Truth in Renting

It seems like rentals are moving faster then ever these days. The 2007 version of THE TRUTH IN RENTING booklet is available online in PDF form for you to download free of cost from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs website. This guide outlines the responsibilities and laws for landlords and tenants in the state of New Jersey. If you are a landlord, you must supply a copy to your tenant when you enter into a lease. Additional forms, bulletins, laws and regulations can be found on the New Jersey Community Affairs page titled Bureau of Homeowners Protection.
If you're considering owning rental property, now is the time to invest. Home prices are down and rental demand is up. We'd love to help you find the perfect investment property.

August Happenings In Chester

The Borough of Chester has two great events to look forward to in the month of August. Saturday, August 2nd the Community Presbyterian Church will be holding it's annual Peach Festival from 10 A.M to 4 P. M. There is always a great white elephant sale and county auction. If you have to clean out some closets, it's not to late to donate some items. Lunch will be served and there will be hand made crafts and homemade jams & jellies for sale. Of course you can count on enjoying some delicious peach ice cream and fresh peach pie.

For more information check out their website at http://cpcchester.org/peach/events.html

On August 16th (Raindate - August 17th) you can head to Chester for a great day of music at The Black River Music and Art Fest. This free event features over 20 local music performers and the works of local artists. This is a great way to spend the day with friends and family!

Check out the line up of performers:

2008 PARTICIPANTS

Billy http://www.billyband.com/

Busterman http://www.bustermanproductions.com/

Melinda Davis and the Eleventh Hour http://www.melindadavis.net/
D Jay web.mac.com/djaysmusic

double-breasted www.myspace.com/doublebreasted

Echofission http://www.echofission.com/

Faber, Sidotti

Brian Fitzpatrick http://www.brian-fitzpatrick.com/

Paul Gargiulo http://www.paulgargiulo.com/

Gary Paul Hermus http://www.garypaulhermus.com/

The Alisa Jesslyn Band myspace.com/ahleesahmusic

Justpassingthru http://www.justpassingthru.net/

Caren Kennedy http://www.carenkennedy.com/

The Kimballs http://www.thekimballsrock.com/

Lloyd United http://www.lloydunited.com/

Thomas Martin http://www.martin-music.com/

Masqued Thrill www.myspace.com/masquedthrill
Joe McKay http://www.goodacoustic.com/

Brian McLoughlin http://www.brianmcloughlin.com/

Rik Mercaldi www.myspace.com/rikmercaldi

The Nairobi Trio myspace.com/thenairobitrio

Jeff Randall
Randy Morning

Ed Saultz http://www.edsaultz.com/

Universal Rebel http://www.urebelini.org/

Tom Vella and the Wayside http://www.thewaysideband.com/

The Wag thewagband.com

Wiser Time http://www.wiser-time.com/

Bob Wolfman www.myspace.com/bobwolfman

Mark your calenders today!

~Diane Tolley

Market News in Mendham/ Chester the week of 7/21/2008

New Listings:

Chester Borough
7 Windy Top Lane -- $950,000. -- listed by Prudential NJ Properties

Chester Twp.
2 Highland Drive -- $1,050,000. --listed by Weichert Realtors
10 highland Drive -- $1,250,000. --listed by Weichert Realtors

Mendham Borough
65 West Main Street -- $1,500,000. -- listed by Coldwell Banker
19 Balbrook Drive -- $3,790,000. -- listed by Coldwell Banker

Mendham Twp.
6 Lake Drive -- $259,900. -- listed by Coldwell Banker
7 Barbarita Hill Road -- $357,000. -- listed by Realty Center

Under Contract:

Chester Twp.
11 Drake Lane -- $639,000. -- listed by ColdwellBanker
17 Dogwood Drive -- $689,000. -- listed byColdwell Banker
4 Farm Road -- $750,000. -- listed by Coldwell Banker
1 Ryan Court -- $950,000. -- listed by Coldwell Banker

Mendham Borough
5 Village Circle -- $660,000. -- listed by Coldwell Banker

Mendham Twp.
6 Combs Hollow Road -- $1,895,000. -- listed by Weichert Realtors

Sold:

Chester Twp.
8 Farm Road -- $699,000. -- $699,000 -- listed by Weichert Realtors -- sold for $684,500. by ReMax Elite Services

Mendham Twp.
56 Walsingham Road -- $1,195,000. -- listed by Weichert Realtors -- sold for $1,162,500. by Coldwell Banker
2 Lone Spruce Trail -- $1,799,000. -- listed by Coldwell Banker -- sold for $1,720,000. by Weichert Realtors

If you would like further information about these listings please give us a call or click here

CLIENT2UP

Summer Heat Wave Escape

Okay so I haven't posted in a few days...

You see, one of the greatest things about living here is that we are only one hour from the excitement of New York City and one hour from the tranquility of the Delaware Water Gap. This week my family took our tents and gear to the Dingmans Ferry, Pa. Campground. (People and location were great, bathhouses - not so great.)

All 11 of us went on a canoe trip down the Delaware River - a perfect way to spend the day during a summer heat wave with tempatures around 90 degrees. We put the 3 canoes with tubes tied to the back in the river at the Smithfield Beach Access point. The river was slow moving and it took 4 hours to reach the Kittatinny Point Visitors Center.

We also discovered some terrific waterfalls
with the perfect swimming hole.




If you need any suggestions just send me an email, give me call or check out the links below.

There's still lots of summer left to enjoy

Delaware Water Gap National Park
Bushkill Falls
Dingmans Falls

~Diane Tolley

WHAT BUYERS WANT

According to all the articles I have read Buyers are looking for :

Great kitchens

Newer bathrooms

Family room adjoining the kitchen

Three car garage

Outside patio that could be made into outside living room

A quiet space that could be a home office ( 23% now work at home)

Private property but not far from shops

Suddenly I was amazed to realize that my listing on Calais Road fit all those criteria. It as 5 acres completely deer fenced accessible through an electric gate . The kitchen is spectacular. The owner has put an enormous amount of time in to planning and executing every detail of the remodeling of her kitchen. Right outside the french doors from the kitchen is patio surrounded by a stone wall and mature plantings.The stone pavers invite accesorizing with a fireplace and fancy grill

A spacious room with many windows approached by a rear stairway has a full bath and could be a quiet space to install an office.

If you are a Buyer and these are the parameters for your search give us a call or click here for more information.

Mendham market news week of 07/14/2008

Property information is from the Garden State MLS, not all are clients of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage


New Listings:

53 East Main Street -- Mendham Boro --$599,000. listed by Coldwell Banker

81 Hampshire Drive -- Mendham Boro -- $689,000. listed by Weichert Realtors

4 Hunters Glen --Mendham Twp. -- $1,049,000. listed by Weichert Realtors

2 Brookrace Drive -- Mendham Twp. -- $1,695,000. listed by Turpin Real Estate




Under Contract:


12 Franklin Road --Mendham Boro --$859,000. listed by Re/Max Classic group

21 North Gate Road --Mendham Twp. --$1,449,000. listed by Coldwell Banker

2 Reservoir Ridge Road -- Mendham Twp. -- $1,899,000. listed by Coldwell Banker




Sold:

20 Wexford Drive --Mendham Boro -- $445,000-- sale price $437,500. listed by Coldwell Banker/ sold by Coldwell Banker



135 Talmage Road --Mendham boro --$3,499,900 --sale price $2,499,000. listed by Weichert Realtors/ sold by Weichert Realtors


If you would like further information about these listings please click here or give us a call.

North Jersey Gardens

Now that summer is in full bloom, it's the perfect time to visit some North Jersey Gardens and Arboretums. Listed below are a of few of the many places just a short drive away. Check out their websites for a list of hours of operation, tours and classes. If your planning on selling you home, these can also be great places to get some inspiring ideas for landscaping before you put it on the market. Remember that buyers get their first impression before they even open the door.

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is a great place to start and is located just a few minutes from Mendham. Their website even has a list of everything in bloom right now and a virtual tour of gardens in Japan!

Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morris Township

http://www.arboretumfriends.org/

Greenwood Gardens, Short Hills

http://www.greenwoodgardens.org/

Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, Chester Township

http://www.morrisparks.net/

Leonard J. Buck Gardens, Far Hills

http://www.somersetcountyparks.net/

Willowwood Arboretum, Chester Township

http://www.morrisparks.net/

Rutgers Gardens, New Brunswick

http://www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/

Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit

http://www.reeves-reedarboretum.org/

Cross Estate Garden, Bernardsville

http://www.crossestategardens.org/

Duke Farms Foundation, Hillsborough

http://www.dukefarms.org/

Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne

http://www.laurelwoodarboretum.org/

Van Vleck House and Garden, Montclair

http://www.vanvleck.org/

Click here for more Morris County gardens

This summer, take some time to stop and smell the roses....

~Diane Tolley

Cell Phone Magic

As a member of Rotary of the Mendhams I receive a magazine from Rotary International which offers articles on projects world wide which benefit those in need. I read an ad there which was about a company which recycles no longer used cell phones and would pay the club for them. They even pay the shipping costs.




Our club has been anxious to help with a water project for a distressed community in India or Africa . People are heavily impacted with disease and poverty due to no potable water source. For a few thousand dollars we could enable a town to have a well with "good water".


Our club is involved currently in many projects which benefit Mendham ,our country and the world. We need more money to take on another project.


I found a way! I soon had boxes from Page Butler Co.and the explanation of how they use the telephones which they receive to benefit others .The boxes have been placed in various locations listed below. I collect the telephones reqularly and ship them out to the company. A short time later a check arrives and we have a start on a fund to transform cell phones into a well across the world. Truly a magical transformation!

Help a good cause and recycle you cell phones at the same time.!You can drop off your phones at our Coldwell Banker Mendham office located at 21 East Main Street in Mendham Borough or the Brookside Post office on the corner of Cherry Lane & Main Street in Brookside.

Understanding and improving your credit score

Here at the Coldwell Banker Mendham office we are so grateful to have Phyliss Byrne Nelson as our Coldwell Banker Mortgage Representative. Her professional advise to our clients is something we can always count on. We are thrilled that she has agreed to share her expertise on the mortgage market on our HOME IN MENDHAM blog. Her first article addresses credit scoring; how it is done and how to achieve a high score.

UNDERSTANDING AND IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT SCORE

The credit score is a computer generated mathematical score, ranging from 350 to 850, developed using factors determined from a person’s credit report. People always assume that if they pay their bills on time they will have a high score. There is a lot more to it than that. Here are the key components that make up your score.

Payment History: 35% Impact. Paying the total amount due on time has a positive impact. Late payments, charge offs, judgments, collection accounts have a negative affect. Credit Reports impact more than loans and credit cards. One collection account, even old, can increase your car insurance by as much as a thousand dollars a year. Your credit score is most impacted by delinquencies in the past twelve to twenty four months. One late in the past twelve months on your mortgage payment can put you into a sub prime class even though other payments are on time.

Outstanding Credit Balances: 30% Impact. This is the ratio marking the difference between the credit limit and the balance on an account. The balance should be 50%, or less, of the credit limit on individual cards, ideally, 30% or less. The balance that shows on your bill is the balance that is used in this calculation. This factor is the primary reason most people have lower scores than they expect. Many people say that they pay off their total balance each month. The computer sees the balance on your bill. If your credit limit is $2000 on a card and your balance is $1900 you will take a hard hit on your score, even though you paid in full. If you can’t pay down your balance below 50% ask the creditor to increase your credit limit to bring the ratio in line. Do not spend any more on that account.

Credit History: 15% Impact. This marks the length of time since a particular line of credit was established. The computer looks for accounts to be 2 years old or older. If you have an old account and pay it off, don’t close it. Keep it open and every now and then make a small purchase on it.

Type of Credit: 10% Impact. A mix of auto loans, credit cards and mortgages is more positive than credit cards alone. The number of credit cards is also considered, 3 or 4 active accounts is optimum.

Inquiries: 10% Impact. This quantifies the number of inquiries made on a consumer’s credit report within a six month period. It can impact your score from 2 – 10 points. If you are looking for a mortgage or a car your score will not be impacted if several mortgage companies or car companies check within 45 days. Your score is only impacted for ninety days. If you pull your credit directly from the credit bureau, it can be as much as 60 points higher than when the bank pulls it, because a different formula is used.

Remember it is a computer calculating this score. No personal factors are considered. It is just today’s snapshot of your credit. When you apply for credit usually a tri-merge report is pulled. The middle score is used. If you are going to be looking for a home, or other financing, it helps to talk to a loan officer at the beginning of the process, not just to see what amount you will qualify for, but so you can see your credit report and repair it in time to apply for a mortgage at the best rate.

Achieving a score over 720 is a critical first step in your financial strategy. This information will help you get there.

Phyllis Byrne Nelson Mortgage Advisor
973-224-2454
Coldwell Banker Home Loans

Morris County Rated in top 10

Those of us who are lucky enough live in Morris County know how much it has to offer. According to a recent Forbes magazine article, it is one of the top 10 best counties to raise a family. These are some of the same reasons that have helped our property values from falling at the rate of some other areas in the nation.

Here's an excerpt from a recent article in Realtor magazine:

Low cost of living, reasonably priced homes, and short commute times helps add to excellent schools and is what landed 10 communities at the top of Forbes magazine’s best places to raise a family.To be considered, the communities had to have populations greater than 65,000 and most of the school funding had to come from property taxes. Average SAT and ACT scores must top 1,050 or 22, respectively. These factors reduced the number of counties under consideration to 51.After that, the magazine considered cost of living, graduation rate, home prices, property tax rates as a percentage of median home prices, percentage of homes occupied by owners, per-capita income, air quality, crime rate and commute times.Here are the results:
Hamilton County, Ind. (near Indianapolis)
Ozaukee County, Wis. (near Milwaukee)
Johnson County, Kan. (near Kansas City)
Geauga County, Ohio (near Cleveland)
Delaware County, Ohio (near Columbus)
Morris County, N.J. (northern N.J.)
Hunterdon County, N.J. (central N.J.)
Waukesha County, Wis. (near Milwaukee)
Montgomery County, Pa. (near Philadelphia)
Chester County, Pa. (near Wilmington, DE)

Source: Forbes, Zack O’Malley Greenburg (06/30/08)

Mendham market news - week of 7/7/2008

Our plan is to post an update on the new, under contract and sold listings in the Mendhams every week so you can always find current information.
Property information is from Garden State MLS, not all are clients of Coldwell Banker Residential brokerage.


New Listings:

9 Maple Ave., Mendham Boro $630,000. listed by Classic Realty Group
38 Dean Road, Mendham Boro $1,100,000. listed by Turpin Real Estate
4 Cherry Lane, Mendham Twp $635,000, listed by Coldwell Banker
95 Ironia Road, Mendham Twp $1,099,000. listed by Weichert Realtors
8 Roxiticus Road, Mendham Twp $1,099,000. listed by Turpin Real Estate
17 Glengary Drive, Mendham Twp $1,399,000. listed by Coldwell Banker

Under Contract:

4 Wedgewood Lane, Mendham Boro $799,000. listed by Turpin Real Estate
1 Corey Lane, Mendham Twp $645,000. listed by Weichert Realtors

Sold:

10 Ballantine Road, Mendham Twp List price $884,955 - sale price $875,000. listed by Coldwell Banker/ sold by Re/ Max Properties Unlimited




Here is the link if you'd like more information on any of these homes
CLIENT2UP

Brookside 4th of July

There's nothing like the 4th of July in Brookside....

Jean and Jessie looking patriotic

The "Best small town parade in America" rolled down the streets of Brookside again last Thursday. The theme for the 4th of July parade was "Broadway comes to Brookside." Despite a little rain before the start of the parade, the turnout was great. I hear going back the last 50 years, no one can recall it raining on the 4th of July parade. Joe Arwady did a terrific job as parade chairman. ( Having done this job for 5 times before, I know what a huge amount of work it is so my hats of to you Joe! )

Since there are a number of dogs currently residing in my house, my family agreed to chair the Pooch Parade this year. Did you know the Wizard of Oz was on Broadway in 1903? Toto was too small to be seen from the balcony so it featured Dorothy's cow Imogene. Here's my family and our version of this classic. We really enjoyed ourselves!

I just have to share the photos of all the great entries....

After going by once in a car, our mayor Phyliss Florek and Township Committee Member Richard Kreig came back and joined the Pooch Parade with their adorable dogs














One of my favorite parts of the day is enjoying the firetruck rides with my friend, Lynda Menton. We sing patriotic songs and share lots of laughs as we get sprayed by the locals as we ride by. Lynda has been chairing the Brookside Fourth of July festivities for many years and does and amazing job! Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of Betty since she was hard at work cooking lunch in the Rotary booth.

God Bless America!

~Diane

Going Green

BEAUTIFUL SETTING~GREAT TOWN~OUTSTANDING BUILDER

Kennaday Road runs from Rt.24 to Tempe Wick Rd. When you look to the right just before Tempe Wick you will see Bryan Seavey's newest home under construction set on a knoll above a picturesque pasture.

This is the latest in high tech Energy Saving thoughtful building. Heating and Cooling in the home are a result of Geo Thermal installation which should save you thousands in energy costs.
If you'd like to read more there is a recent article in House Beautiful magazine. Look at the attachment which gives you an understandable description of the process.
http://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/how-to-use/technophobia-green-cooling-0708

The foundation is of the industrial mentality with layers of substance which increases durability and function.

As in all Bryan's houses the quality and detail are outstanding! Brick floors in the service area and homework station area. Open , welcoming full center hall leads one through the first floor to the rear patio accessed by French doors. Many fireplaces, hand created library paneling by master craftsman, vaulted ceiling kitchen with fireplace and all the design features which will enhance the center of family life.

Above the barn look-alike 3 car garage a separate stairway leads to enormous area with full bath. Could be office, recreation area or in-law suite.

Seavey Construction has been building and renovating quality, high-end housing throughout Morris and Somerset Counties for more than a decade now. Company President and premier builder, Bryan Seavey, has been involved in carpentry for as long as he can remember, learning the finer points of custom craftsmanship while working alongside his father. Earning his degree in Environmental Economics and Business at Rutgers University, Seavey began working as a carpenter doing custom renovations, and soon branched out into full scale design and construction. Enlisting the expertise of several local architects, Seavey has built his reputation on combining new designs with vintage architectural features and historical detail. Having grown up in Morris County, Bryan understands the area and prides himself on building homes that reflect the true feel of the neighborhoods they are a part of. "We try never to cut corners," Says Seavey. "The beauty in a truly historical home is in its attention to details and in the materials that were used. You just can’t match the quality of authentic exteriors made with natural materials like stone, wood or brick, or the appeal of timeless decorative interior detailing.""Sometimes we’ll move a home with historical value to a new location and restore it to its former grandeur. Or we’ll take an older home and update it with some modern amenities or a more spacious feel. The key is to make the home fit naturally into the surrounding landscape and to renovate without compromising the integrity of the original style."

Even if you are not contemplating buying right now, it is well worth your time to come and see this innovative new technology.

Call us for a visit before the sheet rock goes up. It will give you a good look at the quality of the wood studs, electrical and plumbing installations.

Summer Soccer

With nearly 1,500 participants in the West Morris Soccer Club, it is one of the largest in the state. Last year they offered an innovative practice schedule that really worked well for my daughter. You could attend open practices on any or all of the four days it was offered, twice a week in Mendham and twice a week in Chester. Since Elizabeth's' the type who likes to get out and run around, she went to practice almost every day. I combined those trips to Chester with a stop at Shoprite or just stayed to get a walk in around the Black River fields.

This summer they are offering a number of camps for all different levels of players.

Summer Camps 2008

Please click on the links below for camps offered locally by our
travel and intramural training organizations

PureSoccer
July 14-18 (3-5 years old)
July 14-18 (6-14)
Aug 4-8 (3-5)
Aug 4-8 (6-14)

AdvancedTotalSoccer
July 7-11 (4-18 years old)
July 28-Aug 1 (4-18)
Aug 11-18 (U13 team)

CheshireSoccer
June 23-26 (7-14 years old)
June 30-July 3 (7-14)
July 7-10 " "
July 14-17 " "
July 21-24 " "
July 28-31 " "
Aug 4-7 " "
Aug 11-14 " "

UK Elite
July 7-11 (3-4 and 5-14 years old)
July 28-Aug 1 (5-14)
Aug 18-22 (5-14)