TL;DR: Summit isn’t one neighborhood, it’s older Colonials, renovated properties and new construction mixed block by block, and where a home sits in town matters as much as the house itself. How much you need a car, what your budget buys compared to Westfield or New Providence, and how close you want to be to downtown are the real trade-offs worth talking through before you decide Summit is the one.
What Kind of Homes Will You Find in Summit?
One of the things I like about showing homes in Summit is that the neighborhoods don’t all look the same.
You’ll find older Colonials, Tudors and traditional homes with a lot of character, beautifully renovated properties, and newer construction mixed throughout town. Some streets feel more established and tucked away, while other areas put you much closer to downtown and the train.
That’s why I always tell buyers not to judge Summit based on the first three houses they see online. Two homes with similar prices and square footage can give you completely different lifestyles depending on where they’re located.
A home like 14 Park Ave in Summit is a good example of what a lot of today’s buyers are looking for: an older Summit home that’s been extensively renovated, with four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a finished basement and attic, while still being just minutes from downtown and the train.
What Does Your Budget Get You in Summit?
This is probably one of the biggest conversations we have with buyers.
Summit is a highly sought-after market, and you’re paying for more than the house itself. Location, proximity to downtown and the train, the property, renovations and even which street you’re on can make a big difference.
This is also why I don’t love looking at Summit in a vacuum.
If you’re considering a home here, I think it’s worth seeing what the same budget buys you in Westfield, New Providence, Chatham or even Mountainside. Sometimes Summit is absolutely worth the premium to a buyer because they love the downtown and commute. Someone else may realize they’d rather have a larger yard or more house somewhere nearby.
There isn’t one right answer. It depends on what you’re actually prioritizing.
Do You Need a Car if You Live in Summit?
This is a question I get from people moving out of the city, and the answer is: you’ll probably want one.
But where you live in Summit can make a huge difference in how dependent you are on it.
If you’re close to downtown, you may be able to walk to the train, coffee, restaurants, the farmers market and quite a few everyday errands. That’s a very different suburban experience from living somewhere where getting a cup of coffee automatically means getting in the car.
For buyers coming from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Jersey City or Hoboken, I think that’s part of Summit’s appeal. You’re definitely moving to the suburbs, but you don’t necessarily have to give up every part of the lifestyle you’re used to.
What Does a Saturday in Summit Actually Look Like?
This is probably a better way to explain why I like Summit than giving you another list of amenities.
Start with coffee at Boxwood Coffee, walk around the brick storefronts downtown, and if it’s farmers market season, head over to Maple Street and DeForest Avenue.
If lunch turns into part of the plan, Roots Steakhouse is one of my favorites. And I’m going to say it: their burger is phenomenal.
Afterward, you can walk through Reeves-Reed Arboretum or Briant Park, or just stay downtown and wander around.
It’s not complicated, and that’s kind of the point. Summit is one of those places where you don’t necessarily need to plan an entire day to have somewhere to go.
What Do I Tell Buyers Who Say They Want to Live in Summit?
Don’t decide before you’ve actually spent some time here.
I meet buyers who come out of the city already convinced Summit is where they’re going to live because they’ve heard about the schools, the train and the downtown.
Sometimes they’re right.
But I still think you should see Westfield. Drive through New Providence. Look at Chatham. See what your budget gets you in Mountainside.
These towns may be only 10 or 15 minutes apart, but they don’t feel the same, and the same budget can buy you something very different in each one.
I would much rather have a buyer fall in love with Summit after seeing the alternatives than choose it simply because it’s the town everyone told them they were supposed to move to.
Is Being Close to Downtown Summit Worth It?
For the right buyer, absolutely.
If you’re commuting into Manhattan regularly or you’re coming from a very walkable neighborhood in the city, being able to walk into downtown Summit can be a major lifestyle advantage.
But I wouldn’t automatically eliminate a great house because it’s farther from the train either.
This is where you have to figure out what you’re really willing to trade. Would you rather have a shorter walk to the train or a bigger backyard? Do you care more about being able to walk to dinner or having additional living space?
Those are the conversations that usually help buyers narrow down not only the right house, but the right part of town.
And if you want to see an example of a renovated home close to everything, take a look at 14 Park Ave in Summit.
Galina Kaplan & Marina Fridman Rybner
The GAMA Team | Corcoran
