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Westfield, NJ Real Estate News

By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Spring and summer tend to be the busiest times for Westfield real estate.  Westfield Buyers take advantage of summer vacation to find, buy and move in to a new home.  However, you might not be ready to purchase a property then.  Instead, winter is here and you are looking for a new home.  Heed these winter Westfield home buying tips to work the cooler temperatures to your advantage.Winter Westfield Home Buying TipsWatch the Holiday SpendingEven with the best scores, a sudden spike in spending on your credit cards can hurt your chances of home loan approval.  Increasing your debt-to-income ratio hurts your FICO score.  Keep your spending to a minimum.  Pay it off as quickly as possible.Keep an Open MindThe next one of my winter Westfield home buying tips I think you'll find helpful is to...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
During the holidays, police report a spike in package theft.  With millions of people shopping online for their Christmas gifts, thieves become more aggressive.  Utilize these Westfield home security tips to decrease the likelihood of your packages being stolen this year.Westfield Home Security TipsMany Westfield homeowners turn to high tech for their home security needs.  This works as a deterrent for a majority of thieves.  However, it doesn't stop them all from taking advantage of an easy package grab.  The first one of my Westfield home security tips I'll give you is to make it difficult.  In other words, make it hard for thieves to hide their crimes.  Keep exterior lights on at night.  Or, install motion sensor lights.  Stash valuables out of sight.  Store ladders, tools and other ...
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By Wayne Zuhl, The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate
(Remax First Realty II)
If you own a home in Westfield, or if you want to own a home in Westfield, this is the place to be for information about real estate values this winterInventory: There are currently 173 single family homes offered for sale in Westfield which is nearly exactly the same as last November’s inventory. The current listings range in price from $199,000 to $2,899,000.  Twenty-four homes were sold in November at an average sale price of $847,784.This graph shows inventory and sales for the past 4 years.The blue line represents the active inventory in Westfield month by month. There are seasonal trends with inventory typically increasing in the summer and decreasing each winter. This summer’s inventory was the highest we’ve seen in several years. The 12 month average inventory in Westfield is 21...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Education tops many parents' lists of important investments in their children's lives.  We rely on our school district to provide great teachers and staff as well as safe conditions and up-to-date tools for our children to use.  Earlier this week, the Westfield School Board approved funding for refurbishment of two local Westfield middle schools: Roosevelt and Edison.What Will the Westfield School Board Approved Funding Take Care of?The Westfield School Board approved funding of $4 million to modernize and refurbish the auditoriums at both Roosevelt Intermediate and Edison Intermediate.  What will the money go towards?  George Duthie, Architect, proposed a new sound system, LED lights and modern computer equipment in addition to new, more comfortable seating.  They expect to send the pr...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
We just entered our last month of the calendar year.  It's the final push to find your dream Westfield luxury home before we close the books on 2016.  The Westfield luxury market remains hot.  This Early December 2016 Westfield Area Market Report breaks down the currently active listings, Westfield homes that are under contract and the luxury Westfield homes that have recently been sold.Active Westfield ListingsGarden State MLS reports a total of 13 active Westfield area luxury homes.  Of these, eight are brand new construction.  Five homes hit the market in the past 30 days.  They include the Henry West Colonial located at 905 Coolidge.  This beautiful home sits just steps from the award-winning Washington Elementary School.  Students at Washington ranked in the 90th percentile for Mat...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Saturday, the crew turned out to clean up the soccer field, erect the lights and stands and oil up the chain saws.  Sunday, we unloaded and staged our first tree delivery. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, sales begin!Westfield Y Men's Club Prepares for Holiday Community ServiceEstablished in 1947, the Westfield Y’s Men’s Club has been operating for over 60 years. Our club has been very successful by selling Christmas Trees as our primary fundraising method. Since the beginning of the club: We have raised over $2,000,000 for community charitable grants. At approximately three tractor-trailer loads per year, the number of trees sold by the Y’s Men would fill Giants Stadium! The Westfield Y Men's Club is a group of men who raise money for charitable causes and socialize together.Our Missio...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Many Westfield residents enjoy the amenities provided by Tamaques Park.  However, the park is showing its age.  Updates need to be made.  Earlier this week, Greene Engineering and representatives from several local sports clubs met with City officials.  They revealed a few potential Tamaques Park improvements that the City might want to consider.Potential Tamaques Park Improvements RevealedRepresentatives from PAL Football and PAL Wrestling as well as the Westfield Soccer Association joined Greene Engineering's John Bell at a meeting on Monday, November 7th.  One of the biggest complaints heard from current park users has to do with the lack of adequate parking.  Because the limited space gets used up quickly, cars park on the grass or take up space in the surrounding residential areas....
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
For several years now, I have had the distinct honor of being a part of the Westfield Y Men's Club.  We raise money for local charities in the Westfield, Scotch Plains, Cranford, Mountainside and surrounding areas.  Each year, our club hosts a Christmas tree lot.  Money raised from the sales at the lot benefit the charities we support.  The Westfield Y Men's Club needs volunteers to help unload a large shipment of trees this weekend.  We are asking the public for their assistance.How You Can HelpPine trees, Douglas firs, Frasier firs and other festive trees are scheduled for delivery at the Elm Street athletic fields early tomorrow morning.  Simply show up between 8am and noon.  Sometimes, this work gets a bit dirty.  Wear something comfortable.  Work or gardening gloves protect your ha...
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By Wayne Zuhl, The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate
(Remax First Realty II)
If you own a home in Westfield, or if you want to own a home in Westfield, this is the place to be for information about real estate values this summer.Inventory: There are currently 190 single family homes are currently  offered for sale in Westfield representing a drop in inventory compared to the summer high of 109 homes. The current listings range in price from $149,000 to $4,450,000.  Thirty-four homes were sold in October at an average sale price of $871,129.For more information on inventory in the Westfield real estate market, please click here.Prices:  In October of 2016, the average sold home was sold for $871,129, almost 20% higher than last month and 7% higher than the 12 month average of $812,448.The graph for Westfield sale prices shows a great deal of variability from mont...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
New construction continues to be a major draw in the Westfield area luxury real estate market.  Developers are busy keeping up with demand.  While the calendar year winds down, sales tend to taper off as well.  Even so, the October 2016 Westfield Area Luxury Home Sales showed that total sales were slightly up from September 2016.  Read on to find out more about the state of the local luxury market.October 2016 Westfield Area Luxury Home SalesThe Garden State MLS reported that there were a total of 15 currently active homes in the Westfield luxury market.  All but two of these were either new, currently under construction or ready to be built.  Four Westfield area luxury homes hit the market within the last 30 days.  They included a custom Colonial by Preferred Home Builders.  Currently ...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Election Day 2016 takes place on Tuesday, November 8th.  The voter registration deadline was October 18th.  If you weren't registered by then, you won't be allowed to vote on November 8th.  All registered voters need to visit one of the official Westfield NJ polling locations to cast their ballot.Westfield NJ Polling LocationsAll Westfield NJ polling locations will be open from 6am to 8pm.  You can view an online map of the different election wards and districts here.  If you forgot to register for a mail-in ballot before October 18th, you must cast your vote in person at one of the following Westfield NJ polling locations:First WardDistricts 1-3, 5 & 7: Roosevelt Intermediate Gym (302 Clark St) Districts 4 & 6: Westfield Memorial Library (550 E Broad St)Second WardDistrict 1: Union Cou...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Last winter's blizzard wreaked havoc on our Westfield streets.  This prompted the Town Council to conduct a study into how we can avoid the issues we had with clearing roadways in January.  This resulted in a new 2016 Westfield snow policy for residents: off road parking for snow events.New 2016 Westfield Snow PolicyEarlier this week, the Westfield Town Council amended five separate ordinances.  These included a new 2016 Westfield snow policy for the upcoming winter season.  Residents must park their cars off the streets when snow levels reach three inches or higher.  Before, maneuvering crowded streets inhibits snow plows from doing a proper job.  Now, empty streets allow quicker and more efficient clearing.Another 2016 Westfield snow policy involved shoveling snow off sidewalks and dr...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 300,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.  Of those, just over 40,000 die.  Early detection marks the key to success.  The local PAL Football league hosts a Westfield female flag football game this weekend to help raise money for breast cancer research.What: Westfield Female Flag Football Game Where: Tamaques Park (Lamberts Mill Rd) When: Saturday, Oct. 15th, 12pm Admission: $25 per player, free for spectators (donations welcome) Contact: Erin Romano via phone (617) 833-5016 or email or John Dugan via phone (908) 868-2811 or emailWestfield Female Flag Football Game for a CauseMore likely than not, we all know someone close to us who has battled breast cancer.  Yea...
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By Wayne Zuhl, The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate
(Remax First Realty II)
Westfield is a beautiful town in Union County and is home to nearly 30,000 people. The vibrant downtown area, home to over 200 local and national stores and restaurants, was once called the old village area and was settled in 1720. Westfield is named because of its location in the western parts of the Elizabethtown tract.Public high school students in Westfield attend   Westfield High School.Commuters in Westfield enjoy New Jersey Transit's rail service from the Westfield Train station on the Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station and then connecting to New York Penn Station. A 50 minute one-seat ride is available from WEstfield to NY Penn Station during weekday off-peak hours. New Jersey Transit bus route 113 takes one hour to New York city's Port Authority from Westfield.Home buye...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Please Help Team Guys and Dolls to Create a World Free of MS! Please support us with your generous donations.We do it for Nancy's sister Diane. We do it for a dozen friends and relations of friends afflicted in varied degrees by MS. And we do it for the joy and camaraderie of cycling the perimeter of Manhattan, traffic free for a worthy cause.AND we have witnessed all that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society does to ease the path of the afflicted as well as funding more MS research than any other private organization. The number of people living with multiple sclerosis increases every hour of every day and won't stop, until we've found a cure.Please join us or donate online--RIGHT NOW! There are so many ways to help create a world free of MS, and it all begins right here.After you d...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
In the Northeast, Fall weather means packing away your summer clothes and bringing out your winter attire.  That also means that it's time to pull out your winter coats.  Do they still fit?  Have your kids outgrown last year's coats?  Is it time for a new one?  The old ones are still in great condition.  What do you do with them?  Donate them to the 2016 Jersey Cares Coat Drive.What: 2016 Jersey Cares Coat Drive When: Nov. 1st through Dec. 7th Contact: Jersey Cares (973) 533-1993 or via email2016 Jersey Cares Coat Drive Beginning November 1st, several businesses in the Westfield area and surrounding communities will be collecting gently used coats to donate to the 2016 Jersey Cares Coat Drive.  Over the past 20 years, Jersey Cares has collected over half a million coats from generous Ne...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Are you interested in selling your Westfield area home soon?  Most Buyers want eco-friendly homes.  High end Westfield Buyers want smart homes.  In fact, Digital Interiors found that 94% of luxury homeowners would be willing to give up as much as 1,000 square feet of living space for a more technologically advanced home.  What areas of your home should you invest in high tech alternatives?  I'll discuss three of them below.High End Westfield Buyers Want Smart HomesYour KitchenKitchens remain one of the top selling points of any Westfield area home.  When you incorporate high tech features with high end appliances, Westfield Buyers take notice.  One trending feature is a "no touch" faucet.  Keep bacteria at a minimum.  Another big seller at the moment involves smart refrigerators.  LG an...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
New construction is at a premium here in the Westfield luxury market.  Almost as soon as they are built, Buyers are ready to purchase them.  The September 2016 Westfield Area Luxury Market Report showed an increase in active listings and homes under contract from the previous month.September 2016 Westfield Area Luxury Market ReportAccording to statistics released by the Garden State MLS, there are a total of 27 active luxury Westfield area homes on the market right now.  That's a 58.8% jump from August 2016.  Nineteen properties have entered the market in the last 30 days.  Two of these were listed within the last two days: a center hall Colonial built in 2011 and a Wychwood Colonial that is ready to be built.  A 2006 Michael Mahoney Colonial came on the market just yesterday.  Of the 2...
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By Scott Gleason, CRS, Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Summer officially ends next Wednesday.  The first day of fall begins September 22nd.   Welcome in the new season at the 2016 Westfield NJ FestiFall Street Fair on Sunday, September 25th.What: 2016 Westfield NJ FestiFall Street Fair Where: Downtown Westfield When: Sunday, Sept 25th, 10am to 5pm Contact: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce (908) 233-30212016 Westfield NJ FestiFall Street FairThe City of Westfield believes in fostering community spirit.  Events like the 2016 Westfield NJ FestiFall Street Fair encourages neighbors to interact with one another in a fun atmosphere.  The more we interact with each other, the more we care about the well being and safety of others in our community.  That's why we love living in Westfield.The downtown area will be completely closed to automobil...
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