This past weekend I took my family to see "Enchanted" at the Warner Quad in the center of Ridgewood . I have 2 daughters and they are always very interested in Princesses and Happily Ever After. I have to admit I was a little skeptical of the movie at first. However, I found myself entrenched in the movie. Sometimes in life we can become negative and lose sight of our dreams. Is there really a Love's First Kiss? What about Happily Ever After? Can a knight really rescue the princess? This may seem like an idea from long ago but I believe it exists today. I read a book by John Eldridge it was called "Wild at Heart" he makes the case for Modern-Day Knights, I believe that most men want to slay the dragon and save the princess. How about Braveheart? There are a lot of men who want to be Wil... 12/05/2007

Here in Ridgewood, New Jersey we have a very interesting shop, The Cheese Shop!  I love cheese and this shop has seen a lot of my business due to my addiction!  I invite everyone to visit this wonderful store and experience all of the worldly cheeses they carry.  You won't be disappointed!Here is a link to their website: http://www.thecheeseshopofridgewood.com/.  They carry cheeses and other products from all over the world.  12/04/2007

For those of you that live in and around the New York City area you are very familiar with the tolls that many commuters have to go through each and every day on their way to work.  These fares already demand a big chuck of worker's yearly salaries and today, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey proposed raising these fares even higher.Personally, I do not have to go through tolls on my way to work but for those commuters that do,I truly feel their anger.  The proposed plan will raise the fares to $8 to cross the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, the George Washington Bridge and other bridges in Staten Island. Drivers using EZ-Pass during peak hours currently pay $5 while customers with cash pay $6.  This may seem like only a couple of dollars but over the course of a year it can ad... 11/15/2007

Parking in Ridgewood "15 minute" parking meters have been installed throughout the Central Business District in an effort to help with quick pick ups and turnover of spaces. The Village Council continues to work to create more parking in the Downtown area. The Council is actively looking to construct a multi-level parking facility on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Walnut Street. Progress of this effort will be posted here and reported in the local newspapers. There are 12 hour meters requiring a Central Business District (CBD) permit, for those who work for Ridgewood businesses, at certain sections of the Hudson Street Lot and certain sections of the Walnut and Franklin Lot. No permits are required for parking at Cottage Place Lot (118 12-hr. metered spots) and W. Ridgewood Avenue, b... 10/20/2007

Veteran's Day Ceremony - Monday, November 12thRidgewood's Veteran's Day ceremony will take place on Monday, November 12, 2007 at 11a.m. at Memorial Park in Van Neste Square. Our community is blessed with outstanding men and women who are in harms way on our behalf. They are our neighbors, friends, and relatives. They are America's veterans of the future. Please join American Legion Post 53 at the ceremony to thank them, as well as those who have served in the past, for keeping us safe and secure. courtesy www.ridgewoodnj.net Please come and support our veteran's     10/20/2007

Ridgewood New Jersey is a bedroom community of New York City. It's flourishing downtown with a charming train station with quick access to Manhattan makes it a commuters dream. Restaurants, shops and an old time movie theater make Ridgewood a very desireable place to live. You are located in what feels like the center of Bergen County. What a great place to live and work.          10/20/2007

Walk-Tober Fest - Walking to School Initiative "Walk-Tober Fest" is October 1-31!!The Village of Ridgewood Citizen's Safety Advisory Committee is sponsoring this month long event. The purpose is to encourage all residents to take a walk everyday.Each day school children are walking or riding their bikes to school and to their extra curricular activities. Walking promotes a healthy lifestyle, a safer, cleaner environment and a more connected and vibrant community.For more information contact Jeanne Johnson Safe Routes to School Coordinator 201-445-1748courtesy www.ridgewoodnj.net  We believe this is an outstanding idea. Walking seems to be a lost art. We have had such outstanding weather this month. Why not get out there and walk with your family. We look forward to seeing you around tow... 10/20/2007

Did anyone read the article in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal titled Behind Subprime Woes, A Cascade of Bad Bets? I just finished reading the article. It spoke of a Colorado truck driver who ended up with an adjustable rate mortgage. There were many parties involved, including a company to help with debt relief (actually an increased mortgage) Quoting from the article "Lenders frequently approved borrowers for loans based only on their credit score and often without verifying income and they effectively ignored the fact that monthly notes would later reset". Here in the Ridgewood Real Estate market and surrounding areas we are seeing the fruits of aggressive lending. Short Sales, Foreclosures and REO properties. Is there someone to blame?  10/18/2007

Yipee! What started off as a crazy idea last fall has now become a recurring challenge for me. I completed my first triathlon June 16, 2007. Then I continued training this summer for my 2nd triathlon.  I finished my 2nd in only 1:18 minutes. My goal was 1:45. I really get pumped up when I am competing. The next one I have scheduled is in June of 2008. I better get started on my training :) It really feels good to set goals and then accomplish them. I hope that everyone who reads this is chasing after their goals and enjoying the journey. If anyone has a story about when they could have given up and then perservered I would love for you to post it.    10/01/2007

As of today July 30, 2007 There are currently 108 active listings in Ridgewood. There are 68 properties under contract. From 4/30/2007 to 7/30/2007 there were 108 properties sold. Simply put we are looking at exactly 3 months worth of inventory.  A year ago today There were 154 active listings in Ridgewood.There were 94 properties under contract.From 4/30/2006 to 7/30/2006 there were 101 properties sold. Approximately 4.5 months worth of inventory.   I believe it is fair to say that today we are in better shape than we were a year ago.   Ridgewood Real Estate Market UpdatePresented by Sal & Dawn Poliandro201-259-2187 www.SalAndDawn.com  Statistics taken from New Jersey Multiple Listing Service   07/30/2007

We all know the market has adjusted-depending on where you are- Regardless, there is still a demand for homes in the Ridgewood area. Even thought the DOM "days on market" have adjusted up a bit -- condition sells! If you are going to put your home on the market, talk to your local professional and do it right the firt time. Price it right and make it shine!  05/21/2007

You all know the old saying “it’s a small world”  Our good friends at Disney even have a song for it!  Well, last weekend my world got small and it revolved around Active Rain.   First, Teresa Boardman showed up in the Real Estate Section of my very own “.Ridgewood News” I knew that she had been making some rounds out there in the world and had seen a few blogs that referred to her recent celeb status but I was shocked to see her hit my hometown paper!  The article starts with a question…Is a blog today’s must-have in the real estate business?  I guess you all know (and probably agree with) Teresa’s answer. My next encounter came on Sunday when a package was left for Lisa Hammerstein at our UP desk.  Today I noticed that the package was gone but Robert Hammerstein’s business card was th... 03/07/2007

Okay folks, here's the statistics for the month of February.  If everything that we've been hearing about the local market is accurate, then these number should be more promising than those reported in previous months.  If the market is truly on an upswing, these numbers should reflect that.  How, you ask?    The number of sold properties should be greater than in previous months.   The absorption rate when expressed as a percentage of inventory should be a higher rate (a bigger number) And the number of weeks of inventory should be lower.   So let's run the numbers from NJMLS.com and see what we've got this month in Ridgewood NJ and Bergen County:                        # of Active # Under Contract            Absorption %               WeeksRidgewood                   99               ... 02/27/2007

Life in The Village of Ridgewood is a rare combination of cosmopolitan living and rich tradition.  One of the larger settlements in the area, with a population of close to 25,000, Ridgewood offers something for everyone.  Tree lined streets, lovely homes, a vibrant community, a quaint downtown area…. to name just a few.     Ridgewood is home to The Valley Hospital, the very heart of the community serving more than 400,000 residents in the surrounding towns.   Summer brings a 4th of July Celebration that starts with a Parade and ends with a spectacular fireworks display, the tradition is over 100 years old and some years there are even skydivers. The winter is a festive time around town with the Tree Lighting.  The tree is setup near the train station *   and welcomes residents home ever... 02/01/2007

  Now in it’s 14th year, the non-profit group is hoping that this year’s schedule will bring out large crowds to rebuild the event so it is heralded as one of the premier events in Ridgewood.    First Night’s mission is to  provide entertainment to the community with an alcohol-free/drug-free  New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts with events around town that are geared toward good old-fashioned family fun.   The children's program runs from 4pm-9pm at Benjamin Franklin Middle School located at 355 N. Van Dien Ave; there will be face painters, creative art projects, cupcake decorating and several dance and musical performances all geared toward children under 14.  The Battle of the Bands commences at 5pm in several downtown locations.  If you like Jazz, you'll enjoy the concert jazz pe... 12/29/2006

The Ridgewood News reported that “Overpricing (is) no longer norm in Bergen County”  The market continues its return to a more normal state, pricing seems to be more in line with what the market is supporting.  Price reductions are on the decline and homes currently on the market are priced more realistically.  The December numbers for my market areas are noted below.  As in every market, well-priced homes continue to sell and with the Spring market just around the corner, activity is expected to be brisk. Good news for sellers and buyers and Realtors!                        # of Active # Under Contract            Absorption %               WeeksRidgewood                   86                  44                   51%                            24.5 Midland Park                 33       ... 12/27/2006

Last month NAR announced that the market was stabilizing and they provided a much of statistics to prove that point.   November 20th NAR announced that we are in full transition,  Conditions for home buyers have improved and sellers are more willing to negotiate a lower price.   The November numbers for my market area are noted below;  I have added  the number of weeks to represent the absorption rate since that might make more sense to some readers.  The Absorption rate as a % is also noted here so that you can see the trending from month to month.                           # of Active # Under Contract            Absorption %               WeeksRidgewood                  120                  41                   34%                             12 Midland Park                 40        ... 11/26/2006

                                          Terrie O'Connor Realtors                                   Comparative Statistical Report                                         01/01/05-09/01/05                                            compared to                                         01/01/06-09/01/06                    Listing Status           Total 05           Total 06      % Up or Dn Sold                             250                   211              -15.60% New  Listings             344                   418                21.51% Under Contract           275                  227               -17.45% Withdrawn                     51                 138               170.59% Expired                          22                   72               227.27% Back on Market            ... 10/28/2006

Existing-home sales eased last month, as did the number of homes available for sale indicating the housing market is stabilizing, according to the National Association of Realtors®.  This is a direct quote from www.realtor.org, their statisticians have a lot more experience than I do in analyzing the Real Estate Market.  For now, the following stats apply to Ridgewood and the surrounding areas.                                        Active Listings               Under Contract                 Absorption RateRidgewood           143                                  26                                        18% Midland Park          49                                  11                                         22% Saddle River          64                                    8               ... 10/28/2006