Buying and Selling a Home in Wayne, NJ

Wayne at a glance

Wayne has two NJ Transit stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line — Mountain View and Wayne/Route 23 — and is crossed by Interstate 80, U.S. Routes 46 and 202 and Route 23. Willowbrook Mall, one of New Jersey's largest malls, and William Paterson University are here. Lake communities include Packanack Lake, Pines Lake, Lions Head Lake and Tom's Lake, and half of Pompton Lake lies in Wayne. The Passaic River runs through part of the township and often floods near Willowbrook Mall and riverside neighborhoods. Wayne is not in the Highlands region.

What the housing is like in Wayne

• Lake-community homes in Packanack Lake, Pines Lake and other lake associations.
• Single-family neighborhoods across the township's many sections.
• Townhouses and condos, often near the highway corridors.

What buyers should check in Wayne

1. Flood risk. Parts of Wayne along the Passaic River flood regularly — check FEMA maps, flood insurance quotes and flood history for the exact address.
2. Lake associations. Packanack Lake, Pines Lake and others have their own membership, dues and rules.
3. Commute. Compare the Mountain View and Wayne/Route 23 stations, and check drive times on Route 23 and I-80.
4. Private wells. If the home has a well, New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act requires a water test before closing, and Passaic County is one of the counties where uranium is added to the test.
5. Septic systems. Order a separate septic inspection — a general home inspection doesn't cover it.
6. Property taxes. Look at the actual tax bill for the house, not an average, and compare Wayne's rate using the state's municipal tax data.
7. Town certificates. New Jersey requires a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm and fire extinguisher certificate at a change of occupancy; ask the town about any added resale inspections.

Selling a home in Wayne

Wayne is a large, varied market — prices differ a lot by section, lake membership and flood zone. I pick comparables from the same section and condition, not just the same town.

Want to know what homes like yours in Wayne have actually sold for? Get a free home valuation, or search homes for sale if you're buying.

A note on fair housing

I describe homes, land and places — not who lives where. For school information, I point you to official sources so you can decide for yourself.