The Sue Adler Team - Yours to count on for NJ real estate 20 minutes to 1 hour from NYC

“Picket the fence” in downtown Millburn

Sue Adler — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:30:33 +0000

Here’s the link to the facebook page to this article – sign up and show your support: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fight-the-Fence/143552219014082?ref=mf&v=wall#!/pages/Fight-the-Fence/143552219014082?v=wall&ref=mf

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.

2010 NJ top High School Rankings- We did it again!

Sue Adler — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:48:29 +0000

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)

NJ Home Buyers, Frustrated by low inventory? We have the solution!

Robin Benjamin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:12:54 +0000

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.

Family Friendly, Neighborhood Block Parties are alive and well in Maplewood and South Orange, NJ!!!

tracyfreeman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:22:00 +0000

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”…

Tracy Freeman REALTOR, GREEN

Buyer Specialist

The Sue Adler Team

(c): 917.604.5735

(e): Tracy@SueAdler.com

Planning a “STAYcation” this summer? or just looking for some fun activities in your neighborhood

Sue Adler — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:54:21 +0000

Many families are choosing to stay put this Summer instead of spending a lot of money on an expensive vacation. Whether this is your plan or not, there are numerous fun and exciting things to do in our local communities. Here are just a hand-full of interesting things happening right in your backyard. So get out and explore your favorite NJ town. Here are some of mine, my family, friends and neighbors favorites! Please let me know what you are enjoying in your town this Summer, I’d be happy to post the details.

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.

Millburn/ Short Hills Inventory comparison- Jan thru June 2009, 2010

Sue Adler — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:58:55 +0000

It is hard to believe that half of 2010 has come and gone. Looking at our local statistics for Millburn/Short Hills we see some interesting activity in the first quarter. Inventory was up significantly over 2009 but under contracts seemed to remain the same until March and April when we see a significant jump. Possibly due to the home buyer tax credit.

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

Repost of RISmedia article – Going Social: How Social Media Enables Real Estate Pros to Build Business

Sue Adler — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:03:13 +0000

Going Social: How Social Media Enables Real Estate Pros to Build Business

By Paige Tepping Print Article

RISMEDIA, March 22, 2010—Social media is taking the real estate industry by storm as real estate companies and professionals alike are using popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to keep in touch with their clients and prospects.

While the real estate industry is ever-evolving, professionals around the country are doing their part to enter the social scene and connect with their clients on a whole new level. In addition to the social aspect that goes along with networking, real estate professionals are finding simple ways to leverage their business at the same time, creating a true, win-win situation. Keller Williams Realty is a prime example of a real estate company striving to focus on the “social” aspect in everything they do.

A Social-Media Mindset
“For Keller Williams Realty, social media isn’t just about broadcasting our message—we want to strike up a conversation and engage our community. Really, these sites are a great way to provide valuable information that our agents can use in their business, or even on their own Facebook or Twitter pages,” says Amber Presley, PR and social media manager, Keller Williams Realty International.

As social media infiltrates the real estate market , agents continue to perceive it as a now-standard way to connect with clients.

“Social media provides a way to connect with people on the level they want to be connected with,” says Sue Adler, Realtor/Partner, Keller Williams Realty, in Essex, Union and Morris counties. “Connecting with individuals through social media shouldn’t be the end-all, though. It is simply an extension of what real estate professionals do on the phone or in person, and it should be used to facilitate face-to-face time.”

“Social media is a new medium for real estate agents to advertise, market and lead generate,” says Ben Kinney, real estate team owner, Keller Williams Bellingham, Washington, and “is creating a fundamental shift in the way we communicate, educate, shop and nurture our relationships. While being involved with social media is half the battle, the other half comes through creating good content that will spread effectively. It is crucial to be consistent and create informative content, as this is what will spread virally.”

When approaching social media, it is important to remember the “social” aspect and focus on providing information that you yourself would find interesting.

“I tend to post a variety of content on Facebook and Twitter,” says Adler. “It is important to keep it interesting by sharing videos, business and social information as well as questions so people can interact.

Adds Kinney: “Real estate agents need to create good community resources so they can establish themselves as an expert in their local market for free, to thousands of people.”

Strategic Business Building
Social media is not just a tool to strengthen existing relationships with friends, clients and your sphere of influence; it is a way to strategically build your business through creating community-related resources as well as generating traffic and leads.

“I use social media as a tool to leverage my time, my expenses and my business—not as a replacement for any traditional business activities,” says Kinney.

While social media has allowed him to network and work his sphere of influence, Kinney has focused on successfully integrating social media into his real estate business by:

-Becoming an expert on his local area—Using Twitter and Facebook fan pages to create community-related resources
-Generating buyer and seller leads—Using targeted Facebook pay-per-click ads
-Networking by occupation—Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are great resources to meet targeted individuals.
-Farming social networks—Using tools like demandspot.com, you can search for leads based on what words are used in tweets.
-Working his sphere—Status updates, tweets, blog posts and pictures can all serve as a reason to pick up the phone and call.

“I see social networks as a warm introduction to REO asset managers, local and national builders, relocation companies and investors,” says Kinney.

While many may argue that being involved with social media is the way of the future, real estate professionals shouldn’t get involved just to get involved.

“Social media has taken the place of the local newspaper in terms of being top of mind, but if you are going to get involved, be sure to use it correctly, or it can ultimately hurt your business,” says Adler.

Adler’s presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and her blog have provided her with business opportunities that she never would have had otherwise. Through posting links to videos as well as LinkedIn testimonials, Adler has created a steady referral business in addition to gaining a lot of attention both locally and nationally.

Focus on Being Social
Social media has proven a win-win situation for Adler, Kinney and Keller Williams Realty as a company.

“I’ve received a tremendous response from my clients,” says Kinney. “My use of social media has helped to solidify my reputation as an aggressive real estate agent and it also shows that I’m exhausting every market resource available and thinking outside the box.”

With a large network of friends, followers and connections, Kinney is able to refer business back to individuals who refer business to him, creating a positive situation for everyone involved.

A Top-Down Approach
Over the past year, Keller Williams Realty has continued to focus on educating its agents first and foremost about the benefits of being involved with social media, and how to use it properly.

“It has been part of our strategy to not only build up the presence of Keller Williams Realty on social media sites, but also to build our agents’ presence through education. In addition to Webinars and teleseminars, we have developed how-to guides for the most popular social media sites with videos to help our agents understand the tools, as well as weekly articles in our e-newsletter on new and emerging trends,” says Presley. “Most recently, we launched the KW Blog, which focuses on social media, and soon Keller Williams University will launch its new course, Internet Lead Generation, with a social media module, focusing on developing a smart social media business strategy.”

“The most important thing to remember about social media is that it’s all about being social,” says Adler. “There is no secret to being successful at social media except that you need to get your name out there and connect with others—whether it be through phone, e-mail or social media.”

You can find Keller Williams Realty online at facebook.com/kellerwilliamsrealty, blog.kw.com, twitter.com/kwri, youtube.com/kellerwilliams as well as KW.com.

Summit NJ, Neighborhood and Town Tour Video

Sue Adler — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:10:16 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Mortgage rates are at their all time lows!!!

Sue Adler — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:15:35 +0000

Steve Lupton Loan Officer ISB Mortgage
908-591-4235
steve.l@comcast.net

Steve Lupton sent this email to our office on Friday:

CNBC and Bankrate.com just reported that home loan rates are at their all time lows. Yes, all time lows! This is great news for anyone in New Jersey who has yet to refinance to take advantage of the lowest rates ever recorded, or to purchase that new home or investment property more affordably than ever before.Both 30 Year and 15 Year Fixed Rates clipped down to their lowest levels. All this is incredible as just months ago, many experts had anticipated that rates would be well above 5% this summer and on their way to 6% by year end.

Last month, NBC reported that nearly 50% of all people with a 30 Year Fixed rate had rates higher than 5.75% – do you know where your interest rate is at currently? It’s worth a look, and a call to me to help check it out!

Plus – in most parts of the country, home values as reported by both the National Association of Realtors and the S&P Case-Shiller Indices are higher than last year. If you were unable to refinance last year, the combination of your current home value and historic interest rates may provide you a greater opportunity to save money than ever before.

Finally, even if your home has lost value from when your loan was originated, you may still be able to refinance. There are some special programs available that might allow you to refinance without private mortgage insurance, even if your loan will now exceed 80% of the present value.

Don’t miss this chance to save money. Even if you have already taken advantage of the historic rates that have been offered, don’t miss this chance to help your family and friends. Call me today and we can discuss what options exist for you.

Time waits for no one…and when rates rise, they will rise quickly.

Tribute to Short Hills Realtor, Diane Newman

Sue Adler — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:14:51 +0000

This week, the Millburn/Short Hills real estate community lost a dear friend, Diane Newman. I dont know anyone who didnt love Diane. She was always honest, so giving of herself, really cared about people, and was always such a pleasure to work with.

We always remember who was nice to us in times that are not easy. Years ago, when I moved to Short Hills, and had to start my real estate practice over in an entirely different state, when others treated me as a threat, Diane went out of her way to to help me acclimate to my new market. I will never forget her for that. She was always so secure in herself and gave of herself so freely. She always worked from her heart.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to her daughter and real estate partner, Amanda, and the rest of her family. Diane will be missed by everyone she touched.