Enjoying Nature in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

Summertime is a great time to get outdoors, stretch your legs, take in some Vitamin D from the sun (with sunscreen, of course!), and reunite with nature. Many people in the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area are doing just that this season. Want to join them? Here is information on a few of the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ parks and natural areas that are open to the public this summer:

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum was started in 1923 and covers 16 acres of land in Millburn, NJ. Today, the Arboretum offers a peaceful respite from the urban world. Walk on miles of trails and witness a variety of plants and animals. The Arboretum is an official monarch butterfly tagging site as well as an official milkweed and butterfly observation site. The Arboretum is known for having over 100 species of birds within it and 275-year-old tulip trees. The grounds are open during daylight hours year-round. An education center is also available to the public and is open on weekdays from 9 am - 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am - 3 pm. For more information, click here.

Greenwood Gardens
The Greenwood Gardens are a local favorite in Short Hills. These public gardens cover 28 acres and include a variety of gardens, meadows, woodlands, and pastures. The Greenwood Gardens is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a perfect place to find peace in nature. The Gardens are also great for learning about conservation and historic preservation. The Gardens were privately owned for over a century, until becoming a non-profit organization in 2003. There are tours available as well as scheduled events. If you enjoy yourself, consider becoming a volunteer. For more information on the Gardens, click here.

Gero Park
Although Gero Park--located in Millburn--is more suited for recreation than nature-watching, it is large and has some green space. It is a nice park open to the public with spots for picnics--a perfect place for the family to sit outside while enjoying lunch. In addition, Gero Park has a playground, basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, a street hockey rink, and a swimming pool. It's an ideal place to bring kids during the summer. For more information, click here.

Hopefully you are enjoying summer to the fullest in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ and these recommendations will only help you enjoy it even more! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the area or are interested in buying or selling real estate locally.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Save money on moving into your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home

Congratulations on closing on your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home! Buying a new house is a very exciting part of life. Moving into the new home, however, can be frustrating and stressful. Most people are looking to save money at this time since they've just made such a large purchase. Follow these tips in order to save money on your move to Millburn-Short Hills, NJ.

Move during an off-peak time


Most moves occur between March and October. If there is any way you can move during the off-peak season, you will save money on moving costs. Renting moving vans is often cheaper during this time. If you go with a moving company, don't hesitate to try and negotiate prices during off-peak times. If their business is slow, they might provide additional discounts off of listed prices. If you can't move during off-peak season, consider moving during the middle of the month. Even during peak moving months, most people move in either the very first few days or very last few days of the month. If you can move the second or third week you might be able to save money.

Move fewer things


Don't make the mistake of moving everything hurriedly and then sorting through your belongings after they're in the new space. It doesn't make sense to pay to move things that you don't plan on keeping! Moving is the ideal time to sort through your possessions one-by-one, asking yourself, Do I use this often enough to keep it? Do I really like it? Sell items of value on ebay or in a garage sale to make some spare cash. Donate or throw out the remaining items based on the condition they're in. Don't forget that donated items can be written off during tax time. Save receipts!

Do not buy boxes or packing materials


Depending on how much you have to move, moving materials can costs several hundred or even over one-thousand dollars. Save on those unnecessary costs by planning ahead and stocking up on cardboard boxes and packing materials ahead of time. Ask friends and neighbors to donate boxes they are not currently using. Stop by local grocery and retail stores and ask them to save cardboard boxes for you. (Be sure to tell them you only want ones that close.) Instead of buying packing peanuts, use newspaper. If you don't have a subscription, ask a friend or neighbor to hold onto theirs for a few weeks for you. You can also be creative about packing your fragile items. A bath towel or t-shirt can keep that china safe just as well as butcher paper sold by a moving agency.

Hopefully these tips help you save money on your upcoming move to Millburn-Short Hills, NJ. If you have any other questions about moving, buying or selling real estate, or the local community, do not hesitate to contact me. Welcome to the area!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Upcoming events in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ!

Happy Fourth of July!  I hope it's a great one.  The fun in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ doesn't stop there, however.  There are many exciting events coming up over the next few days.  Check them out!

Full Moon Hike at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Friday, July 6th, 7:30 pm
Did you know Friday is a full moon?  Celebrate by spending time outdoors, getting exercise, and meeting new people on this hike at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.  This area is usually off-limits to the general public, so everyone on the hike will be getting quite a treat!  Click here to register.  The price is $10 and the hike is open to the first twenty people who sign up.  The refuge is located in Basking Ridge, NJ and the hike will end at 9 pm.


Guided Tour of Greenwood Gardens
Saturday, July 7th, 10 am
These guided tours are available once per month during warmer months, from May to October.  Tour guides share Greenwood Gardens' history while walking you through the beautiful gardens full of plants and flowers.  The cost is free to Greenwood Gardens members and $10 to the general public.  Reservations are recommended.  For more information, click here.


Summer Concert Series at Taylor Park
Sunday, July 8th, 7 pm
Every other week, Millburn Township is putting on a concert in Taylor Park.  Each concert is free and features oldies music.  On July 8th, the musical entertainment will be provided by New Jersey's number one oldies band, Reminisce.  Ice cream and refreshments will be sold.  For more information, click here (pdf).

I hope you're having a fantastic summer this far and really enjoying all that the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area has to offer.  If you have any questions about our community or about real estate, do not hesitate to contact me.  Once again, Happy Fourth of July!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Tips for finding your Millburn-Short Hills home

You know you want to move into a Millburn-Short Hills home, but aren't sure where to start.  There are many things to take into consideration.  Do you want a condominium or single family home?  Which neighborhood is the best for you?  What style of home best suits your needs?  The options can be overwhelming!  Here are tips that can help make your home search easier to handle.

Calculate your budget
Calculating a budget before starting your home search is a good idea.  There is no point in looking at homes that are not in your price range--that will only set you up for disappointment.  When figuring out a budget, take into consideration how much money you have to put for a down payment and how much you can afford for monthly payments.  Don't figure to also figure in regular home maintenance and property taxes.  Your budget should be something you can make comfortably, not something you can only handle if everything goes perfectly.

Pick the towns and neighborhoods you'll consider
Narrowing down your choice by neighborhood will help a lot and keep you from feeling torn after you find the "perfect" house that just isn't located in a place you like.  Each location has its pros and cons, so think carefully about what is most important to you.  For example, maybe you are only willing to move somewhere that falls within a 30-mile radius of your work or is within a certain school district.

Determine the house type you want
Do you want a single family home, or would you prefer a multi-family home such as a condo?  The answer to this will depend quite a bit on your stage in life and your lifestyle.  Seniors and young professionals, for example, often prefer condos because it saves them the trouble of lawn care and many issues of home maintenance.

Make a list of home necessities
Write a short list of necessities for the home you want.  This isn't a wish list--it's a list of "must haves" and you will only consider homes that meet your criteria.  Maybe your ideal home must have three bedrooms, a backyard, and space for a dishwasher.  This will save you time.  If you know you are not willing to live somewhere that has less than three bedrooms, you won't waste time looking at homes that will never work for you.

Hopefully these tips help put you on the right track as you search for that ideal Millburn-Short Hills home.  If you want the help of a professional, do not hesitate to contact me.  Have a good week!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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The Downtown Millburn, NJ Farmers Market

Friday, June 8th marked the seasonal opening of the Downtown Millburn, NJ Farmers Market.  The farmers market is located in the Essex Street Municipal Lot and will run every Friday until October 19th.  Farmers markets are on the rise and allow people to enjoy food native to their region.  Many people seek out local food in order to know where their food is coming from and support the local economy.

The Downtown Millburn, NJ Farmers Market is open from 8 am to 3 pm every Friday.  There you can find organic, locally-grown produce for sale, gourmet chefs doing demonstrations and providing tastings, local community organizations such as the Millburn Library giving out information, and more.  Here is a small sampling of who you can expect to find at the farmers market:

Alstede Farms
Alstede Farms is located in Chester, NJ.  They come each week selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Berries are popular items in the month of June and they currently have strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, and blueberries.

Dr. Pickle 
Dr. Pickle is New Jersey company that sells "the best pickle and pepper products" on the market.  They also sell pickled green tomatoes, giardiniera, marinated mushrooms, olives, sauerkraut, and more.

Paolo's Kitchen
Paolo's Kitchen serves up their healthy, home-cooked Italian meals every week.  Enjoy their handmade ravioli, mozzarella, and more.

There are several more vendors in addition to these three examples.  If you have not yet been to the Downtown Millburn, NJ Farmers Market, I recommend it.  Also, feel free to contact me with any questions about the community, or about buying or selling homes in the area.  Have a great week and happy first day of summer!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Cleaning up your credit before buying in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

One of the very first steps in home buying is cleaning up your credit.  Without good credit, you won't qualify for a good loan.  Without a good loan, you might not be able to buy the house of your dreams.  Cleaning up your credit before finding the home you want to buy is the way to go.  That way you can figure out an accurate budget and there won't be any last-minute surprises or obstacles when closing on a home.  Here on tips on cleaning up your credit before buying a home in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ:

Order a credit report and correct any mistakes
Everyone is entitled to free credit reports from the three major credit agencies on an annual basis.  Click here to request yours.  Once you've received the reports, comb them for any inaccuracies.  Even something small such as an old credit limit on a card can affect your score.  Remember, you may also request to have anything over seven years old removed from your report.  That includes late fees, cards you've closed, and accounts that went to collections.

Pay off anything in collections
Having something in collections hurts your credit score big time.  Pay off any outstanding debts you have immediately.  Call and try to negotiate paying a lower price if you pay immediately, in full.  Sometimes creditors will remove the debt for half of its worth if they are worried they won't get any payment otherwise.  Shortly after paying off outstanding debts, obtain your credit reports again and make sure they have been updated.

Ask for an increased credit limit
An increased credit limit will give you a better debt-to-credit ratio and that is taken into consideration when developing your credit score.  Basically, you want to have much more credit available to you than what you are currently using.  Call current credit card companies and ask for an increased limit.  Don't put more debt on the credit card, however, because then your ratio will stay the same!

Practice good habits now
If your credit history has some blemishes that you can't remove yet because they aren't over seven years old, just relax and do the best you can now.  Pay all of your overdue accounts and bring them up to date so they are current as soon as possible.  From now on, make sure to pay every bill on time.  A credit history that has some rocky parts, but shows improvement in recent months can still be used to obtain a loan.

Hopefully these tips will help you clean up your credit score so you can get the mortgage and the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ house that you want!  If you have any questions whatsoever about local real estate or the community, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Celebrating Father's Day in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

Father's Day will be here soon, on Sunday, June 17th, 2012.  Each year the national holiday is held on the third Sunday of the month in the United States and many other countries.  Celebrated around the world, Father's Day is an opportunity to celebrate fatherhood and the contribution dads make to society.  Do you know how you're going to celebrate Father's Day in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ yet?

Going out to eat is probably the most popular Father's Day tradition.  Thankfully, Millburn-Short Hills, NJ offers many local restaurant options so there is no need to travel far.  Here are a few choices for you to consider as you plan ways to show the dad in your life how much he means to you:

Cafe Luna
Cafe Luna is an authentic Italian restaurant located in Millburn that specializes in Northern Italian cuisine.  They offer a brunch menu in addition to lunch and dinner options.  They offer a wide variety of unique entree options, from sauteed mussels with chorizo (Cozze e Chorizo) to rabbit casserole in hunter sauce (Coniglio).  The prices are also extremely reasonable, so you won't have to worry about breaking the bank.

Millburn Delicatessen 
Known more popularly as the Millburn Deli, this delicatessen has been serving loyal neighborhood customers since 1946.  You know the food is good when an establishment sticks around for that long!  They offer hundreds of sandwich choices, including subs, panini, and sloppy joes, and more.  Dad will enjoy the food and, if it's a nice day, taking advantage of the outdoor seating in order to enjoy the weather, too.

Sakura Japanese Restaurant
If you'd prefer going someone a little fancier to celebrate Father's Day, Sakura Japanese Restaurant is for you.  Sakura features a sushi bar full of high-quality sushi of all types.  Not into raw fish?  Don't worry--they also have a wide menu of Asian fusion entrees from tempura to noodle dishes to grilled chicken and fish.

If you check out any of these Millburn-Short Hills, NJ restaurants, I'd love to hear about it!  I like staying on top of local culture and entertainment so I also encourage you to contact me if you have any tips on new hot spots in the area.  As always, feel free to contact me if you have questions about buying or selling real estate locally, or the community in general.  Happy Father's Day!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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