Declutter Your North Jersey Home For a Healthier, Calmer Life!

Anyone who has gone through the home-selling process before knows how stressful it can be if you start out with a cluttered, unorganized home. Likewise, moving can be a real hassle if you have an overabundance of stuff. As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I’d like to help you out!

As it turns out, clutter in the home has been scientifically proven to raise your stress levels year-round, according to HGTV. This is true of all homeowners, whether buying, selling, or just staying put. However, if you work toward a more organized, clutter-free home now, moving and staging your home to sell will be much easier down the road!

Here are some of the tips HGTV offers for living a healthier, calmer life in a more organized home:

• Spend 15 minutes each day or night tidying up your home. This could be anything from straightening out throw pillows to wiping down kitchen countertops or washing and putting away the dishes. Create a time slot for this everyday so you keep up in a doable fashion!

• If you don’t have a home office, create a small nook with a floating shelf and a small cabinet. This can be your “command center” for writing bills, taking phone messages, keeping a calendar, printing and storing files. That way, everything is organized in one place.

• Stick with the basics in the kitchen. You don’t need all the latest and greatest gadgets and tools to be taking up space on your counters or in your cabinets. In fact, spend one day emptying the drawers and cabinets, and only put back what you use on a regular basis.

• Use a shoe organizer in the bathroom. Hang it on a cabinet or closet door so that everything you need is easily accessible but not strewn on the counter or thrown into the cabinet. From nail polish, makeup and razors, to hair spray, curling irons and brushes, everything will have its own little nook!

• Use bins in your closets and label what’s in each one. It’ll add storage space while still keeping things organized and categorized. You can use these bins for anything, from pajamas, bathing suits and workout clothes, to toys, shoes and books.

For more clutter-free cleaning tips, read the entire HGTV article here.

By incorporating these small changes into your household and everyday living habits, hopefully you’ll find yourself calmer and more organized at home and in life! And when you’re ready to sell your North Jersey home, or move to a new home, the job will be much easier.

Need help selling your Millburn-Short Hills home or buying aNorth Jersey home? Contact me!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Downtown Summit's Events & Attractions!

Are you familiar with Downtown Summit, New Jersey? Whether you live in Summit, or you’re from the surrounding Millburn or Short Hills areas, there is plenty for you to enjoy! As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, allow me to introduce you to some of the current and upcoming attractions.

1. The Third Annual Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts is this Saturday in Downtown Summit! This special event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Beechwood Road, Union Place and Springfield Avenue, with over 75 artisans! Shop among local artists and crafters while enjoying live entertainment. From paintings and woodcarvings, to homemade quilts and jewelry made from recycled silverware, you’ll be sure to find something that impresses you. Are you new to the North Jersey area? Start decorating your home with original arts and crafts while meetings other local residents!!
2. Next weekend, June 27 through June 29, you can come out to Downtown Summit for Super Sidewalk Sale Days! Local businesses will bring some of their merchandise out onto the sidewalks for you to browse through, so you can easily stroll from one business to another and check out the bargains. At the same time, you can enjoy the fresh summer air.
3. Beginning June 27, check out Summit, NJ’s brand-new Greenmarket! It opens June 27 and continues every Thursday through Sept. 12, from 3 to 8 p.m. on Beechwood Road. There will be 13 local farmers and purveyors present, including Little Big Farm, WoodsEdge Wools Farm, Brownie Points Bakery, Pickle Licious, Z Food Farm and so many more. Save a trip to the supermarket while supporting local businesses!
4. If you can’t make it to the new Greenmarket, don’t forget about the Summit Farmers Market, celebrating its 20th season this year! The market opened on May 12 and runs every Sunday until Nov. 24. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., you can purchase produce from two organic farms and five other New Jersey farms. Apart from produce, an array of other goods is available, such as gourmet nuts and fruits, pizza, bakery goods and so much more.

Aside from all these specialty events, Summit, NJ also features permanent attractions for you to enjoy year-round. These include Clearview Beacon Hill Theatre, Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit Playhouse, Visual Arts Center of NJ and more! Check out Downtown Summit’s website for full details.

You’ve got all of Summit’s shopping and dining options, too. So really, the opportunities for an enjoyable day or evening are endless! If you’re new to the Summit, NJ area, be sure to check out Downtown Summit and all that it has to offer.

Want to buy a North Jersey home? Contact me! As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I’d be happy to help!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Mortgage Loan Approval Tips For Millburn-Short Hills Homebuyers

Are you gearing up to buy a Millburn-Short Hills home? Smart move! Mortgage rates rose again this week, almost reaching 4 percent. This is still relatively low, but they aren’t going back down anytime soon. The sooner you buy, the less money you’ll spend!

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I want you to receive the best mortgage rate you can. Did you know that the rate you receive depends on your credit, debt and other factors? The better off your financial situation is, the more likely a lender will give you a loan and a lower interest rate.

So as a Millburn-Short Hills homebuyer, what can you do to ensure that mortgage lenders are happy to help you? Here are some financial areas to work on:

• Credit score. The higher the score, the better, and if it’s below 700, you might have a hard time getting approved for a loan. To improve your score, the best thing you can do is start paying off debt and paying bills on time. It takes three to six months to improve the score, so find out what your credit score is and get to work as soon as possible!
• Debt. This directly affects your credit score and what lenders think of you. The more debt you have, the less likely they’ll be to give you more of it through a mortgage loan. Start paying off credit cards, loans, your car and anything else you can lower. If you’re close to paying off the debt, you’ll have better luck with lenders.
• Income. Lenders will check to see that you have a secure job with steady income. Have old tax returns ready to bring in, along with W-2 forms, pay stubs, bank statements and whatever else they may ask for. If you’re thinking about changing jobs, you might want to wait until after you purchase a home.
• Down payment. The more money you have to put down on a Millburn-Short Hills home, the better. That means the lender doesn’t have to lend you as much. If you don’t have much saved right now, start making lifestyle changes that will allow you to save every penny you can from now until when you’re ready to buy.

It’s important to remember that even if you have some debt or a small down payment amount, there are still options. Contact me, your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent! I’d be happy to answer any questions that I can, or turn you to someone who can. When you’re ready to buy, contact me!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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5 Upcoming Events In & Around Millburn, NJ!

Did you just buy a Millburn home? Have you lived in the Millburn-Short Hills area your whole life? Either way, summer is a great time to leave the comfort of your home and socialize with other local residents at local events! Warm weather brings markets, festivals and annual traditions that you won’t want to miss. As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I’d like to fill you in on what’s coming up!

Mark your calendars for these five upcoming events around the Millburn-Short Hills area. If you attend one, leave a comment and let me know how it was! When you’re ready to buy a Millburn home or sell a Millburn home, contact me. I’ll be ready for you!

1. The Millburn Farmer’s Market starts back up this week! The first day of the 2013 season is tomorrow, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Hall on Essex Street. It’ll run every Friday at that time until Oct. 25. Local farmers will be present with fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. USDA certified organic products will also be available. Want to start eating healthier? The market makes it convenient and easy to do so! 
2. On Saturday, take a drive to Primrose Farm in Morristown for the first organized public event since the site opened! Between 10 a.m. June 8 and 10 a.m. June 9, you can capture a photo of nature that holds “The Essence of Primrose.” Professional photographers will be present between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday to offer tips. Submit your photo to see if you win the photo contest! 
3. Not sure how to keep your kids busy this summer? Visit New Horizons Day Camp’s Open House on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.! New Horizons is located in West Orange and accepts children entering kindergarten through 9th grade. While kindergarten and first graders are in a traditional camp program, kids in grades two through nine can choose their own schedule from a plethora of activities!
4. Mark your calendars for the Millburn Sidewalk Sale and Stroll on June 13, 14 and 15! Downtown Millburn will be bustling with local residents during this annual event, so it’s a great time to meet new people if you just moved to Millburn. Local business will bring bargain items and new merchandise out onto the sidewalks for a casual, festive atmosphere. 
5. Love to run? Want to shape up for summer? Start training for the 34th Annual President’s Night Race in Millburn, NJ on Monday, June 17! This 5K is open to people of all ages and usually attracts around 1,500 runners. The race begins at 8 p.m. and starts and finishes at Charlie Brown’s Restaurant parking lot. Call Sneaker Factory in Millburn at 973-376-6094 for details and to register!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Home Features Most Preferred By Millburn-Short Hills Homebuyers

As a Millburn-Short Hills home seller, you want to stand out to potential homebuyers as much as possible, and to satisfy their list of desires. Also, you need to know what the value of your home is, and what to list it for. Certain home features will make buyers more inclined to pay more.

As your New Jersey real estate agent, I can help you with this! I know what homes in the Millburn-Short Hills area are listing for and selling for, and I know what home features and upgrades can bump up your asking price. We can determine all of this when we work together.

As a preview, the National Association of Realtors just released their 2013 Home Features Survey, showing which features homebuyers cared about most and were willing to pay more for. Here is a summary of the results:

• Out of all 31 home features mentioned on the survey, the most important feature to homebuyers was a home with central air conditioning. Sixty-five percent of buyers considered this very important.

• In the kitchen, buyers most preferred new appliances and eat-in kitchens. In fact, 69 percent of buyers who did not buy a home with new appliances said they’d be willing to pay up to $1,840 more for this feature! After those two features, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances were preferred.

• The rooms that had the highest dollar value, as in buyers were willing to pay more for, were basements and in-law suites.

• Almost half of buyers prefer a home with a laundry room. Of those that found it at least somewhat important to have one, 89 percent did buy a home with a laundry room.

• Other home features that interested homebuyers were fireplaces, which 57 percent of buyers purchased a house with, and garages, which 78 percent chose a house with.

• After the fact, if they could change anything about the home they purchased, the majority of buyers said they would have wanted more or larger closets and more storage.

To view this report in its entirety, click here. 

As a Millburn-Short Hills home seller, what does all this mean to you? Obviously, unless you want to go through a major remodeling overhaul, some of these features are out of your control. But what you could do is install central air conditioning, update your kitchen appliances, add an island or table to your kitchen with seating, and show off all available storage space.

Need help staging your Millburn-Short Hills home or selling your home in the New Jersey real estate market? Contact me! I’m always here to help.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Why to Buy a Millburn-Short Hills Home Now!

If you keep up with current real estate news, you know that most of it is about how great conditions are for home sellers right now. Home prices are rising, home sales are rising, homes are selling at record speeds, competition is low, sellers have negotiating power and buyers are eager. But as a Millburn-Short Hills homebuyer, it’s important that you know now is the time to buy, too.

Why are homebuyers so eager to buy right now? For the same reasons that I’m about to share with you for why to buy a New Jersey home now! While prime conditions and historically low home prices have come and gone, as the housing industry continues to recover, housing will become more expensive. That’s why you shouldn’t wait.

Here’s a rundown on why you should buy a North New Jersey home now:

• Mortgage rates are still near historic lows. This is the top reason to buy now. Rates continued to drop in early spring, but for the last couple weeks, they rose. Real estate experts predict that as home prices and sales continue to increase, which they’re expected to do, mortgage rates will rise too. The days of historically low rates are probably over. So the longer you wait, the higher they’ll be.
• Home prices are rising. The latest prediction is that they’ll appreciate by 5.4 percent in the remainder of 2013. If this is true, by next year at this time, homebuyers will be spending $10,000 more on a $200,000 home, $15,000 more on a $300,000 home, and so forth. You can view a chart explaining all of this here. If you buy now, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of money!
• With home affordability still high, homeownership is a better deal than renting right now. A recent report showed that after you live in your Millburn-Short Hills home for two to four years, you’ll be better off financially than if you were spending your money on rent. So as long as you plan on staying in a home for a few years, it’s a financially sound investment to buy!

Because housing inventory is low and New Jersey homebuyers are getting caught in bidding wars for the house they want, some buyers are choosing to wait until more houses go on the market. But when that happens, prices and mortgage rates will also be up.

Decide how much you can spend on a house, get pre-approvedfor a mortgage and contact me! Together, we can negotiate with Millburn-Short Hills home sellers until you find the home of your dreams that is also in your budget. Do it now, and you’ll save lots of money in the long run. Talk to you soon!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Millburn, NJ Business Feature: Paper Mill Playhouse!

Paper Mill Playhouse

Are you new to the Millburn or Short Hills area? The housing recovery is making it easier for Americans to relocate, so many new residents have made their way to this area! As a Millburn real estate agent, I want to make sure you’re enjoying your hometown as much as possible! If you are new and aren’t sure what there is to do around here, let me introduce Paper Mill Playhouse.

Paper Mill Playhouse is one of Millburn, NJ’s premier attractions. It’s a not-for-profit theater with 1,200 seats, bringing Broadway to your backyard, so to speak! The schedule is always changing, with Broadway performances and plays just for kids. Everyone will find something that sounds interesting to them.

When you get hungry, you can stop into the Carriage House Bistro & Bar at Paper Mill Playhouse. It’s open Thursday through Sunday for dinner and Sunday brunch. The bar remains open after each performance, and once in a while, they host a special dinner occasion.

Want to check out Paper Mill Playhouse? Here are upcoming events to mark in your calendar:

• Live Jazz Night takes place every Friday night at the Carriage House Bistro & Bar, from 6 to 9 p.m. This is ideal for workers who’d like to kick back, relax and begin their weekends immediately. It doesn’t cost anything to attend and drink specials are available all night!

• A Five-Course Wine & Food Tasting Adventure is scheduled for May 22 at the Carriage House Bistro & Bar. This fancy dinner experience is sure to break up your workweek nicely! It’ll include the tasting of five wines, a five-course dinner menu and live piano music. It cost $100 per person and reservations are strongly suggested.

• The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse will arrive and take place from May 29 to June 30. This ageless story is about a young mermaid who falls in love with a human and goes above and beyond to find a way to be with him, despite their circumstances. Whether you’ve seen the Disney classic or not, this Broadway rendition will touch your heart!

• Seussical is coming up June 8 at Paper Mill Playhouse. Every kid loves Dr. Seuss books, so when the storybook characters come to life, even better! This performance is geared toward children ages four and up. They’ll love the musical adventure by Broadway veterans, where they get to see Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, and of course, the Cat in the Hat.

Check out Paper Mill Playhouse and get to know local business in the Millburn, NJ area. When you’re ready to buy a Millburn home or sell your Millburn home, contact me!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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