MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. –- For David and Shari Neckritz, New York City's urban environment had always been all they knew. But with a young daughter and a second child on the way, the couple's 700 square-foot, one-bedroom apartment on Manhattan's upper east side just wasn't the place to raise a family.

After a comprehensive two-year search through the metropolitan area and countless communities, the Neckritzs decided to select The Highlands at Monroe, a new community of 64 half-acre homesites and larger being developed by The Matzel & Mumford Organization in highly desirable Monroe Township.

With their new home currently under construction, the once-devout Manhattanites are now looking forward to enjoying the advantages of suburban living in an area noted for its quality schools, beautiful setting and low tax rate.

"We considered purchasing a larger residence in Manhattan but everything was too expensive and needed updating, we didn't have the time for renovations," said Shari, who's a Business Manager for a private bank in Manhattan, while David is a Physician in Brooklyn.

"We also wanted our children to grow up in a suburban environment. We looked in several areas of Long Island and New Jersey, and decided we definitely wanted new construction. That's when we discovered Matzel and Mumford."

After visiting a number of new communities in the marketplace, the Neckritzs visited homes at Spruce Meadows and Spruce Hollow, two other Matzel and Mumford communities in Monroe Township.

"We loved the homes and the layouts right away," recalls Shari. "We also liked the area which offered Blue Ribbon schools and low tax rates which would save us thousands of dollars compared to homes we also looked at in Marlboro. When we found out the developer was opening a new community shortly with even larger homes than what we saw, we decided to wait for The Highlands."

The couple selected the luxurious Monet model, a spacious five-bedroom design with a number of upscale features and appointments.

"We loved the home's secondary staircase, the upstairs Jack & Jill bathroom and the homesite we selected accommodated a walk-out basement ," said Shari. "Each bedroom actually has access to its own bathroom."

While their home is still under construction, the couple is already delighted with the way the building process is going, reassuring them that they made the right decision in selecting Matzel & Mumford.

"It's clear that they run an organized business," Shari stated. "I like the fact that everyone you encounter represents a specific specialty. When you complete a certain process, you move on to someone else who specializes in that specific topic. It definitely builds confidence."

Priced from the high $400,000s, The Highlands at Monroe's award-winning designs offer several traditional exterior treatments brightened by huge windows and made dramatic by soaring vertical spaces. The homes offer four or five bedrooms, up to 3-1/2 baths, 2,900 to 3,675 square feet of well-planned living space, a full basement and a two-car garage.

An impressive array of architectural features can be found throughout the homes, including dramatic two-story entry foyers, volume ceilings in several living areas -- including the impressive master suites and baths -- Gourmet kitchens featuring center islands and separate breakfast nooks, sunken family rooms with a wood-burning fireplace, available secondary staircases, and studies with attractive bay windows.

"Buyers will visit Matzel & Mumford's Design Center and be able to choose from a host of options to personalize their homes," notes Richard Selikoff, Matzel & Mumford's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "These include a variety of kitchen cabinet designs, imported ceramic tile, and an offering of different flooring materials and colors. What's more, the community is located on one of the most scenic properties in Monroe. Set up high on a knoll, the property is adjacent to an extensive wooded area and offers a terrific sense of privacy."

Matzel & Mumford is a K. Hovnanian company.