Scott's NJ Blog - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

NJ Festival Orchestra Brings Broadway to Westfield

June 18, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Back in March of 2020, Broadway shut its doors amid COVID concerns. Originally, theater owners believed this would only last a few short weeks. However, the shutdown turned out to be several months long. Finally, after over a year of going dark, Governor Cuomo announced that the Great White Way will officially come back to life in mid-September of 2021. But who wants to wait that long? With how successful Glo Downtown turned out to be earlier this year, Westfield residents are itching for more artistic entertainment. Thankfully, the NJ Festival Orchestra brings its take on classic Broadway music to Westfield on Saturday, June 26th.

Have you missed going to Broadway shows this past year? Can't wait until September to visit the Great White Way? The NJ Festival Orchestra brings Broadway to Westfield on June 26th, 2021 with their summer concert in the park.

What: NJ Festival Orchestra Performs “Back to Broadway”
Where: Hertell Rear Gardens (241 E Dudley Ave)
When: Saturday, June 26th, 2021 7:30 pm
Admission: $35 (General Admission) to $65 (VIP Seating)
Contact: New Jersey Festival Orchestra Box Office

NJ Festival Orchestra Brings Broadway to Westfield

For one night only, the NJ Festival Orchestra performs a very special concert in the park. These artists have been eagerly awaiting their return to play for a live audience. And you get to enjoy an intimate performance like no other. Conductor David Wroe guides the NJFO as they accompany acclaimed Broadway sopranos Julie Benko and Paige Faure through classic music from Broadway, movies, and TV.

The concert will be held in the Hertell rear gardens. If it rains, organizers plan on moving the concert indoors to Westfield’s First United Methodist Church on E Broad St. Either way, ticket holders will see a live performance of Broadway professionals on June 26th. And you will not want to miss it.

Tickets for Back to Broadway

General admission tickets cost $35 per person. This grants you seating out on the lawn. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and/or lawn chairs for their comfort. But for a special treat, pay $65 per person and receive the VIP treatment. This reserved section provides comfortable seating near the stage. All guests may bring their own refreshments if they like. Event organizers ask that you wear a mask if you have not been vaccinated yet for your safety as well as the safety of others. Purchase your tickets online at the NJFO box office here.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Westfield Mini Grand Prix 2021: Off to the Races

June 11, 2021 by Scott Gleason

At the end of April, we saw a return of weekend activities on Quimby Street. With COVID-19 cases dwindling in New Jersey, Governor Murphy relaxed mask mandates late last month. So, we should see even more fun summertime events taking place in our fair city. Unfortunately, the weatherman predicts a bit of a soggy weekend. But that will not hinder the very first Westfield Mini Grand Prix. Why? Because they set up tents to protect you from the elements.

Watch scaled-down versions of NASCAR's finest race around an indoor track at the very first Westfield Mini Grand Prix on Sat, June 12, 2021.

What: Westfield Mini Grand Prix
Where: Quimby Street
When: Saturday, June 12th, 1 pm to 5 pm
Admission: Free
Contact: Extreme Party Racing (609) 458-6143 or via email

Westfield Mini Grand Prix 2021

Enjoy all of the high-octane, adrenaline-inducing fun of a NASCAR racetrack but on a 1/18th scale. Extreme Party Racing invites all ages to participate in the races. And it costs nothing to join. Organizers provide the cars and the controls. You bring the energy. Instead of using handheld controllers, racers steer their cars around the 20′ x 20′ track using a real steering wheel and throttle. This only enhances the racing experience.

Each race pits six different cars (and racers) against one another. Expect to see spin-outs, bumping, and maybe even a crash or two. After all, “rubbin’ is racin'”. These miniature race cars reach speeds of up to 11 mph. That is the equivalent of 200 mph for their full-sized counterparts. A random prize drawing between all race winners takes place at the end of the afternoon.

Admission into this inaugural Westfield Mini Grand Prix is absolutely free. You do not need to register ahead of time, either. Simply come to Quimby Street before 1 pm on Saturday, June 12th and tell them you want to race. Gentlemen (and women)…start your engines!

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

June 2021 Market Update

June 8, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Curious about your home’s value?

Please click below for the market update of interest to you:

Fanw o od

Westfield by Grade School:

Scott Gleason scott@luxuryhomesnj.com

RE/MAX SelectLuxury Homes for Sale in Westfield

Determining the Fair Market Value of Your Westfield Home

June 4, 2021 by Scott Gleason

The real estate market is an ever-changing landscape. Currently, sellers wield the upper hand. But that does not mean that buyers will pay an astronomical amount simply because you asked for it. For a successful transaction, you must list your Westfield home at a price appropriate for the current market. Fair market value (FMV) helps sellers determine this price.

Fair Market Value

How to Calculate Fair Market Value

You must take into account several factors to come to a proper FMV. They change from month to month and sometimes even from week to week. Talk to your Westfield REALTOR® about how the market is behaving right now. Look at how much buyers paid for recently sold homes in your neighborhood recently. Look at the price-per-square-foot of homes similar to your own to provide you with an estimated value of your property. Hire an appraiser to assess the value of your Westfield home. All of these variables go into your calculation of FMV.

Fair Market vs Appraised Value

The appraised value is slightly different than the FMV. Banks use the appraised value of a home as part of their consideration in whether to approve or deny a mortgage loan. However, they will not approve a loan with an appraised value below the sale price. When that happens, buyers need to come up with money out of pocket to make up the difference or sellers need to lower their price. If neither side comes to an agreement, the sale falls through. Then, no one wins. But the FMV may end up higher than the appraised value. This happens in more popular neighborhoods. Again, discuss your options with your Westfield REALTOR® before deciding on what to list your property for when you decide to put it on the market.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Common Contingencies for Westfield Home Buyers

May 28, 2021 by Scott Gleason

When writing an offer on a Westfield home, buyers must consider what types of contingencies (if any) they want to include. Contingencies stipulate specific conditions that must be met before a sale can be completed. If these conditions are not met, these contingencies allow a buyer to walk away from a sale and keep their earnest money deposit in the process. But buyers need to keep contingencies to a minimum, especially in a seller’s market. Otherwise, a seller may pass on their offer and move on to someone else. Here are common contingencies we see in the Westfield real estate market.

Westfield home buyers may want to include one of these common contingencies in their purchase agreement to protect themselves. But keep them to a minimum if you want a seller to accept your offer.

Common Contingencies for Home Buyers

Mortgage

Unless you plan to pay for your home with all cash, It is extremely important that you talk to a lender about securing financing before you even start looking at Westfield houses. But, pre-approval does not necessarily guarantee final loan approval. Therefore, one of the most common contingencies to include in a purchase agreement is a mortgage contingency.

Appraisal

Another one of the common contingencies we see in the Westfield real estate market is the appraisal contingency. This goes hand-in-hand with the mortgage contingency. A lender will not approve a mortgage loan if the amount to borrow exceeds the appraised value. So, even with pre-approval, your loan may fall through. To continue the sale, either the seller must come down in price or you must make up the difference out of pocket. If an agreement cannot be met, the buyer may want to walk away.

Home Sale

Many home buyers must sell their current property before they can buy a new one. That is where the home sale contingency comes into play. Most of these types of common contingencies include a time limit (30 to 60 days, typically). If your current home does not sell in that time frame, this gives you the ability to back out of the sale agreement while keeping your earnest money deposit.

Inspection

The final one of the common contingencies I will be talking about in this blog post is the inspection contingency. Savvy home buyers hire an inspector to officially look over a property before they purchase it. An inspector may find something that you might have overlooked on your walkthrough. Their experienced eye can spot current issues as well as potential problems down the road. In turn, you can use this to your advantage come negotiation time.

Talk to your Westfield REALTOR® about which common contingencies to include in your offer and which to leave out. Use our knowledge to help guide you through a successful home buying experience.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Westfield Food Drive 2021 Pairs Police With Local Schools

May 14, 2021 by Scott Gleason

No one in a country as rich as ours should go hungry. But the fact remains that millions of people miss a meal or two every single day due to food insecurity. Some of those people live right here in our own community. Programs like the Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program help us reduce the amount of food that ends up in our landfills. But how do we make sure we get more food into the bellies of those who need it? Donating to the Westfield Food Drive is a good start.

What: Westfield Food Drive 2021
Where: Roosevelt Intermediate School (301 Clark St) & Westfield High (550 Dorian Rd)
When: Saturday, May 22nd, 9 am to 12 pm

Westfield Food Drive 2021

Beginning at 9 am on Saturday, May 22nd, police officers and volunteers will be accepting food donations at both Roosevelt Intermediate School and Westfield High School. First, load up your non-perishable food items in your trunk and bring them to the parking lot of one of these two schools. Then, look for the Westfield Police Officer trailer. Finally, the officers and other volunteers will take them out of your trunk for a completely contactless hand-off. You do not even need to exit your vehicle. Easy as pie.

Most Requested Food Items

Not sure what to donate? The following items are the most requested at local food pantries:

Beans (canned)
Cereal
Cheese
Macaroni (in boxes)
Meat (canned): stew, SPAM, Chef Boyardee
Milk (dehydrated, canned, or shelf-stable)
Pasta
Rice
Spaghetti noodles
Spaghetti sauce
Vegetables (canned)

Non-Food Items

Baby products (diapers, formula, baby wipes)
Cleaning supplies
Paper products (plates, napkins, towels, toilet paper)
Toothpaste

Please add a few of these items to your list on your next shopping trip. Then bring them to the food drive on the 22nd to help those in need. If the weather turns really bad, organizers scheduled a May 23rd rain date. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program is Back

May 7, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Things are starting to (somewhat) return to normal again. Kids went back to school. Businesses and restaurants opened back up, albeit with some restrictions in place. Last week, Quimby Street activities started up again. Now, the Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program is back.

Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program

The City partnered up with Green Bucket Compost to create a food waste recycling program here in Westfield back in 2019. Unfortunately, they suspended the program last year during the global pandemic. With so many people cooking for themselves over the past 12+ months, household food waste went up. Westfield residents began asking to bring back the recycling program. The City listened. And now it is back. So, instead of dumping it down your garbage disposal or put out to the curbside, it gets recycled into cleaner-burning bio-fuel to use in place of the more toxic petroleum-based fuel.

All you need to do to participate is to throw your household food waste into a reusable bin/bucket. Then, take it to the recycling center (1300 Lamberts Mill Rd) between 9 am and 2:30 pm on Thursdays and Fridays or 9 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. No permit required. Empty your containers of food waste into the covered bins provided. If those bins are full, you may leave your waste in your own container next to the bins. However, your containers cannot be made of glass or black plastic bags. Green Bucket picks the waste up and takes it to the Elizabeth NJ’s Waste Management facilities. After initial processing, the waste then makes its way to the Rahway Valley Sewage Authority. Once there, it gets turned into bio-fuel.

Acceptable Food Waste

Coffee Grounds
Dairy
Egg Shells
Fruits
Grains
Meat
Oils and Fats (limited amounts)
Potato Peels
Seafood (no shells)
Vegetables

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

May 2021 Market Update

May 4, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Curious about your home’s value?

Please click below for the market update of interest to you:

Fanw o od

Westfield by Grade School:

Scott Gleason scott@luxuryhomesnj.com

RE/MAX SelectLuxury Homes for Sale in Westfield

Quimby Street Activities Start Up Again in Downtown Westfield

April 30, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Last summer, City officials tried something new. They restricted vehicular traffic on Quimby Street to just one way on the weekends. They hoped to encourage more people to get outside and enjoy the fresh air in a safe manner. Then, they lifted the vehicular restrictions during the winter months. But, starting today (April 30th), Quimby Street activities are back.

Quimby Street Activities

COVID-19 made many businesses rethink how to make their customers feel safe while also keeping their doors open. City officials understood the pressure our local businesses felt. To help make things a little easier, they created the Quimby Street pedestrian plaza. Thankfully, Quimby Street activities start back up today for the public to enjoy.

Expanded Outdoor Dining

As of the writing of this post, indoor dining is still limited. However, your favorite restaurants still offer a “to go” option. If you want that “date night” experience without worrying about finding seating inside, several tents have been set up on Quimby Street. Bring your take-out to one of the tables set up under the tents and enjoy your meal. The tents sit just outside The Brick Oven, Fiamma Pizza, and Spice Bazaar. With limited seating here, you might need to make a reservation for one of the tables at one of these restaurants.

Live Musical Entertainment

Enjoy live music from talented local artists every Friday and Saturday throughout the season. If you make it downtown on a Tuesday evening during July or August, you will be treated to the Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival. Musicians perform live every Tuesday throughout July and August on three separate stages. These stages are located on Central Ave, in Foundation Park, and right here on Quimby Street. The entertainment is free but the memories are priceless.

Fitness Fun on Quimby

Other Quimby Street activities encourage a healthier lifestyle as the weather warms up. Register for a yoga or barre class held right out on the street every Saturday and Sunday. You must pre-register to participate in the class.

Midday Madness Clue Hunt

Finally, the Midday Madness Clue Hunt takes place on the first weekend Quimby Street opens up (Saturday, May 1st). If you want to participate, visit their website to purchase your tickets right now. This is fun that the whole family can enjoy together.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Scotch Plains Food Truck Festival 2021

April 23, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Who likes to eat? In the past year, so many more people discovered the joys of cooking at home. But if you need a break from creating a delicious meal for your family, try a food truck. And, if you want to help out high school students, visit Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School on Sunday, May 2nd for the Scotch Plains Food Truck Festival 2021.

What: Scotch Plains Food Truck Festival 2021
Where: Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (667 Westfield Rd)
When: Sunday, May 2nd from 12 pm to 5 pm
Admission: $10/person, $25/family

Scotch Plains Food Truck Festival 2021

Money raised from the food truck festival helps fund the Class of 2021’s senior activities. Several local food truck owners already signed up to participate in the festival. They include:

Bites & Bowls (Mexican fusion)
Cheezen (next level grilled cheese)
Empanada Guy
GoodMood Truck (hamburgers & fries)
House of Cupcakes
La Coqueta (tacos, burritos)
Ms. Yummy Food Truck (Asian fusion)
Violante’s Catering (cheesteaks, sausage & peppers)

Here, you will find something to satisfy everyone’s tastebuds. Plus, dessert! (Thank you House of Cupcakes.) Each of the food trucks is set up to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Anyone who plans on coming to the food truck festival must wear a mask. The high school marching band joins the Moonglowers and other local musicians to provide musical entertainment throughout the day.

Westfield Earth Day Fair 2021

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Earth Day? Visit the South Ave Train Station tomorrow (April 24th) for the Westfield Earth Day Fair. In addition to fun activities and great eco-friendly information, you will want to peruse the free market to recycle/reuse gently used items from your neighbors. If you have items you wish to donate to the free market, schedule a time to drop them off here.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes