RealtorIrene Blogs about Sussex County NJ Real Estate

Late Monday, I received a call from a gentleman inquiring about an updated market report for Indian Fields in Sussex County NJ's Hardyston. (Shares a zip code with Hamburg.)  As this section is not one for which I regularly do updates, I was pleasantly surprised by his interest in my November 2009 post on a townhome for sale: RealtorIrene Blogs about Sussex County NJ Real Estate: Foreclosure - Indian Fields, Hardyston, Sussex County NJ - Bank Owned home for sale.

That Indian Fields foreclosure sold for $169,900, full list price and with multiple offers on the townhouse. My caller had seen my post on the sale and wanted to pick my brain about the current state of the market, the home owner association, how Indian Fields homes for sale compare to other Hardyston or Sussex County communities.

Four months later, the Indian Fields homes for sale picture has changed. Both charts below use data from the GSMLS system.

The gentleman who phoned me found me from searching Google for experts on homes for sales within Indian Fields.My grasp of this Hardyston market, proven success in rapidly selling a townhouse in Indian Fields and Internet marketing strategies convinced him to pick my brain.

If you'd like to know more about Indian Fields or other homes for sale within Sussex County NJ, do what this gent did - give me a call at YOUR convenience!

Copyright © 2010, 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.

Despite delays by a blizzard, 25 Meadow Pond Road closed on March 2; sale price of $169,900.  A bank-owned 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath townhouse in Indian Fields in Hardyston NJ, this foreclosure needed painting and flooring.  The final list price of $169,900 brought in multiple offers; it sold for full list price.  The average list-to-sale price ratio in Sussex County is 95% but this townhome with a Hamburg zip code was still a great deal.

Rain this week melted the snow piles and I went to finally free my sign from the ground. A painting crew was unloading its van; told me beautiful hardwood floors already grace the ground floor. They were about to paint the entire inside of this Indian Fields townhome. It really warms my heart that these first-time home buyers who benefit from the tax credit are transforming an sad foreclosure into a lovely home.

May 25 Meadow Pond Road in Indian Fields, Hardyston NJ be full of love, laughter and health!

For other posts on bargain homes for sale, please visit: Distressed Properties - Short Sales & Foreclosures.

Copyright © 2010, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy a foreclosure home for sale? 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.

Foreclosure sold in Indian Fields on March 2 to first time home buyers enjoying the tax credit!

Update January 29 - An offer was accepted on this foreclosed Indian Fields townhome in Hardyston NJ and a sale is proceeding!

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A second HUGE price reduction on this Indian Fields home for sale. This bank-owned townhome for sale in Hardyston NJ (zip shared with Hamburg NJ, so it may appear as in that town) has had several offers that were rejected. Yes, it needs some work but is far from a dump.

At just $169,900 someone is going to snatch up this in Indian Fields REO home for sale in Hardyston NJ - assuming they consider the points in Want to Steal a Foreclosure - Sussex County NJ? I smell a sale in the works...

Related posts: PRICE SLASHED - Foreclosure Townhome - Indian Fields, Hardyston (Hamburg) - Sussex County NJ Homes for Sale

Foreclosure - Indian Fields, Hardyston, Sussex County NJ - Bank Owned home for sale

Copyright © 2010, 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 foreclosure for sale? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.

My real estate appointments for the day are done and went well. I spoke to several clients about seeing homes for sale this coming week. Materials for tomorrow's Open House are all pulled together.

My husband Chip isn't here. The house is warm and quiet. I could:

• Start a loaf of the Best Bread Ever;
• Work on the things I learned at RainCamp NY on Jan. 12!
• Follow up on a couple leads.
• Run a load of laundry or three.
• Draft a couple blogs that will solve the world's real estate woes.
• Attempt all the above simultaneously - my usual plan.

But no, not this afternoon. I'm going to grab a non-real estate related book. The paper kind with a spine and covers, remember?  Better yet, make it a novel!

Perhaps I'll be extra wicked and silence my phone...

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.

  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.

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...

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.

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.