Basking Ridge NJ Real Estate

Located in the rolling hills of bucolic northeastern Somerset County, Bernards Township is one of New Jersey’s most highly sought after places to live, and is widely recognized for being a quaint, all-American town offering its residents a very high quality of life.  This affluent township includes the unincorporated suburban villages of Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner (a small historical district in the southern end of town), and Lyons (which houses a Veterans Administration Hospital).  It occupies a total area of 24 square miles with approximately 26,650 residents calling it home.  While most maps indicate Basking Ridge as a small section in the northern portion of Bernards Township, the majority of the township is often referred to as Basking Ridge and has a Basking Ridge postal address.  Surrounding towns included Warren Township and Bridgewater to the south, Bedminster and Far Hills to the west and Bernardsville to the north.

There are two NJ Transit train stations (Lyons & Basking Ridge) with midtown-direct service to Manhattan within approximately 67 to 70 minutes respectively. For those commuting by car, interstates 287 located in the northern part of town and 78 in the southern outskirts provide easy access to most employment hubs like Newark, Princeton and New York, to name a few.  Other nearby highways include Routes 22, 24, 202, and 206.  Newark Liberty International Airport is only 30 miles away and the Jersey Shore is also convenient within a one hour drive.  The Bridgewater Commons and the upscale Short Hills Mall are also nearby and provide some of the area’s best shopping.  In addition, large companies including Verizon, Avaya, Marriott and the corporate headquarters for Barnes & Noble College Booksellers all lie within the town’s limits, with a host of some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical / biotech and communications companies conveniently located in neighboring towns.

Though the town is large in area, it has a close-knit community feel.  The hamlet of Basking Ridge has a tree-lined center of town, is pedestrian friendly and features a variety of clothing stores, quaint deli’s, several family-friendly and upscale dining options, specialty shops and boutiques, and many other thriving retail businesses.  Basking Ridge also has an impressive library, its own train station with direct service to NYC, an outstanding public school system along with excellent parochial and private school choices, diverse cultural and artistic outlets, and one of the most comprehensive parks and recreation programs in the state including numerous nature preserves, historical sites, all types of athletic fields and facilities, organized leagues for residents of all ages, walking / running / riding / bicycle trails, a community pool and dog park.  The Somerset Hills YMCA has two branches in the town, one for families and one that primarily caters to adults.  There is also an abundance of fine golf courses in town and the surrounding area both public and private.

Town sponsored events such as the annual Charter Day celebration held every May in the center of Basking Ridge reflect the town’s community spirit with many of the residents enjoying the full day and evenings festivities.  The streets are closed to traffic and there is live music and entertainment, food and drinks provided by local restaurants, booths and displays sponsored by area vendors and clubs, along with rides, games and large inflatable slides for children at the Oak Street School playground.  During the holiday season in December, the town gathers around the 50 ft. evergreen tree to decorate and sing carols in the center of town with warm cider and candy canes distributed to all.  Cultural activities include Summer Concert Series, Broadway theater trips, Plays in The Park Series, Summer Family Films, in addition to the Farmstead Arts Center and the Ridge Performing Arts Center (PAC).

All of the amenities and features mentioned above, from location, commuting, education, employment, recreation, cultural, community and overall high quality of life standards are just several examples of what makes Bernards Township such a great place to live and the overwhelming choice for buyers looking for the best of what northern New Jersey has to offer.

Finding Homes For Sale in Basking Ridge

The township offers a wide variety of housing options for many different price ranges.  From magnificent luxury estates, to one-level ranch living, classic colonials or multi-family, there is something for even the most discriminating buyer.  The township also encompasses part of the upscale Hills development which offers luxury single-family homes, luxury townhomes on a golf course, and low maintenance single family homes, condos and townhomes.

As you can see, Basking Ridge has something to fit everyone’s needs.  Call me direct at (908) 267-2465, or email me at Bob@BobZorechakRealtor.com and I will be happy to discuss your specific requirements and find the right home for you.

For listings in Bernards Township, Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, Lyons or anywhere in Somerset, Morris or parts of Hunterdon County simply use the search tools located on the right side of this page.  All listings are updated throughout the day so be sure to come back often for the most current information.  If you are unable to find what you are looking for using the search functions on this website, or you are looking for a home that is unique with specific features, feel free to contact me direct and let me know exactly what they are.  My colleagues and I preview all kinds of properties each week and will be sure to identify just what you are looking for.  In addition, my office often features “exclusive” listings that are not released to the public that might be of interest to you as well.  I will be glad to answer all of your questions and arrange to show you the homes of your choice at a time convenient to your schedule.

I also serve the surrounding towns in northern Somerset County as well as select towns in Morris County including Morristown, Morris Township, Madison, the Chathams, the Mendhams, the Chesters and Long Valley (Washington Township) along with the Hunterdon County towns of Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships.

Basking Ridge NJ Schools

Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade are educated by the Bernards Township School District.  The schools in the district include: Cedar Hill Elementary School with 606 students; Liberty Corner Elementary School with 607 students; Mount Prospect Elementary School with 756 students and Oak Street Elementary School with 604 students (including pre-K); William Annin Middle School with 1,347 students in grades 6-8; and Ridge High School, with 1,697 students in grades 9-12.  Cedar Hill Elementary currently houses a state of the art public program for children on the autism spectrum, utilizing the principles of ABA.

Ridge High School was ranked 194th, the second-highest in New Jersey, in Newsweek magazine’s 2010 rankings of America’s Best High Schools.  The school was the 12th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine’s September 2010 cover story on the state’s “Top Public High Schools”, after being ranked 24th in 2008 out of 316 schools.

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Basking Ridge NJ Public School Links

Bernards Township School District

Cedar Hill Elementary School

Liberty Corner Elementary School

Mount Prospect Elementary School

Oak Street Elementary School

William Annin Middle School

Ridge High School

Bernards Township Education Foundation

Somerset Hills Education Foundation

NJ Department of Education School Report Card

Follow this Basking Ridge NJ School Info link for more detailed information about each school in Bernards Township NJ, including nearby private school information.