Nestled in the heart of central New Jersey, just off the New Jersey Turnpike, sits a delightful gem of a growing suburban Jewish community. The town of East Brunswick sits within shopping distance of nearby Highland Park/Edison and Lakewood, and is well situated to allow an easy commute to New York City, Philadelphia and all points in New Jersey.
Susan Gerstman, a longtime East Brunswick resident, became a realtor in 1983 after becoming fascinated by the real estate process when she bought her first home. Combining her love of the community with her passion for real estate, she happily sells homes, and the local community in general, to her clients.
Susan noted lot size and home prices as two of the many things that make the community so special. Most East Brunswick homes are located on ⅓-acre plots and are quite affordable. Townhomes range from $250,000 to $500,000 and houses are available from $350,000 to $1 million with new construction starting at $800,000.
According to Susan, a realtor is essential, whether selling or purchasing a home. The realtor’s knowledge enables the client to make informed and appropriate decisions. Susan, an active member of the Young Israel of East Brunswick, former sisterhood president who now sits on the sisterhood board of directors and life member of both Amit and Hadassah who regularly delivers meals on wheels to Middlesex County residents through Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County, is perfectly positioned to help you find the perfect home.
Prior to becoming a realtor, Susan worked as a credit analyst with Dun and Bradstreet. Her analytical background helped her immensely with her career by enabling her to properly price homes to be marketed as well as appropriately negotiate purchases/sales for the benefit of her customers. Her client list includes children of previous clients who are looking to buy or sell locally, or seeking her advice in other areas, along with many satisfied customers.
Susan advises that presentation is key when marketing a home. A professional photographer should be engaged to photograph the home with interior and exterior photos. Because of the internet, many buyers have their first introduction to a home through online pictures. That first impression of a home stays with a buyer throughout the entire process. There is never a second chance to make a first impression.
Susan not only helps clients purchase or sell homes, she specifically helps them within her home community of East Brunswick. She advises potential clients looking to relocate within or to the Middlesex County area to visit the community and see all that it has to offer.
Education, specifically Jewish education, is abundant in the town and surrounding community. Yeshivat Netivot Montessori, an Orthodox yeshiva day school that applies the Montessori teaching method to Jewish education, is located in East Brunswick. There is also a Hebrew language immersion and culture study charter school, Hatikvah International Academy Charter School. To complement Hatikvah’s curriculum, Nefesh Yehudi Academy is an afterschool private program that provides a more traditional Jewish education to students. East Brunswick also boasts award-winning public schools, including 11 that are designated as blue ribbon. Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY), Shaarei Tzion and Yeshiva Tiferes Naftoli are minutes away in neighboring Edison, Piscataway and Old Bridge, respectively.
East Brunswick boasts the award-winning Giddy’s Pizzeria, featuring delicious, freshly made pizza and dairy specialties, and is near Park Place, Sushiana and Jerusalem Pizza, all under the strict supervision of the Vaad Hakashrus of Raritan Valley. Local grocery stores, ShopRite and Acme have extensive kosher fresh meat, baked goods, sushi and pre-made/take-out entrees departments.
Public transportation is readily available to New York City (both midtown and the Wall Street area) and Jersey City. East Brunswick is also only minutes away from the New Brunswick campuses of Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Saint Peter’s University Hospital and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital.
No need to travel far for entertainment; New Brunswick features the State Theater, the George Street Playhouse, presentations at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and Zimmerli Art Museum. The annual Tri-Synagogue Purim Carnival is an event not to be missed!
The town is also home to the famous Crystal Springs Family Water Park. People come from miles away to enjoy the lap, activity and family pools; lazy river; water slides; and more.
Recently renovated, the East Brunswick library offers a wide variety of programming for children, teens and adults, in addition to books and magazines to enjoy in the library’s plush reading area or at home.
Local residents can also enjoy the many parks and athletic programs, community tennis courts, playgrounds, little league, summer theater programs and community day camp. The Daisy Recreation Program provides activities and programs for people with special needs. While close to the cities, there are still farms in the area that feature seasonal apple, peach and strawberry picking. In the summer, East Brunswick hosts the Middlesex County Fair, with amusement rides; arcade games; and animal, craft and cooking/baking contests.
Susan notes that real estate trends in this area are on the upward swing, and mortgage rates are low and seem to be steady. For more information on purchasing or selling a home in the East Brunswick area, or information on the community in general, please contact Susan Gerstman, of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, at 732-668-2400, on Facebook at Susan Gerstman Real Estate Maven or on her website at susangerstman.com.
By Deborah Melman
