Summit Real Estate: Revel in the Coveted Lifestyle of Suburban Elegance and Cosmopolitan Convenience

Arrive in Manhattan in Under an Hour

Real estate buyers seeking easy access to New York City couldn’t ask for more. Summit’s train station, located in the heart of its bustling downtown, features two city-bound New Jersey Transit lines. With ample seating and parking, the sizable station boasts a refreshment stand where riders grab a hot drink and a newspaper on the way to a Broadway play, a museum excursion, or a day at the office.

For home buyers in need of longer-distance travel, Morristown Municipal Airport, where charter flights can be arranged, is just 13 minutes northwest of Summit’s downtown. Newark Liberty International Airport is located just 12 miles east of the city.

Many of Summit’s homes are located within minutes of Route 24, the virtual “on-ramp” for Interstate 78. As Summit’s southern border, I-78 is a major thoroughfare connecting residents with New York City just 20 miles east and Easton, Pennsylvania 50 miles west.

Live in Comfort and Style Where Education is a Top Priority

With a population of 21,000, this six-square mile enclave offers thousands of well-appointed homes in a variety of architectural styles. Charming center-hall Colonials dating back to the 1800s have been lovingly restored, while spacious Cape Cod, ranch and split-level style properties offer great value. On average, homes are priced in the mid-$900,000’s, with more stately residences selling for more than $4.5 million.

In addition to its stunning properties and central location, Summit is also known for its outstanding school district. From preschool through high school, students are afforded every opportunity to excel. Showcasing their talents on the fields, the stage, or in academic debate, the achievements of this area’s youth are a constant source of pride for the community. Summit High School routinely ranks among the top public high schools in the nation, placing 17th in the state by The Washington Post in 2011.

Prestigious private academies including Oak Knoll, Kent Place and Oratory Prep all call Summit their home as well.

Golfers Hit the Links at Championship Course

Residents with an active lifestyle enjoy an almost endless variety of good reasons to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Whether you want to join the legions of green-thumb gardeners, park-goers, golfers or swim club regulars, chances are you’ll find what you’re looking for close to home.

Golfers thrill at the near proximity of the famed Baltusrol Golf Club, located in nearby Springfield. The storied club is nestled on the side of a mountain with a grand clubhouse overlooking a terraced cascade of fairways and tees. The course will play host to the PGA Championship in 2016. Not to be missed is the Summit Municipal Golf Course which was designed by well-known golf course architect Hal Purdy. Straddling the northern border of Summit is the Canoe Brook Country Club, another popular spot for golfers to tee off beneath a canopy of soaring oaks

Residents cool down in the summertime at the award-winning Summit Family Aquatic Center where they can relax by the pool, swim, and chat with friends and family while the kids have a ball in lap, diving and family leisure pools. In addition to swim lessons and water aerobics classes, the facility features a playground, snack shack, and sand volleyball court.

Numerous parks grace Summit’s landscape, but a real feast for the eyes is the 10-acre Briant Park, designed by the renowned landscape firm of Frederick Law Olmstead in the 1930s. Here, nature-loving real estate owners enjoy cathedral-like forest settings that give way to silent meadows of grass. You will undoubtedly spot a chipmunk or a blue heron; and a popular trail with exercise stations can be completed at your own pace.

Shop or Dine to Your Heart’s Content

An eminently walkable town, Summit is also fortunate to have a thriving retail business district. Residents patronize the dozens of small businesses that line the downtown area. Boutiques offer everything from fine cheeses and wine to shoe repair and one-of-a-kind home furnishings.

Just minutes from Summit, the Mall at Short Hills features upscale shopping with nearly 150 stores as well as 12 restaurants. Pick up a Parisian handbag at Hermès, or browse the offerings at Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus. Later, try the Cheesecake Factory for a tempting treat and a satisfying cup of coffee, or indulge in the bounty of the sea at Legal Sea Foods.

Foodies find Summit’s wide selection of cuisines one of the city’s most delightful amenities. The Summit Diner, housed in an antique rail car, is a perfect place for burgers and shakes. Roots Steakhouse, with its classic chophouse feel, specializes in prime cuts of beef as well as seafood, complemented by a world-class wine list. The Huntley Taverne, with its seasonal menu and commitment to locally-sourced ingredients, is popular with residents who love its wrap-around porch and cathedral ceilings.

Live a Life of Suburban Charm

The captivating appeal of this upscale community is evident in the immaculate lawns and well-maintained residences set amid a backdrop of flower beds and mature trees. Dog walkers, joggers and baby strollers are abundant on any day of the week as residents take advantage of the sidewalk-lined neighborhoods.

But the downtown, too, is a magnet for home buyers, says Newkirk. “People love the downtown area. It’s a fun place to be and there’s always something going on. You’ll usually find lots of people walking around, shopping or going out to lunch, or just enjoying the day.”