Business owners, property owners, Members of the Chamber of Commerce, Members of the Downtown Millburn Development Alliance, Millburn and Short Hill Residents and local communities are banding together in the hopes of preventing the placement of hideous orange snow fencing from Main St to Lackawanna Ave on the north side of Millburn Ave.

Andrew Morgan from The Millburn Deli , (home of the famous SueAdler.combo, ha ha )has told me that the business at the deli has dropped dramatically since construction has started, and that this will make it worse.

A proposal has been put forth (and/or passed depending on your source) for the placement of fencing along Millburn Ave to prevent pedestrians from crossing between Millburn Avenue, and this is hurting the local businesses. 

 Andrew says, “We believe that a more business friendly and economically superior alternative is to fund a crossing guard for the duration of this bridge project to ensure adequate pedestrian safety. In addition it is our aim to provide a crosswalk near the ‘tinga’ ally to improve the economic plight of those businesses most affected by the bridge construction.

We believe our solution is a win for everyone in the community and not simply a stop-gap problem solver.

NJ top High School rankings 2010 – Our commuter towns of Millburn, New Providence, Chatham, Madison, Livingston , Summit, Berkeley Hts are all top 25!  So if you’re moving from NYC to NJ for an easy commute and great schools, this article is for you!

We all know how important Schools are to our communities and to home values. NJ Monthly analyzes  data on NJ’s High Schools and summarizes the results. The Top High Schools list is based on data reported by the schools to the Department of Education for the 2008-2009 school year.

 NJ MONTHLY’S ENTIRE ARTICLE

Click on the links below to read NJ Monthly’s  Top High Schools rankings in the categories listed:

Full 2010 Top High Schools rankings (pdf)

2010 Top High School rankings (alphabetical)

2010 Top High School rankings (by county)

Inventory low, demand still high in trainline towns

Experts are reporting that rates are the lowest since 1956. Buying, selling or refinancing, that’s all everyone’s talking about! As a buyer’s agent , I watch the rates on a weekly basis and follow the flow of the Short Hills, Summit, Maplewood market for my clients. Bankrate.com also found record lows for the average 15-year fixed mortgage (4.18 percent) and the 30-year jumbo fixed loan (5.43 percent). The rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage this week was tied with the record established two weeks ago, the online aggregator of financial rate information reported. There is no question that if you were just looking at these numbers, it is a great time to buy.

The issue  for our buyers: Low Inventory

While the rest of the country and most of New Jersey is seeing an overflow of inventory, we along the Midtown Direct Train Line, have been spared in certain price points. As Jeffrey Otteau explains, a 10:1 ratio would indicate there to be 10 sellers for every 1 home thus leading to the oversupply. Conversely, a ratio of 1:1 would indicate a buyer for every home on the market thus indicating strong market demand. The difference we have here in the towns of Millburn, Short Hills, Maplewood, Summit, and Chatham is that we are still in that precious bubble of 20-50 minutes to NYC with top notch free schools. Each of us on the Sue Adler Team have motivated buyers who have been waiting for their dream home to come on the market here (some for years).

The solution for our buyers: We have always had a Home Matchmaking Section , where buyers place ads to find a home on our website, but we’re now taking it to the next level. We are actively marketing for homes for our motivated buyers by sending out personal letters to home owners in the neighborhoods  they like… and it’s working!

If you’re a buyer interested in hearing more, call me. Robin Benjamin, Sue Adler Team (973)202-7270  Robin@SueAdler.com

And if you’re a homeowner who’s home could be a match for one of our buyers, call Sue Adler (973)464-9129  vip@sueadler.com

The Sue Adler Team is the #1 Keller Williams Team in NJ 2005-Present.

Maplewood NJ Block Party

The more homes in New Jersey that I have shown you, the more you have heard me say: “I like my house, but I LOVE my street.”

I say it partly to emphasize the idea that no house is perfect and as potential home buyers we all have to make some compromises. And, partly because it is absolutely the truth.

Block Party games

I do love my “street”. When my family moved here, we had no idea that we landed among some of the best neighbors anywhere. And, our Annual Block Party in Maplewood, NJ is the day we come together to celebrate our luck of geography!

IMHO, this is undoubtedly the most family friendly place to live.

When the weather starts to get warm, we begin to think about “readying up” for some good old fashion family fun. Hula hoops come out for practice. Adults and kids start sizing each other up for “good” egg toss partners (must be unrelated/married pairs). And suddenly everyone is fighting over one dining room chair (only slightly kidding).

June through September is “Block Party Season”. Starting around 4:00PM on a chosen Saturday afternoon, we close off our street (with Maplewood town approval of course), and gather together with a mix of lawn chairs, folding tables, coolers, food and drink.

Some folks “man” the grill. Some organize the various “salads and sides” that are brought – pot luck style. Some organize the “games”.  Kids and Adults “compete” for the thrill and pride of being the Block Party Victor. Musical chairs is not for the faint of heart!!!

Obviously I am partial to MY block party. But, these events are happening all over Maplewood and South Orange. And every block will swear that theirs is the best. I don’t mind that. After all, it says a lot about our two towns. To compete over who has the best and friendliest street!!! That is a place that I want to call my hometown.

Sound good to you? If so, call me and I’ll get you “in”…

Morristown National Historical Park   A great day trip for the History buff! Washington’s Headquarters with the Ford Mansion and Headquarters Museum, the Fort Nonsense Unit, and the New Jersey Brigade Area and the Jockey Hollow Unit including the Wick house , five reconstructed soldier huts, and approximately 27 miles of walking trails.

The Montclair Art Museum Montclair, NJ

The Laboratory and home of Thomas Edison West Orange, NJ

The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge   Bike, Hike and enjoy nature all just a short drive from home.

Freylinghuysen Arboretum Located in Morristown, NJ Offering programs for the aspiring chef, historical exhibits and  many children’s programs including Friday night Family Movies, and “Fairy Day” 

The Papermill Playhouse Millburn, NJ. Love musical theatre, but dont’ have the time or the money for a trip to the city to catch  a Broadway production.  The Papermill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ will not disappoint.  You may need to make this a fall outing as the theatre has a limited schedule during the summer months. 

Madison Boro, NJ Down town Summer concert series  Dates: July 23, Aug 6, 20, Sept 3, 17, Oct 1
Time:6 PM – 8 PM Admission:FREE!
Bring a blanket or chair for a free outdoor music concert on the lawn of the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts every other Friday.

As we have all seen over the past few weeks the market seems to be slowing down a bit but inventory is leveling off.  It will be interesting to see what the third quarter numbers bring as buyers rush to complete their home purchases before school starts.

To view more charts and specific homes sales for Millburn/Short Hills Click Here

If you work in NYC and are looking to move to a town with an easy commute,   Summit NJ  is a great option for you. To give you a sense of our neighborhoods, downtown and lifestyle, I’ve put together a video with clips from locals who talk about what it’s like to live here in Summit NJ.

If we’ve peaked your interest, give me a call (973)464-9129, and The Sue Adler Team will be happy to give you the REAL town tours.

Summit NJ  offers a variety of housing options  ranging from starter homes to amazing luxury homes and direct access to the Midtown Direct trainline. In this video  you get a quick look at some of the wonderful architecture and charm that Summit’s neighborhoods offer ( Northside Summit, Memorial Field, Woodland Park, and others ) and see  our local award winning schools.  Enjoy shots of Downtown Summit – Springfield Ave and its side streets,  peppered with quaint boutique shopping, Union Place cafes and local restaurants such as Roots Steak House, Winberries, Fiorinos, Monster Sushi and La Pasteria.

You’ll see some of the other great resources for Summit residents including the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey , Summit YMCA and Summit’s various parks and recreational activities.

To Read more about what Summit NJ has to offer CLICK HERE

Millburn-Short Hills, NJ —No matter how you slice it, few things in life are better than a great sandwich. On April 1, 2010, The Millburn Deli will launch its latest taste sensation: The SueAdler.Combo, with $1 from each purchase going to beef up the Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad.Here is the article found in the Item of Millburn-Short Hills and NorthJersey.com 

  My yummy signature sandwich, the Sue Adler.Combo, will feature grilled chicken, fresh Mozzarella cheese, ripe avocados, fire-roasted tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, tender baby greens, a drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar, and a hint of pesto, served fresh on thinly-sliced whole-grain bread. The scrumptious sandwich will appear in the showcase of the Millburn Deli for 6 months. I won the opportunity to have my name immortalized in the annals of sandwichdom ( ha ha)  during a charity auction at the Newcomers/Encore Club of Millburn-Short Hills’ Winter Gala. It’s so cool to be able to give back to my community in a way that’s so much fun! What better way could there be to show your appreciation than by filling bellies and helping out a great organization, like the Millburn-Short Hills First Aid Squad, in the process?

 The Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad, which will receive $1 from the purchase of each  Sue Adler.Combo, has been serving its community since 1958 and provides emergency first aid and service to the Township of Millburn and neighboring communities without regard to sex, race, color or creed. The Squad is operated wholly by volunteers and is funded entirely by private contributions.

So gather your friends and family, and come on out and try my sandwich and support our local First Aid Squad in the process!

For Some Buyers, It’s Chatham or nothing at all. Ranked as the 2nd best place to live in NJ by New Jersey Monthly Magazine 2010, and one of the top 10 places to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2005, Chatham Township is known for its beautiful homes, tree-lined streets, a bucolic setting and only a 43 minute commute to New York City on the Midtown Direct. 

That’s why, after many home owners live  in Chatham, they simply won’t move anywhere else. They tell me it’s like “no other town.” Everybody knows everybody and they all seem to be on the street when I’m showing a house. Playing lacrosse in the yard, walking with their kids to a soccer game and let’s not forget the two golden retrievers that are always in tow. Did I stage this? You would think I did. 

When the inventory is too low in one town, or the “perfect house” can’t be found in another, most buyers are willing to look at neighboring communities like Short Hills, Millburn, Summit or Maplewood, each which has its own wonderful set of characteristics and allure.

But not the buyers in Chatham. 

When they set their sites on this community, where the median home price grew 6% from 2006 through 2009 – nothing else will do.   In my 15 years in the business, I’ve never seen anything like it.  I actually have clients who are now on a first name basis because they have spent so much time together on line to see the same homes.   And they will wait for weeks and weeks (sometimes much longer!) for just the right property to become available. 

Maybe it’s the beautiful homes.  Maybe it’s the award winning schools.  Maybe it’s the quaint downtown with wonderful restaurants and shopping.  Whatever the reasons are, for some buyers, it’s Chatham or nothing at all.

Robin Benjamin

Take a look at our town video of Chatham and then call me to see this unique town in person 973-202-7270

http://tr.im/NwwE   Our local NJ schools continue to be strongly ranked - Millburn, Livingston, Chatham, Madison, Summit, Berkeley Heights, New Providence and others are among the top ranked New Jersey public  schools.   So listen up all you suburbia-phobic New Yorkers – come in for the town tours, and visit our great schools….. OK, ”free” may be arguable since you’re paying for it in your taxes,  however, it’s still less expensive than New York private schools, and only a 25 to 45 minute direct train into midtown Manhattan.