Relax It's Remax - Fall 2010

Relax it’s

Winter 2010

Resources

In This Issue

Roy ScottThe Team

Plan Ahead: What You do Before You Put Your Home on the Market Makes All the Difference

What The Scott Team can do to Help You Buy the Right Home

Learn about our Great Towns.

For BuyersWhat The Scott Team can do to Help You Buy the Right Home

For SellersPlan Ahead: What You do Before You Put Your Home on the Market Makes All the Difference

Town ProfilesLearn about our Great Towns.

The Scott TeamRoy ScottThe Team

Getting You ThereNew Jersey Transit Makes it Easy

Recent SalesWhy Use the Scott Team?Recent Sales

In This IssueGrand Tudor Manor Gracious Living at it's Finest, Surrounded by Old World Charmand Modern Amenities, set on Perfectly Manicured Grounds.239 South Mountain Ave. Montclair offered at $2,595,000

Charming Center Hall ColonialClassic Features Abound in this Warm Welcoming Home.257 Irving Ave. South Orangeoffered at $699,000

Elegant and Impressive This Stately Colonial is the Jewel of Historic Montrose.39 Stanley Rd. South Orangeoffered at $599,000

Open and Bright This Airy Townhome Delievers on Space and Comfort30 Mullarkey Dr. West Orangeoffered at $399,000

Enchanting Colonial This Captivating Home Boasts Four Floors of Living Space.388 Hall Ct. South Orange, NJoffered at $479,000

Gracious Living at it's Finest, Surrounded by Old World Charmand Modern Amenities, set on Perfectly Manicured Grounds.

This dramatic Tudor Revival manor home sits prominently on almost two acres of lushly landscaped grounds. The property includes a state of the art tennis court, a lovely free-form heated pool with spa, an incredible Koi pond with a relaxing waterfalls that cascades from the top of the hill down to the pond. The perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day.

This magnificent home also features incredible wood details throughout. Coffered ceilings, an elaborate staircase, leaded glass windows, period sconces and lighting, 7 functioning fireplaces with beautifully embellished mantels are just some of the amenities you will be graced with as you view this wonderful residence.residence.

The upgrades have been done with the utmost care and appreciation for the period this home was built. Always considering the enhancement but at the same time taking nothing away from its original stately presence.

The lower level was not only finished to perfection, a conservatory was added that brings the magnificent outside in. This level includes a full gourmet kitchen for summer entertainment made easy. A large dining area surrounded by the glass conservatory, a large great room with marble flooring with fireplace and wet bar, a full cabana bath with direct access to the terrace and pool area, a wine storage and tasting room, an exercise room, laundry room and more storage than you will know what to do with, complete the picture.

The main level of the manor features a wonderful reception entry with grand staircase, an elaborately detailed living room, a billiard room with spiral staircase to the lower level, a quaint parlor, a formal dining room, a library, an incredible gourmet kitchen, with every amenity a chef could imagine, a wonderful eating area and two powder rooms plus a first floor laundry.

The second level features the master suite complete with a wonderful sitting area plus fireplace, as well as a beautiful master bath with Jacuzzi, a large granite vanity with double sinks, a separate shower and pri-vate commode. The rest of the second level is completed with four additional oversized bedrooms, two with fireplaces, plus two more full baths. The main bath was redone in 2008.

The third level has yet more finished living space, whether for guests or nannies quarters is your choice. A large sitting room, a kitchen area, two bedrooms and two full baths, what more could you ask.

• 22 Total rooms• 7 Bedrooms• 6 Full baths & 2 Half-baths• 7 Fireplaces• Master Bedroom Includes Full Bath, Fireplace, Sitting Room & Walk-In Closet & Walk-In Closet• Game Room• In-Ground Outdoor Pool• Tennis Courts• Carriage House• Greenhouse Type Room• Hot Tub• • Underground Lawn Sprinkler• 4 Car Garage• Conservatory• Library• Billiards Room

239 South Mountain Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

THE SCOTT TEAM

Scott Stern

Born and raised in New Jersey, Scott is a true Jersey Boy and proud of it. Licensed in real estate in New Jersey since 1996. Scott is also licensed in Florida since 2009. Graduate of Montclair State University, I have been assisting both Roy and the company as a buyers agent and technology coordinator since RE/MAX Village Square was founded. With technology growing each year in our industry, the majority of technology growing each year in our industry, the majority of leads are coming through internet based marketing, it is my job to keep us in the forefront of technology with the ultimate web presence. So our clients get the maximum exposure. Scott also functions as our international relocation coordinator. With a vast worldwide referral network, we can coordinator. With a vast worldwide referral network, we can assist you with all your relocation needs. Finding you a top notch realtor the area you are relocating to and also assisting you in finding you the best movers both locally and cross country.

Beverly has been with RE/MAX Village Square since 1999 and specializes in the REO and Short Sale market and has recently acquired her CDPE designation. Originally from England, Beverly came to the United States in 1989 to dance with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. She performed with the troupe for four seasons. She has three children, the youngest of which is 18 years-old.

Beverly Marcogliese

THE SCOTT TEAM

Douglas Huebner

Douglas joined RE/MAX Village Square in 2007 and became a member of The Scott Team in August of 2009. Working toward and earning his "green" designation, Douglas is now a certified EcoBroker. As a certified EcoBroker I'm able to point out potential health issues, teach you how to reduce your monthly utility bills, increase your home's comfort level, all while benefiting the envi-ronment at the same time. I'm pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features in our homes. Let's save the environment, save resources & save you money! "I educate myself so that I can educate you. I look at things others neglect. I take the time because it needs to be taken and I go the extra mile because it needs to be traveled. And do this this because I care. Because I know the value of Home.

Classic Features Abound in this Warm Welcoming Home.

This lovely historic gem sits in the heart of the Montrose Park Historic District. Historic yes, but outdated NO...

In 2000 this home had a wonderful face lift which included an addition added on to the back, creating a sitting room off the master and a family room, office, powder room, mud room and expanded kitchen off the first level.

The updated kitchen has a wonderful large breakfast area as wonderful large breakfast area as well as a complete computer center; perfect as a home office. The formal living and dining rooms have numerous wall sconces and wonderful crown moldings. The living room features a wood burning fireplace with custom burning fireplace with custom built-in book cases on each side.

The master bath was also done in 2000. The separate shower and ja-cuzzi as well as a great vanity area make it the perfect addition to an already great master suite with huge dressing area with walls of closets and separate sitting room.

The third floor also has a suite perfect for guests or teens, with its own loft-like sitting room and private bath.

• 11 Rooms 4 Bedrooms 3.1 Baths• 2 Car Detached Garage with Opener• Master Bedroom with Full Bath; Hot Tub & • Shower, and Dressing Room• Gourmet Eat-In Kitchen• 2 Zone Central Air• • 2 Zone Heat• Walk to Town• Two bedroom suites• Two adjoining bedrooms with a Jack & Jill bathroom• Home Office• Fireplace• • Lush Landscape• Custom built-ins throughout• Large level backyard

Listed at $699,000

257 Irving Ave.South Orange, NJ 07079

Floor Plan

For SellersPlan Ahead

What you do Before you put your Home on the Market makes all the Difference...

Consult with The Scott Team before beginning to prepare your home for sale. Many sellers do modifications to their home, thinking it is necessary. The modifications to their home, thinking it is necessary. The reality is money and time is misspent on things that don’t necessarily make a difference in the sale of the home.

The Scott Team can evaluate how you can maximize The Scott Team can evaluate how you can maximize your budget & effort to get the “Biggest Bang for your Buck” and have your home “Market Ready.” The Scott Team will assist in Staging…Landscape Design…And clean out if necessary. Roy Scott the team leader is experienced in staging and landscape design. We offer experienced in staging and landscape design. We offer these services to our clients as part of The Scott Team Advantage.

We have a full range of experienced professionals that we work with directly to make your sale go smoothly…Mortgage Bankers, Title Companies, Contractors, Painters, Electricians, Plumbers, Home Inspectors, Oil Painters, Electricians, Plumbers, Home Inspectors, Oil tank remediators, Asbestos abatement companies and more. We are here to help make this a smooth transition for you as the seller.

Choosing the right REALTOR can make the difference

GET THE SCOTT TEAM ADVANTAGE

54 WOODLAND RD Millburn $1,154,00016 DOMINICK CT Millburn $1,075,000102 HARTSHORN DRIVE Millburn $2,970,000124 MT PROSPECT AVE Belleville $240,00035 Linwood East Orange City $168,000206 TURLINGTON CT Livingston $499,500267 ELMWOOD AVE Maplewood $212,000267 ELMWOOD AVE Maplewood $212,000396 WYOMING AVE Millburn $366,200 61 2ND ST South Orange Village $245,000528 HARTFORD CT South Orange Village $320,000384 WARWICK AVE South Orange Village $580,000387 HILLSIDE PL South Orange Village $650,000411 HILLSIDE PL South Orange Village $740,000315 W END RD South Orange Village $715,000315 W END RD South Orange Village $715,00073 Crest Drive South Orange Village $1,000,00065 WYOMING AVE South Orange Village $1,100,00033 SUNNYSIDE RD West Orange $279,000157 WALKER RD West Orange $300,00030 Mullarkey Drive West Orange $351,000 52 WILDWOOD AVE West Orange $409,00011 CARTER RD West Orange $420,00011 CARTER RD West Orange $420,00017 CARTER RD West Orange $440,000116 SUNRISE DR Hanover $315,00080 Main St Lincoln Park Boro $245,00082 STIRLING RD Warren $675,000120 Lorraine Drive Berkeley Heights $535,000

This Stately Colonial is the Jewel of Historic Montrose.

This stately all brick Colonial with it's impressive green ceramic tile roof is located on a quiet dead end street. An incredible manse in Historic Montrose Park, the home boasts over-sized rooms with towering ceilings and tons of Architectural details. Outstanding custom raised panel wainscoting woodwork and wood trim throughout the house adds a classic texture not found in today's newer homes. Period vaseline glass fixtures and gorgeous wall coverings accent the charm of this historic home. While the vaseline glass fixtures and gorgeous wall coverings accent the charm of this historic home. While the new custom kitchen with commercial stainless steel appliances, solid cherry cabinets, center island and miles of granite counter tops, provides all the latest amenities and is every gourmand's dream. Eat in the breakfast area or at the beautiful center island, you'll soon see why this kitchen is the heart of this beautiful dwelling.

Take one of two staircases, the grand formal front stairway or the back staircase (this was once used by the servants), and you'll find 5 large, beautifully appointed bedrooms. Currently one of the bedrooms is being used as an office. The laundry is conveniently located in this second floor room.

The Mother-in-law apartment in the basement has 2 The Mother-in-law apartment in the basement has 2 bedrooms, a large living room, a full eat-in kitchen and a full bath. A separate outside entrance makes for privacy and ease.

Come and fall in love with this wonderful Historic Home.

• 14 Rooms 7 Bedrooms 3.1 BathsMain House:• 5 Bedrooms 2.1 Baths• Fireplace• Gourmet Eat-In Kitchen Stainless Steel Appliances Viking Stove and Hood Viking Stove and Hood Granite Counter Tops Large Center Island Solid Cherry Cabinets• Custom Woodwork and Wood Trim Throughout• Laundry on Second Floor

Basement Apartment:Basement Apartment:• 2 Bedrooms 1 Full Bath• Large Eat-In Kitchen• Large Living Room/Family Room• Separate Entrance

• 2 Car Detached Garage• Open Porch• • Gorgeous Green Tiled Roof• Huge Lot with Large Backyard• Dead End Street• Jitney to Train

Listed at $599,000

39 Stanley Rd.South Orange, NJ 07079

Floor Plan

Click Here for a Link to NJ Transit Schedules & to buy tickets.

GETTING YOU THERE!

New Jersey Transit Makes it Easy!

"How easy is it to get into the city?", is a question I frequently get from prospective home "How easy is it to get into the city?", is a question I frequently get from prospective home buyers looking move to one the towns here in Essex county. "Really easy", is my reply. See, we are a string of commuter towns; South Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, Short Hills, Summit, Chatham & Madison; that's the order on the train line. Bloomfield and Montclair are on another branch of the train line. The train being New Jersey Transit's Mid-Town Direct and the ride in New York Penn station is about 20 - 40 minutes, depending how far out you live.

NJ Transit offers about 30 weekday trains in each direction to and from New York Penn NJ Transit offers about 30 weekday trains in each direction to and from New York Penn Station on the Morris & Essex Lines, operating an average of four trains per hour each way during the morning and evening peak periods and providing hourly service during off-peak hours and on weekends. This makes it real easy to get to work during the week and a great hassle free way to enjoy the City on a weekend day without the worries of traffic or parking.

Before the Mid-Town Direct, Morris & Essex Line customers traveling to Midtown had no Before the Mid-Town Direct, Morris & Essex Line customers traveling to Midtown had no option but to transfer to PATH trains or trans-Hudson ferries at Hoboken Terminal. Mid-Town Direct service provides either a one-seat ride into Manhattan or a convenient trans-fer at Summit Station or Newark Broad Street Station to continue to Manhattan for resi-dents of Essex, Union, Morris, Somerset and Warren counties. Even with a transfer, Mid-Town Direct service saves customers up to 20 minutes of travel time in each direction.

ABOUT NJ TRANSIT

NJ Transit is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 827,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, 3 light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 55 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

Getting into Manhattan? Really easy, thanks to NJ Transit.

Oh and if you need to commute to the downtown financial district you can take the train to Hobo-ken, and then take the path or ferry. The Hobo-ken train runs on the same line as the Mid-Town Direct and alternates arrival times with it.

NJ Transit today provides approximately 13.5 million annual passenger trips on the Morris & Essex Lines, about 50,000 passenger trips on an average weekday. Approximately 30,000 of those weekday trips are Mid-Town Direct customers.

http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainTo

Buying a HomeBuying a home is probably the biggest investment you will make, with long-term financial ramifications. It calls for many informed decisions and for good advice from a real estate professional. When buying a home, you can learn from the knowledge and skill of a Real Estate Agent.

What can the Scott Team do to help you buy the right home for you?

· They will help you determine how much home you can actually afford. Often, they can sug· They will help you determine how much home you can actually afford. Often, they can sug-gest additional ways to accrue the down payment and explain alternative financing meth-ods. They can also introduce you to a mortgage counselor and arrange to have you "pre-approved" which can improve your negotiating position and enable you to achieve your home-buying objectives faster and with less stress.

· Providing client level services, they can work for you as a buyer's agent and help negotiate the best price and terms for you. Or, they can serve as a seller's sub-agent (or disclosed dual agent), acting as a liaison between you and the seller to present offers and counterof-fers until an agreement is reached.

· They will help you work out a realistic idea of the home best suited to your needs - size, style, features, location, accessibility to schools, transportation, shopping, and other per-sonal preferences.

· They have access to a listing of all available homes in the multi-list system, can evaluate them in terms of your needs and affordability, and will not waste your time showing you unsuitable homes.

· They can often suggest simple, imaginative changes that could make a home more suitable for you and improve its utility and value.

· They can supply information on real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services · They can supply information on real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services and facilities, and may be aware of proposed zoning changes that could affect your decision to buy.

· Although the law does not normally require an attorney to review documents or oversee real estate closings, they can provide you with a list of law practitioners to choose from if you would like to use the services of an attorney.

· They can help familiarize you with the closing process and they will obtain closing figures in advance of closing for your review.

· They can provide you with a list of qualified home inspectors, pest inspectors, surveyors, and help to coordinate inspection appointments.

Top 10 Tips to Successful Home BuyingTip #1: Research Is The Key To DiscoveryHome sellers won't call you with an offer to buy a maintenance-free home with a wonderHome sellers won't call you with an offer to buy a maintenance-free home with a wonder-ful mortgage. You have to find the gems yourself! Only by reading available materials, talking to friends and experts, and spending time looking at different homes, schools, and neighborhoods will you end up with your American dream. Avoid the nightmares by learn-ing how best to buy and maintain a home.

Tip #2: Make A Plan And Get Pre-QualifiedEvery important decision needs to be clearly thought out. Developing a home buying plan can help you focus on the important factors and organize the entire process. You may even want to use a binder with sections on house hunting, home financing, service pro-viders, etc. Loan pre-qualifying helps you determine the home price you can afford and presents you as a genuine prospect to the seller. A lender typically uses the 28% formula (your monthly mortgage can't exceed 28% of your monthly income) in approving your loan. Planning your actions and getting pre-qualified will keep you out of the panic mode and allow you to take advantage of opportunities. A thorough plan will save both time and and allow you to take advantage of opportunities. A thorough plan will save both time and money!

Tip #3: Value, Value, ValueThe days of 10-30% annual appreciation have passed. Homebuyers in the 1970's ben-efited tremendously from what seemed like ever appreciating home prices. Nowadays, you're looking at slow growth while guarding against the possibilities of falling prices, skyrocketing ARM rates and corporate layoffs that can dramatically affect your home values. The classic rule of buying the worst house in the best neighborhood still applies. If you buy with an eye towards improvement, you can customize the home to fit your needs. The saying, "make money buying a home, not selling one," should keep you focused on the long-term importance of the purchasing price.focused on the long-term importance of the purchasing price.

Tip #4: Create A Top 10 List Of AmenitiesWhen shopping for a home, list the features (fireplace, fenced-in yard, new appliances, etc.) that are most important to you in deciding on which home to buy. Establishing "your criteria" early on will save time shopping for inappropriate homes and may keep you

from buying a home on a whim. As detailed in Tip #3, your top reason for buying a home should be the value you are getting. Some of your top 10 amenities should logi-cally be sacrificed if an incredible value is available.

Tip #5: Fixed vs. Adjustable Rate MortgagesAdjustable rate mortgages have an initial fixed rate, which is followed by a period of adjustment intervals during which the rate adjusts based on the performance of sev-eral key indexes. Typically the initial fixed rate on an ARM is slighly lower than the comparable rate of a fixed rate mortgage.Fixed rate mortgages allowe buyers to take out a long term loan without having to worry about changing interest rates or monthly payments. Most fixed rate loans are offered in either 15 or 30 year terms.Most buyers will be well served by a fixed rate loan, but each situation is unique. While ARM loans have become less popular in recent years, they can still be a viable option for some buyers - especially those who plan on selling again in the short term. Whichever loan you choose; make sure that you scrutinize all the closing costs. If you Whichever loan you choose; make sure that you scrutinize all the closing costs. If you are required to have a mortgage escrow account and private mortgage insurance, make sure you understand the terms and cancellation procedures (your Real Estate Agent has publications to assist you). Also, make sure there are no prepayment penal-ties so that you can utilize an accelerated mortgage plan. A good mortgage reduction plan can save you tens of thousands in interest costs, and shorten your loan term, with only small extra principal payments. If you experience negative changes in your job, health, or marital status, you can revert to the standard payments in your mortgage health, or marital status, you can revert to the standard payments in your mortgage contract.

Tip #6: Sign A Contract That Protects YouMake sure that the contract you put on a house allows you to arrange financing, inspect the home and negotiate any problems that you uncover. Ensuring that the con-tract you sign will minimize potential legal battles will let you swim in your new pool with your family and neighbors instead of with the sharks.

Tip #7: Put Yourself In The Seller's ShoesYou are about to make one of the most important decisions that will affect both your You are about to make one of the most important decisions that will affect both your life and the life of the seller. If you take time to understand the reasons the seller bought the home, their reasons for selling, and the home improvements they have or have not made, you'll be in a better position to evaluate the home and negotiate a better deal. In the end, the home buying process excludes the professionals and comes down to the individuals buying and selling the home. A closer look at the seller may help you in deciding whether and for how much to buy a particular home.

Tip #8: Develop A Mortgage Shopping ChartOne of the biggest decisions to make before putting a contract on a home is how to One of the biggest decisions to make before putting a contract on a home is how to finance the purchase. There are 10,000 lenders competing for your mortgage busi-ness. The days of simply walking into the community bank and negotiating with the loan department manager are over. Today, you can apply for a loan over the Internet or even use a mortgage broker to shop for your loan with hundreds of lenders. When choosing a lender, you want to avoid apples to oranges contrasts by comparing fixed rates to fixed rates, not fixed to ARM's. Create a chart that lists different types of loans, fees, and at least five mortgage providers (including a mortgage broker).loans, fees, and at least five mortgage providers (including a mortgage broker).

Tip #9: Get A Quality Home InspectionAlthough it is hard to believe, more people pay for inspections before buying used cars than when making the biggest investment of their lives - their homes. Paying for a qualified home inspection before you buy a home isn't just spending "a little extra" for peace of mind; it's absolutely essential for anyone who doesn't want to spend thou-sands of dollars for repairs.

Tip#10: Peace Of Mind: Home Protection PlansTo protect both you as a buyer, as well as the seller, it is a good idea to purchase a To protect both you as a buyer, as well as the seller, it is a good idea to purchase a home protection plan. What exactly is it? A home warranty, or home protection plan, is a service contract, normally for one year, which protects homeowners against the cost of unexpected repairs or replacement of their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. A negotiable contract between the buyers and sellers which does not overlap or replace homeowner's insurance policy, this type of warranty can save the new homeowner lots of headaches, as well as put seller's fears to rest. The warranty covers mechanical breakdowns, while insurance typically fears to rest. The warranty covers mechanical breakdowns, while insurance typically repairs the related damage. For example: if a hot water heater burst and destroyed a wall in your home, the warranty would repair the water heater and your insurance would

This Airy Townhome Delivers on Space and Comfort

Spacious and bright, this beautiful Aspen unit is ready for you to move right in. Gorgeously decorated in neutral colors throughout makes this a peaceful and serene home.

The skylight in the living room's vaulted ceiling floods the room with natural light, while the height of the ceiling brings a spaciousness not found in many Town-homes. The wood burning fireplace adds comfort and warmth.

The back deck off the living room, is perfect for outdoor cooking and dining. The basement has huge, high ceiling that's ready to be finished.

This unit has three large bedrooms. The Master Bedroom has a bath with a soaking tub and separate shower, his and her walk-in closets and a dressing area/vanity.

• 9 Rooms • 3 Bedrooms • 2.1 Baths• Master Bath with Soaking Tub & Stall • Shower• Back Deck• • Fireplace• Central Air• Built-in Garage with Door Opener• Club House Exercise Room Outdoor Pool Tennis Courts

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Listed at $399,000

30 Mullarkey Dr. West Orange, NJ 07052

This Captivating Home Boasts Four Floors of Living Space.

This according to the Montrose Park Historic District Association, a large, well established organization who's mission is "to promote, preserve and beautify the Montrose Park Historic District, maintain its integrity and enhance the quality of life for its residents."

"Montrose in May" is an annual event that showcases these Historic homes. "Montrose in May" is an annual event that showcases these Historic homes. The houses are open to the public and tours and talks are given. Anyone who loves houses should put this on their calendar as a "can't miss" event.

Here are some links to explore:

http://www.southorange.org/http://www.montroseparksonj.org/

As storied a history as South Orange has, it's also a thriving modern commuAs storied a history as South Orange has, it's also a thriving modern commu-nity. Rich in Culture, there's SOPAC, the South Orange Performing Arts Center, where you can see a show, such as Carrie Fisher in her smash Broadway hit, "Wishful Drinking" or "Menopause The Musical". Watch a con-cert, such as Marc Broussard or Loudon Wainwright III, or go to a movie at the Clearview Cinemas South Orange 5 plex.

South Orange also boasts many great Restaurants and Shops. I'm proud to say that 5 of our retailers were named "Best of New Jersey" by New Jersey Monthly Magazine. Not bad for a small town in such a big state! We also had many "Runner-Up" winners. You can check out the list here:

http://www.mainstreetsouthorange.org/NJMonthlyMagazines2010BestofNJSouthOrangeNJwinners.htm

So when you're considering where to buy a home, please give South Orange So when you're considering where to buy a home, please give South Orange a look. It's a fantastic place to live. I should know, my family and I are resi-dents!

Don’t forget to Bookmark us!

Please come back here often as the homes featured here will constantly be changing, as will our informative feature articles.

http://www.southorange.org

http://www.montroseparksonj.org

http://www.mainstreetsouthorange.org/NJMonthlyMagazines2010BestofNJSouthOrangeNJwinners.htm

Town ProfilesSouth Orange

South Orange, which spills down the steep side of South Mountain, once advertised itself as the "Switzerland of America". It experienced a growth spurt in advertised itself as the "Switzerland of America". It experienced a growth spurt in the 19th century that changed much of its open farmland into broad streets lined with large homes. Today South Orange is a vibrant commuter town 15 miles west of New York City. Within it 2.8 square miles, you will find 1,500 glowing gas street lamps, a shopping district with a variety of fine boutiques, service businesses and several restaurants. Five local retailers were named "Best of New businesses and several restaurants. Five local retailers were named "Best of New Jersey" by New Jersey Monthly Magazine. Not bad for a small town in such a big state!

As storied a history as South Orange has, it's also a thriving modern community. Rich in Culture, there's SOPAC, the South Orange Performing Arts Center, where you can see a show, such as Carrie Fisher in her smash Broadway hit, "Wishful Drinking" or "Menopause The Musical". Watch a concert, such as Marc Broussard or Loudon Wainwright III, or go to a movie at the Clearview Cinemas Broussard or Loudon Wainwright III, or go to a movie at the Clearview Cinemas South Orange 5 plex.

South Orange shares a school system with neighboring Maplewood. There are six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Columbia High School offers advanced placement, college prep and vocational courses, as well as courses in filmmaking and journalism.

In the northeast section of South Orange lies the Historic Montrose Park section of In the northeast section of South Orange lies the Historic Montrose Park section of town. Many of the homes in this neighborhood were Summer retreats for New York City's wealthy residents looking to escape the heat of the season. "The neighbor-hood is characterized by elegant, large-scale homes, dating from the last quarter of the nineteenth century through the 1930s. These architecturally imposing houses are set on large, landscaped lots, outlined by bluestone sidewalks and curbs, framed by mature trees and shrubbery, and lit by Victorian gaslight." This according to the Montrose Park Historic District Association, a large, well established organization who's mission is "to promote, preserve and beautify the Montrose Park Historic District, maintain its integrity and enhance the quality of life for its residents."

"Montrose in May" is an annual event that showcases these Historic homes. The "Montrose in May" is an annual event that showcases these Historic homes. The houses are open to the public and tours and talks are given. Anyone who loves houses should put this on their calendar as a "can't miss" event.

South Orange is also home to Seton Hall University. The 154 year-old college sits on a 58 acre park-like campus. It's students and faculty lend a an air of academia to the town. Village residents may use the Campus library and may participate in events offer by "The Hall".

Sixty-two acres of parkland, two thirds consisting of Meadowland Park and Sixty-two acres of parkland, two thirds consisting of Meadowland Park and adjacent Cameron Fields, provide five baseball diamonds, fifteen lighted tennis courts, a soccer field, duck pond, playgrounds, a great hill to go sled-ding on and a grand outdoor pool complex. The Baird Community Center offers year round activities from sports to arts and crafts and runs a kids summer camp for South Orange residents.

The Village borders South Mountain Reservation on the west, a 2,000 plus acre park of trees, hiking trails, jogging paths, horseback riding, cross country skiing and numerous picnic areas.

South Orange offers spectacular views of the New York City skyline. It's South Orange offers spectacular views of the New York City skyline. It's within a few miles of Route 280, the Garden State Parkway and Route 78. Newark Airport is a 20 minute drive away and New Jersey's Mid-town Direct train can put you into NY Penn Station in 30 minutes. Need to go downtown NYC, take the train to Hoboken and transfer to the Path. South Orange is con-veniently locate to where ever you need to go.

Montclair

A quaint community on a large scale, Montclair is just 12 miles west of Man-hattan and is 6.2 square miles. Montclair is proud of its unique heritage, its incredible creative energy and many cultural programs. Its landscape is sprinkled with shopping areas, therefore, residents don't have to go far to pick up milk, a newspaper, visit an interesting shop or make a bank deposit. Local restaurants range from a spot where you can enjoy a cup of espresso to gour-met establishments serving everything from soup to sushi.

Montclair has a diverse architectural landscape, about two-thirds of which are Colonial homes; Victorians, Tudors and Ranches account for a large portion of the balance. Few townhouse condos exist, but there are many garden apart-ment conversions and numerous mid-rise condo complexes. A modest number of multi-family homes can be found, but virtually no vacant land re-mains and there is little new construction as a result.

Montclair is a checkerboard of tree-lined streets, however, those wanting to get a little closer to nature can visit no less than ten public parks offering ev-erything from jogging to summer opera under the stars. There are also three public swimming pools, an indoor ice-skating rink as well as twenty-one public tennis courts.

The Mid-Town Direct, New Jersey Transit's train service, gets you into Penn Station in 40-48 minutes leaving from any of the 7 conveniently located train stations. Montclair is just a mile from either Route 3 to the north or the Garden State Parkway to the east. These major highways provide access by car to the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln or Holland Tunnels and Newark Airport. For those commuting by bus, Montclair has a large number of homes within a short distance of buses traveling to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. The commute time is 45 minutes.Manhattan. The commute time is 45 minutes.

Millburn - Short Hills

On June 23, 1780, the entire Watchung Mountain countryside rallied to defeat the British at the Battle of Springfield. This was the first full-scale engagement of the Revolutionary War since the 1776 Battle of Bunker Hill that was decided because local militia fully supported the regular army.

After the Revolutionary War, Samuel Campbell came from Scotland via New York City and settled in the part of Springfield that is now Millburn. He built the first paper mill in Millburn along the Rahway River in what is now the South Mountain Reservation. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Stewart Harts-horn bought 1,550 acres of township land north of the railroad tracks and started an "ideal community", where one could "take advantage of the natural beauty of the rolling territory for the construction of picturesque houses along meandering roads." To that end, he developed the elegant community of meandering roads." To that end, he developed the elegant community of Short Hills. One leisurely tour of Millburn Township should convince you that Hartshorn's dream is still very much alive.

The First Watchung Mountain, the southern extremity of the three-mountain Watchung chain, overlooks Millburn Township. It rises to a height of 550 feet above sea level. Below it stretches to the level land on which Millburn's busi-ness district and the adjacent Millburn Center residential area are built. Most of the township homes however, are built on hills, some on the eastern slope of the Watchungs, many more on a second, lesser ridge and scattered rises to the west.

About half of Essex County's 2,000-acre South Mountain Reservation, lies within Millburn Township. Other open space consists of three municipal parks, including 70-acre Gero Park with a pool, football fields, tennis courts and a golf course, and an arboretum. The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary is located on Forest Drive in Short Hills and was created from unde-veloped woodlands by its former owners, the Hartshorns. Within its 16 acres are some 75 varieties of birds, 275 varieties of wild flowers and 55 varieties of trees.trees.

Millburn Township, located in the southwest corner of Essex County, covers an area of 6,450 acres, about 10 square miles. It is 21 miles west of New York City and has two major parts. On the east and south is Millburn with its subur-ban residential sections as well as Millburn Center. To the north and west is Short Hills, a patch-work of real estate with subdivisions, and The Mall at Short Hills at its western edge.

There are eleven principal residential sections in the township. Their names stem from a time when no street signs or house numbers were used and these names continue to be used today in an effort to maintain the earlier, rural character of the area. There's Wyoming, South Mountain and Millburn located in Millburn. Knollwood, Glenwood, Old Short Hills, Poet's Section, White Oak Ridge and Deerfield located in Short Hills.

Millburn offers easy access to such major Highways as Route 24, Interstates Millburn offers easy access to such major Highways as Route 24, Interstates 78 and 280, and the Garden State Parkway. New Jersey Transit's Mid-Town Direct train to Penn Station NY stops at both the Short Hills and Millburn train stations. The ride into Manhattan is about 40 minutes.

Maplewood

Maplewood has tall trees and winding roads, green lawns, shops and stately Maplewood has tall trees and winding roads, green lawns, shops and stately old homes set against South Mountain. Much of the Essex County commu-nity's country-like image comes from the mountain. Maplewood is an ideal blend of city and suburb. Although Route 78, the Garden State Parkway, and Route 280 are nearby, no major roads cut through Maplewood, keeping traffic and noise to a minimum. New Jersey Transit's Mid-Town Train gets commut-ers into New York Penn Station in 35 minutes, with the train station conveniently located in the heart of downtown.

People may be attracted to this community initially by the scenery; four square miles cradled at the foot of the mountain, but its cozy atmosphere is why they stay. People here have an old-fashioned kind of respect for their community.

Dutch and English farmers settled the land in 1600's to till the land. The Dutch and English farmers settled the land in 1600's to till the land. The Morris and Essex Railroad rolled through the area first known as Jefferson Village in 1838, spurring its shift from farmland to suburbs. The greatest period of growth occurred in 1920's and by 1927 Maplewood, then apart of South Orange, became an independent township.

Young families have discovered the community. Many of them come for the Young families have discovered the community. Many of them come for the sturdy single-family homes, a collection of Tudors, Victorians and Colonials that stand as individuals. Familiars are also drawn to Maplewood for the qual-ity of education. The community is served by the South Orange-Maplewood School District, with six elementary schools. two middle schools, one high school and a reputation for academic excellence.

Relax It's Remax - Fall 2010

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