Relocating from Philadelphia to the South Jersey Suburbs: What to Expect

Whether a spontaneous or long, drawn out decision, moving from the city to the suburbs is a big change. Many people deciding to relocate to the suburbs are searching for more space, and they choose neighborhoods in South Jersey for the safe community. South Jersey suburbs offer a slice of suburban life while remaining close enough to the city for commuters. Are you in the process of transitioning from city life to the suburbs? We will cover everything you need to know when moving to South Jersey. Relocating to the South Jersey Suburbs: The Pros If you are deciding to leave the city, it is probably because there is some sort of appeal to living in the suburbs. Luckily you won't have to travel very far, as Philadelphia is surrounded by safe, spacious towns. Leaving the city to live in a more spacious area does not mean you can't still take advantage of the perks of city life. Proximity & Travel Many of the South Jersey towns people from Philadelphia choose to relocate to are within a 15 minute driving distance to center city. In addition to being within a close driving distance, towns like Collingswood, Westmont, Haddonfield, and their surrounding neighborhoods also offer easy public transportation directly into center city via the Patco Speedline. For those that still commute into the city for work, this is an excellent benefit. Concerts & Family Friendly Events Philadelphia isn't the only place to find fun and unique events. South Jersey offers plenty of activities, from entertaining concerts and nightlife to family friendly farmers markets. Camden County hosts weekly concerts every Wednesday evening all summer long at the McLaughlin-Norcross Memorial Dell stage in Haddon Heights, a town in South Jersey. For larger events, BB&T Pavillion in Camden hosts live music all year long. South Jersey School District The school district in South Jersey is another notable reason for relocating. Both public and private high schools in South Jersey offer excellent education and extracurricular activities. According to the top 200 schools in Philadelphia, Ocean City and Atlantic City metro areas, Haddonfield Memorial High School is ranked 13, and Cherry Hill High School East is ranked 38. Both high schools are located in towns within 15 minutes of Philadelphia. Spacious Properties A more obvious reason people choose to relocate to the South Jersey suburbs is for the space. Finding a property in the city with a spacious, grassy backyard is hard to come by, and homes with parking included are extremely scarce. In South Jersey, both spacious backyards and driveways come with almost every property. Looking for a bit more peace and quiet? The further away you get from Camden County, the easier it is to find properties sitting on wide stretches of land. Towns in Gloucester County like Swedesboro, Mullica Hill, Pitman and Glassboro offer larger properties and more distance between neighboring homes, while remaining within 20 miles of Philadelphia.   If you are ready to make the move across the bridge, we want to ensure that process is as smooth as possible. The Zielinski Real Estate Group are experts in the area and want to help you pick a town that's perfect for your budget and needs. Contact our team today or take a look at what is currently on the market here.

Back to School Guide: New Jersey's Plan for Healthy Return

After over a year of Zoom lessons, virtual teaching, and cancelled extracaricular activies, students can finally look forward to returning to in-person education and reconnecting with peers. With COVID-19 still present, particularly the new Delta variant, it is important to ensure all safety measures are in place upon returing. Each state has specified different restrictions and procedures for their education systems. Here is what you can expect from New Jersey's Department of Education. New Jersey has put together plenty of resources to help guide students and staff back to a safe and healthy learning atmosphere and is set to bring all students and staff back for in-person learning this fall. Regardless of vaccination status, masks will be required in all school buildings for the start of the academic year. New Jersey  As stated on nj.gov, Masks will be mandated for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. "The Governor signed an Executive Order which will mandate masking in the indoor premesis of all public, private, and parochial preschool, elementary, and secondary school buildings, with limited exceptions. The EO is effective on Monday, August 9. 2021" (nj.gov) There are a few exceptions to this mask mandate, which can be found in depth online at covid19.nj.gov In addition to the mask mandate, some schools and educators may choose to leave windows open to minimize the spread with fresh air flow. It may be a good idea to get into the habit of sending children to school with a few layer options, depending on the temperature and season. For more information on New Jersey's reopening plan and procedures, please visit covid19.nj.gov U.S Department of Education has also put into place a procedres roadmap to safely bring students, educators and faculty back to school. The goal of the roapmap is to support students, staff and their community in preparing for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. View the Return to School Roadmap (U.S Department of Education). A fact sheet for schools, families, and communities on the Return to School Roadmap, reviewing the three “Landmark” priorities, and elevating schools and districts that are addressing each in effective ways. A guide for schools and districts outlining what schools can do to protect the health and safety of students, including increasing access to vaccinations and steps for implementing the CDC’s recently updated K-12 school guidance. A checklist that parents can use to prepare themselves and their children for a safe return to in-person learning this fall, leading with vaccinating eligible children and masking up if students are not yet vaccinated.

Labor Day Weekend: Things To Do In South Jersey

Where will you be spending your Labor Day Weekend? Whether you plan to soak up the last rays of summer down at the Jersey Shore, or relax by a pool in the suburbs, we have your ultimate guide to spending the holiday in South Jersey. From Airshows to fireworks, local concerts and festivities, there is something for everyone this Labor Day Weekend in South Jersey.   If you are spending the weekend by the coast and are looking to catch some fireworks, the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City will also be hosting holiday fireworks. Catch ten minutes of fireworks right from the beach in front of the Tropicana on Saturday, September 4th at 10pm.   Wildwood is also hosting fireworks on the beach Friday, September 3rd at 10pm. The fireworks are visible from almost any point along the Wildwood beaches. Rain date is set for Sunday at 9pm.      In addition to the holiday fireworks, check out Wildwood’s Annual Block Party and Music Festival at Fox Park, located across from the Wildwood Convention Center on Ocean Avenue. This free event features live entertainment, craft and food vendors. This all day event will be held on Sunday, September 5th from 1pm until 10pm.   Wildwood will also be hosting its 25th anniversary of Airfest from September 3rd through the 6th at the NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum in Rio Grande. Admission is free for members. For ticket information and to view the full agenda, click here.   Millville will also be bringing back their annual Airshow. The two day event features military and civilian performers and a USAF-F-22 Raptor Demonstration. The event will be held at the Millville Army Airfield Museum on September 4th and 5th. For tickets and more information, click here.   Looking to brush up on a little history? Cape May’s Hands-on History Weekend is a family-friendly event featuring two full days of education. On Saturday and Sunday, September 4th and 5th from 11am until 4pm in the Historic Cold Spring Village, children will receive a “passport” to guide them through the educational trip to be stamped at various buildings and locations. Children wil be able to participate in plenty of fun activities like churning butter, carding wool, and writing with a quill pen. For more information on tickets and entertainment, click here.   If you aren’t heading down the shore but are still looking for some holiday festivities and events, we recommend the Glassboro Car Show & Food Truck Festival. Take a look at over 300 vehicles while enjoying live music and plenty of food options and craft beer! The event will be held at Glassboro Town Square on Friday, September 3rd from 5p - 9p. Admission and parking are both free.     For those looking for a relaxing holiday weekend, we have put together a list of some of our favorite local farmers markets. Check out dates here.   We hope you have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

What to Expect When Moving to Haddonfield, New Jersey

Haddonfield is a town located in Camden County, New Jersey with a total population of around 11,300 residents. Between the award winning schools, beautiful homes, and charming downtown shopping, Haddonfield is a picturesque suburb in South Jersey. Just fifteen minutes from Philadelphia, and less than two hours to New York City, Haddonfield is a perfect town for commuting into work. Noted for its historic homes, this 146 year old town offers plenty of luxury real estate. Whether your taste in homes leans modern or Victorian, there is a property for every niche. The average value of a home in Haddonfield, according to Zillow, falls around $600,000. Following the current market trend, home values in this area have increased 16.2% in the past year. Although the taxes are a bit steeper than the neighboring towns, the school district is well worth it. Haddonfield Memorial High School is ranked #13 according to the top 200 schools in Philadelphia, Ocean City and Atlantic City metro area, and #874 in national rankings. Haddonfield also hosts a handful of nurseries and preschools, an elementary school, and even a Friends Private School. Downtown Haddonfield attracts visitors for its quaint, cobblestone streets, historic Quaker buildings, and the excellent and unique shopping. Strolling into downtown you will find plenty of restaurants, clothing and bridal boutiques, book shops, jewelers, salons, and coffee shops. As a dry town, most of the restaurants are BYOB, however Kings Road Brewery is a great place to grab a craft beer on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Scattered not only in downtown Haddonfield, but throughout the entire town are food and drug stores. You won't have to travel far to run errands. Haddonfield also hosts its own library. There are plenty of ways to find adventure and activity in Haddonfield, between the tennis courts, soccer fields, walking trails, and fitness studios. As South Jersey residents, the Zielinski Real Estate Group are experts in the field. If you are looking to buy or sell in Haddonfield or the surrounding area, contact our team today or take a look at what's on the market here.