Freehold actually holds a pretty important place in American history! The Battle of Monmouth was fought in Freehold in June of 1778. Today, the battle is commemorated with the Monmouth Battlefield State Park, a large park which is officially located in Freehold Township and nearby Manalapan Township.
Freehold is an old town. It was officially formed on October 31, 1693, more than 300 years ago! Sure, it's important historically, with tons of historic sites and the park commemorating the Revolutionary War Battle. But it's also a place that has many exciting things happening, a vibrant community, and lots and lots of entertainment and amenities. Freehold is located in central New Jersey, close to both the New Jersey shore, and of course, the Big Apple. Many people in Freehold are commuters who go into and out of New York City for work. However, residents of Freehold have plenty to do while they're in their hometown and in all of the destination towns around them.
Moving to Freehold
If you're planning to find an apartment for rent in Freehold, it might be best to start your search in the spring, summer, or fall. Winters in Freehold can be very cold, and it might not be the most comfortable time to check out an apartment complex! No matter when you do your search for rental apts, though, you should come prepared to put in an application. Even if you haven't seen any condo, apartment or home rentals yet, you're still going to want to be ready to move fast when you do see a place you like. Rentals in the vicinity of New York City are highly sought-after, so you might have to fight with other renters for a great space!
One way to minimize competition is to come prepared. Coming prepared means bringing your personal and financial docs, like your bank statements, tax returns, copies of IDs, and anything else that proves you make enough money to pay the rent. You might also want to prove to your potential landlord that you are an awesome person and will be a great neighbor and tenant. One way to do that is to include letters of reference. Ask a former landlord for a letter of reference to show you're a responsible renter, and include letters of reference from friends or colleagues to show what a nice person you are. If you come with all of the necessary documents, you'll definitely end up living in the right place.
Neighborhoods in Freehold
Finding the right apartment is important when you're moving to a city, but maybe more important is making sure you end up in the right area. After all, what's the point of moving to a home in a neighborhood that you hate being in? So, before you start your hunt, do research on your new town. Think about what's important to you in an area. Do you want to be close to amenities and businesses? Do you want some peace and quiet? Do you want to live somewhere that is convenient for commuters? Once you've decided what your priorities are, then you can do some investigation into areas of the city. If you want to know more about Freehold and its neighborhoods, check out the list below. It contains some helpful information to help you narrow down where you'll look in your housing search, which will ultimately save you time and money while you hunt.
Southern Freehold: If you want some space around your home and an area that feels like the country, Southern Freehold is the area for you. This neighborhood is more rural than most parts of Freehold, so you'll have room to roam around. If you end up living in Southern Freehold, you'll also have the added benefit of living near Turkey Swamp Park and Manasquan River Linear Park.
Central Freehold: Central Freehold is the central business district in the area. It's home to a large and excellent mall called the Freehold Raceway Mall, as well as a long strip of big box stores and international chains. You can find lots of rentals here, but it's busy and hectic. It's a great place to consider if you like to live near where you plan to run errands.
Northern Freehold: This part of town is the more residential section. Imagine traditional suburbia, and you've got it! Nice tree-lined streets with easy access to New York City is what you'll find here, so consider it if you're a commuter.
Living in Freehold
Freehold, NJ, is a suburban paradise with access to some of the best cities in the entire world. New York City is only a one-hour drive from town if you have a car, and if you prefer to take public transportation, there are also buses that run back and forth. You're also close to Philadelphia (just an hour and 10 minutes away), so you can also check out the attractions there if you feel like a getaway. If you're a beach person, you're also close to the world-famous Jersey shore. Some of the nicest beach towns in the mid-Atlantic are just 15 miles away, so you can escape whenever you're in the mood for a retreat.
You don't have to leave home, though, to have a good time. Downtown Freehold, the town center, is a lovely little historic place with restaurants and shops. The city also has great shopping -- both at the Freehold Raceway Mall, and along US-9, which has a wide variety of international chain stores and local favorites like grocery store Wegmans. Choose Freehold because you can feel like you live in a small suburban enclave when you want, and in a giant, world-class city when you want, too!