RealtorIrene Blogs about Northwestern NJ Real Estate - Hunterdon & Warren: Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ (Weichert)

Update Dec. 23 - The sign in front states 1490 toys but there are at least another 10 delivered since then.  This means my real estate office collected 1500 toys to be distributed by local charities to children in Sussex County NJ. I do believe this is about DOUBLE what was collected last year.

In tough economic times, it brings tears to my eyes to realize how many struggling folks cared enough to help their neighbors who are struggling more!  Thank you all for bringing joy to the needy!

For toys left at the Hamburg real estate office, they will be distributed to Sussex County NJ children by several  charitable organizations.

In 2008, good-hearted folks dropped off more than 700 items in my office alone! That is a lot of joy destined for the less fortunate in our neighborhoods. 

Almost all who bring in gifts say times are tight but that they know things are tougher on others.  Some children take one item off their own wish list and donate it to the less fortunate.

"Let's give them a holiday to remember" is Weichert's slogan for the 31^st Holiday Toy Drive - and one that inspires me to be even more giving this year.

Remember that toys should be dropped off:

New

Not wrapped

Through December 11.

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

I could pretend this is my way of being a little greener this year.  I could say it is due to watching my very talented niece, Nicole Ryu, dance as Clara in NJ Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Papermill Playhouse. Because I've been baking holiday breads for my Sussex County NJ real estate clients.

But Santa's elves are watching and recording all fibs. The truth is I haven't written a single Christmas card because I've been working on many real estate transactions around Sussex County! Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and there are deals being done right now. I have a big closing on Dec. 29. Just signed new listing paperwork this week.  All good things but I'm just not going to get to those cards right now, so:

Makes me yearn for the custom when I lived in Europe of sending greeting cards between Christmas and the end of January... Perhaps I'll learn how to use the Flip Video I won last week and share my "Best Bread Ever" recipe to make amends.

  Last night my Hamburg real estate office hosted our annual "Photos with Santa." Open to all within Sussex County NJ and free, we had a great turnout.

  While I don't have a firm count, I estimate we had about 100 people visit Santa at our Sussex County NJ real estate office.  I did print 75 pictures. Some families just wanted the children together in one shot; others did individual photos plus all siblilngs. Add the parents and I think we had about 100 folks!

  Who had the best time? I think it was a tossup! One of my colleagues, John Massari, served as our photographer. My important task was to transfer those shots to my computer, rapidly remove vampiric red eyes, and print keepsakes for each boy and girl. The daughter of an agent racked up community-service hours by trimming and inserting the pictures in card frames. Other elves served refreshments.   Santa Claus, naturally, listened carefully to each child's wish list so that there just might be a treasured toy in that child's future....

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a vacation home or looking to buy a Sussex County NJ getaway property? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

The price on 25 Meadow Pond Road in Hardyston's Indian Fields community has been slashed by 5%. A Freddie Mac foreclosure home for sale in Sussex County NJ, the list price is now just $179500. This townhouse has 2 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. A finished, walkout basement adds to the value of this interior townhome.

Because Hardyston and Hamburg share a zip code within Sussex County NJ, this REO may appear as a Hamburg foreclosure home for sale on some IDX feeds. 25 Meadow Pond Road is actually in Hardyston and so listed in the GSMLS system.

Even before the price reduction on this AS-IS Indian Fields townhome, it was the least expensive within the community. And, unlike a short sale, buyers will enjoy a rapid response to their offer; bank-owned foreclosures can be a great deal.

Work will be required on this 1995 Indian Fields foreclosure home for sale. Certainly patching and painting are essential. Carpets are shabby and the kitchen vinyl isn't great.  Some plumbing repairs are in the cards and a few thermal windows are cracked. No, it is NOT in tip-top shape, which accounts for the value pricing of this Hardyston-Hamburg townhome for sale in Sussex County NJ.

While not the right choice for all buyers, 25 Meadow Pond Road in Indian Fields is a great deal for someone wanting a 2 bedroom townhouse in a very popular Sussex County community! This foreclosure is priced to attract real interest.

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy some Sussex County NJ real estate? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

My series on Sussex County NJ vacation homes and posts pertaining to Highland Lakes have sparked a lot of interest. Many looking for a vacation getaway in Sussex County live far away. Although I'm always glad to personally introduce potential buyers to real estate close to ski slopes and mountain lakes, I've decided to share my new vacation map guide to Highland Lakes NJ. This area is very convient to Mountain Creek ski slopes and other area amenities such as Minerals Resort and Spa.

While the Highland Lakes Country Club and Community Association posts some great info online, I needed a visual that shows boat docks and beaches with lifeguards (although not in December). HLCC kindly provided a basic map of Highland Lakes, Vernon NJ that I could tweak and dot with a color code. Now I have a great (copyrighted) tool for buyers looking for vacation homes for sale within Sussex County, especially if they are interested in the Highland Lakes community.

Here's a peek for those considering Sussex County NJ vacation real estate:

Perfect, no. But it beats me with multiple highlighter pens for each potential buyer of a Highland Lakes vacation getaway home for sale!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a vacation home or looking to buy a Sussex County NJ getaway property? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

Tonight, December 7, another permanent change was accomplished for the Ballyowen Bluffs Active Adult community in Sussex County NJ. The Hamburg Council passed the resolution to lift all age restrictions within the Bluffs, meaning those under 18 may now be residents.  (This, however, in no way impacts my own child-bearing plans!)

Both the town and the new owner, Lorterdan Hamburg Development LLC, had done an excellent job of notifying all the current Ballyowen Bluffs residents and our neighbors.  Big Changes at Ballyowen Bluffs Active Adult Community in Hamburg - Sussex County NJ real estate news  My husband Chip and I took the Lorterdan principals up on their offer to meet with us in our home; they fully answered all our questions about plans for the development.

At the meeting tonight, the floor was opened to the public for comment.  Admittedly, I broke that ice on behalf of myself and Chip. We went on record in favor of lifting the remaining Active Adult restrictions. Of the 6 other households in Ballyowen Bluffs, all but one was represented. One couple voiced their reasonable objection that they specifically bought within an age-restricted community and were opposed to the change. Most of the others commented that they preferred a thriving development to a failed, age-restricted one. And, yes, Robert Jackson of Lorterdan addressed the Council and answered residents concerns at the public meeting.

No fireworks, just a good example of a public meeting in which all were able to express their viewpoints.

The Hamburg Council then voted unanimously to lift all age-restrictions at Ballyowen Bluffs. Next week there will be a land-use meeting to tie up the loose ends but tonight was the change.

Now, if I could only get us a street sign...

One couple seeking a vacation or getaway property in a lovely Sussex County NJ lake community are the happy new owners of this great foreclosure in Highland Lakes, Vernon, NJ. Yes, they have lots of painting to do but that doesn't diminish their joy. A Highland Lakes home has been on their dream list for quite a few year.

 There were multiple offers on this Sussex County NJ REO owned by Freddie Mac and lots of question marks. At the time the offers were received, there were no power lines to the home. I was still juggling bids from electricians.  Getting power meant multiple visits from Vernon Township building inspectors.

With electricity, we were able to turn on the well pump.  Oops! All the pipes and the boiler had burst from freezing while the house sat abandoned. Multiple bids later, new boiler was done.  We had the home inspection the day after getting that news. Egads, the boiler ran but didn't heat the Sussex County NJ home. Buyers are now rather nervous...

While we sailed through our fire-safety inspection, Vernon Township won't grant an Certificate of Occupancy while there are still open building permits. Flunked the next Vernon building inspection for lack of an emergency shut off switch on the upper level. Closing was scheduled for Nov. 20 for this Highland Lakes foreclosure; the seller approved funds for the switch on the 17th, electrician installed on the 18th, and Vernon Township accomodated my unreasonable request for an inspection on the 19th.

We closed on time!!!

Bright and early on Monday, Nov. 23, I showed up with a thank you note and freshly-baked loaf of my breakfast bread for the Vernon NJ township employees. Without their great cooperation and attorney Marleen Horlacher's skills and her faith in my getting things done, we never would have closed on Friday.

And the new owners started painting on Saturday!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

Where I live in Hamburg, Sussex County NJ, we rarely go a day without seeing a wild turkey.

This morning - the day before Thanksgiving - Chip made an early morning dash to the supermarket while I answered real estate emails and was getting set to blog.  CRASH! The house shook. In fact, it sounded and felt like Chip had backed his SUV into a not-yet-fully-opened garage door. But he wasn't home.

Looking around the house, I found a sorry sight. One of the wild turkeys had flown into the side of our home and wasn't going to recover. Although they can't fly far, these fowl can fly very fast for a short time.

It was a sad thing. But, the "black humor" aspect didn't elude me.

• Had the turkey read my recent post that our community won't be Active Adult much longer? 
• Was it facing being someone's dinner tomorrow?
• Slated to host the in-laws for Thanksgiving?

Chip got home and thought I was nuts but I did call our non-emergency police number, which is how Animal Control is contacted in Hamburg. We were prepared to dispose of the turkey but I envisioned being busted for poaching. Yes, I identified myself and said, "I know the day before Thanksgiving this will sound like a joke, but a turkey just killed itself by flying into the side of my home." When the dispatcher stopped laughing, she logged my call so there would be no poaching charges.

I know you think I'm kidding:

So, I'm adding to my "thankful list" that I wasn't this turkey and that the CRASH wasn't Chip's SUV backing into the garage door (a second time)!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

12 High Crest Drive in Scenic Lakes, Vernon NJ was a very trying Sussex County real estate deal for the seller, her family and me, her listing agent. Two previous deals had fallen apart. Third time seemed to be a charm, until:

• The well pump died 2 days before the home inspection and installation was finishing as the buyer, his agent and inspector arrived.
• The septic, which had passed thorough inspection a year ago, flunked and required $6,000 in seller repairs on this AS-IS Scenic Lakes home.
• The clock was ticking for the first-time buyer credit and slated to close on Friday, November 20, around 1:00 p.m.
• The lovely elderly lady who owned 12 High Crest Drive in Scenic Lakes and her moving truck had headed in Florida. 

The buyers did their final walk through on Thursday night and decided the attic didn't pass "broom clean" standards because of some unused replacement materials the seller had left. Friday afternoon, their attorney proposed a credit and the deal did not close.

Late Friday, I removed the disputed items via 2 trash bags. Photos were insufficient, so we had another walk through at 11 on Saturday. The attorneys met at 4:00 and closed the deal.

12 High Crest Drive in Scenic Lakes sold for $187,000.

Although I regularly go the extra mile for my Sussex County NJ real estate clients, I'm particularly appreciative of the 2 attorneys doing the same on a sacred Saturday!

This Scenic Lakes listing also resulted in an unexpected compliment, Google Juice for Photos - One of many benefits of my Vacation Properties in Sussex County NJ series.

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Earlier this month, the developer/owner of the only Hamburg active adult community, Ballyowen Bluffs, changed.  According to public Sussex County NJ real estate records, the Bluffs at Ballyowen, LLC, transferred ownership to Lorterdan Hamburg Developement LLC in a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure.

"Yikes," I say because my husband and I were the very first to purchase within Ballyowen Bluffs. As a Sussex County NJ real estate agent, I directly participated in the sale of 5 out of 6 other homes here.  For many reasons, I deeply care about the future of the Bluffs community and my neighbors.

Sure, it has worried us all that only 7 of 67 potential homes had sold and prices plummeted.

The "new" owners, Lorterdan Hamburg Development LLC actually sold the property to the Bluffs at Ballyowen, LLC, in 2004 so Lorterdan again owns the project.

The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hamburg are considering lifting all age requirements for Ballyowen Bluffs - meaning it will no longer be an active adult community.  An ordinance (bill) is slated for final passage on December 7, 2009 at which time "all interested parties" may weigh in during the Council meeting. The sad truth is - in many areas of the U.S. - active adult communities were less popular with buyers than had been predicted.

Perhaps we Ballyowen Bluffs residents can at least convince the town to finally install a street sign if we play nice .

I'm also adamant that our stromatolite fossils will be safeguarded no matter what other changes occur!

UPDATE Dec. 7 - Ballyowen Bluffs age restrictions were indeed lifted.  Ballyowen Bluffs - No Longer an Active Adult Community in Hamburg - Sussex County NJ real estate news

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Stockholm, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.