The charts below ( Click Chart To Page Through To Each Town) show you the active inventory and under contracts in Millburn/Short Hills, S.Orange, Maplewood, Livingston, Summit and The Chathams.

We pulled each quarter over the past year. As you can see, homes are selling … buyers are no longer on the sidelines, but there aren’t as many to choose from. What this shows, and what we , as realtors are experiencing, is that the nice, well priced houses are selling right away. If you are curious to know your home’s value in today’s market or would like to consult to see if this is the right time for you to sell,  just give me a call (973)464-9129  

“Matchmaker, Matchmaker, find me a home…. catch me a catch!”

The Sue Adler Team has a Home Matchmaking Section on our website.  We only add buyers who we are actively working with, and that are preapproved. If you’re a homeowner in Millburn, Short Hills, Summit, Maplewood, South Orange, Livingston, Chatham, Madison, Berkeley Heights or New Providence, and are thinking of selling your home in the next 6 months, please check out our team’s buyers and let me know if your home could possibly be a match.

Well, I  put in a bid. A few hours later I noticed that I was outbid and the auction was nearing the end, so I stood by the table, feeling really competitive ( I cant help it, I’m just that way when I really want something) and made sure my bid was the highest.  So, yes, YAY, I won my own signature sandwich!!!! So here’s where I need your help.

What should I name my Millburn Deli sandwich? And what should be IN this signature sandwich?

At first I thought “The Sassy Sue Adler” – roast beef with melted provolone with sassy horseradish sauce. But it’s too much like another griller they have.

Then in the middle of the night I thought…. how bout “The SueAdler.combo”? ( SueAdler DOT combo -  Get it? ) But what to put in the combo?  Between appointments today I built my ideal sandwich in my mind… Turkey, avocado, sun dried tomatos, cucumbers, and goat cheese on a whole grain roll or a whole grain something or other. 

Please be creative and share your ideas and do NOT be shy. And if you had to name your own deli signature sandwich, what would you name it and what would you put in it? Feel free to share your ideas here or on my facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/sueadlerteam .   And if I like your idea better than mine, I’ll buy you deli sandwich!

Yours to count on,

Sue

The sought after areas of Chatham Borough   and neighboring Chatham Township  share a common heritage and are often referred to as Chatham or The Chathams. If you’re thinking of moving to  NJ, and are looking for an easy commute into NYC, excellent schools, and a great community, here’s a way to get a peak at what this beautiful town has to offer.  You’ll see schools, parks, Main Street shops and restaurants, Chatham train station, as well as  beautiful borough and township neighborhoods.

Then, if I’ve peaked your interest, and you’d like to come in for the real town tours, just give me a call… (973)464-9129

Yours to count on,

Sue

A huge  thank you to my clients and friends! Because of your business and referrals, in 2009 The Sue Adler Team:

* Sold more homes than ANY other full service  agents in our Midtown Direct Towns in the worst market ever. (according to GSMLS stats)
 
* Placed #1 in the entire Keller Williams New York Region (NJ, NY, CT) for the 5th year in a row.

Update on our market: 

Inventory is quite low right now, and buyers are very frustrated with the lack of nice homes on the market, so if you’re thinking of selling, you may have a great opportunity – call me for a consultation so we can discuss if this is the right time for you – (973)464-9129.

Last week I had the honor of speaking at The Inman Connect Real Estate Conference at the  NYC Marriot Marquis, where all of the biggest innovators in Real Estate meet once a year to exchange ideas. I continue to connect with the best and brightest in the industry and am excited to implement new home search features for YOU that are just in beta right now, but will blow you away when you see them.

Lastly, thank you for the positive response on our neighborhood/town videos! We had a blast putting together this project – over 30 local residents volunteered to “talk about their towns”. These videos have become “viral” via facebook and the local press, as we’re getting many calls  asking us for the “REAL” town tours! Check them out, and feel free to forward them to anyone you think might be curious about moving here:  Click Here to View

Maplewood and South Orange NJ offer one of the shortest commutes in to NYC, only 26minutes on the  Midtown Direct train line.  In this video you will get a small taste of the active supportive community and diversty that Maplewood and South Orange offer. You’ll fall in love with the architecture, quaintness of the towns, our treelined streets, and  virtually visit a variety of  neighborhoods.   Learn about the Columbia School System,  the very active “Newcomers club”,  and hear from local residents about their favorite activities.  Experience some of the energy of  Maplewood Village and the various restaurants, cafes and bars.  Enjoy beautiful shots of South Mountain Reservation and all that it has to offer.

To Read more about what Maplewood and South Orange  NJ have to offer MAPLEWOOD CLICK HERE  SOUTH ORANGE CLICK HERE  , then call the Sue Adler Team  at 973-464-9129 if you’d like to come in for the REAL town tours!

If you work in NYC and need an easy commute, I’ve filmed this   Summit NJ   neighborhood and community tour to give you a true  sense of our town  and neighborhoods. 

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.

Highlights of this video:  You’ll see Down town Summit with its upscale boutique shops and awesome restaurants, our beautiful neighborhoods, parks, and schools. You’ll also hear from local residents on why they chose Summit and what they  love most about living here.

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

Considering a move to Millburn/ Short Hills ? Sue Adler and local residents take you on a video tour of  Milburn and Short Hlls neighborhoods, including the Glenwood, South Mountain, Wyoming, Old Short Hills, Hartshorn, and Deerfield Sections. You’ll see Millburn’s Blue Ribbon Schools, Downtown Millburn Ave boutique shops and restaurants, Taylor Park, Paper Mill Playhouse, etc… and hear from local residents about what it’s like to live here.

Not only is Millburn/Short Hills one of the Midtown Direct  Trainline Towns and an easy commute to New York City, but the  Millburn School District is known as one of the top school districts in the country. It is always winning awards for its academic excellence. Click Here for a free school report

Millburn and Short Hills also boast some of the best shopping outside of Manhattan, whether you are looking for designer labels, household goods or farm fresh produce.  Downtown Millburn retains its old-style feel with a good selection of small shops – many of them family-owned, or check out Short Hills Mall is where New Yorkers in the know come to avoid the city crush. 160 upscale stores selling luxury brands, Short Hills Mall is top of the shopping destination lists.

There are some fabulous restaurants, bars and cafes in Millburn and Short Hills that you won’t need to leave town to find what you’re looking for. Two of our favorites for meeting friends are Basilico and Martini’s Bar and Bistro. Plus, you can’t talk about downtown Millburn without Mentioning the Millburn Deli!

If live theatre is your thing the Paper Mill Playhouse on Brookside Drive in Millburn, is one of the most highly-acclaimed non-profit regional theatres in the country.

Newcomers to Millburn and Short Hills often comment on the remarkable lush open spaces we enjoy here. When you hike through the South Mountain Reservation or relax in one of our beautiful parks it is easy to forget that the chaotic streets of NYC are only 15 miles away as the crow flies!

 To read more about what Millburn/Short Hills has to offer CLICK HERE.

Sue Adler Team Client Party Buzz from Sue Adler on Vimeo.

Four years ago,  I started throwing an annual client party for two reasons. The first is obvious – to show my clients appreciation for being so amazing to me.  After the first party I realized how many friendships were formed from my party because so many of our team’s buyers are new to Short Hills, Maplewood, Livingston, Summit, Chatham, etc..  So in many ways, I feel like its become more of a Newcomers Club party, where we have new relocation buyers coming each year, as well as our yearly regulars, who have made friends with each other. Its always alot of fun.

Needless to say, when I saw the client inverviews in the video, it made me smile. I’m really proud of my team.  Other agents always are trying to figure out our success but the truth of the matter is -  at the end of the day, aside from the skill it takes to do what we do, if you work from your heart and are truly an advocate for your client, and care, that’s what matters most and what the clients remember in the end.

Interested in purchasing a home in New Jersey, but have not sold your existing property? 

I’m not an advocate of buying before selling in today’s market unless you understand and are comfortable with the risks involved, but if you insist on going this route, according to Rich Hirsh, from Mortgage Masters, here are Fannie’s guidelines:

If you are applying for a conventional loan, Fannie Mae requires that you either have 30 percent equity in your CURRENT residence OR 6 months cash reserves for BOTH homes. 

  Home Buying Scenarios

     #1 – Current Home is SOLD but not CLOSED prior to purchasing other one.

o   Must qualify for BOTH house payments and have 6 months worth of payment reserves for BOTH homes

 UNLESS

o   There is an executed purchase contract and all finance contingencies have been cleared on the home you are selling

    OR

o   Have 30 percent equity in current residence (Appraisal/BPO) PLUS 2 months worth of payment reserves for both homes

     #2 – Existing Home Converts to Second-Home Status

o   Must qualify for BOTH house payments

AND

o   Have 6 months worth of payment for BOTH homes

 OR

o   Have 30 percent equity in home being converted to 2^nd home

(Appraisal /BPO) PLUS 2 months worth of payment reserves on BOTH homes.

     #3 – Existing Home converts to Rental Property

o   Must qualify for both house payments AND have 6 months cash reserves for BOTH homes

UNLESS

o   Rental income can be used to offset monthly payment ONLY if home being converted to rental has 30% equity (Appraisal /BPO) AND home is leased AND security deposit has been verified.

The bottom line:  If you are buying a home without selling your current home, there will always need to be cash reserves after closing in the amount of 6 months PITI unless there is 30 percent equity in their current home.  Then you will need 2 months reserves! 

Rich Hirsch Mortgage Master Inc. Phone: 908-410-9066  eFax: 908-325-0018 rhirsch@mortgagemasterinc.com