Hanover Township, N.J.: ʻA Nice, Family-Oriented Placeʼ

With good schools and relatively low property taxes, this Morris County community is popular with buyers. No surprise, then, that the market is tight.

Tired of the scorching weather and the constant threat of wildfires, Andrew and Carolyn Trexler decided early this year that it was time to abandon their five-year experiment of living in Northern California. So they left to return to their home turf of North Jersey. The only problem was securing a house in a highly competitive market.

After months of looking online and seeing houses come on and go from the market in days, the Trexlers and their two children, 11 and 14, took a weekend trip back East in early May. They looked at 10 houses and put in offers — well above the asking prices — on four. Each time, they were outbid.