is the details. I live in Hoboken and I'm just pointing that out now because I'll be circling back to it later on.

So my friend bought back in 2010, and didn't move in until 2012 when all the renovations were done. The house was very run down and on the verge of collapse. No one wanted it especially because it was surrounded by abandoned buildings as well. I thought it was a bad idea and I tried to convince them to buy in Hoboken instead. At the time Hoboken was safer, homes were more expensive but taxes were about equal or less than JC. And any future returns on selling a home was far superior to JC. I would unhappily be proven right.

Let's compare apples to apples. Hoboken was also hit with a reval too around 2013, a year after hurricane Sandy and 3 years before JC was hit with reval. My mom's house taxes went from $14,000 to $21,000. We now speed forward to present day and her taxes pretty much remained the same.

What can we learn from this? JC in 2010 at the time was suffering just like the rest of America from a housing bubble crash. Entire blocks with zero tax revenue coming in and a high crime rate, and people like my friend taking a gamble on a very bad neighborhood to beautify it and pay a much higher tax than my mom's house in Hoboken. $2,000 more to be exact.

Just a few months ago before the Board of Education raised taxes they were paying $27,000 in taxes. That's almost $7,000 more in taxes.

Now from all my complaining it would sound like I'm against paying taxes. But, that's not true. If I'm going to pay $27,000 in taxes and then get slapped again with more taxes in the $40,000 range I better get a big return for my money

I want better schools, which JC really doesn't have except if you're willing to pay $35,000 a year for private school or your kid is lucky enough to get into a charter school.

I want safe neighborhoods where it doesn't take hours for the police to show up.

For $40,000 a year in taxes I better be getting better service. Roads closures, uncontrolled high rise construction, politicans hitting bicyclists, high crime in certain areas. And list goes on.

My entire point is I was right about everything I mentioned above. Hoboken is not a utopia and I hate that I can't find parking in Hoboken at times. I hate the dog poop left on the sidewalk. But at the end of the day I'm not saddled with a massive $40,000 tax burden.

So put yourself in my friend's shoes and and ask yourself what do I get in return?

Good for you. My friend who lives in JC will be doing the same after getting hit with a massive school property tax hike. If taxes keep going up more people will follow

Yes. The Board of Education raised taxes back in June or July

https://www.reddit.com/r/jerseycity/comments/vb10xj/homeowners_take_a_look_at_your_new_tax_bill_big/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=2&utm_content=share_button

Had a friend do the same around 2010. Probably spent $800,000 in renovations. Their taxes were around $16,000 until 2016 when they were hit with a reval tax, and started paying $27,000 in taxes. Now with the new school tax hike they're paying around $40,000 in taxes.

It's insane the taxes went up that much in 12 years. Hopefully these nice people realize that the same thing will most likely happen to them too.