THIS IS IT!!! This is my 30th Post and My Challenge is Complete!! - 09/30/10 09:58 PM
It's been an exciting month!!  The 30 Day Blogging Challenge has really kept me on my toes keyboard!!  Although the challenge is over, I will continue to post at least once a day.    After all, what else would I do with my time set aside for blogging once a day! 
During the last 30 days I've made new friends on ActiveRain; subscribed to different members' posts; improved my google juice, bumped my ranking up for Real Estate Agents in New Jersey and even had one feature out of the 30 posts!! 

Believe it or not about an hour ago … (8 comments)

Fairfield New Jersey isn't just for kids! Senior Activities in Fairfield, New Jersey - 09/29/10 10:43 PM
I often write posts about Things to do in Fairfield, New Jersey with kids and I've even wrote a few posts on Things to do in Fairfield without the kids.  Tonight I wanted to write a post on activities for seniors in Fairfield, New Jersey.  Together, with Fairfield Recreation Department, The Township of Fairfeld New Jersey offers a variety of senior activities and outings.  To name a few:
Bus trips to Shop-Rite, Corrado's market and Atlantic City; Low-impact aerobic classes; and The Library offers several craft and book discussion groups. Fairfield, New Jersey is a very multi generational family town.  There's empty … (2 comments)

I got NADA so I Wrote Ten Things About Me! - 09/28/10 10:37 PM
I'm on the brink of completing my 30 Day Blogging Challengeand tonight I GOT NADA.  I have absolutely nothing good to write about, no localism posts, NADA!!   I'm feeling a bit under the weather.  I have a sore throat and a slight fever but I didn't want to blow my 30 Day Blogging streak.
I thought I'd write a few things about me. 
Here's Ten Things About Me:
I've been happily married for 11 years and have 3 of the most wonderful children. My two younger kids were born on the same day two years apart and it was so NOT … (15 comments)

Really???!!! Do you really need the business that bad? Realtors tacky tactics!! - 09/27/10 02:36 PM
After reading Judi Barrett's post ActiveRain Community Guidelines Include "Do not advertise yourself or your services in the comment section of another members blog post", I wanted to share an "unusual" experience and in my opinion an "inappropriate" action.  I'm all for agents' self-promotion advertising, especially if its free, and I even know some agents who will wear their name tag at the supermarket to advertise they are realtors and drum up some business.  I'm personally not one to wear my name tag outside of open houses or realtor related functions, but to each their own except for that one agent … (6 comments)

No paycheck? If you WORK, you get PAID -- that's just how it goes........... - 09/27/10 11:02 AM
On Thursday I wrote a post,  No Commission Check?  What were you doing 90 days ago?   I once again give credit to the original post of Kristen Wheatley's An Appointment a Day Keeps the Bill Collectors Away which triggered me to write that post. (BTW - thank you for the feature)!
Reading through many of the comments on my post, many agents do feel the same way and practice what they preach, starting with the very first  comment of Debi Braulik who referenced the quote "Everyday you're unemployed unless you write a contract."   So many other great comments too including Bryant Tutas who commented that the one thing in … (4 comments)

I don't take special requests! Being Called Out on Calling Shots!! - 09/26/10 12:50 AM
Midori Miller-Daytona wrote an interesting post tonight, Suggest Button - Do you use it?  If you haven't read it, I "suggest" you do!  She states:  "I receive a lot of emails everyday requesting that I call the shot.." 
Although I've only received ONE special request to "suggest" a post for a feature, I can't imagine that there are members of the ActiveRain Community really asking other members to call the shot out on their posts!!  Its just wrong on so many levels and I truly hope that if you are being asked to call the shot you are not doing it based … (9 comments)

Do you know where your drafts are? - 09/26/10 12:01 AM
I don't know about you but there are many times I start to write a blog post and save it as draft to come back to it another day.  Then I come up with a few other topics, post them publicly and then I lose track of the drafts. I found any easy way to keep track of my drafts so that when I want to come back to the them, I don't have to scroll down through sometimes a dozen other posts I've written since my draft posts. 
First, I type the word "draft" in the tags and then I save the … (9 comments)

Fairfield Real Estate Open Houses for Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 09/25/10 01:37 PM
Come visit Fairfield Real Estate Agents from Lattimer Realty hosting 7 out of 12 open houses in Fairfield, New Jersey scheduled for September 26, 2010.  Lattimer Fairfield Open Houses are from 1:00-3:00 unless otherwise noted). 
 
Fairfield Real Estate Agents from Lattimer Realty will be hosting Fairfield Open Houses on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at:
 
 7 Christina Court New Construction offered at $399,900. (Plymouth to Christina Court - complex with sign and flags).3 bedrooms/2.2. bath new construction for sale in Fairfield; Model Ready!  (1:00 - 4:00 p.m.)  
 
 87 Glenroy Road offered at $409,000.  (Sand to Club to Glenroy).  - 3 bedrooms/2 bath ranch.   … (0 comments)

Fairfield Falcons take on the West Essex Cowboys!! - 09/25/10 09:06 AM
In lieu of tomorrow being Worldwide Day of Play, the West Essex Football Teams are certainly getting up, getting out and getting active!!!  Fairfield Falcons Football teams take on the West Essex Cowboys this weekend starting on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at West Essexand then the splits (junior varsity teams) will play in Fairfield on Sunday morning starting at 9:00 a.m.   
 
The West Essex Regional School District (grades 7-12) consists of four sending district which are Fairfield, Essex Fells, North  Caldwell and Roseland.  However the West Essex Cowboys football teams (grades 2-8) are comprised of football players from 3 of the 4 sending … (0 comments)

Bank Of America Forecloses On A House With No MORTGAGE! - 09/24/10 12:04 PM
Is your house paid for?  No more mortgage payments?  Think you can't be foreclosed upon?  THINK AGAIN!!!! 
Read the story below to see how a major bank screw up took back ownership of house through foreclosure proceedings on a house the owner bought with CASH!!!
Who's to blame here?  The bank?  The attorneys involved?  The Courts?  The title  company?  Obviously not one party did their due diligence!! 
Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):
Just when you thought you have heard them all! This one really had me wondering again, what planet are these lenders from? We … (1 comments)

Worldwide Day of Play is Saturday, September 25, 2010!! - 09/24/10 09:19 AM
Honestly, being a mother of three kids, I have never heard of Worldwide Day of Play until this morning when I was watching the news and they mentioned that First Lady Michelle Obama will join Nickelodeon on Saturday, September 25, 2010 in turning the television off for three hours (12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.) to celebrate Worldwide Day of Play!!  The objective is to encourage children to go outside and play!!!  I don't know about you but that's what we did when we were kids.  Sure there was Atari but we were outside playing hide and seek, freeze tag, riding bikes … (1 comments)

No Commission Check? What were you doing 90 days ago? - 09/23/10 08:44 PM
The other day Kristen Wheatley wrote a post An Appointment a Day Keeps the Bill Collectors Away.  Reading her post reminded me of a quote I had on my desk at my old broker's office which I somehow misplaced with my move.  I even commented to her post as such and tonight I found it......
"Every day you avoid doing profit-seeking activities, you will NOT receive a paycheck 90 days from now"
There is so much truth to that sentence.  Most of us do this full time, its our business, its our life, its our income.  With that being said, we … (33 comments)

Essex County's OctoberFest Fall Family Celebration in the West Essex Community of Roseland, NJ - 09/22/10 11:26 PM
Come and join in on the fun as New Jersey's Essex County families and possibly some neighboring Morris County families enjoy some fall family fun at Essex County's OctoberFest Fall Family Celebration on Saturday, October 2, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Essex County Environmental Center , 621 Eagle Rock Avenue in The West Essex Community of Roseland, New Jersey.
Pick your pumpkin, find your way through the maze, enjoy the live animal show and pet some of Essex County's Turtle Back Zoo'sfriendliest animals, see what's buzzing at the live beehive display and even canoe down the Passaic River.  Whole Foods … (0 comments)

Essex County's Newest Mini Golf Safari in West Orange, New Jersey - 09/21/10 09:26 PM
Essex County New Jersey's Newest Mini Golf Course Safari opened last week in West Orange, New Jersey.  The expansion of the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex now includes the mini golf courseSafari, Turtle Back Zoo and the Richard J. Codey Arena.  The mini golf course safari, with its 19 holes represents three habitats:  the African Congo, the Sahara Desert and the African Grasslands and shaped like the African Continent totally compliments the adventurous animals in Essex County's Turtle Back Zoo.  A family-oriented restaurant and boathouse should also be coming soon to the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex. 

Essex County's mini golf course Safari … (0 comments)

Tweet for ALS ~ Quicken Loans to Raise $70,000 in 7 Days! Please RE-BLOG and Help Find a Cure for ALS!! - 09/20/10 10:25 PM
Because....
...every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS. And every 90 minutes, someone dies as a result of this debilitating disease.
...the ALS Association empowers people with the disease, and their families, to live fuller lives. And they lead the fight for the cure.
...we know the power of the Internet and Social Media to spread knowledge, care and compassion is truly world-changing.
...those three letters that had no meaning to me until two years ago changed my life FOREVER.
In 1939, Lou Gehrig gave his final farewell speech at Yankee Stadium as this disease robbed him of his baseball career and his … (0 comments)

Beware ~ My Email Account was hacked!! - 09/19/10 09:55 PM
Just yesterday I wrote about Realtor Safety and today my email account was hacked -- not my real estate business email but my personal AOL email account.  I was sitting at my open house today and my blackberry went off with the usual email notification sound, and then it went off again, again, again and again.  When I read the first message from "Mail Delivery Subsystem" that my email was undeliverable I thought ok no biggie I sent an email this morning and it didn't go through but after the 20th one, I knew my email account was hacked!!!! 
I have no idea of how many emails were sent from my … (7 comments)

REALTOR® Safety Month ~ Make Your Own Safety a Priority Every Day of Every Month of Every Year!! - 09/18/10 12:19 PM
Here we are in middle of REALTOR® Safety Month and although we should always use caution at open houses or when showing properties, this month is an extra reminder that we need to make our own safety a priority -- not just this month but every day of every month of every year!!

The latest warning I received from my multiple listing service (GSMLS) yesterday was that a couple with a young child enter the open house, and while the female engages in conversation, the male and child enter the bedrooms and remove electronics and jewelry from the property.   I can understand how the agent … (3 comments)

3 Bedroom, 1.5 Bath House For Sale in West Caldwell ~ Open House Sunday September 19, 2010 - 09/17/10 11:41 PM


81 Francine Avenue, West Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
Garden State Multiple Listing #2784599 Directions:  Bloomfield Avenue to Francine Avenue  - last house on the right

West Caldwell, NJ was voted #8 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2010.(Visit the homepage of my website (3/4 of the way down) to see the entire list of the Best Places to Live in Essex County in Rank Order)
James Caldwell High School was voted #5 Top Public High School in Essex County by NJ  Monthly in 2010.(See the entire list of the Top Public High Schools in Essex County in Rank Order) 
For more information about 81 Francine Avenue in West Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 or for more information on homes for sale in West Caldwell and/or homes … (2 comments)

Why Oh Why Do They Continue to Discuss Commission?? - 09/17/10 12:04 PM
It's like beating a dead horse!!  I don't understand why agents continue to discuss commission on public forums like Trulia.  Which part do they NOT understand of the Antitrust Laws?  Is it the part that they should disassociate themselves immediately from the slightest discussion of commission rates or do they not realize who and who is not a member of a competing firm?  Openly discussing it on Trulia I would say violates the Sherman Antitrust Act and if it somehow doesn't, it's a fine line that I certainly do not want to cross!
Honestly, potential sellers who are not familiar with the … (4 comments)

Should I Sell First or Should I Buy First? - 09/16/10 09:53 PM

One of the hardest predicaments a seller can find themselves in is when they are selling their home but need to buy a home too.  Sellers aren't reluctant in this market to accept a home sale contingency so therefore selling and buying with a home sale contingency isn't so easy. 
In a perfect world, you can sell your old home and buy the new one on the same day. That's how I did it 7 years ago - with a home sale contingency where in the seller gave us 45 days to secure a contract and we did in 43 … (4 comments)

Fall is a Season of Change....A Time for New Beginnings - 09/15/10 10:22 PM
My mom passing away at the end of the summer changed my life forever and my focus on real estate started to slowly become obsolete.  Then I read Karen Bernetti's 30 Day Blogging Challenge and her post brought me back to ActiveRain and real estate.   Just this week I read Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman's post Fall Season of Change Contest | Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul Group I thought to myself, am I really up to this change?   Then I realized that back on August 10, 2010 my life changed forever........
In the last few weeks, I've taken on the 30 Day … (6 comments)

What to do in Fairfield, New Jersey (leave the kids at home) - 09/14/10 11:57 PM
My last few posts on What to do in Fairfield, New Jersey has been focused on What to do in Fairfield, New Jersey WITH KIDS.  Last night I changed my things to do in Fairfield, New Jersey theme a little and wrote about a Wine Tasting Open House in Fairfield, New Jersey which got me thinking about more fun stuff to do in Fairfield, New Jersey without the kids.
Viking Cooking School offers a variety of hands-on classes or kick back, relax and learn about your favorite foods.  I know I said this post wasn't focused on things to do with kids in Fairfield, NJ but Viking Cooking School … (0 comments)

Open House (without the house) ~ Wine Tasting in Fairfield, New Jersey - 09/13/10 09:47 PM

This is not my typical Fairfield New Jersey Open House post listing what open houses Fairfield Real Estate Agents from Lattimer Realty are hosting this weekend.  This post is about an open house in Fairfield, New Jersey (house excluded).................
A Little Taste of Purple in Fairfield, New Jersey is holding a Wine Tasting Open House for the public on Saturday, September 18th and Sunday, September 19th from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.  A Little Taste of Purple is Fairfield New Jersey's Winemaking at its best.  Friends and family get together at A Little Taste of Purple and can either enjoy  wine tasting or better yet make their very OWN barrel … (1 comments)

If you think I'm Miss Fairfield because of my points, you missed the point! - 09/12/10 11:32 PM
So many posts about so many points really got me thinking What's the Point!!!!  Does your real estate business really care about your points? 
For instance, just because I rank as the Featured #1 Real Estate Agent in Fairfield New Jersey and the Featured #2 Real Estate Agent in Essex County, what does that really mean?? 
What is means is that I've blogged, commented and earned a few bonus points more than any other agent in Fairfield, New Jersey and I'm in second place for Essex County.  That's all it means.  I can be Miss Fairfield, New Jersey if I want to on … (4 comments)

A Few Facts About Essex County, New Jersey - 09/11/10 11:59 PM
Both living and working in Essex County for over 30 years, I wanted to share a few interesting facts about Essex County, New Jersey that maybe you did or didn't know:
•·     New Jersey's Essex County is made up of twenty two municipalities (Belleville, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, East Orange, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair, Newark, North Caldwell, Nutley, Orange, Roseland, South Orange, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange);
 
•·     Essex County is the second highest populated county in New Jersey;
 
•·     Essex County's seat, The City of Newark, is the largest city in New … (0 comments)

Buyers Agents vs. Loan Officers - Everyone Stay in their Respective Corners in the Arena - 09/10/10 10:34 PM
In January of 2009, I wrote a post about What comes first the chicken or the egg?  The post basically was about what or who does a buyer need first -- the real estate agent or the loan officer?  I think its a long standing debate between buyers agents vs. loan officers of who really comes first.  Many agents will say "the agent" and many loan officers will say "the loan officer".  Both equally important to the transaction but which comes first - the agent or the loan officer??  A buyer cannot buy a home without funding (unless its a cash … (6 comments)

Want to be a Listing Agent? You Gotta Be In It to Win it! - 09/09/10 10:24 PM
There were several posts I read within the last week or so about the importance of being a listing agent which prompted me to write this post. I admire Barbara Todaroand the excellent points she made in her post Need To Balance Your Time?? Listing Agents Can Do That !!!  I do not dispute her opinion on working as a listing agent versus working with buyers.  However, being a successful listing agent requires hard work and dedication.  Top producers didn't get to the top by doing nothing and waiting for their phone to ring!!  The top listing agents do not work any less than … (3 comments)

Essex County New Jersey Property Revaluations - "Tax Reval Cheat Sheat" - 09/08/10 10:56 PM
When buying a home in Essex County, New Jersey, its important to know when the last revaluation of the property was done.  Many Essex County properties have either recently undergone a reval or are currently in the process of getting revaluated.  I am not an appraiser but I do know that a property reval can change the taxes on a property.  When buying a home knowing the current taxes is important.  At the time of closing a portion of your escrow will be for real estate taxes. Knowing when the Essex County New Jersey Property Revaluations were completed or are due to be completed … (1 comments)

Rentals in the West Essex Regional School District - 09/07/10 11:25 PM

From carriage houses to 6 bedroom detached houses, there's a handful of rentals in the West Essex Regional School District.  The  West Essex Regional School District is composed of four municipalities: Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland.  These four suburban residential West Essex Communities located approximately 25 miles from New York City have a combined population of approximately 23,000 people and cover an area of 18 square miles.   The West Essex Regional School District consists of one high school (grades 9-12) and one middle school (grades 7 and 8).  A four-year comprehensive high school program is offered to grades 9-12 serving an enrollment of 1046 students with a faculty of … (2 comments)

Top Public High Schools in Essex County, New Jersey - 09/06/10 10:00 PM
On my website's homepage, about 3/4 of the way down under, Profile of an Essex County, West Essex Real Estate Agent. I have, to the right of my "profile", in rank order (as shown on the right here), The Best Places to Live in Essex County, New Jersey as ranked by New Jersey Monthly Best Places to Live, February 2010.
As you can see, Caldwell New Jersey was ranked #1 Best Place to Live in Essex County, New Jersey.
Tonight I've compiled (with the help of New Jersey Monthly Top Public High Schools, August 2010) the Top Public High Schools in Essex County, New Jersey in … (1 comments)

The 30 day blogging challenge has brought me back to real estate and ActiveRain - 09/05/10 10:48 PM
After my mom passed away on August 10, 2010, a part of me stopped living.  For two weeks after I didn't write not one post.  I didn't even login to my ActiveRain account.  What was there to blog about?  Nothing in the world mattered to me anymore.  Finally on August 27, 2010 I wrote about the Three Letters that had Changed My Life Forever. 
A few days later on August 31, 2010 I read about the 5000 bonus points for taking the 30 day blogging challenge and believe it or not, Karen Bernetti  inspired me to start blogging again.  Its not so much … (19 comments)

Essex Fells New Jersey Calvary Church Fall Fair - 09/04/10 04:18 PM
I kicked off the my posts for the month of September with how I am Looking Forward to the Fall in Fairfield, New Jersey.  Searching my mind for "fall" themed posts to write about this week, yesterday's post talked about the Annual Caldwell New Jersey Street Fair being held on the first Sunday of October 2010. 
Today, my " fall" themed post is about September's fall fair in Essex Fells.  The Essex Fells Calvary Church Fall Fair will be on Saturday, September 18, 2010 between 11:00 a.m. -5:00p.m. at the Calvary Church, 450 Fells Road, Essex Fells, New Jersey.   
Just like Caldwell's Annual Street Fair, neighboring West Essex Community, Essex … (1 comments)

Annual Caldwell New Jersey Street Fair - 09/03/10 11:07 PM
The Annual Caldwell New Jersey Street Fair which is held on the first Sunday of October every year, this year falls on Sunday, October 3rd for 2010 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  
The Annual Caldwell New Jersey Street Fair spread out on Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell New Jersey offers free admission, a variety craft and merchandise vendors, a wide array of food and drinks, rides for the children and a Beer Garden with live entertainment.  
 
Started by the Rotary Club of Caldwells and the Kiwanis Club of Caldwell-West Essex , the first Caldwell New Jersey Street Fair was held in October 1992 and has … (1 comments)

Working Families Relocating to Fairfield, New Jersey - 09/02/10 05:53 PM
Are you relocating to Fairfield, New Jersey because of your job?  Well I have great news if you are relocating to Fairfield, New Jersey!  Fairfield, New Jersey offers convenient living for working families with school aged children.
Working families relocating to Fairfield, New Jersey are offered the convenience of Tiny Treasures Extended Daycare Center located right inside Fairfield's Stevenson School for both before and after school childcare.     
For working families relocating to Fairfield, New Jersey with younger children, Tiny Treasures Infant and Toddler center is located at the intersection of Hollywood Avenue and Horseneck Road in Fairfield.  Tiny Treasures Preschool Center is located … (0 comments)

Looking Forward to Fall in Fairfield, New Jersey - 09/01/10 10:29 PM
With summer coming to an end, I must say that I am looking forward to the fall in Fairfield, New Jersey.  I've had enough of sun, heat, humidity, pool, Jersey Shore, and YES, the kids bugs too!
It seems like two months ago yesterday, I was gung ho on how to Beat the Heat in Fairfieldand now I'm looking forward to the kids returning to school, the changing of the leaves, the Fairfield Falcons Football season starting and enjoying the fall in Fairfield, New Jersey. 
In just a few weeks Fairfield Farms on Big Piece Road will start its Fairfield fall fun activities for kids, … (1 comments)