franklin lakes: The Battle of the Appraiser, the Assessor & Me! - 02/19/15 11:43 PM
Every few years, my job as a Realtor becomes a lot busier, but not because I'm listing and selling homes, in Northwest Bergen County --- Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff, in particular.  It's because of the dreaded REVALUATION!!  This is the time where towns realize the taxes they collect aren't enough to pay for the programs they've promised their residents.  What to do.  What to do,
For the last 25+ years, I've asked the same question of all the Assessors I've worked with --- why don't you assess homes for as close to REAL MARKET VALUE as you can, then raise the … (9 comments)

franklin lakes: Luxury Homes in Bergen County, NJ - 06/26/14 01:33 AM
For much of my 25-yr career, I've worked in the Luxury Market --- towns like Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Ridgewood, Ho-Ho-Kus and Allendale. We used to refer to 3,000 square foot, $950,000 homes luxury homes.  Then came the roaring 1990s, and we started seeing homes built the size of the local municipal building. Five thousand square foot homes became the norm, but in time we saw homes over 8,000 square feet going up, and that's when I began to worry.  It's one thing to build an 8,000 sf home on a 2 acre lot (Saddle River, for … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: Franklin Lakes, NJ --- from Pot to Heroin: a gruesome journey - 06/01/14 04:19 AM
I moved to Franklin Lakes from Asbury Park, in the early 70s, and was instantly hit with cultural shock --- single family homes the size of an apartment building, no public transportation, and women wearing tennis skirts to go shopping. But, it was beautiful, and I soon got over my reverse snobism, and enjoyed such new experiences as The Market Basket (if you don't like to cook dinner, Tony does it for you), the Shadow Lake Club (swim & tennis club), and starting a Democratic Club (little did I know I was only one of a few Dems in town.
My … (1 comments)

franklin lakes: The Luxury Home Market in Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes New Jersey - 05/23/14 02:03 AM
While I was showing an agent and her clients through my beautiful $1,979,000 home, in Wyckoff, I heard something I haven't heard in a while --- "This home is underpriced." While I was confident the home was well-priced, I don't often hear that from buyers or their agents. But this home is magnificent, and the seller and I worked hard to get the price right. The luxury market in both Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff --- two of the towns I've lived and specialized in --- is seeing a strong resurgence.  In part, this is due to sellers being more diligent about pricing … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: Another Household Hazard - 05/08/14 02:06 AM
Recently, my townhouse complex sent a letter telling us we are now required to have our dryer vents cleaned at least every 3 years.  I had mine done about 2.5 years ago, but figured I'd do it while I was thinking about it. I'm only one person so I didn't think there would be much to clean, so it was surprising, to say the least, when my plumber called and said, "Kate, are you taking in laundry?"  It seems my vent was so clogged it looked like a family of 6 lived there.  Apparently, the vent stretches out about 15' from the … (3 comments)

franklin lakes: THE NEW SCOURGE THREATENING NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS - 03/25/14 11:46 PM
In the 1980s, when my kids attended Ramapo High School, in Franklin Lakes, NJ, the things parents most feared were pot and alcohol.  Ramapo had a notorious structure known as "The Wall," which was the place they went to buy, sell and smoke pot (years later I would learn some also indulged in mushrooms and LSD).  In fact, a janitor was caught and arrested for selling to the students during breaks.I moved to Franklin Lakes, in 1973, from Asbury Park. Asbury Park High School had its share of racial slugfests, smoking and drinking, but no drugs (at least while I was … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: Franklin Lakes, NJ Achieves Sustainable Status - 03/12/13 01:05 AM
After forming a Green Team in town, including an Environmental Commission, and taking on several tasks required by the State (upgrades in the municipal buildings, adopting a land-use pledge, and several other repairs/replacements). Health and wellness programs, including Mayor Bivona's Wellness Campaign, were put in place, and members of the community, including students, jumped on the bandwagon to meet ther requirements of the State.  Only 100 of the State's 566 municipalities have been given Sustainable Jersey. Bravo, Franklin Lakes! Energy Audits for all Municipal Buildings Energy Tracking and Management (Formerly Energy STAR Portfolio Manager) Fleet Inventory Municipal Carbon Footprint Natural Resource … (2 comments)

franklin lakes: Franklin Lakes Sold Listings 9/1/12 to 3/10/13. 21 Homes over $800k sold. - 03/10/13 01:09 AM
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franklin lakes: Northwest Bergen County Housing Inventory - 03/06/13 03:30 AM
It's already March --- the time of year when we usually have much of the year's inventory already on the market.  That hasn't happened, and what IS on the market has been on for many months, and is still overpriced.  My buyers are seriously frustrated, and wondering if anything is going to change, over the coming months.  I fear we're going to continue to see lower than usualy inventory which might just be good news for sellers.  I'm seeing homes selling for more than I would have expected just because buyers are so anxious to buy.  I'm also seeing some buyers … (2 comments)

franklin lakes: Franklin Lakes, New Jersey Home Sales - 01/30/13 05:08 AM
Those of us who have worked in real estate for more than 20 years know that markets are somewhat cyclical --- prices skyrocket, and they crash --- but there seems to be something very different going on in this market.  I just read an article that talked about a new phenomenon --- sellers selling their homes, and deciding to take some time off from home ownership. They're renting and keeping their eyes on what happens, perhaps over the course of years.  I remember when an investor built a condo/apartment complex, off Franklin Avenue, in Franklin Lakes.  Initially, it was his plan … (4 comments)

franklin lakes: Franklin Lakes, NJ SOLD Stats from 1/1/2012 to 11/19/2012 - 11/19/12 02:51 AM
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franklin lakes: Hurricane Sandy Devastates My Home State of New Jersey - 11/06/12 03:13 AM
I grew up at the Jersey Shore --- Avon, Bradley Beach, Asbury Park and Wanamassa --- in the 50s, 60s & 70s.  Not once did we ever lose power, and certainly not heat.  The closest we came was (and I'm guessing) in the mid-50s when we were told a hurrican was coming our way.  We all descended into the dirty, rat-infested basement to hide until the threat had passed.  I remember peeking out the Bilco door to see if I could see the hurricane, but alas it missed us.
As I watched Sandy beat the hell out of my old stompiny … (2 comments)

franklin lakes: Franklin Lakes, NJ Home Sale Statistics - 10/11/12 04:17 AM
http://www.priv.njmls.xmlsweb.com/statisticsreports/Reports/MarketTrendReport.asp … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: The Open House --- What Purpose Does it Serve? - 08/12/12 04:34 AM
I read a great article in today's New York Times, written by Jesse McKinley, on Open Houses in NYC.  While I realize Open Houses in the city aren't a mirror image of those in the burbs, the concept is pretty much the same.  You're inviting all manner of strangers into someone's home in the hope you'll eventually sell it to one of them.  I don't know the odds of that happening in all locales, but I do know it doesn't happen all that often.  But, is that really the reason Realtors conduct the Open House?  In a brisk economy, like the … (3 comments)

franklin lakes: NW Bergen County's Hot Towns - 08/11/12 02:12 AM
School systems in New Jersey vary greatly, but it's pretty much accepted that Bergen County schools stand out as some of the best in the state --- even in the country.  Northwest Bergen County is the hub of many of those schools, starting with Allendale. 
Allendale is what we refer to as a "train town" that draws many buyers who commute to NYC. It's a relatively small town with a lot to say for itself --- bustling downtown, great schools and a quiet stateliness.  Norther Highlands Regional High School draws students from Allendale, HoHoKus, Saddle River and Upper Saddle River. Many … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: Franklin Lakes Purchases Land from Temple - 07/13/12 04:51 AM
I'm confused.  I keep reading about how difficult it is for towns and states to stay within their budgets, and how many services might have to be cut, but then I read about towns like Wyckoff, NJ and Franklin Lakes, NJ buying up land so it doesn't get developed.  Now, don't misunderstand --- I am 100% in favor of nipping over-development in the bud.  I just want to know where all this money is coming from.  Both towns have tried to keep tax increases to a minimum, and have avoided cutting services (so far), but how is that possible when you … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: Today's Franklin Lakes, New Jersey Housing Market - 07/06/12 01:16 AM
The Luxury Market --- homes over $1 mil --- got hit hard when the real estate market of 2003-2006 sprung a leak. By 2007, we were painfully aware that market was in deep trouble, and it continued to decline until late 2011. We thought the market of te early to mid 90s was bad, but this was frightening. As of early 2012, we started seeing some improvement.  Not in prices, mind you, but in activity which is always a sign of consumer confidence --- something we haven't seen for years, particularly in the Luxury Market.  The problem, as I see it, … (1 comments)

franklin lakes: Towns in Northwest Bergen County New Jersey - 06/28/12 02:25 AM
Northwest Bergen County is composed of 13 towns: Allendale, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Oakland, Ramsey, Ridgewood, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick and Wyckoff.  New Jersey taxes are generally high compared to other areas of the state, and Bergen County certainly ranks on the high side.  On the other hand, Bergen County is known for its better than average school systems, and that's the top requirement when buyers are searching for a home.  This is the reason Bergen County housing prices haven't plummeted as much as other towns in NJ.
I remember being surprised when I started my career, … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: The Franklin Lakes Housing Market --- What's Selling and What Isn't - 06/23/12 04:04 AM
The market is better.  It's not wonderful, but it's better.  Better than what? Well, better than the last 3 years, that's for sure. Phones are ringing, people are calling for appointments to see homes, homes are selling in fewer than 6 months, and pricing has gotten more realistic at the start of the listing. Lord knows we've had seriously overpriced homes sit on the market for as long as five years (not kidding), but it appears Sellers have gotten the message that prices will go up VERY SLOWLY, over the next 5-15 years.  That's the experts talking, not me.
This shouldn't … (0 comments)

franklin lakes: Brookside Manor Townhouses, Mahwah, NJ -- Rules and Regs - 06/11/12 06:12 AM
I swore I would never move to a townhouse.  When I left my hometown of Asbury Park, NJ to move to Bergen County, I thought I had moved to mars.  First, no ocean.  Who leaves the ocean to move to the sticks?  And, in 1972, Franklin Lakes was the sticks.  Then, after the divorce, I had to make another move.  This time to Wyckoff, NJ --- a lovely town just minutes away from Franklin Lakes, but very different. Franklin Lakes properties were an acre or more, while in Wyckoff you were lucky to get more than .4 acre. I thought I'd … (0 comments)