RealtorIrene Blogs about Sussex County NJ Real Estate

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.

This bargain is a foreclosed 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom interior townhouse in Indian Fields. (Hardyston township shares a Hamburg NJ zip code.) In one of Sussex County's most desirable communities, this Freddie Mac REO is priced to move very, very quickly. I'm very excited to be able to offer this real estate listing at 25 Meadow Pond Road.

On the day it was listed (November 6, 2009), it is - at $188900 - by far the least expensive active home for sale in the Garden State MLS for the section Indian Fields.

Does it need wall prep and interior painting? Sure does.

Does it need new carpeting? Without a doubt. Personally, I'd also replace the vinyl floor in the kitchen.

Are a couple of the thermal windows cracked and in need of replacement?  You betcha.

Does the difference between $188900 and $224900 more than compensate for the work that is needed?  I certainly think so and strongly suspect that buyers will too!

The electric should be on later today; the cleaning will occur on/by Wednesday, Nov. 11. Showings, however, can already begin.  It does have a finished, walkout basement too!

This bank-owned Indian Fields townhouse in Hardyston NJ is certainly what I view as one of Sussex County's current hot homes for sale. With an REO, fast decisions and closings are possible. It is being sold entirely AS-IS and the buyer will have to cover transfer tax, Certificate of Occupancy and winterization costs associated with home inspections. But it is still a great real estate deal!

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.