Ramsey, NJ Real Estate Guide: Buy, Sell & Rent

Ramsey is a borough in northwestern Bergen County with 14,798 residents as of the 2020 Census, spread across about 5.5 square miles of land. It also has unusually strong rail access for its size, with two NJ Transit stations, one in the middle of its downtown and one built as a park-and-ride hub on Route 17. Add an 18th-century stone house on the National Register, a year-round farmers market and a golf course community, and Ramsey stands apart. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Ramsey.

Why People Choose Ramsey

Ramsey grew up around the railroad, and the train is still at the center of town. The Main Street station sits at Station Plaza on Main Street, so for homes nearby a commute can start with a walk instead of a drive. For drivers coming in from the surrounding area, the Route 17 station adds a large parking deck right off the highway.

Ownership is the norm here. According to the Census Bureau, about 79 percent of Ramsey's occupied homes are owner-occupied, which tells you the market is driven mainly by buyers and sellers rather than by large rental complexes. History also runs deep. The borough counts several early stone houses among its landmarks, two of them recognized by the National Park Service.

Getting Around: Commuting from Ramsey

• Ramsey Main Street station: At Station Plaza and Main Street, about half a mile off Franklin Turnpike, on NJ Transit's Main and Bergen County lines. Parking is in three lots, mainly by permit. Two of the lots are for resident permit holders only, and the third offers limited free daily parking for non-residents. The station is accessible.
• Ramsey Route 17 station: Opened by NJ Transit in 2004 on the Main and Bergen County lines, with a multi-level parking deck reached from Route 17 and an elevated walkway to the platforms. NJ Transit lists more than 1,200 spaces there, with both daily and permit parking, plus accessible spaces and elevators.
• Rail connections: Trains on the Main and Bergen County lines run toward Hoboken Terminal and stop at Secaucus Junction along the way.
• Car: Route 17 runs through the borough and connects Ramsey to the rest of Bergen County. Franklin Turnpike is the main local route into downtown.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Ramsey's housing is weighted toward ownership, and a few things stand out when you start looking:

• Near the Main Street station: Homes within walking distance of the station appeal to rail commuters and are often a search of their own.
• Ramsey Golf and Country Club: A private 18-hole course at 105 Lakeside Drive that opened in 1995 on the grounds of an early 1900s estate. According to the New Jersey State Golf Association, more than 550 homes surround the course, and resident members can use the golf course, paddle tennis courts and pool. Buyers here should look closely at association and membership terms.
• Historic homes: Ramsey has stone houses dating to the 18th and early 19th centuries, including properties listed with the National Register's Early Stone Houses of Bergen County group.
• Rentals: With roughly four in five homes owner-occupied, rentals make up a smaller share of the housing, so good units can go quickly.

Buying a Home in Ramsey

With so much of Ramsey's housing owner-occupied, it pays to have financing ready before you tour. A few things we help buyers check:

• Association documents: For homes in the golf course community or any other association, we review fees, rules, reserves and any planned assessments before you commit.
• Older and historic homes: If a house is decades or centuries old, a thorough inspection of the foundation, roof, heating, electrical and plumbing is essential.
• Commute and parking: If you plan to ride the train, we'll factor in which station you'll use and how parking works at each.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a major part of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so there are no surprises.
• FHA buyers: FHA financing can work for single-family homes and for condos in FHA-approved complexes. If a property has two to four units, FHA allows a low down payment when you live in one of them.

Need financing? We can connect you with a lender for pre-approval before you start touring.

Selling Your Ramsey Home

In Ramsey, location within town matters. A home within walking distance of the Main Street station, a house in the golf course community and a historic stone house each compete in a different market, and pricing has to reflect the right comparables. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis built on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your property across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Ramsey

Ramsey's two train stations make it a strong draw for renters who commute by rail, and because rentals are a smaller share of the housing, well-kept units tend to stand out. We help renters find homes that fit their budget and commute, and we help landlords price, market and screen applicants. For investors, we'll walk through realistic rents, taxes, insurance, association rules and condition so the numbers hold up before you buy.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• The Old Stone House (Westervelt-Ackerson House) on Island Road, an 18th-century stone house listed on the National Register of Historic Places and long used by the Ramsey Historical Association as its headquarters and museum
• The David Van Gelder House, a stone house from around 1810, listed in the National Register's Stone Houses of Bergen County group
• Ramsey Farmers Market, held every Sunday year-round at the Main Street train station at Erie Plaza
• Ramsey Golf and Country Club, a private 18-hole course on Lakeside Drive
• NJ Transit's Ramsey Main Street and Ramsey Route 17 stations
• Public schools: Ramsey Public School District, including Ramsey High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Ramsey with nearby towns? Read our guides to Mahwah, Allendale, Upper Saddle River and Saddle River, or browse all of our North Jersey town guides.

Talk to a Local Broker

The Thompson Realty Group is a licensed New Jersey real estate brokerage based at 20 MacArthur Ave in Garfield, serving buyers, sellers, renters and investors across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. Whether you're a first-time FHA buyer, a cash investor, or a homeowner wondering what your place is worth, we'll give you straight answers about Ramsey.

Call or text 201-928-5562 or book a free 15-minute consultation. You can also search every active New Jersey listing on our website.

Information on this page is provided for general guidance and is believed accurate as of October 2026. Programs, ordinances, taxes and transit schedules change, so please verify details for any specific property. Equal Housing Opportunity.