Central New Jersey Real Estate Professional

Four Seasons In Plainfield - Photography Exhibit

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:40:20 -0600

The Plainfield Public Library will conduct a photograh contest reception and awards presentation on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 1 P.M. in the Anne Louise Davis Gallery. The event will also inlcude the exhibit opening, which will feature entries from both professionals and amateurs. The entries total some 80 photographs some of which ahve been submitted by local elementary school students. The event which is made possible through the support of The Friends of the Plainfield Public Library, serves as a conduit for collecting photographs of life in the Queen City. For more in formation, contact the library at 908-757-111 ext. 136.

Randy Weston, Jazz Master Honoree

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:59:40 -0500

On October 17, 2009 at the South Orange Middle School, Brooklyn born jazz pianist Randy Weston will be featured in the Giants of Jazz 12. As this year's Jazz Master Honoree, Weston will offer up some of his beloved creations, most probably to include "Hi-Fly." his greatest hit, along with "Saucer Eyes," "Pam's Waltz," and "Little Niles."

Weston credits jazz greats such as Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Art Tatum, as well as Duke Ellington for their inspiration that fed his creative spirit. He offers special accolades for Thelonius Mon's genius. He referred to Monk as "The most original I ever heard."

For more information on the evening performance, call 973-378-7754.

711 Richmond Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 08:08:36 -0500

William Collins | ERA Queen City Realty | 908-531-4979

711 Richmond Street, Plainfield, NJ

Well Maintained Grand Colonial

5BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $249,900

Year Built	1916
Sq Footage	1,568
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	.24 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Well maintained grand colonial with original wood work, pocket doors, stain glass and an abundance of charm and space.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central heat	- Fireplace	- Hardwood floor
- Tile floor	- Living room	- Dining room
- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven	- Basement
- Laundry area - inside	- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Butler's Pantry

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Elevation	Living Room
Dining Room	Foyer's Stained Glass
Eat in Kitchen	Two Car Garage

Contact info:

William Collins

ERA Queen City Realty

908-531-4979

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 23, 2009, 7:13am PDT

429 Brookside Drive, Roselle, New Jersey 07203

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 08:00:46 -0500

William Collins | ERA Queen City Realty | 908-531-4979

429 Brookside Drive, Roselle, NJ

Picture Perfect Cape Cod

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $128,900

Year Built	Unspecified
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	.26 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Picture prefect Cape Cod boasts two full baths, rec rm, deck, patio and garage in pristine condition located in an Idyllic setting, very quiet and serene offered as a short sale

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central heat	- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor
- Living room	- Bonus/Rec room	- Dining room
- Basement	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Attached One Car Garage

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Elevation	Diningroom
Kitchen	Rec Room
Deck	Patio & Yard

Contact info:

William Collins

ERA Queen City Realty

908-531-4979

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 29, 2009, 4:37am PDT

National Doughnut Day

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:34:58 -0500

Today is National Doughnut Day and while most of the day has passed, the night is young and so the celebration continues. In recognition Krispy Kreme is making doughnuts available free of charge. Dunkin Donuts is offering a free doughnut with the purchase of a beverage. So, if your looking for that after dinner treat, join in the celebration.

Red Cross Babysitting Course

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:23:17 -0500

Gone are the days of calling the neighbor's daughter to babysit. At least, without her having the proper credentials. Childcare on all levels is important. When education on childcare can be obtained, it should be embraced, because it only enhances the provider's knowledge. Case in point, the Red Cross Babysitting Course offered May 16, 2009, 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., in conference rooms A & B at the Somerset Medical Center.

The course is geared for youth ages 11 -15. The objective is to provide them with skill sets essential to provide safe and responsible care in the absence of parents or guardians. The training is designed to foster leadership skills, professionalism, basic care, safety, safe play and first aid. Upon completion the student will receive a certificate and an illustrated book. The class size is limited. Students should bring lunch and a snack.

The fee is $60. Call 908-685-2814 to register.

1279 Marion Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:12:09 -0500

William Collins | ERA Queen City Realty | 908-531-4979

1279 Marion Avenue, Plainfield, NJ

Sophisticated Contemporary Design

4BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $309,900

Year Built	1990
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	.17 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Sophisticated contemporary design is the highlight of this property with all of its amenities; nestled in a quiet residential area, near the South Plainfield border.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Tile floor	Family room	Living room
Dishwasher	Stove/Oven	Laundry area - inside
Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Elevation	Kitchen
Dining Area

Contact info:

William Collins

ERA Queen City Realty

908-531-4979

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 3, 2009, 6:52pm PDT

A Raisin In The Sun

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:29:29 -0500

Lorraine Hansbury's play that focuses on the experiences of a family in Chicago during the 1950s, comes to Plainfield, New Jersey.

A Raisin In The Sun is being staged for a limited engagement, with direction by award winning filmmaker Alrick Brown.

YWCA of Central New Jersey

232 East Front Street

Plainfield, NJ

Friday, May 8, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 3:00 pm & 8:00 pm

Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 2:30 pm

For more information and tickets, call 908-756-3500 ext. 115

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis for South Orange, New Jersey - March 2009

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:17:12 -0500

South Orange's average residential listing price fell from $641,361 to $595,483, representing a 7.15% reduction in March 2009 over March 2008.

The variance in the number of listings for the same period was negligible, one less this year than last year's 161.

2009 saw a surge in new listings at 44, up from 31 last year. The average price of a property listed in March 2009 was $573,302 down from the $604,823 of March 2008; representing a 5.21% drop in the average listing price for new listings.

Fourteen listings went under contract in both years during the month of march. However, the real difference is in the average list price of the properties that went under contract, representing a 3.77% reduction over last year - from $620,064 to $596,671.

Additionally, in March 2009 properties were averaging 74 days on the market before closing, the same as March of 2008.

On the bright side the average sales price was up by 17.76% from $484,071 in 2008 to $570,056 in 2009.

March is the beginning of spring and the real estate selling season. That is why I am starting with March to develop a trend analysis for the absorption rate of residential properties in South Orange. The absorption rate is the number of weeks required to sell the current inventory based upon the present rate of sales. For March 2009, we will use the number of sales in February 2009 as a basis for going forward; that number is four for the month. That averages out to one a week. Therefore, it would take roughly 160 weeks or just over three years to sell all of the active inventory. You can begin to see how critical a role pricing plays in the marketing process, when confronted with such challenges.

Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sun, 03 May 2009 08:04:20 -0500

County Of Union
Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program
"Tap The Lead Out"
The County of Union has a Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program, which provides homeowners and landlords an opportunity to apply for grants to help remediate older homes and provide safe and stable dwellings for children and their families. Grants are available up to $13,500. The program will assist with resources necessary for detecting lead hazards and finding solutions for good health. Union county homeowners may qualify for funds by meeting the following criteria:
-Housing unit must have been built before 1978
-Households with children six (6) years of age or younger or women who are pregnant
-Income must be 80% below the Union county Median Household table listed below.

Family Size                               Not to Exceed

          1                                     $44,800
          2                                     $51,200
          3                                     $57,600
          4                                     $64,000
          5                                     $69,100
          6                                     $74,250
          7                                     $79,350
          8                                     $84,500

For further information, call 908-531-4979.

Financial Fitness Workshop

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:11:20 -0500

The United Church of Christ is hosting a Financial Fitness Workshop to be conducted by Shelly Boyd, an accredited financial counselor with Novadebt. Novadebt is a Garden State non-profit consumer credit counseling organization. On Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7 PM, Ms. Boyd will provide an overview of options available to those facing financial challenges.

The workshop is free and open to all; the church is located at 220 West Seventh St., in Plainfield, New Jersey.

Black History Month Celebration at the United Church of Christ in Plainfield

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:27:00 -0600

Mr. Lawrence E, Walker, Storyteller & Filmmaker & Historian, portrays Caesar, a slave and Revolutionary War Soldier born 1755 and died in 1832

This Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 10:30 am in the United Church of Christ, located at 220 West Seventh Street in Plainfield, Caesar tells the stories of former slaves/persons buried at the Historic Lamington Black Cemetery in Lamington, NJ.

This cemetery dates back to the late 1700's and is the oldest final resting place in the State of New Jersey for black Revolutionary War, Civil War Soldiers and people of colored.

Civil Unions, Marriage & Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:34:17 -0600

On Thursday, February 29, 2009 you are invited to attend A New Era of Rights and Responsibilities:
Civil Unions, Marriage & Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, in Plainfield, New Jersey.

Challenges facing same sex couples necesitate customized estate planning to ensure that surviving loved ones are protected.

The symposium will consist of a panel of professionals to include:

Parinaz Cole, Financial Advisor - Merrill Lynch

Jim Cole, Financial Advisor - Merrill Lynch

William Singer, Attorney - Singer & Fedun, LLC

Christopher Bellis, Deputy Director of Development - Lambda Legal

The symposium will run from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at United Church of Christ in Planfield located at 220 West seventh Street, Plainfield, New jersey 07060. While there is no charge, reservations are required. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Matt Allen at Lambda Legal at cbellis@lambdalegal.org or 212-809-8585, ext. 214.

United Church of Christ in Plainfield celebrates Black History Month

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:33:05 -0600

Come join us at the United Church of Christ as we kick off a month long celebration of Black History during the month of February. This Sunday, February 1, 2009, we will be joined by Union County quilter Janice Jamison, who will share the history of quilting and its importance in African American culture. Service starts at 10:30 am and we are located at 220 West Seventh Street in Plainfield, NJ 07060.

50,000 Jobs to be Eliminated at Citigroup

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:27:57 -0600

Citigroup, thought to be one of the more conservative players in the financial industry, hasn't gone unscathed by the mortgage meltdown. While, Citgroup has not made a play to acquire any struggling competitors, it has likewise not been a target for a takeover.

Citigroup's problems were highlighted back in January of this year in an article by Charlie Gasparino for CNBC On Air entitled Citigroup's Layoffs Could Reach 24,000 This Year. The projection was reflective of the anticipated impact from the downturn in the market combined with a portfolio of non-performing sub-prime loans.

Fast forward to this morning and we now get news that the number of layoffs has risen from 24,000 to 50,000 worldwide. There is no information on the numbers specific to the united States at this time. However, one could speculate that the company's base will probably be hit the hardest. That means that New York will probably be reeling from this latest announcement.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For Fanwood, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:55:41 -0600

Fanwood's residential listings were down by 24% in August 2008 by comparison to last year. The listing price was down by 4%, with an average of $457,665. New listings were also down by27% with an average price of $465,291.

Homes under contract and scheduled to close were also down by nearly 14%, with an average price of $460,100. However, closings for the month were up 8%, with an average sales price of $431,393.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For Scotch Plains, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:50:58 -0600

Scotch Plains residential listings were down by 13% by comparison to August 2007, with an average list price of $689,648, representing an increase in price by 3%. However, new listings during the month were down by9% with an average price of $520,490, representing a decrease in price by 16.4%.

August 2008 saw an increase in properties scheduled to close by 6% with an average price of $532,389, representing an increase in price over August 2007 by 1%.

In the end, sales were down by 51.43%, although the average price was $515,765, up by 3%.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For East Orange, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:46:09 -0600

North Plainfield residential listings were up to 245 representing an 13,43% increase over August 2007. Conversely, the average price was $279,022, down by 9.3%.

New Listings were down to 34 for the month, with an average price of $269,604. Properties scheduled to close were also down to 14 with an average price of $242,706, representing a decrease of 12%.

Sales for the month were nearly 50% lower by comparison to August 2007, while prices remained roughly the same at $282,083.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For East Orange, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:41:58 -0600

East Orange's residential listings were down as was the average listing price at $215,344. New listings were down for the month to 54 verses 68 last year for the same month. New listings average $220,004.

Properties scheduled to close were basically the same at ten for the month with n average price of $168,260.

There were twelve closings with an average price of $180,821.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For Irvington, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:38:14 -0600

Irvington has higher residential listings for the month of August at 294 over last year's 272. Prices were down at $196,415, on average. Mew listings registered a lower price point at $164,096 with 34 coming on the market.

While properties scheduled to close average $156,629, the volume was unchanged from last year, at seven for the month.

Sales were down slightly with an average sales price of $141,250.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For Maplewood, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:34:12 -0600

Maplewood's residential listings were up by 8%, with a lower average price of $466,646. New listings were down in volume but up in price at $534,92, a 9% increase over last year.

Properties scheduled to close were up at 25 for the month, verses 16 for the same period, last year, with an average price of $525,915. slightly down from last year.

There was a variance of one for the sales for the month of August, with an average price of $578,778 up by 5% over last year.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For Newark, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:29:29 -0600

Newark's residential listings were 592 for the month of August, down from 664 for 2007 during the month of August. The average price was $233,443, also down.

New listings for the month came in at 68, down from 121 for 2007. The average price was down 21% at $219,407.

Properties scheduled to close were up at 18 with an average price of $206,567.

Sales were down slightly, with an average price of $180,000, a 21.5% reduction over August 2007.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For South Orange, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:24:58 -0600

South Orange's residential listings were up by 22.4% at 180 with an average price of $666,428, down from last year during the same period. New listings were up at 32 for the month with an average price of $772,229 up by 1% over last year.

Properties scheduled to close were up in volume and down in price, at $582,242.

Sales were down by 17.4% with an average sales price of $594,579, down by 14%.

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For Orange, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:20:27 -0600

Orange residential listings were up at 174 with an average price of $261,851. New listings were slightly lower with virtually no change in the average price of 4294,078. Only two sales were scheduled to close, down from nine with an average price of $221,950, representing an increase of 8%.

Sales were down 50% at 4 for the month, with an average sales price of $264,250 verses last year's $263,688

Monthly Residential Property Market Analysis For Plainfield, New Jersey- August 2008

William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:35 -0600

The number of listings for August 2007 was 445 with an average price of $336,766 & August 2008 was 510 with an average price of $296,757. More properties were available for sale this year. However, prices were down by 12%.

New residential listings during the month were 81 with an average of $315,290 for July 2007 and July 2008 was 69 residential listings averaging $283,960. Fewer properties came on the market this August and prices were down by 10%.

Now we come to the numbers reflecting the sales activity. August 2007 had 14 properties go under contract averaging $$287,907 versus August 2008 with 19 properties aveaging $241,376. prices are down this year by 16.16%.

Finally, the month of August 2007 closed out with 17 homes sold averaging $300,863 , while August 2008 saw 15 homes sold averaging $305,733. Sales were down slightly in August of this year. Howvever, prices were up 2%.

In summary, the market remains robust for listings. Sales on the other hand are down and prices are up slightly.