Bergen County Real Estate FAQ | Chris Kim Realtor

Question 1

What are the best school districts in Bergen County?

Accepted Answer

Top-rated Bergen County school districts include Tenafly (A+), Demarest/Northern Valley Regional (A+), Closter (A), Old Tappan (A), Cresskill (A), Norwood (A–), and Northvale (A–). All offer strong college placement rates and well-funded programs.

Question 2

How do property tax rates compare across Bergen County towns?

Accepted Answer

Property tax rates vary by town. Old Tappan is among the lowest at ~1.65%, followed by Norwood (~1.75%), Northvale (~1.80%), Closter (~1.95%), Cresskill (~2.05%), Demarest (~2.00%), and Tenafly (~2.10%). Rates change annually — always verify with the town assessor.

Question 3

How long does the commute from Bergen County to NYC take?

Accepted Answer

Commute times range from about 35 minutes (Tenafly via NJ Transit 166/167) to 65 minutes (Old Tappan and Northvale via Rockland Coach with transfers). Most Northern Valley towns average 45–60 minutes to Port Authority.

Question 4

How long does the home buying process take in New Jersey?

Accepted Answer

From accepted offer to closing typically takes 45–60 days. Key steps: pre-approval (1–3 days), home search (2–6 weeks), attorney review (5–7 days), inspection (7–10 days), appraisal and underwriting (2–3 weeks), then closing.

Question 5

What are the typical closing costs for buyers and sellers in NJ?

Accepted Answer

Buyers typically pay $3,800–$6,300 in closing costs (attorney $1,200–$2,000, inspection/appraisal $500–$1,000, title/escrow $2,000–$3,000, recording $100–$300). Sellers pay the real estate commission (4–5%), transfer tax (~1% of sale price), attorney fees, and recording fees.

Question 6

What makes Chris Kim different from other realtors?

Accepted Answer

Chris Kim manages every transaction start to finish with above-and-beyond care, backs every price with data-driven analysis, and responds to clients immediately — anytime, anywhere. He is a bilingual Korean-English NJ licensed realtor at RE/MAX NOW serving Bergen County.

Question 7

Does Chris Kim help both buyers and sellers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chris Kim represents both buyers and sellers across Bergen County, NJ, specializing in luxury homes, condos, commercial buildings, and business sales, with number-backed pricing strategy on every deal.

Town	School District	Rating	Notes
Tenafly	Tenafly Public Schools	A+	Top-ranked public schools, high college placement
Demarest	Northern Valley Regional HS	A+	Shared with Closter & Haworth, excellent STEM
Closter	Northern Valley Regional HS	A	Strong elementary & middle school programs
Old Tappan	Northern Valley Regional HS	A	Modern facilities, high academic achievement
Cresskill	Cresskill Public Schools	A	Small district, excellent college placement
Norwood	Northern Valley Regional HS	A–	Strong elementary, feeds into Demarest HS
Northvale	Northern Valley Regional HS	A–	Family-oriented community, strong elementary

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