-->

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Otteau Valution Cites Great Housing Sales In NJ


Housing Recovery Still Strong


The steady improvement in home sales can be seen in this graphic which shows that YTD home purchase contracts in New Jersey are running at their highest level in 3 years. Home buyers in the state entered into 7,235 purchase contracts during the 1st half of 2012 which reflects an 18% increase compared to 2011, and a 31% increase over 2010.

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Moving to Maplewood-You Bought Your Home, Now You Need Furniture


Let's say you've made the big move from a 2 bedroom apartment to a 4 bedroom house with a den and more.

Well, here's a great money saving tip to furnish your home: Our local Maplewoodonline.com site. When our residents are moving out, they often put their items up for sale and also advertise their garage sales on this site.

Hope this helps save you a ton of money and allows you to take the right amount of time to then furnish and decorate your home in due time.

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Moving to Maplewood-Our Schools

If you are thinking of moving to Maplewood, you will probably want to know where our schools are located.

Here is a map with the schools marked:



If you are thinking about coming out and prefer to take your own driving tour, here is my recommended driving tour that will take you buy each of the schools, just follow the orange hi-lighted path:



And, if you want more in-depth information, please go to our School Board Site.
and here are two links that discuss our most recent Columbia graduates and their College Choices for this Fall. love to live in maplewood maplewood patch article
Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

You're Thinking of Moving to Maplewood-Pre Approval v. Pre Qualified


What Does a Pre-Approval Letter Mean To a Seller?

In today’s world, home-buyers should definitely get a pre-approval letter from a qualified Mortgage Loan Officer before any seller will take them seriously.

A buyer needs to be pre-approved because, firstly, you want to know what you truly and/or comfortably afford. One tip in selecting the right Mortgage Loan Officer is if they ask you for a potential listing so they can ensure the right tax rate is figured into their calculations. Once you have your pre-approval, you can make an offer on a home because the pre-approval indicates they’ve been approved to afford a certain loan amount. The best real estate agents make sure their clients are pre-approved during the early stages of the home buying process.

It is also important to know that a pre-qualification letter is NOT equal to a pre-approval letter.

A pre-approval letter means that the lender has independently verified your credit, income, and all the factors that are needed to determine a loan amount. The buyer has access to that loan when an offer on a home has been accepted. A pre-qualification letter is not an approval for a loan, it is a tentative evaluation see wikipedia.
When you are pre-approved, there is very little that can stand in the way of you purchasing a home for the dollar amount you’ve been approved for.

What Does a Pre-Approval Letter Mean To a Seller?

1. Your pre-approval letter will either give the seller reasons to accept your offer or to reject your offer. Make sure you are making offers on houses within the range of what you’ve been approved for.

2. Sellers and real estate agents feel more comfortable if the letter is from a local or well established lender. If the agent can vouch for the mortgage lender than it makes a great impression on the seller who may be skeptical about pre-approval letters from non-local companies.

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Friday, July 27, 2012

You're Thinking of Moving to Maplewood-Open Houses


A great way to start the process of identifying the town or city in which you would like to live is to utilize Sunday Public Open Houses to get a feel for the neighborhoods and how location impacts the value and price of a home.

So, to make this easy, here is a site for those of you looking to move to Maplewood, NJ:

www.maplewoodnjopenhouses.com

This site is a free resource without requiring any sign-ins and also provides a quick-find map to help you locate these Open Houses. It's best to check this site out late Saturday afternoon to get the most up to date listings.

Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/ Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

How to Chose a Home Inspector


So, you made your offer and it has been accepted. From a paperwork perspective, you have forwarded your executed contract to both your attorney and your mortgage loan officer. The Attorney Review process can take as little as a day or a much as 10 days, depending on any unusual contract provisions or any amendments to the contract being sought; the average is about 3 days in Northern NJ.

So, what is your next step? Scheduling a Home Inspection. You have already indicated a time frame during which you will have your new home inspected. But, you haven't done this before, so who do you chose? Do i really need an inspection?

The answer the latter is YES!. I'm reminded of a story I read when I first started where a buyer bought a newly constructed home. He moved in during the summer and couldn't wait to have his family visit for Christmas. The big surprise wasn't what was put under the tree, it was what wasn't put in his guest bathroom: plumbing. While the bathroom had a tub, toilet and sink, none of them were ever hooked up to water sources. So, this poor buyer had to have his bathroom redone at his expense.

It's important to note that your home inspection is a very important part of any home buying process; an inspection that is done well can save you a huge amount of money and headaches. For this reason, choosing the right home inspector is crucial. Obviously, a referral--from your agent or a friend--is the best way to find a great home inspector. A good agent recommends more than one, often providing you with an area list of qualified NAHI approved inspectors, so here are some tips to help you choose wisely:

Find out how long they’ve been in business. Not all good inspectors have been in business for decades, but a lengthy career does often, at the very least, indicate a level of proficiency and customer satisfaction.

Speaking of customers, read client testimonials. Are they from clients or real estate agents? Do they have testimonials from three delighted clients, or thirty? Look for reviews that mention thoroughness or punctuality, or anything else you want in an inspector.

Read about their qualifications and experience. Look out for clever wording like “10 years of industry experience.” This doesn’t equate to 10 years of home inspection experience. And, more importantly, can your inspector accommodate the full scope of your inspection needs? Do they have engineering experience (to help with structural observations)? Do they conduct the termite and pest inspection or, do they have you "hire" a separate inspector for that (also a way some inspectors play with their fees)? What about lead paint testing? Will they go up on your roof? These are questions you might want to ask as these are components of what should be evaluated when buying a home.

Lasly, view a sample inspection report. If there isn’t one available or you need to send the inspector an email to request one, it’s probably for good reason. Home Inspectors that are proud of their reports practically want to push the report into your lap and you want to make sure that the report is something you can easily understand so you have a document you can work with your attorney and Realtor. And like so many purchasing decisions we make in our likes, I strongly recommend not making price your primary concern, as any issues revealed in a home inspection will more than pay for the cost of the inspection itself, no matter how much it ends up costing.

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Full of Hot Air BALLOONS!


A fleet of hot air balloons will overtake the sky this weekend as the Quick Check Festival of Ballooning celebrates its 30th year.

But the festival, held Friday-Sunday, July 27-29, at the Solberg Airport in Readington, offers much, much more than ballooning.

There are rides, an arts and crafts festival, yoga and Zumba demonstrations, and food—lots of it. Every evening, there will be a music concert and twice each day on Saturday and Sunday and once on Friday, more than 100 balloons will rise majestically into the sky.

And Patch will offer all attendees a chance to leave all your troubles behind and take a free tethered balloon ride. Just find our table at the festival and sign up for our e-mail newsletter.

There will be five different musical concerts at the festival. On Friday night, July 27, Eddie Money brings his hits from the '70s and '80s to the festival. Saturday’s daytime concert is aimed at teens, while Saturday night welcomes Motown legend Smokey Robinson to the stage. Sunday’s teen concert stars R5 featuring Ross Lynch from the Disney Channel show Austin and Ally. Sunday’s final concert at 3 p.m. brings Poison's Bret Michaels to Readington.

If you want to watch the balloons take off, be at the festival grounds either in the early morning or early evening. Balloons need still air to launch, which is normally most likely around daybreak and at dusk, so the balloon ascensions are set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

"Think 'state fair' with balloons," Russ Mensch, a spokesman for the festival, told Patch's D.W. Dunphy. "[We'll have] nonstop, affordable family entertainment, children's amusement rides, fireworks, a nighttime 'balloon glow,' the Running with the Balloons 5K race, the Quick Chek hospitality tent, hundreds of arts & crafts and food vendors, and lots, lots more."

The Festival of Ballooning starts Friday, July 27 (1-10 p.m.), and continues Saturday, July 28 (6 a.m.-10 p.m.), and Sunday, July 29 (6 a.m.-8 p.m.).

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Corner Bakery Moveover, there's a New Hot "Corner Table"

I love a place with a great selection of wine and beer, but often find my favorite spots are lacking in breadth of selection and many are BYOB. So, it's with great pleasure that I can say i found a great new lil haunt, just minutes away, as Whole Food's has launched one of its first Brew Pub formatted restaurant called Corner Table.
I went over today to check it out first hand. Their new menu is offers a variety of burgers--from beef to turkey to veggie. Comfort foods like Mac'n'cheese, Fish and Chips and Pulled Pork, a vast selection of Salads and a good number of Snacks and Starters if you simply want a quick beer and like your Beer Nuts, your wings, fresh made potato chips, soft pretzel (ball game style), potato skinss, nachos, wings and calamari (yes, sports games are generally featured on the flat screen).
Here is little movie i took today.
Hope you enjoy

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

SoPAC new events added: Stephanie Mills, Leo Norbert Butts, Toots and the Maytals and more!

Los Lonely Boys THU, SEP 27 AT 7:30PM
Giants of Jazz 2012 Jazz Master: George Coleman SAT, OCT 6 AT 8PM An Evening with Norbert Leo Butz (recently of Maplewood, NJ, always on Broadway) SAT, OCT 13 AT 8PM
Toots and the Maytals THU, NOV 1 AT 7:30PM Stephanie Mills FRI, NOV 9 AT 8PM
A Chanticleer Christmas THU, NOV 29 AT 7:30PM It’s a Wonderful Life (A Radio Play) SAT, DEC 8 AT 2PM & 8PM
South Orange Performing Arts Center One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079 www.SOPACnow.org 973.313.ARTS
Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

A Closer Look at the Real Value of Real Estate

I am honored to present the following piece co written by Megan Gates, Dottie Herman and myself.

A Closer Look at the Real Value of Real Estate By Megan Gates

Additional comments by Mark Slade

When buying a new home, your goal generally is to get the best home at the best price possible. To accomplish this, research and education are key. A home is, after all, a major investment on your part, and it also is a place where you may live for many years or even decades. Through knowledge of the real estate market and the overall buying process, your transaction may yield better results for you.

Hiring a real estate broker is a great step to take. A real estate purchase is a legal as well as a financial transaction, and a broker is a professional who has received professional training in these areas. More than that, a broker has knowledge of the market and experience walking through the buying process that can be of tremendous value to you. A broker can help you to find a home that has worth to you in multiple ways. However, hiring a broker is not a substitute for your own personal education about the market and the buying process. “When I work as a buyer’s agent,” says Mark Slade Realtor Keller Williams, “my job is to provide my clients with as much insight and education I can in the form of analysis, etc. I particularly like to show them a couple of homes above and below their criteria in order to help them hone in on the current market value in a neighborhood.

One of the biggest factors that home buyers have concerns about is buying a home at the right price. Many real estate transactions have gone south at the last minute because the appraisal came in with a value that was slightly lower than the negotiated sales price and/or some home inspection comments may have given rise to buyer’s remorse about the price they are planning to pay for their new home. Buyers don't want to pay more than the property is valued at, and sellers have a perceived value in their minds for what their property is worth. Before you buy a new home, it is important to educate yourself on the variations of value, price and cost.

The Value of a Home

Real estate expert Dottie Herman, CEO and President of Prudential Douglas Elliman, was featured recently on a radio broadcast of “Eye on Real Estate with Dottie Herman.” In the radio broadcast titled as “The Art of Negotiations,” Herman stated that value is simply your own opinion of the property's worth, and it is “based on how you're going to use it.” One buyer may value a property differently than another based on unique property attributes. For example, a location in a great school district may make a property more valuable to a family with kids than to a retired, empty nest couple; similarly convenience to a commuting train station, highway, airport may also dramatically influence a buyer’s perception of value. Mark Slade goes on to say that “In Maplewood, its fairly common to see a premium price paid for similarly sized homes when they are within ½ of our Mid-Town Direct Train Station.

The Cost of Real Estate

The cost of real estate is a valuation that sellers place on their property. Many sellers look at the cost of their home as the sales price they paid originally as well as the cost of all improvements they have made to the home over the years. Herman states that the definition of cost is “a measure of the past.” When reconciling cost and value together, though, these are not always equivalent. According to Herman, “Cost and value are not what the price of the home should be or shouldn’t be.”

The Price of Real Estate

The price of real estate generally should be equivalent to the fair market value of the property. This price is generally determined by a broker or in a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis.) The CMA is based on the broker's research of comparable sales in the local area over the last six months. However, the CMA only takes into account sales prices, dates and square footage of the properties in most cases. The fair market value of a CMA does not take into account specific factors that may have resulted in price negotiations. Some factors that may affect the final sales price of a particular property include the overall condition of the property, the neighbors in close proximity to the home, the view, the location and more. “As a Otteau Valuation Group trained ACMA—Advanced CMA--provider, I often provide a detailed analysis of a home’s value to my clients so as to help them see the differences beyond simply judging by their own experience and emotions,” says Slade.
In the above example, I valued a home at $667, listed it for $675 and had an offer for $680 in 8 days.

A potential buyer can drive to properties listed in a CMA to estimate factors that may have affected the final negotiated price on a specific piece of real estate. It is important to note, however that the final price of real estate is affected by a specific buyer's valuation of it. Slade states: “Eventually economics comes into play with Supply (the Cost of Real Estate) and Demand (the Value of a Home), with an expectation that every house will find the right price where demand and supply meet and the seller finds the right buyer.”

According to Herman, “There is no exact science to pricing.” Through your own education about how real estate is valued, worth is placed and price is determined, you can more easily determine what a specific property may be worth to you. Working with your real estate broker and researching the market in detail can help you to get a great property at a great price.

Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Short Hills Resident Approved to be Federal Judge

Short Hills Resident Approved to be Federal Judge The New Jersey attorney could take the bench by end of summer. By Craig McCarthy The Senate confirmed a nomination of a Short Hills resident for the U.S. District Court in the District of New Jersey in a 91-3 vote this week, according to the U.S. Senate's website. After the overwhelming vote on July 16, Kevin McNulty, 57, could take the bench by the end of the summer, if he is sworn in soon, reported northjersey.com. For more: Millburn Patch
Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Maplewood Artist Exhibits at Monmouth Museum

Maplewood Artist Exhibits at Monmouth Museum Local artist Jane Dell is featured in a solo show. By Larry Dell This story was submitted by Larry Dell, an artist who reviews art for local publications. He is married to Jane Dell. Artist Jane Dell will exhibit her latest work at the Monmouth Museum in Lincroft, New Jersey, in a solo show that is part of the museum’s Emerging Artist series. The show kicks off with an opening reception on Friday, July 20 from 6-8 p.m. and will run through Aug. 19. In addition, Dell will discuss her work and influences at a gallery talk at the museum on Wednesday, Aug. 1 from 7-8 p.m. For more: Maplewood Patch Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Maplewood and South Orange Homes

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Maplewood Resident Tapped as Newark Museum's Chief Curator

Ulysses Grant Dietz hopes to attract more visitors to the state's largest museum.

By Carolyn Maynard-Parisi

Maplewood resident Ulysses Grant Dietz has been named chief curator of the Newark Museum, according to Mary Sue Sweeney Price, the museum’s director and CEO.

Dietz, who has served as Curator of Decorative Arts since 1980 and Senior Curator since 2007, will be responsible for all curatorial affairs.

“One of my main goals is the expansion of our African galleries, which will make them the largest in the country,” he said.

He is also eager to increase awareness of the museum among New Jersey residents. “I will do whatever I can to get people in New Jersey to understand what the Newark Museum is,” Dietz said. “We are not just a little regional museum, but one of the top 30 museums in the country.

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Short Hills First Half 2012 Housing Stats


Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Millburn First Half 2012 Housing Stats


Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Maplewood First Half 2012 Housing Stats

Mark Slade Keller WIlliams 917.797.5059 Good Homes
Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/ Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Millburn High sends 25 to Ivy League Schools this year


According to Millburn Patch, Millburn High will be sending 23 of its graduating class to the Ivy Leagues this Fall.

In alphabetical order:

Brown=1

Columbia=1

Cornell=8

Dartmouth=2

Harvard=1

Princeton=1

University of Pennsylvania=9

Yale=2

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Bedroom Community of NYC Realtor

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

New Tax Rate in Monclair: The answer is 3.252%


Tax Bills Spark Concern

Montclair officials release reassessment information.

By Shelley Emling

Montclair taxpayers received their recently issued tax bills this week, bills that reflect changes based on the reassessed value of their property. As a result, Montclair Patch has been bombarded with emails from Montclair residents concerned that their taxes have increased dramatically. Patch will be following up on this issue soon. In the meantime, here is a notice released by the township today.

Some tax bills increased in amounts greater than the spending increases approved in the municipal, school and county budgets – the atypical increase is a result of the township-wide reassessment conducted in 2011.

With the decline the housing market, Montclair property owners have filed 3,724 tax appeals since 2007.

To determine your annual bill, multiply your new assessed value by the tax rate .03252 also known as a tax rate of 3.252%.

For more info, go to Montclair Patch

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Montclair area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Montclair/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood, Montclair and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Friday, July 13, 2012

GOOGLE STREET VIEWS


As i'm driving to a closing yesterday, I spy this funny decked out car with a tower on top of it. As i get closer i chuckle as i see that it has California plates.

i pass it and pull over to get a glimpse of the front of the vehicle.

Then i wait for traffic to clear so i can get a profile shot:
so this is how Google takes their STREET VIEW SHOTS!

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 Good Homes

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/ Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Short Sales: A real experience

I have had the pleasure and the challenge of working on many short sales in this past year. My actual first experience was as an owner of a home coming off of a divorce. This latter experience was simply a tremendous learning experience for me as both a seller and then as an agent who can understand what a seller in a short position is going through and how to manage your finances and such so as to protect yourself from some interesting fine print on your checking accounts, your credit card agreements, etc.

Getting back to Short Sales, I have been fortunate to have one deal close in as few as 35 days, yes, a short bit more than a month. At the same time, I am writing this blog article some 9 months--YES, I DID SAY 9 MONTHS--after receiving an accepted offer on a property in Maplewood.

Why 9 months? well, with the Olympics approaching, we know that the sport of Diving for example, is scored with "the degree of difficulty" of a dive factored in. When it comes to short sales, there are loans that are owned by 3rd party hedge funds, like Kondaur capital, that can make the process a very easy one for navigating through the approval process for a short sale. Conversely, having 2 loans with 2 different banks can make for a very turbulent and extraordinarily challenging approval process as sometimes each loan is a moving target. Such was the case with today's closing. First, we were under the impression that our first lien (loan) holder would be made whole. Unfortunately, while i was successful at getting an accepted offer in 18 days for this property, i would come to find that there was a problem with the buyer's being able to get their mortgage due to an earlier than expected birth. Then, for some inexplicable reason, the buyer's attorney failed to run an "judgment search" as a precautionary step that is highly recommended. This allows both sides to know if there are any hidden obstacles (IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS IF YOU ARE BUYING A SHORT SALE, which in this case there were as my Seller's were under the impression that 2 credit issues would become deficiency judgments that were attached to the home, preventing sale until they could be "paid."

So, after getting the 2nd loan approved, I had to then restart the entire process in order to deal with the new terms that resulted from the short on the first loan.

All in all, this file took 9 months, a total of 213 emails, 89 messages on Equator (an online tracking and short sale management tool required by most of the major banks) and an untold number of phone calls and texts to get us to the closing table today.

So, when you are looking to buy a short sale, please keep in mind that the "average" short sale still takes 3.5 to 4.5 months to close. This means that there will be some that are fortunate to take a month or so and others that take 9 months to a year to close.
Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059 good homes
Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/ Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Maplewoodstock: a way to beat (to) the heat

Ever since moving to Maplewood and stumbling along this all weekend event in Memorial Park, I have made it my place to make sure to come out and take in some great music, great food, great wares for sale and great friends to hang with. This year, while the heat was probably a record for Maplewoodstock, it was still amazing to see so many people turn out to see a series of performers and bands, ranging from rock to indie, country to pop, reggae and more, perform. Here is a lil snippet from yesterday. Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Leslie Goldman to Sing Star Spangled Banner on the 4th

South Orange Star Will Open Maplewood Firework Festivities Juicebox's Leslie Goldman will sing By Marcia Worth Leslie Goldman will open the Maplewood Fourth of July firework festivities with her signature rendition of "The Star- Spangled Banner." If you missed the memorable performance that opened the South Orange - Maplewood baseball and softball season, this is a chance not to miss! The South Orange resident and Juicebox singer and songwriter will perform on the lawn opposite Town Hall in Maplewood. There will be live music from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., and fireworks will show their stuff just after 9 p.m. (assuming it's dark!). link to the song Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059

Monday, July 2, 2012

Columbia High Boasts an Incredible Number of Students That Will Be Attending Our Nation's Top Schools in 2012


By Marcia Worth

The Columbia High School Class of 2012 is headed to college! The school district today released a list of where students plan to pursue their education in the fall and, for some, as soon as July.

Please note this list is the students' final choices, and does not reflect the range of schools where seniors were accepted.

Congratulations to the Class of 2012!

Here are just a few of the Nation's Top Universities of which our Columbia Graduates will be attending this fall:

American University
Bard College
Barnard College
Bennington College
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Haverford College
Johns Hopkins University
Middlebury College
Mount Holyoke College
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Rhode Island School of Design
Skidmore College
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art
The George Washington University
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
Vassar College
Wake Forest University
Washington University in St. Louis
Wesleyan University

Mark Slade Keller Williams 917.797.5059
Good Homes

Sunday, July 1, 2012

july 4th


Maplewood 4th of July Guide

A full day of old-fashioned fun, including a circus and fireworks, for the whole family.

By Carolyn Maynard-Parisi June 29, 2012

Maplewood's annual Fourth of July celebration is next week, and Patch has all the information you need to plan your day.

There is a full day of events is organized by the wonderful folks who make up the July 4th Committee of the Maplewood Civic Association.

If you were wondering about the history of this event, here is some background, courtesy of a press release from the committee:

July Fourth in Maplewood, over a century ago, was celebrated with a town-wide picnic, a keynote speaker (usually a politician), athletic contests and barbecues. Citizens, generally in groupings by neighborhood, made their way to the picnic grounds. Informal processions gradually turned into elaborate parades with costumes and bands, becoming fierce (and expensive) competitions between neighborhoods. The July Fourth Committee was formed to unite the township activities. Eventually the Maplewood Civic Association was organized, encompassing the Committee and dedicated to a tradition of family-oriented July Fourth celebrations.

A $10 tag per person gets you entree to the entire day of activities, including the Circus. Tags are available at the Town Hall Clerk’s Office, the Maplewood Memorial Libraries (both Main and Hilton branches), the Recreation Dept. at Town Hall and DeHart Park. Tags also will be for sale on July 4th in Memorial Park and at Evening Event Entrance Gates.

Here is the schedule of events:

8:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies at Ricalton Square

8:15 a.m. Parade steps off from Ricalton Park with everything you can push, pedal or pull; decorated red, white & blue; all ages.

9:00 a.m. Kids’ Dashes & Relays in athletic field opposite Town Hall

9:00 to 9:40 a.m. 4th of July 5K Run, Start & Finish on Oakview Avenue near Field House, (This requires a separate registration and fee:

maplewood5k4july@aol.com. Organized by CHS Cross-Country Team parents and faculty)

9:00 a.m. CHS Robotics Club students display & demonstrate at Skate House

10:00 a.m. Circle Frame Kids’ Art Project downhill from RR station: “Amity, Unity, Infinity” by John Kaufman; sponsors: Memorial Post 10120 VFW & 1978 Arts Center; with story-theater by the Strollers

11:00 a.m. Ice Cream Eating Contests in picnic area next to tennis courts, sponsored and presented by Maplewood Rotary

11:00 a.m. Tennis Contests at Civic House tennis courts: fastest serve and most accurate serve; presented by Maplewood Recreation Tennis Program

11:30 a.m. Baking Contest in Town Hall; all ages. Judging directed by Janet Crane. Baking Contest entries need to be at Town Hall between 9 – 9:30 a.m.

12:00 noon Town Hall Murals in Town Hall: Durand-Hedden House volunteers will talk about the history of Maplewood through its murals.

12 to 3:00 p.m. Adult Softball in Athletic field opposite Town Hall

12:00 noon Kids’ Percussion Forest downhill from RR station, sponsored and presented by Jamie Ross

12:00 noon Pet Awards Show in front of Main Library: All Types, All Sizes! Organized and Presented by New Jersey Animal Coalition

Note that $10 per person tag is required for admission to the Circus and to concert/fireworks spectator area.

1:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Zerbini Family Circus under the Big Top! Rain or Shine! 1st Come, 1st Served! No Reserved Seats! Seating Is Limited so line up early!

4:00 p.m. Live music begins on lawn opposite Town Hall; performances until fireworks. Picnic until fireworks: Ice cream vendor; Burgers, hotdogs, sodas at Maplewood BSA troop 5 concession. [Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in Maplewood parks.]

9:00 p.m. Fireworks — Come early! Times approximate. Parental discretion advised for small children and pets; consider viewing from a distance. Rain Date: July 5. (Circus and indoor events will be July 4, rain or shine).

Participating vendors:

MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE: Able Baker, Maplewood Stationery, No. 165, Scrivener’s, Strawberry Fields, Village Wine Shop, Words Bookstore

SPRINGFIELD AVENUE: Edo’s Quality Cakes, HLS Juice Bar & Grill, Park Wood Diner

Registration is required for Bikes Etc. Parade and Dashes & Relay Races. Forms are available at Memorial and Hilton Libraries, Town Hall, online at Board of Education school websites (“Digital Backpack Flyers”) and on Facebook "Maplewood 4th of July " and at www.maplewoodonline.com/cg/july4/

FOR MORE GO TO PATCH.COM

Mark Slade keller Williams 917.797.5059

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange//Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.