Bergen County's history goes back to the 17th century when it was included in the same district as Essex, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties. Each was considered an independent colony where individual land owners were able to retain their rights rather than giving up the land to the state.
Area wise, Bergen County was originally much larger, including the real estate where Hudson and Passaic counties now sit, but lost that land to the respective counties when they were formed in the early to mid 19th century.
Bergen County's Role in the American Revolution
Fort Lee, located opposite of Fort Washington in Manhattan, was an important strategic point. After the capture of Fort Washington by the British, General Charles Cornwallis -- considered by many historians to have been a master military strategist -- was given independent command of British forces and used it to capture Fort Lee in November of 1776.
River Vale, New Jersey, a township of Bergen County, is site of the Baylor Massacre in which 15 members of the Continental Army's 3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons, unarmed and sleeping, were killed by British forces.
The commander of the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons, Colonel George Baylor, received a bayonet injury to the lung and was taken prisoner. Despite the injury, he recovered to later rejoin the Continental Army in their fight.
Post-War Development
In the mid 19th century, the Erie Railroad began running services from Jersey City to points in Bergen County. In the early 20th century, Camp Merritt became a staging area for troops being deployed to Europe during World War I. George Washington Bridge, completed in 1931, connected Fort Lee to Manhattan and helped to spur post World War II development.
During the 1950's, a missile station was built to help protect the New York Metropolitan area from strategic bombers, although the site was closed in 1971.
In 2004, Forbes magazine ranked Bergen County as the second most overpriced place in the nation. However, that ranking dropped the seventh by 2005. High property taxes -- the fourth highest of any county in the nation behind two New York counties and Hunterdon County of New Jersey -- help to maintain and ensure a wealthy citizenry, and a wealthy citizenry tends to have expensive tastes in homes.
High-end homes are one of the least affected areas of the downturn in the housing market, thereby making Bergen County real estate a great place to buy a home that will retain its value better than most.
The Bergen County Record
Buying a home in New Jersey can be confusing at best, and obnoxiously difficult and exasperating at worst for the inexperienced home buyer. There are so many neighborhoods catering to completely different lifestyles, it can be difficult to know what you want out of a Bergen County home, let alone where you want it.
Finding the right New Jersey Realtor can make the experience go much smoother for you than if you were venturing the wilds of Bergen County real estate alone. Here are a few things to consider when buying real estate in Trenton to make your New Jersey home purchase blessedly simple and as stress free as possible.
Understand That There is More Than One Kind of New Jersey Realtor
Selling agents work for the best interest of their clients, the person selling property. They typically only share information with potential buyers about a particular property that the seller wants them to share. Any information that may be disadvantageous to the seller remains confidential. However, having a buyer's agent as your New Jersey Realtor means your Realtor is working for your best interest, and will disclose any and all information on Bergen County real estate.
Get to Know the Local Communities and the Lifestyle They Offer
You should have already determined how much you can afford to pay for your Bergen County home. Your New Jersey Realtor can help you narrow your search to neighborhoods that meet your financial framework, and offer the lifestyle you want. Find out about local places of interest; parks, schools if you have children, shopping, theater, churches, recent criminal activity and anything else that may be of importance to you while making your decision on where to buy a home.
Be Flexible
Of course there are some things that are important to you and you shouldn't compromise. If you've always wanted to plant a flower garden, don't allow yourself to be talked into buying a home without a yard. However, if you have too many specifications on your list for your New Jersey Realtor to look for in a home, you may be disappointed.
Be willing to consider many different options as far as architectural style or age of the home are concerned. Remember, improving and updating your home is a fast way to increase its value, and may be worth the investment.
Remember, Homework Isn't Just for Kids.
Be prepared to do some researching into the history of any New Jersey real estate you are interested in. It's a good idea to have your Realtor help you order a home inspection. Find out when the house was built, how long it has been on the market and why, what the damage and repair history of the house includes, and any changes and improvements have been made since the house was originally built.
Ordering a thorough home inspection can prevent you from buying a home that requires costly repairs after you move in or at least keeps you from ignorantly taking on such a home.
When it comes to making the huge decisions involved in buying Bergen County real estate, a good New Jersey Realtor is your best friend. He or she can help you not only find your perfect dream home, but save you thousands doing it.
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