Here goes my first post-I Live in FREEHOLD

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Keller Williams West Monmouth

Freehold New Jersey that is.

 

I haven't always been here. I was born in New York, Rochester to be exact. Being small, I do not remember much, but most of the pictures have snow, lots of snow.

 

I guess my parents got sick of the snow. They picked us up and we invaded my grandparent's house in Queens, (so happy they must have been with 5 small children).

I rocked on the concrete playground of PS197 (public school) where I walked uphill both ways, 2 miles, in the rain.  No really, my mom forgot to pick us up during a storm, so the school told us to walk home-gotta love the "70's.

 

Soon after, they realized how affordable Long Island was, so off we went.  Wow, a 5 bedroom on a cul-de-sac, for $50,000-what a deal. (If you don't count the 18% mortgage rate) after 2 years, my Dad was a bit sick of the commute to Jersey, so they decided to move to "Jersey".  The house went up for sale, where it stayed for 5 more years.  But wait, an offer of $60,000 big ones finally came in, just in the nick of time, before the house was actually worth something.  My Mom said it sold for $250,000 shortly thereafter and then it went up, way, way up.

 

Oh well, at least we were in Jersey!  As far  as Route 18 would take us--------Morganville (a part of Marlboro). Or, otherwise know as the Boonies. I am talking cows.  OK, it wasn't that bad, even though there were cows, horses, hay, farms and allergies. But what a deal!  This is the part where I lament than I could not buy my current home at that time. Oh well, back to the story.

 

I graduated Marlboro High school and partly because I had no desire to continue school and partly because I really wasn't all that fond of my father, I joined the NAVY ( Ironically Where I promptly attended 2 years of school) it was there I met my future husband. So at 21 and 23 years of age I turned to him and said,"lets get a house". He in all of his 23 year old wisdom said "sure".

 

We found an agent and then a house. Then the agent said, "If you were married, the military would give you $400 extra each month in our paycheck".  He then follows with a "and by the way, I was a captain of a ship so I can marry you along with the  closing paperwork on the home."  One day in November of 1987 we became married homeowners in San Diego California.

 

I then became pregnant with our first child and when at 8 ½ months along, I completed my Navy discharge paper.  We were off to Jerseyto live with my parents.  With my man's $12.00 an hour wage and my waitress money, we set off to find a home------------------------------------hahahaha!

 

The trip to Florida was great, we could buy a home and the living is easy.  Again---HAHAHAHA-------> not the greatest pay scale their either  ( ah to be young)

 

So long story not so short, after 7 years and 4 kids we packed our bags and headed north to be closer to family[ most of who promptly left] and settled in to the biggest fixer upper we could fudge numbers to get into and oh yeah, one more child (whole other story)

                                                       Our House Restaurant in Farmingdale NJ

We have been fixing up our home for 12 years now and couldn't be happier. 

 

We live in Freehold.

Comments (20)

Mike Russell
Mike Russell Real Estate Group - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Kansas Real Estate
I grew up in Brick/Pt. Pleasant. Freehold is all good, you have a Wegmans and a PF Changs what else could you want? Welcome to AR.
Feb 12, 2008 01:45 PM
Ken Cook
Content, coding, marketing, host. - Marietta, GA
Content Marketer/Creator
Beautiful family - welcome to Active Rain ya'll!
Feb 12, 2008 01:46 PM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re
Nice story Welcome to Active Rain
Feb 12, 2008 01:57 PM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People
Now that's an introduction!  I had to do a double-take on your last name:  Stimpson (mine is Simpson) - welcome to the Rain!
Feb 12, 2008 02:22 PM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate
Hi Jamie, Welcome to Active Rain.  You're going to love it here.  So much to read and learn from.  You might want to start by reading the posts listed and linked on the sidebar of the AR Newbies Group.  They will help you learn your way around our Active Rain Community.  If you have any questions about Active Rain or blogging on Active Rain, just post them in the AR Newbies Group and someone will stop by to help you.  Good Luck!
Feb 12, 2008 02:47 PM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains

Welcome to the Rain!  Very interesting post and good looing family.  Hope to see more of your posts.

Feb 12, 2008 03:28 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)
Jamie - Welcome to Active Rain.  I really enjoyed your post.  I run the Family Ties group, and I am going to feature this post there.  Take care and I also look forward to more of your posts.
Feb 12, 2008 03:35 PM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI
Jamie, this is an awesome first post!   Welcome to ActiveRain.  I look forward to reading more from you :-)
Feb 12, 2008 09:35 PM
Kelly Shoemaker
Coldwell Banker SELECT - Broken Arrow, OK
Realtor Broken Arrow, OK
Hi Jamie - I think my sister use to live around there!  WElcome to AR!
Feb 12, 2008 10:57 PM
Hugh Krone
Weichert Referral Associates - Hamburg, NJ
Realtor, Sussex County NJ
Welcome Jamie I live in Sussex county for the last 23 years. Grew up in Bergn County mostly , lived in Ocean County for awhile, Well traved throughout New Jersey.LOL
Feb 12, 2008 11:00 PM
Leesa Finley
RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC
RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate
Glad you are hear, Jamie!  Great post and you will absolutely love it here! 
Feb 12, 2008 11:03 PM
Bill Somerset
Re/Max Realty Group - Dover, NH
ABR, e-PRO - Realtor - NH Real Estate Agent
Great introduction Jamie.  Welcome to Active Rain. 
Feb 13, 2008 12:35 AM
Matthew Zgonc
Aksland Real Estate - Modesto, CA
Realtor, CFS, CVS
Welcome to Active Rain. Great Introduction.  I look forward to networking with you.  The people are great and I think you will love it here.
Feb 13, 2008 01:20 AM
Marvin Thomas
Allegiance Mortgage Corparation - Fayetteville, NC

Jamie, welcome to the AR family.  Great Post.  Great family photo.  I hope that you enjoy yourself on the site.

Feb 13, 2008 03:59 AM
Gary J. Rocks
Juba Team Realty - Jefferson Township, NJ

Jamie

Loved reading all about you, Welcome to the rain! did you know that Bruce Springsteen also grew up in Freehold? Have you ever Met the Schwartz family they use to live in Freehold but now live in Colts Neck, they are a very famous family in your part of the world. Mrs. Schwartz is Famous for her Pasta Faggilo Soup and Mr. Schwartz is famous for the WHEEL CHAIR!!

Feb 13, 2008 05:56 AM
Vanessa Stalets
RE/MAX Elite - Brentwood, TN
REALTOR, Brentwood TN Homes, Real Estate
Jamie- Welocme to the Rain! It is a vibrant growing and ever changing place full of great laughs, great people and great advice! Soak it all up and put it back out. You will fit in just fine! :.)
Feb 13, 2008 10:10 AM
Jamie Stimpson
Keller Williams West Monmouth - Freehold, NJ

I appreciate all the positive feedback, including getting featured ( I really did not see that coming)Thanks Jason.I have not heard of the Schwartz family, but you got my interest, may have to check that out.

Bruce Spring-who?

Feb 13, 2008 11:21 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate
Jamie - Welcome to Active Rain. You are going to love it here! Let me know if I can be of assistance with anything :)
Feb 15, 2008 08:20 AM
Gayle Balaban
The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E - Chattanooga, TN
E. TN Waterfront Real Estate
Hi Let me just say hello.  I was raised in Tinton Falls and lived in Freehold for a while. 
Feb 29, 2008 02:15 PM
Jamie Stimpson
Keller Williams West Monmouth - Freehold, NJ

Bill, I am already addicted.

Thanks Andrew,It's such a beautiful park.

Gayle-how did you end up in Tennessee?

Mar 01, 2008 03:31 AM