Renting in Jersey City and Weehawken: what I learned living in Journal Square, Newport and a three-family house

Journal Square. Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0

Most real estate advice for renters is written by people who haven't rented in years. I'm writing this one as someone who did it in three very different places, back to back, before buying a home of my own.

When I moved to Jersey City in 2019, I rented in Journal Square first, then moved to Newport, then to Weehawken. Only after that did my family and I buy a two-family home in the Hilltop section of Jersey City Heights.

Those moves weren't random. Every lease was a chance to test a different part of the waterfront and the city before committing to one for the long term. Here's what each one taught me, how they compared, and the questions I asked that kept me out of trouble.

Renting as research

If you think you'll buy one day, renting is the cheapest way to find out where you actually want to live. A weekend tour tells you what a neighborhood looks like. A year-long lease tells you what it feels like on a rainy Tuesday commute, on a Saturday night, and during a snowstorm.

My goal with each move was simple: live in a different type of building, in a different part of the area, and pay attention. When the time came to buy, I wasn't guessing.

Journal Square: the managed mid-size building

My first apartment was in a building of about 30 units run by a management company. That's a common type of rental in and around Journal Square: not a luxury tower, not a small house, but something in between.

What stood out: the commute. Journal Square has its own PATH station and is a major bus hub, so getting into Manhattan was easy. With a professional manager, maintenance requests had a process rather than depending on one person's schedule.

What to watch for: in a mid-size managed building, your experience depends almost entirely on the management company. Ask how maintenance requests are handled, how quickly they're usually resolved, and who you call after hours.

Newport: the full-service, white-glove building

Next, I moved to Newport, into a full-service building with a doorman and the full list of amenities. Of the three places I lived, it had by far the most amenities.

What stood out: convenience. Package handling, a staffed lobby, on-site amenities, and, again, an easy commute into the city.

What to watch for: you pay for that convenience. When comparing buildings like this, look at the total monthly cost, including amenity fees, parking, pet fees, and renewal increases, not just the advertised rent. Ask what a typical renewal increase has looked like.

Weehawken: one unit in a three-family house

My last rental before buying was one apartment in a three-family house in Weehawken. It was a completely different experience from the two buildings before it.

What stood out: quiet. It was the quietest of the three by a wide margin. Living in a small house also gave me a direct view of how smaller landlords operate, which later shaped how I thought about owning a multifamily home myself.

What to watch for: the commute into Manhattan was slightly harder than from Journal Square or Newport. With a small landlord, there's no management office, so the relationship matters. Know exactly who handles repairs and how to reach them.

How the three compared

There's no single winner. The right choice depends on what you value most: commute, amenities, quiet, or cost. The point is to decide that consciously.

Why I never had a bad rental experience

People sometimes ask whether I had a nightmare landlord or a lease that went wrong. I didn't, and I don't think that was luck. Before I signed anything, I asked every question I could think of, including the ones that felt awkward.

Here are the questions I recommend every renter ask before signing:

• Total cost: What is the full monthly cost, including utilities, amenity fees, parking, and pet fees? Which utilities am I responsible for?
• Upfront money: How much is the security deposit, and are there any application, move-in, or broker fees? Who pays them?
• Renewals: What have renewal increases looked like in this building? Is the unit covered by any local rent regulation?
• Maintenance: How do I submit a repair request? Who responds after hours? What's the typical response time?
• The unit itself: How is it heated and cooled? How is the water pressure? Are there any known issues with pests, leaks, or noise?
• Rules: What's the policy on guests, pets, subletting, and breaking the lease early?
• The neighborhood: Walk the block at different times of day, and check the commute at rush hour before you commit.

A few basics every New Jersey renter should know

New Jersey has some of the stronger tenant protections in the country, and it pays to know the basics:

• Security deposits are capped. In New Jersey, a landlord generally can't collect more than one and a half months' rent as a security deposit, and it must be held in a separate account.
• Older units have lead-safety rules. Many rentals built before 1978 are subject to New Jersey's lead-safe inspection requirements.
• Rent regulation may apply. Jersey City has a rent leveling ordinance that covers certain buildings. Whether a unit is covered depends on the building, so ask.
• Read the state's guide. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs publishes a "Truth in Renting" guide that explains tenant and landlord rights in plain language.

Laws change and every situation is different, so for a specific dispute, talk to a qualified attorney or the city's tenant resources.

When renting stopped making sense for me

Renting served me well for years. Then the math changed.

Our rent kept climbing until it was more than half of what the monthly cost of owning a two-family home would be. With a two-family, the second apartment can bring in income that covers much of the rest. At that point, continuing to rent meant paying for someone else's investment instead of building our own.

That's the moment I encourage every renter to watch for. Buying isn't right for everyone, and it isn't right at every stage of life. But if your rent is approaching what a mortgage would cost, especially on a property with a second unit, it's worth sitting down and running the numbers.

My checklist for renters in Jersey City and Weehawken

• Decide what matters most: commute, amenities, quiet, or cost
• Compare total monthly cost, not advertised rent
• Ask every question before you sign, including the uncomfortable ones
• Get all promises and fees in writing
• Test the commute at rush hour and walk the block at night
• Know your basic rights under New Jersey law
• If you plan to buy someday, use each lease to learn a new neighborhood

Frequently asked questions

Is Journal Square or Newport better for commuting to Manhattan?

Both have their own PATH stations, and in my experience both made getting into the city easy. The better choice depends on where in Manhattan you work, your budget, and whether you want a full-service building or something simpler.

Is Weehawken a good alternative to Jersey City for renters?

It can be, especially if quiet matters to you. In my experience it was the calmest of the three places I lived, with a slightly harder commute. Test the trip at rush hour before signing.

How do I know if my apartment is rent regulated in Jersey City?

Ask the landlord directly, and check with the city's landlord-tenant resources. Coverage depends on the specific building, so don't assume either way.

When should I start thinking about buying instead of renting?

When your rent approaches what a monthly mortgage payment would cost, it's time to run the numbers, especially if you'd consider a two-family where the second unit brings in income.

Thinking about your next move?

Whether you're looking for your next apartment or wondering whether it's time to stop renting and start owning, I'd be glad to help. I've lived both sides of this, as a renter in three very different places and as a buyer, and I'll give you a straight answer on which one makes sense for you right now.

Bogdan Nicolae Rus · REALTOR®, eXp Realty LLC · NJ license #2186044
Jersey City · Hudson County · statewide in New Jersey · (201) 584-6156 · bogdan@bogdannicolaerus.com

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult your attorney, accountant and lender about your specific situation.