RealtorIrene Blogs about Northwestern NJ Real Estate - Hunterdon & Warren: New Jersey: Hamburg: Crystal Springs

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.

Those considering buying condo vacation homes in Sussex County NJ may worry about maintenance issues from afar.  Others might not be able to use them frequently and debate the value to owning a ski condo. Several popular resorts - Minerals Resort, The Appalachian at Mountain Creek and Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs - may be the answers.

Lovely resort condos that set you at the heart of Sussex County golf courses and ski slopes. Monthly maintenance fees cover the utilities at these Sussex condo hotels.

These 3 hotel-style vacation properties in Sussex County NJ run an optional rental program. Owners can permit their condos to be in the rental pool when you won't be using it.  Each hotel sets its own rates and restrictions. I'll always help potential buyers obtain those rental details although I my real estate services don't extend to actual hotel bookings.

Minerals Resort and Spa SHORT SALE - Vernon NJ - The oldest (built in 2003) of our current Sussex County condo hotels, Minerals Resort has spectacular indoor and outdoor pools. Kites Restaurant provides delicious meals with a view.  Meticulously maintained, the condos come fully furnished - right down to fluffy spa towels & tiny shampoo bottles.  Why is this great for those coming from afar?  You just pack a suitcase and show up at your Minerals Resort condo!  The housekeeping staff will change linens, swab the tub and tidy up behind you.  Hotel luxury, ownership prices! (Minerals is in the same Vernon NJ complex as Great Gorge Village, which does have a rental program but no hotel services.)

Irene Kennedy's video on what is

now a $36000 SHORT SALE at Minerals Hotel & Spa Condo - Vernon NJ

Condos at the Appalachian at Mountain Creek - Vernon are newer than Minerals and have more varied condo layouts - studios plus 1 or 2 bedroom suites. Kitchenettes offer better self-preparation options - important as no restaurant has yet opened within the Appalachian.  These condos give you true ski-in ski-out access.

The Grand Cascades Lodge - Crystal Springs in Hardyston is Sussex County's newest condo hotel.  I would say it is the most swank. Putting green in front, several golf courses all around. The country club connects to the lodge.

If you and each one of your friends buys a Grand Cascades condo with me as your real estate agent, I would spend time in the Biosphere pool, a year-round paradise. I could then afford some pampering in its Reflections Spa. Ultra luxury!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from www.RealtorIrene.com 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 or www.HomesIrene.com.

Although all the homes for sale in Sussex County NJ are fairly close to one of our 21 golf courses, many people immediately focus on the 7 Crystal Springs golf courses: Wild Turkey, Minerals, Great Gorge, Crystal Springs, Cascades, Black Bear and Ballyowen.

Although many of 21 courses are open to the public, some, such as Lake Mohawk Golf Club, are private. For those who plan to live year round in Sparta, membership at Lake Mohawk Golf Club might be of interest. Others who may want vacation homes in Sussex County will be happy to learn that all the Crystal Springs golf courses don't require a membership.

Your options for real estate in Crystal Springs are vast and we can chat about what best fits your needsl!  The Grand Cascades Lodge is a hotel-condo; you own a unit that could be part of the rental pool.  (My vacation home series will eventually highlight the  local hotel-type real estate in Sussex County NJ.)

As for more traditional choices for homes for sale in Crystal Springs - Hardyston, NJ - the sky is the limit. We can focus on small condos, modest townhouses, luxury townhomes, quaint ranches or palatial Colonials. Some of these adjoin or overlook may of the Crystal Springs golf courses.  Right next to its Ballyowen Golf Course is an active adult community, Ballyowen Bluffs.

To start our hunt for your residence or vacation home in Sussex County NJ, here are some larger 3 bedroom townhouses and condos. Some are Crystal Springs homes for sale; others are quite close.

Here you'll find my blog posts on Sussex County NJ vacation homes. Or, subscribe to all my posts by using the button to the right!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from www.RealtorIrene.com 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 or www.HomesIrene.com.

Irene Kennedy, 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, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

Part 3 of Distressed Properties are NOT Black Holes!, a six part series. (While I'm based in Sussex County, photos here are from one of my REOs in Passaic County, West Milford, NJ.)

REOs are wonderful opportunities and should NEVER be dismissed!

I'll use the term bank but the new owner could be a mortgage company, corporation or debt collector.

By the time a bank actually owns the property (now called an REO = real estate owned), the bank already has hired one or more people to provide a written opinion of current market value where the property is located. This could be an appraisal but more often is a BPO done by an experienced real estate agent. The condition of the REO is taken into consideration by the appraiser or agent doing the BPO, although some BPOs are external only and the agent never sees the inside.  

NOTE - Many BPOs ask for the cost to do basic repairs to the property; I've never had a bank actually pay to do those. Sometimes banks have multiple BPOs done to get a few different opinions.

Work begins long before the REO is listed!

Banks may or may not select one of the BPO agents to be the listing agent representing the seller. Once the bank has selected an agent to handle its REO, there often is work to be done before the home is actually put on the market. 

If the home is occupied by a tenant or the former owner, that situation needs to be changed.  Many banks offer a "Cash for Keys" deal - a payment made to the occupant in return of moving out and leaving the property in reasonable condition.  Based on my experience, I'd say the amount would cover the first month rent on another place and a U-Haul in which to move personal property. It's a modest incentive to avoid eviction proceedings.

Warning to agents - Absolutely talk to your broker or an attorney before handling any Cash-for-Keys work! Do not assume it is okay because the bank has asked you to do so. Local laws relating to this can vary widely. Your safety is another factor - not everyone will react well if you knock on a door and ask them to vacate...

Then it is cleanup time. A few banks have their own contracts to handle this but most leave the work to the listing agent. The bank expects its agent to pay for such work and get reimbursed. Because of this, as well as time and effort, some agent use a service to handle this "trash out" process and continuing care.

What gets done

• Depending on the amount and cost of work involved, the listing agent might need to get several bids on these items.
• The banks pay to have contents removed. (Agents - again check laws, you may have to hold this personal property and make an attempt to contact its owners to claim it.)
• Basic yard work yields some curb appeal. As I mentioned above, few repairs will be done but safety issues might be corrected.
• The home is winterized - at least in my neck of the woods - probably in most places to prevent water damage even without freezing.
• Utilities. Some banks insist electricity be on; some pay to heat as well.
• Continued care. Many banks authorize minimal on-going work: shoveling snow, periodic lawn mowing, leaf removal, etc.  

During this period, the bank will have obtained price opinions and set an asking price. Now the property is ready to be listed.

• Part 1 - Distressed Properties are NOT Black Holes!
• Part 2 - Short Sales can be a great thing despite Timeframe & Lowballs
• Part 3 - So You Want a Foreclosure: Bank-owned Properties - REOs  (this page)
• Part 4 - Want to Steal a Foreclosure? Get the REO facts.
• Part 5 - Consider a Foreclosure - Advantages of REOs
• Part 6 - Pitfalls of Foreclosures. Disadvantages of REOs for Buyers