By Vicki Gaily Featured in New York Lifestyle Magazine
The bucolic borough of Saddle River, New Jersey, is home to actors, athletes, entertainment moguls, internationally recognized CEOs, musicians, entrepreneurs, a past US president, and all who appreciate the privacy and beauty of small-town living. Saddle River residents prioritize privacy and beauty, and that hasn’t changed since my family fell in love with its charm and moved here four decades ago.
Let’s talk about proximity to Manhattan! We are between 15 and 18 miles to the George Washington Bridge. Without traffic, I have been in my theater seat within 30 minutes. To live this lifestyle and have New York City a stone’s throw away is the cherry on top of a fabulous sundae at Serendipity 3.
GETTING TO KNOW SADDLE RIVER
I am a big fan of the renowned and Michelin-starred Saddle River Inn, located near town. It is rustic, charming, and just plain yummy. We also are home to its more casual sister restaurant, The Saddle River Cafe. Within a 10-minute radius to the center of town, options range from the refined and elegant Esty Street, Varka, and the landmark Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern to several excellent casual dining options.
During the past two years of the pandemic, local restaurants have been offering delivery, curbside pickup, and very creative (and warm!) outdoor spaces. Many of us have established long-term relationships with the owners as we support each other through this time. That is one of the perks of living in a small-town environment. We are all in this together!
AND THERE’S MORE
For those buyers with an equestrian interest, Saddle River offers incredible estates which can accommodate stable areas, turnouts, and riding areas. In addition, some farms offer boarding and riding lessons.
Saddle River is 15 minutes from recreational areas for the active person. The Ramapo Mountain State Forest is a 4,200 acres state forest in Bergen and Passaic Counties. It should keep you busy hiking, hunting, canoeing, fishing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Perfect your skiing and snowboarding skills at Campgaw Mountain in Mahwah, just a short ride away! How amazing is that?
SADDLE RIVER STATS
We are about one mile wide and three miles long. The picturesque Saddle River runs North to South through town. Several mountain ridges and streams, brooks, ponds, and rolling lawns.
The zoning is a minimum of two acres. However, there are also smaller lots that were subdivided before the two-acre zoning law.
The beauty of Saddle River is in the diversity of the architecture. From a small cottage (between $1 to $2 million) to a significant gated estate (between $5 and $20 million), it’s all here: Hampton’s style, brick manors, stone chateaus, contemporary farmhouses, and traditional ranches and colonials.
Due to extended families returning to the suburbs, we have experienced an uptake in buyers wanting more acreage and larger homes. Some of our most common requests are more space to work from home, pools (indoor or outdoor), space for a home gym, theater area, and wine cellars/tasting areas for enjoying a little more wining and dining at home.
One of Saddle River’s most significant assets is that the town is very well run, and our taxes are among the lowest in Bergen County. So, we have a combination of more acreage, low taxes, excellent schools, and beautiful real estate offering the best value in the tri-state with proximity to New York City. The Best of All Worlds!
The Wandell Elementary School is located near the center of town and is equivalent to attending a private school. State-of-the-art computer labs and outstanding teaching staff make this level of education sought after by so many. Eric S. Smith Middle School is located a short bus ride away in Ramsey and is considered one of the best middle schools in our area. There are two high schools, both with transportation available, one in Ramsey (Ramsey High School) and the other in Allendale (Northern Highlands), regionalized with four towns. The Saddle River Day School, located in Saddle River, is an excellent private school.
Our current inventory of available properties offers prices varying between $1,300,000 – $18,000,000. There is truly something for everyone. This wonderful town may hold the key to your dream home!
For more information on Vicki Gaily and Special Properties Real Estate, visit specialproperties.com