Upcoming events in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

How has your spring in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ been so far?  Hopefully wonderful.  Before we know it, summer will be here!  As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I know that this is a fantastic time of year to be in the area.  The weather is becoming more and more pleasant, people are heading outdoors, and there are so many fun things to do.  That said, take a look at a few upcoming events in the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area:

Bird Watching at the Garden

Even if you aren't an experienced "birder," you are welcome at this event.  Participants will walk around the the Greenwood Gardens identifying birds based on how they look and the sounds they make.  Bring binoculars if you have them.  The cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members.  Visit the Greenwoods Gardens website for more information.

When:  Sunday, April 29th, 9 - 11 am
Where:  The Greenwood Gardens, 274 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ

Annual Fishing Derby

This event is for the kiddies.  Millburn-resident children and teens age fifteen and under are invited to spend the morning fishing at Taylor Park.  Participation is free.

When:  Saturday, May 5th, 9 am - 12 noon (registration begins at 8 am)
Where:  Taylor Park, 78 Main Street, Millburn, NJ

Dog Adoption Event


Thinking of getting a dog?  Take adoption into consideration.  You could save one an animal's life by adopting.  This event is put on by the Home for Good Dog Rescue.  Dogs from local shelters and high-kill shelters will be at the event for people to view.  Those who have applied in advance may be able to adopt on the spot.  For more information, visit the Home for Good Dogs website.

When: Saturday, May 5th, and Sunday, May 6th, 11 am - 3 pm
Where: PetSmart, 187 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, NJ

If you attend any of these events, feel free to let me know!  I hope you're enjoying this season in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ, and I encourage you to contact me or pass along my contact information if you know of anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the area.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Closing on your Millburn-Short Hills home

You've done your research, you've saved up a chunk of money for a down payment, you've been approved for a mortgage, you've gone to what feels like a thousand open houses and you've finally found "the one"--the perfect home for you in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ.  Congratulations!  But guess what?  There's still more to do!

Ask a lot of questions

Remember in elementary school when the teacher would say "There is no such thing as a stupid question?"  It's true.  Everything should be perfectly clear in your mind.  If you are uncertain about anything related to how the process is working, do not feel embarrassed to ask someone.  Call your real estate agent or call your loan officer.  Make sure all details are perfectly clear in your mind so there are no surprises later.

Go on a very thorough walk-through

Many clients are so excited about their new house at this point that they rush the walk-through.  Big mistake!  You don't want to miss anything in the heat of the moment.  Feel free to bring your home inspector back for the walk-through.  If you do not bring an inspector, make sure you have the inspector's report from before and check everything carefully to make sure all repairs were made.  Turn lights and appliances on and off in each room to ensure that they are working.  If something is not in accordance with the agreement, say something immediately.  You will have to decide if it is minor enough that you'll fix it yourself, or if it necessitates working out new terms with the seller.

Review the loan documents in advance


Ask your lender or attorney if you may review the loan documents in advance.  This will help ensure that you understand everything happening and will not be caught off guard at the last minute.  Many people just sign documents on the spot without reading them thoroughly so they can get the keys.  That's a legal contract--you want to make sure you know exactly what it says before you put your name on it.

These are just a few tips for home buyers that I hope you found helpful.  I have more information for Millburn-Short Hills home buyers on my blog.  If you have any further questions about buying (or selling) in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Happy buying!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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April fun in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

I love being your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent because it gives me a chance to keep up on all of the fun things going on in our area.  There are a lot of them!  Here is a sampling of April events coming up in the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area:

The Arc of Essex County 5K run/2 mile walk

This annual run/walk will be a blast for participants and their friends and family alike.  Each participant receives a t-shirt.  There will be food and music on-site and an awards ceremony for the top three in each category after the event.  The event benefits The Arc, an organization that helps those with developmental disorders.  Visit The Arc's website for more information.

When:  Saturday, April 14th, 2012, 8:15 am sign-up, 10 am run
Where:  473 Wachtung Ave., Bloomfield, NJ

Swamptails

"Cocktails for lovers of the environment and NJ's great swamp."  This is a great way to gear up for Earth Day.  Eat appetizers and drink special "swamp cocktails" all in support of the Great Swamp Watershed Association.  Prizes will also be given out.  Click here to download the flyer.  It costs $20 at the door to get in.

When:  Wednesday, April 18th, 2012, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Where:  67 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ


Bloomfest at Branch Brook Park


Enjoy this event in New Jersey's "pinkest" park.  This Japanese-themed event will feature dancing, drumming, Samurai swords, a tea ceremony, bonsai trees, calligraphy, and more.  Best of all?  It's free!  Click here to download the flyer with a complete schedule.

When:  Sunday, April 22nd, 2012, 11 am - 5 pm
Where: Branch Brook Park, 115 Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ

I hope you found this useful and I'd love for you to leave a comment or contact me with feedback.  Of course I'm always available if you're looking to buy a Millburn-Short Hills home as well.  Have a great week!

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

I enjoy being your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ Realtor and helping your home-buying process go as smoothly as possible.  That's why I'm sharing these home buying tips today.  There is a lot to know when buying a home, and it can be intimidating if it's your first time.  I've helped many people buy Millburn-Short Hills real estate, and hopefully I can help you too!

As the real estate market and economy improve, more and more people across the United States are looking to buy homes.  Recent reports have indicated that it is a great time to buy, for many reasons.  Mortgage rates are at all all-time low.  Housing prices are on the rise, making real estate a good investment.  Buying is actually cheaper than renting, in many cases.  This means there are many more first-time home buyers in the market than there have been in recent years.  There are a few tips that can help ensure buyers are aware and prepared for everything involved in home-buying.


Really do your research on the area
Sometimes first-time buyers get so caught up in the amenities of the house itself, or looking for a good deal, that they don't stop and ask serious questions about the location.  What will your (and your spouse's) commute time be?  If you have (or are planning to have) children, is the school district one you'll be happy with?  How close are the nearby schools--would your child have to take a bus, be dropped off, or walk?  How do property taxes here compare to other places you've looked?  Is the house near grocery stores, restaurants, shops, parks, gyms, the library, etc.?  Is this somewhere you can see yourself living five or more years from now?


Outline all of your costs
A mistake many first-time home buyers make is not knowing the full cost of buying a home.  It will be more than the settled-upon purchase price of the house.  Within the paperwork should be a "Buyer Cost Sheet," which should be looked at closely and taken into consideration of the buyer's budget.  This sheet will be given to you by your lender or possibly your realtor and should include everything you'll be paying for, such as inspection and appraisal fees, transfer fees, closing costs, and more.  Some of these fees could be paid by the seller, but that would depend on what happens during negotiations.

Get a disclosure statement
State laws vary, but in general, sellers are required to disclose information about the property to you.  Because houses are sold "as-is," you want all of the information you can get so as to avoid unexpected costs later.  Realtors have detailed disclosure forms with a variety of questions.  You'll want to know if the house you're consider floods during heavy rains, for example, or if the foundation has a crack that has been covered.

If you're serious about home buying, you'll want to do more research than this, but hopefully it provides a good start!  Please contact me about buying your first Millburn-Short Hills home so we can talk about specific details and what is best in your situation.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Fun times in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ!

Spring has sprung!  As your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ Realtor, I try and keep an eye on what everyone in the Millburn Township area is doing.  Lately, people are wanting to get out of the house and enjoy all of the activities our region has to offer, and I don't blame them!  Being cooped up inside during the Winter can make anyone a little restless.  Now that it is warming up and you're wanting to leave the house more, it is a perfect time for me to share upcoming local events.  Check out these fun events in the area:

Latin & Smooth Jazz Night with the Ashley Pettet Jazz Trio


This event would be perfect for a date night!  The Ashley Pettet Jazz Trio will play Latin, Swing, and Smooth jazz.  Dinner is include in the $35 price tag and promises to be delicious.  People who enjoying dancing are welcome to stand up and dance.  Call 973-287-6623 to reserve tickets ahead of time.

When: Saturday, March 31st, 2012, 8 pm - 11 pm
Where: 31 Westville Avenue, Caldwell, NJ

Celebrate National Day of Puppetry!


This is going to be a very fun event for families.  Come for the free afternoon puppet shows or the $15 morning workshops.  At this all-day festival, adults and children alike can learn how to make and operate handkerchief and rod puppets.  There will also be an "Introduction to ventriliquism" and theater participation games.  Fun!  For more information, visit the Garden State Puppetry Guild.

When:  Saturday, April 21st, 2012, 9 am - 3 pm
Where:  310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ

Millburn Township Green Fair


Are you looking for more ways to "go green?"  Then this is the event for you!  Check out this fair to learn about electric cars, solar power, composting, Farmer's Markets, all-natural body products, and more.  There will be live music and children's crafts available as well.  The entire family will enjoy themselves.

When:  Sunday, April 22nd, 2012, 11 am
Where:  Taylor Park, 78 Main Street, Millburn, NJ

It's so rewarding to work in a fun and activity-packed place like Millburn, NJ.  Feel free to leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions or comments about events, or Millburn-Short Hills, NJ in general.  And as always, I definitely want to hear from you if you're looking to buy Millburn-Short Hills real estate.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Get a mortgage now for your Millburn-Short Hills home!

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, it is my job to help you find the perfect home--one that is located somewhere you prefer, falls within your price range, and meets your needs aesthetically and in terms of space.  Finding that perfect home isn't enough, however.  You also need to plan for how you're going to pay for it!  (Though I do encourage you to search Millburn-Short Hills homes in the meantime to get started looking for that perfect home.)

Many of my clients--both new and existing homeowners alike--have questions about mortgages.  Will I qualify?  What's a good rate?  Isn't renting financially safer right now? Etc., etc.  I am excited to tell you that earlier this month CNNMoney announced that mortgage rates are near all-time lows, making this the perfect time to buy a home.  Fifteen-year mortgages haven't had this low of interest rates in over sixty years, and thirty-year mortgages are close behind.  At the time the article was written, fifteen-year fixed mortgage interest rates averaged 3.13% and thirty-year fixed mortgage rates averaged 3.14%.

Still on the fence?  Now's not a time to hesitate.  A report that just came out this week says that it is actually cheaper to buy a house than it is to rent.  Not only is owning a home a good investment that will pay off later, it will also save you money right now!  So, you've decided you want to take advantage of low mortgage rates, save money, and buy a Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home.  What next?

Order your credit report and clean up any credit issues you have.  Check local lenders and find who has the best rates.  If your credit is an issue, look into getting an FHA loan.  Lastly, don't forget to contact me to help you find exactly what you're looking for in Millburn Township!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Get That “Lost Hour” Back in Millburn-Short Hills!

This Sunday, many in the Millburn-Short Hills area were disoriented when they woke up and had to set their clocks ahead one hour. Think of everything that you could have done with that lost hour. With the Millburn-Short Hills spring real estate market just on the horizon, I’m sure there are many sellers and buyers in the area that would have appreciated the extra sixty minutes to prepare themselves for the transaction ahead. As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I consider it part of my job to help my clients get as prepared for their next buyer or seller transaction as possible. Since the market is about to get busy in just a few short weeks, I thought that I’d take a different approach with my blog this week: how can you get that lost hour back?

For Millburn-Short Hills home sellers, it’d be ideal to spend the time getting your property prepared for sale. These time-saving home improvement projects will help you save a few minutes on what otherwise would have been more time-consuming tasks. When your home is ready to be shown earlier than the competition’s; you’ll find yourself getting an offer sooner rather than later.

If you’re looking to repaint, use a combination primer-paint. You know the drill: you lay down the tarp, put primer on the walls, wait for that to dry, paint the walls, and wait for that to dry. This process can take hours if you don’t know how to use your time efficiently. By using a combination primer-paint, not only are you saving gallons of primer and paint that you would be otherwise putting on the walls and all over your floor, but you will also be saving hours of time. Most Millburn-Short Hills sellers need to repaint at least one room in their home, so save yourself some time by using this productive tactic.

Get rid of garden weeds quickly and easily. Curb appeal is one of the most important things when you begin to prepare your Millburn-Short Hills home for sale. Your home’s exterior is what is going to make a strong first impression and make a buyer decide whether or not they want to come inside and take a look. If your garden looks overgrown and filled with weeds, it will make your property look slightly neglected. The solution? Push weeds down into the garden bed by spreading pre-emergent herbicides throughout. Those garden pests will grow slower, and you can control what weeds you do have easily.

If you use these two time-saving techniques when preparing your home to be listed on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, then you will find that you’ll get that “lost hour” back in no time. You can spend it doing other things to prepare your home for showings or taking some time off from real estate preparations to relax. Either way, the disorientation of Daylight Savings Time has come to an end, and you can start using that hour to be productive.

If you have any questions about how to best prepare and market your home on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to discuss your options with you. I hope to hear from you soon!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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