Ever heard of the comedy lazyboy duo of Jay and Silent Bob? If you know anything about modern pop culture, then you'll almost certainly have heard that name before, even if you haven't seen them on the silver screen. Well, Jay, the vocal one (to Silent Bob's silent one, obviously) is played by Jason Mewes, who was born in Keansburg.
Keansburg is a borough in Monmouth County in New Jersey, with a population, according to the latest census in 2010, of 10,105. This actually represents a decline from 2000 of over 600, which itself had declined from 1990. The borough covers an area of nearly 17 square miles, and is on the northern shore off Raritan Bay, just across the water from Staten Island in New York. A few miles to the south is the Garden State Parkway, a toll road, that links up to Interstate 95 and towards Manhattan.
Moving to Keansburg
Anyone moving to Keansburg, or at least considering it, will need to think about the sort of housing on offer in the city. Any settlement close enough to commute to New York City and it's various boroughs will often come with a relatively high price tag, at least when compared to national averages for rent, and this is certainly true of Keansburg. Rental prices here are by no means astronomical, but they can be high, so you need to take a look at your budget before checking the place out.
Apartment Seekers Rejoice
There are nearly 4,000 homes in the city, and the renter occupied rate is roughly 45%, which is pretty high. This is good news for anyone looking for places for rent. especially anyone looking for a one bedroom apartment or 2 bedrooms apartments. Even though detached housing is most common in the borough, apartments are also easy to find, with small apartments buildings and complexes accounting for about 30% of the market. Take a look around and you might find serviced apartments and those that include utilities, but beware -- you're still in commuting distance to New York here, so any decent places are likely to be highly sought after.
Old Home Heaven
Old homes built between 1940 and 1969 account for about 50% of all properties in the city, with 20% built before 1939. So, if you like your older properties then this is great. Beware though, as older homes often come with a little more work. As a renter, your landlord will be obliged to sort out any major issues you might face, but still, worn walls and leaky taps are more likely to be uncovered after a short stay in an older property. This is something to bear in mind as you look around any place, so keep your eyes peeled and get your notebook at the ready, filled with plenty of questions to ask your realtor about the state of affairs.
Contract Day
The day you sign your contract will be a happy one. You'll have found the perfect pad and will have gone through all the necessary checks so that the landlord knows you're financially reliable. That said, you'll have to get together a fat deposit to secure the place, and your first month's rent will need to be up front. Some landlords might require a quarterly payment, and in some cases it's better if you can pay for 6 months rent up front, especially if you don't have the best credit rating. All in all, things should go swimmingly, and soon you'll find yourself with a pen in your hand and a nice new contract staring you in the face. Happy days!
Neighborhoods in Keansburg
It's a good idea to cruise round town and check out the different neighborhoods available before you decide which one might be for you. Wanna be close to work? Maybe you want a driveway that goes straight onto the Interstate to cut down your commuting time. Whatever the case, check out the different areas before telling your realtor where you'd like to settle.
Borough Center: This is the best place to find a duplex for rent in Keansburg, and you'll find plenty of nice apartments down on the waterfront along Ocean Boulevard. There's a beach lining the shore, which is great for morning runs and lazy summer afternoons, while the downtown area is home to most of the town's amenities, like restaurants and shops.
Beachway Avenue / Carr Avenue: You'll find plenty more nice one bedroom apartments for rent along the shore here, looking out onto the bay, with larger homes inland. The main point of interest here is Keansburg Amusement Park and Rapids Waterpark. Great for a splash!
Laurel Avenue / Route 36: I t's most expensive here, mainly because the houses are bigger, and you'll have easy access to Route 36 that leads into the Garden State Parkway and towards New York. So, this is a good spot for commuters who travel by road.
Living in Keansburg
Keansburg is a great spot for anyone who wants the big city living of New York within easy traveling distance, but the small town feel and greater sense of community that you can only get with a place like this. Locals love to spend time down by the beach, with the waterfront being a real draw for the locals, while the downtown area is full of great amenities and restaurants like Jade Garden Chinese and Anthony's Pizza.
Other nearby points of interest include the aforementioned water park and amusement park, the Henry Hudson Trail, and St. John's Park, complete with playing fields and tennis courts. Travel to nearby towns and states is easy along Route 36 and the Garden State Parkway, while New Jersey Transit provides a local bus service along route 817.