I just read an article on usatoday.com that confirmed what I've suspected for awhile - that walkability leads to happiness. The article cited a recent study from the University of New Hampshire which found that people who live in [...]
Sometimes a house just has the right combination of elements -- location, price and space. 2 Dalebrook Road, in Bloomfield earns high marks on any walkability scale. It's close to Brookdale' s interesting ethnic restaurants-- Stamna (Greek), Boonsong (Thai) and Bar Cara (Italian). Houses of worship-- Temple Ner Tamid and the Watchung Presbyterian Church-- are literally steps away, as is Bloomfield Middle School. For commuters, the [...]
I had a lovely client who along with her partner wanted to rent a house on a big property so their dogs could run. We found her a great place, and the lease was signed. She paid all the fees and deposits. And then days before the move in date, she had to back out of the deal because she lost her job. She was a project manager on the [...]
When Voltaire said "The perfect is the enemy of the good," he wasn't philosophizing about buying real estate in Essex County NJ, but I often remind my buyers of the wisdom of his words and how it applies to their home search. During my years as a New Jersey real estate agent I have watched many good houses get passed over by clients who are [...]
Heard this weekend while showing some Montclair houses for sale: "disappointed by the kitchens in the current inventory of Montclair real estate - even some of those that have been renovated"
It seems today's Montclair home buyers expect more out of the kitchen than they did in years past. The dream kitchen of today is not just equipped with [...]
I'll be doing a series of posts that will look more closely at the neighborhoods of these walkable suburbs. Every neighborhood has something unique to offer. Montclair's [...]
A recent New York Times article discusses the rise in short sales in Manhattan due to the recession. One market analyst said "2010 might well be dubbed the Year of the Short Sale nationally. 'A short sale is going to be the only way for many people who bought at the peak and who are now underwater to move on with their lives if they have [...]
On September 14, the Star-Ledger ran an article about electric car charging stations; Montclair is one of four towns in New Jersey that received a grant from Walmart to install them. I have mixed feelings about these stations. On one hand, electric cars reduce our dependence on foreign oil, so anything that makes them more convenient to [...]
"The perfect meal at Bonjour Montclair: the turkey-goat-cheese-tomato-pesto crepe, iced coffee, and the strawberry-banana-nutella dessert crepe (although really, they're all delicious, I also love the cinnamon-sugar). The one downside to this creperie is their use of styrofoam and plasticware, but you can always try bringing your own [...]
The #5 sandwich (roast beef, havarti, lettuce, tomato and herb mayo on peasant bread) with sides of sauteed green beans and beets, coffee, and a brownie, at Sandwich Theory (formerly known as The Cheese Shop), 590 Valley Road. It is delicious, filling, sort of good for you, and absolutely satisfying. Sandwich Theory is an unpretentious [...]
