Marron Gildea & Donohue Names Kathy Lops Associate of the Month “This is the second time Kathy has won the Associate of the Month award and she has been with us less than a year,” said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm. “Kathy’s success does not surprise me one bit.  She works hard, she is always upbeat and she has a thorough knowledge of the local real estate market.” A native New Englander, Kathy attended Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.  Upon graduation, she pursued a career in sales and marketing at leading financial institutions across the globe, from Boston and New York to Sydney, Australia. Kathy frequently draws on skills learned in the corporate world in her work as an effective real estate professional. Kathy and her husband have lived in Ridgewood for nearly ... 05/25/2009

Top Agent Joins Marron Gildea & Donohue in Ridgewood Priscilla Reynolds joined Marron Gildea & Donohue's rapidly expanding Ridgewood office, a company spokesperson announced today.   "I am thrilled that Priscilla decided to join our Ridgewood office," said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm.  "Priscilla brings a lot to the table.  She has a wealth of real estate experience, a strong work ethic and she is really plugged in to the Ridgewood community." It was only a few years ago that Reynolds was a top producing local real estate agent.  While at the top of her game, she consciously decided to scale back her business so she could focus on other endeavors.  Reynolds has now re-focused on real estate and is back and better than ever.  She says she is ready to help her clients... 05/03/2009

Ridgewood Sports Bar Wins "Best in Bergen" Award...Again 201 Magazine recently named Ridgewood's Office Beer Bar and Grill as a repeat winner int he "Best Sports Bar" category.  The magazine cites the lively bar scene, large number of wide-screen TVs, sports enthusiasm and "good-eats" as the main reason for the award - and I have to agree. The Office is a very versatile place.  There are not many sports bars that work equally well as a happy hour spot and a family restaurant - but The Office pulls it off.  My colleagues and I sometimes hit the office for happy hour and I have caught my share of games there but I feel equally comfortable bringing the family to The Office for a nice, casual lunch on weekends.  The Office is like a good utility player - it can fill many roles. Next time y... 04/10/2009

"There May Never Be A Better Time to Buy a Ridgewood Home" Since I sell homes for a living you might expect me to say something like this... but if you examine the facts you may find that you agree with me - as much as it may pain you to agree with a REALTOR. 1. If you are a First Time Home Buyer you will get an $8,000 credit toward the purchase of your new home.  See video below for all the details.   2. Interest rates are VERY low. You my not see rates this low again for a very long time - if ever.  Click here to view the latest rates. 3.  Affordability is high.According to Buffini & Company "The housing affordability index, which measures the ability of an average household to afford a home, has registered favorable numbers for the past several months. This is especially encouraging... 04/10/2009

Ridgewood Country Club Tops Bergen County's Golf Course List Ridgewood Country Club is 201 Magazines 2009 choice for Bergen County's most scenic golf course.  The course has been host to numerous PGA and Senior Tour events including last summer's Barclays Tournament. Ridgewood Country Club members say it has "a combination of scenic beauty and history that no other golf course can match."   I am not a member of the club, but several of my colleagues are members, and they all seem to agree with 201 Magazine's assessment of the course. For more information see below. Ridgewood Country Club General Info Ridgewood Country Club - Photo Gallery Related Stories Ridgewood NJ's #1 Website Ridgewood's Country Pancake House Serves the Best Breakfast in Bergen County Brooklyn's Brick Oven Pizzeria... 03/09/2009

The Median Sales Price of Ridgewood NJ Homes Edged Up 1.8% in 2008 - Despite A Very Difficult Year in Real Estate According to the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, the Median Sales Price in Ridgewood NJ rose from $675,500 in 2007 to $687,500 in 2008.  Clearly a modest increase - but an increase nonetheless.  Median Sales Price is just one way to measure the health of the local real estate market.   The Average Sales Price in Ridgewood actually fell by 2.2% from $827,225 to $809,397.  Regardless of which methodology you favor, I think you can safely say that prices in Ridgewood are relatively stable. Especially when compared to other NJ municipalities and/or other areas of the U.S. Related Ridgewood Real Estate Articles: Ridgewood Home Values Rise in 3rd Quarter 2008 Ridgewood Home ... 03/09/2009

Plan Approved Today Could Provide Bergen County Commuters with Direct "One Seat" Access to Manhattan Via Train This is great news for Bergen County's Economy and great news for the local real estate market.   Governor Corzine expects this project to create 6,000 local jobs.  Additionally, direct "one seat" train access to Manhattan will make Bergen County an even more attractive place to live.  This move will enable Bergen County to better compete with Union and Morris Counties which already have the Midtown Direct Line which provides "one seat" access to New York City. Click below to read the article from today's Record http://www.northjersey.com/news/transportation/Rail_tunnel_to_Manhattan_gets_final_OK.html Related Articles Ridgewood Makes List of Top 10 NJ Housing Markets - Train S... 01/29/2009

Debra DeSena joined Marron Gildea & Donohue's rapidly expanding Ridgewood office, a company spokesperson announced today.  "We are thrilled to have Debra as the newest member of our Ridgewood Team", said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm.  "She has been delivering great results for clients here in Ridgewood for many years and we know she will continue to grow at Marron Gildea & Donohue.  Debra is a hard-working agent with excellent interpersonal and analytical skills.  She is the prototype for an agent that will succeed in any market. " Debra is a Bergen County native, and currently lives in Ridgewood with her husband and two children, who both attend Somerville Elementary School.  Prior to entering the real estate business, Debra worked for a prestigious Manhattan Law F... 01/29/2009

Moving Back to the United States After a Few Years Abroad or Relocating to a Foreign Country?   There are plenty of guides that focus on less complicated local moves.  Here are a couple good ones: Alpha Moving and Front Door's Moving Guide. However, there is surprisingly little information available regarding international moves. 5 Tips for International Relocation 1. Start Early. International moves can be complicated and obtaining visas, work permits, drivers licenses, etc. can take time.  Also, every country has different rules regarding the exporting of goods.  If you know what documents are required, and complete them correctly, you may be able to earn an exemption and save on taxes.   Typical International Relocation Documents - Sample PDF's 2. Choose your own Realtor.Research th... 01/11/2009

The Village of Ridgewood Community Pass Website Ranks #1 on the Ridgewood Front Porch List of Top Ridgewood Websites The Community Pass Website allows Ridgewood Residents to perform all sorts of useful tasks.  My family uses it several times per month.  We order our boys' Ridgewood School Lunch via the community pass site, we use it to sign up for Ridgewood sports and activities and we use it to manage our Graydon Pool membership.  This invaluable site saves Ridgewood Residents countless hours and I am sure it saves tons of trees in the process.  I can't begin to count how many forms have been elminated by this site and how much time is saved in not having to fill out forms by hand, then write a check and then address, stamp and mail the form and check in an envelope. Below is a partial... 01/10/2009

Now that I have your attention... Carpe Diem; 2009 will belong to people who seize the day and the year. 2009 will prove to be a difficult year for The United States and for its people. There is plenty of bad news to bathe yourself in if you are looking for it. The economy is terrible, people are losing their jobs, foreclosures are at new heights. Fear is gripping our country. What will it take for us to return to normalcy? When will the public sentiment turn towards optimism? FDR said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” in the same inauguration speech in 1933 he said, “Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.” Let’s dissect this with an eye on the Real Estate market. Real Estate is still the best investment. Everybody has to live somewhere. They aren’... 12/22/2008

The Country Pancake House in Ridgewood Awarded "Best Breakfast" Honors by Bergen Health & Life Magazine This award should be no big surprise to Ridgewood Residents or to anyone who has had the privilege of eating at this beloved Downtown Ridgewood Establishment.   The Country Pancake house features over 100 different types of pancakes along with every other conceivable breakfast fare you could think of - from Belgian Waffles made with Coconut and Wheat Germ to delicious Frittatas stuffed with Artichokes, Shrimp and Jack Cheese. If you plan to eat here on a weekend morning be prepared to wait a bit but the huge selection, large portions and and fresh ingredients make it well worth the wait. Ridgewood's Country Pancake House also won the award for Best Pancakes.  Go figure. To view the fu... 12/21/2008

Ridgewood Schools December Advocacy Notes This report is furnished courtesy of Ridgewood Board of Education Member Sheila Brogan. The Legislature The Assembly passed legislation, A3002, which would require Ridgewood schools to have monthly security drills. The bill now goes to the Senate. If it becomes law the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness would be charged with developing curriculum for schools to use when conducting these security drills. The Senate Education Committee released bill, S 1861 on 12-8-08. This bill if enacted would move the Ridgewood School Board elections to the November General Election. It would also eliminate the budget vote on school budgets at or below cap. Only second questions would need to have a vote. However, voting on second questions would be i... 12/21/2008

JENNIFER CASPER JOINS MARRON GILDEA & DONOHUE  Jennifer Casper joined Marron Gildea & Donohue's rapidly expanding Ridgewood office, a company spokesperson announced today.  "I am thrilled that Jennifer decided to join our Ridgewood office," said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm.  "Jennifer is a successful, tech-savvy agent and she really understands the needs of today's buyers and sellers.  She is an excellent match for the environment and culture here at Marron Gildea & Donohue." Casper graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Marketing.  She quickly rose up the ranks in the fashion industry and eventually worked as a Vice President for several well known brands including Tommy Hilfiger and JLo by Jennifer Lopez.  It was during her highly successful 12-year... 12/14/2008

47 (and counting) Portly Realtors are Each Putting up 50 Bucks to See Who is the Biggest Loser…and Help Out Their Favorite Charity I entered a similar contest last year that was associated with Ridgewood Dad’s Night and had mixed results.  In other words, I was a big loser but not the kind of big loser I wanted to be.  This contest has a charity component so I am banking on this aspect to give me some extra motivation.  The winner’s charity will receive the contest pot which currently stands at $2350. I am playing for the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at Beth Israel Medical Center.  Epilepsy is a disease that gets very little publicity and also, unfortunately, very little funding.  Below is a quote taken from noted epilepsy activist and Hollywood director Jim Abraham’s testimony before Cong... 12/09/2008

Kate YoonHee Son was named Associate of the Month for the Ridgewood office.   "Kate is an excellent agent and she proved it again with another great month," said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm. "Kate works very hard for her clients, she has an incredible attention to detail and she is extremely personable.  She quickly turns clients into raving fans."                           Son lives in Paramus with her husband and two children.  She has degrees from both New York University and Columbia University and enjoyed a successful teaching career before entering the world of real estate several years ago.   Son is fluent in English, Korean and Spanish and attributes her quick rise up the real estate ranks to her willingness to go the extra mile for her clients.  "I always p... 12/08/2008

Homes in Train Towns, like Ridgewood and Glen Rock, sell more quickly and hold their value better than homes in "train-less" towns. According to today's Sunday Record, "Homes in towns with rail stations at their heart or nearby fare much better than those in any other market."  The paper goes on to cite a study by noted NJ Real Estate Expert Jeffery Otteau which found that nine of the top 10 NJ housing markets either have a train station or are less than one mile away from a rail stop. In Bergen County, Midland Park and Ridgewood made the list. The Record Article backs up what the Ridgewood Front Porch has been saying about Ridgewood Real Estate all along. The Ridgewood Real Estate market has held up very well during these uncertain times.   Median Home Prices in Ridgewood have actually... 12/04/2008

Parking your car in Ridgewood New Jersey for your New York City Commute or your Downtown shopping trip is pretty simple - if you know the rules. Parking at the Ridgewood Train Station The first order of business, if you want to park at the Ridgewood Train Station, is to go to the Ridgewood Village Hall and obtain a parking permit.  You need to be a Ridgewood Resident to obtain a permit and you need to bring your drivers license showing a Ridgewood Address or a copy of a deed or lease for a Ridgewood Home. The good news is that the parking permits are free.  The not so good news is that having a permit does not guarantee you a parking spot at the Ridgewood Train Station. The parking permit simply gives Ridgewood Commuters the right to park at the metered spots at the train station.   The... 11/30/2008

Ridgewood Schools Recognize that Cyberbullying is an Epidemic that Needs to be Addressed See the video below about the cyberbullying related suicide of Megan Meir.  It will help you understand how truly serious this issue is.  In fact, during the program Ridgewood Parents will be asked to take the Megan Pledge. This event will take place at Ridgewood High School Campus on December 11th at 7pm. The program will be sponsored by Ridgewood's George Washington Middle School. What is Cyberbullying and why should Ridgewood Residents Care? Cyber-Bullying is defined as situation where a student uses information and communication technologies such as email, cell phone and pager text messaging, instant messaging, defamatory personal Web sites and defamatory online personal polling Web sites to har... 11/25/2008

Nancy Slott and Pam Christian were named Realtors of the Month for the Ridgewood office, a Marron Gildea & Donohue spokesperson announced recently. "Nancy and Pam continue to deliver great results for our Ridgewood office, and more importantly, for their clients," said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm.  "They are a very dynamic team and each brings a different, and complementary, skill-set to the table.  They certainly contribute to the overall positive atmosphere here at MGD.  While most of our competitors in Ridgewood have seen their sales fall significantly this year, MGD sales have increased well over 150% year-to-date, and this makes it much easier for the agents to remain upbeat - even in this challenging market." "This market has been tough for everyone but we co... 11/24/2008