Greater Princeton Real Estate Guides
Practical, data-grounded guides for buying and selling in Princeton and the surrounding towns. No hype, just what actually matters for your decision.
Buying
What $500K, $750K, $1M and $1.5M BuysSquare footage, age and town mix for each budget band, from 996 closed sales. $1M buys 1,656 sq ft in Princeton or 3,043 in Lawrence.Read the guide →New Construction vs. Resale: Is It Worth It in NJ?New construction costs more upfront, but builder incentives, fewer repairs, and lower utility bills narrow the gap. A grounded comparison.Read the guide →New Construction Buyer's Agent GuideBring your own agent and register on your first builder visit. The builder usually pays the commission, so it typically costs you nothing.Read the guide →Inspection & Repair Issues by TownRadon, buried oil tanks, septic and well, and pre-1978 systems. How common each one is in your town, and what it does to a deal.Read the guide →Attorney Review in NJ Real Estate, ExplainedNew Jersey gives buyers and sellers three business days of attorney review on most home contracts. How the clock works, how to cancel or change terms, and what it means.Read the guide →
Selling
Best Time to Sell a House in NJWhen is the best time to sell in NJ? Seasonality, the current Greater Princeton market, and why your situation matters more than the calendar.Read the guide →Home Prep Checklist: 12 Steps Before You ListA practical pre-listing checklist for Greater Princeton sellers: declutter, repair, present, and price so your home sells faster and for more.Read the guide →How to Choose a Listing AgentPicking a listing agent on personality alone costs sellers money. Evaluate local expertise, the marketing plan, and the track record. The questions that matter.Read the guide →NJ Seller Closing Costs, Line by LineEvery cost a New Jersey seller pays at closing, with an itemized net proceeds calculator covering the transfer fee and the graduated fee over $1M.Read the guide →Selling a Hard-to-Sell or Stigmatized HomeSome homes have a story problem, not just a price problem. How to diagnose why a property is sitting, reframe it, and find the right buyer.Read the guide →Downsizing: Sell, Rent It Out, or StayWhat the family home sells for, what a townhouse costs, what it would rent for, and why NJ taxes make renting it out weaker than it looks.Read the guide →
Where to Live
School Districts Ranked by SATHow the Greater Princeton high schools compare against each other. Four of New Jersey’s top five public high schools by SAT are here, with the 2024-25 scores for West Windsor-Plainsboro, Montgomery, Princeton, and more.Read the guide →District ProfilesOne page for each of the seven districts we cover, for once you have narrowed down: schools, enrollment, notable programs, and recent budget or referendum news.Browse the districts →NYC & Philadelphia Commute TimesHow long is the commute from Greater Princeton to New York City or Philadelphia? Train lines, transfer points, and real door-to-door times.Read the guide →Luxury Golf Communities Near PrincetonGolf-community homes command a premium for the lifestyle, the social circle, and the amenities as much as the course. How to weigh it.Read the guide →
Taxes & Rules
Property Tax & Tax Appeal GuideRates and 2026 Chapter 123 ratios for ten towns, the April 1 deadline, and the one calculation that decides whether an appeal is worth filing.Read the guide →PILOT Agreements & Your Property Taxes (NJ)PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) deals shape property taxes, school funding, and services in NJ towns. What Greater Princeton homeowners should understand.Read the guide →Capital Gains & the NJ Exit Tax When Selling a HomeSelling a home in NJ can trigger federal capital gains and the NJ 'exit tax' withholding. How the primary-residence exclusion and the exit tax actually work.Read the guide →Short-Term Rental Rules in PrincetonA permit is required, short-term rentals are limited to your principal residence, and fines run to $1,250 a day. What it means if you were buying to rent nightly.Read the guide →