281 Forrest St, JERSEY CITY, NJ, 07304
About This Home
An exceptional opportunity awaits in the heart of Jersey City's sought-after Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood: a legal three-family home tailor-made for the first-time multi-family buyer. With three well-proportioned units, this property is perfect for house-hacking — live in one unit and let two rent-paying tenants help carry your mortgage — or for the investor seeking a turnkey income producer with real upside. Each of the three units offers a comfortable 2-bedroom, 1-bath layout, giving you a consistent, easy-to-rent floor plan across the building. Downstairs, the basement is ready to be finished — a blank canvas offering the potential for additional usable space and added long-term value. Out back, an unusually large yard is your private oasis waiting to happen: picture a garden, an entertaining space, or a peaceful retreat you design from the ground up. Outdoor space this generous is a genuine rarity in Jersey City. The location is a commuter's dream. You're close to both the MLK Drive Station and the Garfield Avenue Station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, giving you flexible, easy access to Hoboken, the Jersey City waterfront, and connections toward Manhattan. Nearby bus routes round out the transit options, while Bergen-Lafayette's growing lineup of local shops, cafés, and parks keeps everyday life close to home. If you've been searching for the right entry point into multi-family ownership, this is space, income, and potential in one of Jersey City's most dynamic neighborhoods. Schedule your showing today!
Getting Around
Very Walkable
Excellent Transit
BikeableSchools
Construction
Materials
- Construction materials: Brick
Type & Style
- Home type: MultiFamily
- Architectural style: Contemporary
Interior
Basement
- Has basement: Yes
- Basement: Partially Finished
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
- Bedrooms: 6
- Bathrooms: 3
- Full bathrooms: 3
Heating & Cooling
- Heating features: Heat Pump
- Cooling features: Heat Pump
Property
Details
- Parcel number: 0621305000000014
Parking
- Parking features: 1 Car
Climate Risk is Financial Risk
Every home has a financial story beyond the listing price. Below, you’ll see the climate risks that could affect this property — and in Bills & Affordability, how those risks may influence repairs, insurance, utilities, and long-term value.
Biggest Threats for This Home
- Heat Wave
- Cold Wave
- Inland Flooding
- Strong Wind
- Winter Weather
- Tsunami
How This Home’s Risks Compare
FEMA Declared Disasters Across New Jersey Counties
Understanding the Costs
Financial advisors generally recommend spending no more than 30% of your gross household income on housing costs. In practice, many households stretch to 35% or beyond — especially in high-cost markets.
Estimated Costs Today
| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage | $4,045 | $48,540 |
| Home Insurance * | $345 | $4,140 |
| Property Taxes | $1,318 | $15,816 |
| Electricity | $193 | $2,318 |
| Total | $5,901 | $70,812 |
Income You'd Need if You Spent...
New Jersey FAIR Plan Programs
How Costs Could Change Over Time
Climate risk is quickly impacting all of the major home ownership costs. Adjust the growth rates and percentage of income spent on housing below to see how your housing costs could change over the next 10 years — and what income you'd need to keep up.
Comparing Against the Market
Price Per Sq Ft
vs Other Active Listings
Avg $/sqft
vs Homes Sold Last Month
Median $/sqft
Current Market Trends
Median Price Per Square Foot
The median price per square foot of homes sold in this area each month. Compare this to this listing's price per square foot to gauge whether the home is priced in line with recent sales.
Historicals for This Listing
Zestimate History ($/sqft)
Price History
| Date | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-17 | Listed for sale | $800,000 |
| 2025-05-29 | Listed for rent | $2,100 |
| 2023-10-09 | Listing removed | -- |
| 2023-07-18 | Price change | $832,400 |
| 2023-06-05 | Price change | $839,900 |
| 2023-04-08 | Listed for sale | $849,900 |
| 2022-05-11 | Sold | $775,000 |
| 2022-03-10 | Contingent | $749,900 |
| 2021-11-19 | Listed for sale | $749,900 |
| 2018-06-28 | Listing removed | $625,000 |
| 2018-06-11 | Listed for sale | $625,000 |
| 2014-10-29 | Sold | $378,000 |
| 2013-04-12 | Listing removed | $125,000 |
| 2012-09-01 | Listing removed | $119,900 |
| 2012-08-26 | Price change | $119,900 |
| 2012-01-31 | Price change | $109,900 |
| 2012-01-12 | Price change | $99,900 |
| 2011-12-06 | Price change | $89,900 |
| 2011-11-18 | Price change | $109,000 |
| 2011-06-22 | Listed for sale | $100,000 |
| 2011-03-25 | Sold | $27,900 |
| 2005-01-10 | Sold | $105,000 |
View on Zillow