RealtorIrene Blogs about Sussex County NJ Real Estate

Many of my home buyers and sellers around Sussex County NJ will be enjoying a loaf of the Best Bread Ever this holiday season.

Whereas most folks simply want me to deliver a freshly-baked loaf, quite a few have asked for the recipe for this breakfast bread. I haven't forgotten your request that followed my thank-you loaf of bread, Mary from the Vernon Building Department

This is a spectacular recipe to make with young children. Yes, many of the ingredients will disappear long before they hit the pan. Yes, you'll have flour everywhere. While I realized kids would like the process, I was unprepared for the real pride they take in the finished product. 

If you would like the recipe alone, just email me and I'll send you the Word version.

From page 445. "Orange Bread with White Chocolate, Apricots and Walnuts" of the Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook by Beth Hensperger. Special thanks to Rebecca Hansen, Harvard Common Press, for her prompt and positive permission to use this recipe!

Best Bread Ever - Recipe for 2 pound loaf

1 ¾ cups mandarin orange segments, liquid reserved (two 11-ounce cans)

3 tablespoons reserved orange liquid or orange liquor

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

4 cups bread flour

⅓ cup sugar (Irene sometimes substitutes Splenda  - no noticeable difference)

1 tablespoon gluten

2 teaspoons salt

2 ¼ teaspoons SAF yeast or 2 ¾ teaspoons bread machine yeast (Irene uses 1 tablespoon Red Star Active Yeast)

**********

⅔ cup white chocolate chips

½ cup minced dried apricots (Irene sometime uses mixed dried fruits)

½ cup chopped walnuts (Irene omits for some recipients)

Craisins - Irene adds a handful - about ½ cup

Official Recipe: Add everything above the stars to bread machine. Set crust on medium and program for Basic or Sweet bread, press START. When machine beeps, or between Knead 1 and Knead 2, add the last items. (Irene's cheap machine doesn't beep, so she adds the goodies 10 - 12 minutes into the cycle.)

Irene's Changes: Add everything above the stars but set machine to DOUGH and start. Add goodies below the star at beep/10 minutes later.  When Dough cycle ends, dump in pan. Cover with plastic and let rise for 60 minutes or so. Bake at 365⁰ (use 350⁰ with dark pans) until center reaches 190⁰.  Length of baking varies greatly depending on what pan is used - and whether Irene removes sides of spring-form pan during the baking cycle.  NOTE: This dough will not hold a shape, so really must be baked in a pan.

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

Considering selling a home or looking to buy a Sussex County NJ property? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right. Plus, Irene might just bake you a loaf of the Best Bread Ever once the real estate deal closes...

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.

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...