Robin Benjamin

Falling in Love With Your Millburn-Short Hills Home For Sale

robinbenjamin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:12:20 +0000

Valentines Day is fast approaching and love is in the air. Share a little extra love with your Millburn-Short Hills home for sale this week and you may find a buyer sooner than you thought! Buying a home is largely an emotional decision. Buyers may try to rationalize, set limits, make T-charts, and even compromise when searching for a home, however typically the sale is made when a potential buyer falls in love with your home for sale.

As a home seller, you may feel challenged in trying to anticipate what you can do to make your home more inviting and attractive to a prospective buyer. However, the following easy steps can welcome your buyer instantly and help them to feel as though they are coming home when they enter your property, so read on.

First, look out your windows. Are they clean and inviting? Do you have a pleasant view or can you camouflage it with some temporary plants just outside the window? Whenever you leave or anticipate a home showing, remember to leave the window coverings open so natural lighting can show off your property. The more light the better, so evaluate whether additional room lighting should be left on, as well. If the weather is nice and the outside noise quiet, consider leaving a window open to create a slight breeze.

Is your home comfortable looking? Is the temperature moderate and the ambiance set without being overdone? Soft music, flowing water from a fountain, or fresh flowers can leave a lasting impression about the feel of a home.

Your goal is to intrigue the senses throughout your home. Whether its a soft blanket or an antique desk; if you have an unusual and beautiful showpiece, show it off. Creating a lasting impression through touch or evoking a memory, since these are often reasons later given for why a particular home was chosen. The sense of smell is very powerful, too, so keep in mind that baking cookies REALLY can help in the sale of your home. If you do have the smell of baked good lingering in your home, please make sure the cookies are available for potential buyers so disappointment does not cloud their view of your property.

Lastly, leave the house. Thats right – let the potential buyer have a chance to feel that the house is theirs – if even for 15 minutes. Your home buyer needs to feel as if they are in their new home. For this reason, many professional home stagers recommend eliminating personal effects and photos when a home is being shown. Remember, your main job as a home seller is to prepare your home so potential home buyers feel a sense of ownership and an urgency to make it theirs before they leave.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or call me at 973.202.7270

Historical Maplewood Home to Glee Club, Welcomes New Talent!

robinbenjamin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:42:04 +0000

Tenors! Basses! The Maplewood Glee Club is looking for a few good men to join the ranks as their newest choir members! The well-known Maplewood Glee Club has been meeting for over 65 years and in addition to sharing their talents with others, the club provides scholarships for the musically talented to continue their studies of the art. The club consists of over 40 male singers, who perform two concerts per year. It includes members from the local surrounding communities including Millburn, Short Hills, Maplewood homes, Summit, Chatham, and more! Founder, Wesley P. Pollitt, served 5 years active duty in World War II , and dreamt of organizing a glee club similar to the one he performed in during his college years. When he came home from the war to his Maplewood home, he gathered interested patrons and the early glee club was formed, in 1946. For more information or to schedule the choir to sing at an event, contact Erik Solberg, president of the club @ president@maplewoodgleeclub.org.

Where: 120 Burnett Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040

When: Mondays 7:45pm – 9:45pm

Website: http://www.maple.woodgleeclub.org

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or call me at 973.202.7270

Save Money When Buying A Millburn-Short Hills, NJ Home

robinbenjamin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:18:54 +0000

Save Money When Buying A Home

Any major purchase requires analysis and thought, and buying a home in Millburn-Short Hills isn’t any different. Specifications on location, bedroom and bathroom quantity, and yard size may come more quickly to mind, but there are many other considerations to be aware of, as well. Did you know that you can compare prices on mortgage rates and lender options? That’s right – not every broker will offer the same programs – and you can save a lot of money through a little comparison shopping.

Buying a Home in the Millburn Short Hills Housing Market

The last five weeks have brought mortgage rates to historic lows according to Freddie Mac, with many averaging below 4%. That means more buying and bargaining power for you, the home buyer. In fact, according to last Thursday’s Primary Mortgage Market survey by Freddie Mac, the average rate for a 15 year mortgage was 3.16% with fees and points averaging .8 and the average rate for a 30 year mortgage was 3.89% with fees and points of .7.

Keeping those stats in mind, it’s always wise to do your homework and ask your lender (here’s contact information on Shaleen Mahtani with Wells Fargo) for a list of current rates and determine if those are lowest for that day or week and if the rate is fixed or adjustable, as that answer will affect your payment significantly. Keep in mind that the APR (annual percentage rate) considers all fees, including points and other charges such as origination, underwriting, or closing costs fees, so it may be advantageous to use in comparisons. In a constantly evolving real estate market, it’s always wise to educate yourself and shop around, listen up, and be ready to make the best deal you can on your home purchase and your lending costs.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or contact me at 973.202.7270

Local Mortgage Lenders -Rich Hirsch Phone: 908-410-9066 Andrew Giameo 908-789-2250 (Hudson City)

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 72. See more 07078 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 2/7/2012)

$599,995 : MLS # 2910189 in Millburn Twp.

3 beds, 2 full baths

Lot size: 13,503 sq ft

Year built: 1950

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 25
$619,000 : 5 Exeter Rd, Millburn Twp.

3 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 11,761 sq ft

Year built: 1941

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 21
$625,000 : 124 Short Hills Avenue, Millburn Twp.

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 17,859 sq ft

Year built: 1942

Parking spots: 1

Days on market: 12
$625,000 : 66 Great Oak Drive, Millburn Twp.

3 beds, 1 full, 2 part baths

Lot size: 14,810 sq ft

Year built: 1941

Parking spots: 1

Days on market: 191
$669,000 : 68 Crescent Pl, Millburn Twp.

3 beds, 2 full baths

Lot size: 26,136 sq ft

Year built: 1941

Parking spots: 1

Days on market: 18

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Your Child Can Reach for the STARS Near Your Midtown Direct Train Line Town!

robinbenjamin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:21 +0000

It’s not too early to start thinking about those summer days ahead and what to do to keep the children busy near your NJ Midtown Direct Train Line Town! Are your kids always singing and dancing around the house? Do you often have to tell them to quiet down, or go in another room to exercise their vibrating vocal chords or incessantly tapping feet? Well, this just might be the perfect spring/summer activity for them (and YOU!)

The Musical Theatre Conservatory located conveniently near your NJ Midtown Direct Train Line Town, has an entire line up of exciting classes including: singing, dancing, acting, comedy, TV/commercials, make-up, stage combat, voice-overs, auditioning and more! They have classes beginning in the spring or summer. Children will have the opportunity to perform in New Jersey and in New York City! Artistic directors Randy Elman and Mary Brienza both have extensive backgrounds in the performing arts and truly LOVE what they do! The Musical Theatre Conservatory is a magical place where they teach children to reach for the STARS!

For detailed class descriptions, click here.

Contact 973-868-6259 or visit their website http://www.musicaltheatreconservatory.com/

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or call me at 973.202.7270

Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce Hosts “Come Together” Gala

robinbenjamin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:59 +0000

Gala n. 1.A festive occasion, especially a lavish social event or entertainment! Now that you know meaning of the word, come show your support for the not-for-profit organizations in your Millburn-Short Hills community! Next weekend at Hilton-Short Hills the Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Come Together” Gala. The evening’s events will include dinner, dancing and auctions. Thirty percent of your ticket price will be donated to one of the twelve not-for-profit organizations of your choice, that were chosen by the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to be honored this evening.

What: ”Come Together” Gala

Where: Hilton Short Hills John F. Kennedy Parkway Short Hills, New Jersey

When: Saturday February 4th, 2012 6pm

Tickets: Call Chamber office 973-379-1198 or email info@millburnshorthillschamber.com.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or contact me at 973.202.7270

Millburn Homes Enjoy Labrador Exhibit At Their Public Library!

robinbenjamin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:00:30 +0000

For many people dogs are so much more than just pets. They are a part of the family, a lifelong companion and friend. Those who understand this relationship between human and canine, have truly felt what it means to be a “dog lover”. If you are a lover of dogs, and more specifically Labradors, then you definitely want to make a stop by Millburn Public Library this week – located at 200 Glen Ave, Millburn, NJ.

Millburn Public Library is now showcasing a lovely display of Labrador Retriever artwork. Artist Kathleen Harte Gilsenan receives her inspiration from her dog Maddie, who she got from the Released Puppy Program at the Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Patterson, New York. And as a way to give back, Kathleen donates a portion of all monies made through the studio back to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an internationally accredited, non-profit guide dog school.

Guiding Eyes also has a program by which its world-renowned dogs are trained to provide safety for children with autism. You can find out more information about Guiding Eyes on their website: www.guidingeyes.org.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or contact me at 973.202.7270

Chinese New Year 2012.. Year of the Dragon!

robinbenjamin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:23:52 +0000

Chinese New Year is a time to welcome longevity, wealth and prosperity and to eliminate any negative chi from the past. That clearly works for me! I’ve been lucky over the last year to have wonderful clients that I’ve sold homes to and the end result has been, what I hope to be long term friendships! Today we shared some of my “favorites” and the best part of the day was that I walked out being crowned the champion of ping pong! I’m slightly competative :-/ Happy New Year to all my friends and much good luck~

All new LOCAL STATS for December are here.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or call me at 973.202.7270

It’s not always about buying Real Estate

robinbenjamin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:12:59 +0000

It’s not ALWAYS about buying Real estate! BUT…if you’re from NJ, we all know that the GIANTS take on the 49ers this weekend! If you’re not out buying a house with me, here’s a list of New Jersey’s 5 Best Sports Bars.

Let’s go Giants!

All new LOCAL STATS for December are here.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or call me at 973.202.7270

Dog Rescue Holds Volunteer and Foster Recruitment Drive For Millburn Homes and Surrounding Areas

robinbenjamin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:36 +0000

This weekend at the Pet Smart near your Millburn homes, dog rescue Home for Good is having a Foster and Volunteer Recruitment drive. Home for Good is a non-profit, volunteer based organization looking for loving people that would like to provide temporary housing, care and hugs to a homeless dog awaiting adoption. If you have a love for dogs, consider volunteering for this noble task, and you will make a big difference in the life of a dog! Founded in 2010, Home for Good has successfully placed over 750 dogs in Millburn homes or surrounding areas, for good, or in “forever” homes as they like to call them. Many of these dogs would have likely faced euthanasia due to over crowded shelters. Their mission is to save as many dogs as they can from this fateful end. For children over 16 that would like to be involved, Home for Good also has a junior volunteer program! Whether your interest is in adopting or fostering, check out Home for Good, you just might be the next best friend they are looking for!

When: Saturday January 21, 2012 11am – 4pm

Where: PetSmart 187 Millburn Ave, Millburn, NJ 07041

Sites to browse dogs for adoption: Home for Good or Petfinder.com

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or contact me at 973.202.7270

Google+ Streaming in Short Hills, NJ

robinbenjamin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:51:48 +0000

I want to thank Mike Mueller for his very informative webinar yesterday and with any luck, it will post from G+ to streaming everywhere! Following the MLK weekend in Short Hills, NJ, from January 13th to the 17th, here is everything that is NEW to the market and that went UC.

Garden State MLS

All new LOCAL STATS for December are here.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or call me at 973.202.7270