Scott's NJ Blog - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

Midday Madness Clue Hunt Returns to Downtown Westfield

April 9, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Do you like Sherlock Holmes novels? Is Agatha Christie one of your favorite writers? Do you love a good mystery? Then you will be happy to hear that the Midday Madness Clue Hunt is returning to Downtown Westfield next month.

The Midday Madness Clue Hunt returns to Downtown Westfield on Saturday, May 1st. Families are encouraged to participate for fun and prizes.

What: Midday Madness Clue Hunt 2021
Where: 100 Quimby St
When: 1 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, May 1st
Admission: $11 per adult, $7 per child ages 11 and under
Contact: Downtown Westfield Corp (908) 789-9444 or via email

Midday Madness Clue Hunt 2021

Put your sleuthing hat on, grab your COVID pod, and head down to Quimby St on Saturday, May 1st to solve clues and win prizes. Organizers encourage you to come up with a fun team name and a costume to go with it. Let everyone know which team you belong to by wearing the same color or, better yet, create a crazy costume that sets you apart from all the other clue-hunters in the field. The crazier the costume, the better.

Once you arrive at the tents on Quimby St, you will receive a link that takes you to your list of clues. Each clue leads you to a specific location around downtown Westfield. Your team must visit the location that the clue indicates, take a selfie, and then move on to the next clue on the list. Once you solve the final clue and take your final selfie, come back to the tents at 100 Quimby St. Teams that finish with the best score are entered into a drawing for prizes.

Tickets for the Hunt

Adults pay $11 each to participate in the hunt for clues in downtown Westfield. Children cost just $7 each. Visit Midday Madness’ website here to purchase your tickets today.

Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive

Just a reminder, the Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive takes place next Wednesday (April 14th). Please keep that in mind when you go through your closets performing your spring cleaning tasks this weekend. They accept clothing, accessories (belts, hats, handbags, etc.), linens, curtains, small toys, and stuffed animals. The hours for drop-off run from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm at 422 E Broad St. Thank you.

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

April 2021 Market Update

April 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

Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive 2021

April 2, 2021 by Scott Gleason

I have been involved with the Westfield Area Y Men’s Club for years now. Thanksgiving marks the start of our annual Christmas tree lot. (Thank you for selling us our well ahead of Christmas last year, by the way.) Our local YMCA offers so much to the community. Next week, they need your help to provide assistance to those less fortunate all over the world. They are asking you to donate to their Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive.

Bring any of your slightly used clothing, handbags, shoes, linens, and bedding to the Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive this Wed, April 14th.

What: Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive 2021
Where: Westfield Area Y (422 E Broad St)
When: Wednesday, April 14th, 7:30 am to 2:30 pm
Contact: Eileen Rooney, Westfield YMCA (908) 301-9622 ext 134 or via email

Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive 2021

Spring has sprung. For many, that means that it is time to clean out your closets. If you plan on channeling your inner Marie Kondo by getting rid of anything that does not spark “feelings of joy” in your Westfield household, consider bringing it all to Westfield YMCA’s clothing drive. It takes place on Wednesday, April 14th.

Drop off your slightly used clothing (for all ages) and accessories (hats, belts, handbags) between 7:30 am and 2:30 pm. They also accept used bedding, curtains, and towels. Plus, if your children outgrew their stuffed animals and toys, feel free to drop those off as well. The toys cannot exceed two feet in size. Unfortunately, they will not be accepting household items like pots, pans, electronics, furniture, appliances, or books at this event. To donate those, contact our local Salvation Army or Goodwill stores. Our local library and even our schools accept book donations, too.

Where Does It All Go?

The American Used Clothing Corp picks up all donations and distributes them to second-hand stores all over the world. Proceeds from the Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive help fund the Westfield Y’s financial assistance program. The Y’s membership fees work on a sliding scale. This allows all members of our society access to everything the Y has to offer our community.

Clear your closets and help others at the same time. Please donate what you can to the Y’s clothing drive. Thank you.

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

How to Get Your Home Offer Accepted

March 26, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Many real estate markets across the country are in the midst of a seller’s market. Westfield is no exception. Recently, Ryan Hartman with Inside Real Estate interviewed RE/MAX Select’s very own Rob Lyszczarz about how to get your home offer accepted in a crowded seller’s market.

How to Get Your Home Offer Accepted

Understand Your Market

Many people are leaving the City to settle in the suburbs like Westfield. (We did make the Top 10 List of Best Suburbs to Live in NJ.) Historically low interest rates helped spur buyer demand. Unfortunately, the supply of available housing cannot keep up with demand. In turn, that means multiple offers for many homes. Thus, we are deeply entrenched in a seller’s market. If you want your home offer accepted, you need to understand how your local market currently operates.

Get Specific With Your Wants

Every buyer envisions exactly what their dream home should look like. But, throw out your laundry list of “wants”. Narrow that down to three to five “must-haves”. Think about the size (square footage as well as the number of beds/baths), location, school district (if you have kids), etc. If you know what you absolutely cannot live without ahead of time, it will save you time, hassle, and heartbreak in the long run. Also, be willing to compromise on some things in order to make your homeownership dream a reality.

Many Westfield buyers find themselves in a multi-bidder situation when purchasing a property. Find out how to get your home offer accepted.

Get Pre-Approved

Always, always get pre-approved as soon as possible. This lowers your stress as well as increases your offer’s attractiveness to the seller. In fact, Rob suggests that you get two pre-approval letters instead of just one. Why? When putting less money down, sellers may believe you are less qualified. Two letters show the seller that they should take your home offer seriously. That means obtaining pre-approval from your lender for a conventional as well as FHA loan for example.

Create a Negotiation Strategy

Discuss negotiation strategy with your REALTOR®. Make sure you present a realistic home offer to the seller. Everyone likes to get a deal. But, if you lowball the seller, you could very well lose out in a multi-bidder situation.

Restrict Conditions & Contingencies

Tighten up time frames for things like inspections and financing. Sellers want to sell their homes as quickly as possible. So, the easier you make it, the more attractive your home offer looks. Waive contingencies whenever possible. Otherwise, limit them to the bare minimum (inspection, appraisal, financing). Think about increasing your earnest money deposit. Be flexible with the closing date. Defer to the seller’s timeframe.

Hire the Right Agent

Finally, having the right agent on your side makes all the difference in your outcome. Find someone with experience in the market. They must have good negotiation skills. Make sure they are willing to reach out to the seller’s agent to gather intel that will help boost your offer to the top of the pile. You also want someone who advocates for you. Make sure that they will communicate with you as much as you want in the way you want.

I highly recommend that you take an hour out of your day to listen to what Rob has to say. It can only help you when you go to look for a new Westfield home. Then, contact me to start your search.

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

Avoid Losing Your Earnest Money Deposit When Buying a Westfield Home

March 19, 2021 by Scott Gleason

When you enter escrow on a Westfield property, you must provide an earnest money deposit. Typically, this is about 1-2% of the purchase price. This money sits in an escrow account until your final closing. At that time, it becomes part of your down payment. Why provide an earnest money deposit? Because it shows how serious you are about buying the property. In exchange, the seller agrees not to entertain any other offers while the property is in escrow. However, buyers may still lose their deposit by making these easily avoidable mistakes.

If you are not careful when you purchase a Westfield home, you might end up losing your earnest money deposit which will cost you thousands of dollars.

How to Avoid Losing Your Earnest Money Deposit

Contingencies

Yes, the fewer contingencies you ask for in your sales contract, the more attractive your offer looks to a seller. In fact, sellers love to see no contingencies. But things like a financing contingency and a home inspection contingency protect you, the buyer, in case your financing falls through or something major comes up on the home inspection. With these contingencies in place, you receive your entire earnest money deposit back if you walk away from the sale.

Pay Attention to Time Deadlines

Your sales contract stipulates a specific timeframe to perform tasks necessary to complete the sale. These include securing your financing, getting an appraisal, and performing a home inspection. In your sales contact, look for the phrase “time is of the essence”. That means that, if you miss your close for any reason whatsoever, you will receive a notice to perform. Make sure you meet your deadlines or you run the risk of losing the sale and your earnest money deposit.

Do Not Succumb to Cold Feet

Finally, you feel nervous that you may have overspent. Or you decide you are not quite ready to pull the trigger on a new Westfield home. You decide to back out. If you do not have any contingencies in place, the seller keeps your earnest money deposit if you decide to terminate the sale. Before you decide to submit your offer, make sure that this really is the house you want to make a home.

Any of these situations may cancel your home sale and allow the seller to keep your earnest money. Contact me when you decide to look for your next Westfield home. I will help you with all aspects of the home buying process.

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

How to Fall Out of Escrow on Your Westfield Area Home

March 12, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Glo Downtown appears to be a smashing success. Have you made it there yet? You have until March 21st to give them a go. So, there is still time to hop aboard. Try the self-guided Westfield Chocolate Tour after you finish playing. It makes a tasty end to an afternoon or evening of see-saw fun. Are you in the market for a Westfield home? Once you find one, you must present an offer to the seller. Then, once a seller accepts, you enter escrow. After that…you wait. Sometimes, deals fall out of escrow through no fault of your own. Other times, you might unknowingly jeopardize the deal. What can you do to make sure you do not hurt your chances of reaching the finish line?

Entering escrow is one thing. Completing it is another thing altogether. Learn how not to fall out of escrow by following these simple rules when buying a Westfield home.

How to Fall Out of Escrow

Get Pre-Qualified Instead of Pre-Approved

Last month, I wrote about the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval on a mortgage loan. Lenders pre-qualify a buyer based on a quick analysis of income vs debt load. This only offers you a potential loan amount. A pre-approval delves deeper into your credit score, credit history, verification of income, etc. Many sellers avoid even entertaining an offer without a pre-approval letter backing it up. Start the pre-approval process as early as possible. But even a pre-approved loan does not guarantee final approval. You may still fall out of escrow.

Paying Too Much

Another way to fall out of escrow is if you offer to pay over the appraised value on a Westfield area home. If you must secure a mortgage loan to purchase your property, the lender requires that an appraisal be performed. They do not approve loans above the appraised value. To avoid falling out of escrow, the seller needs to come down on price (not likely) or the buyer must come to the table with more money down. Discuss this with your Westfield REALTOR® before you present your offer. They can help you determine your best course of action.

Too Much Too Soon

Finally, timing is everything. Yes, it is understandable that you are excited about the idea of a new home. You might already be dreaming about the new furniture, flooring, or other accoutrements you want to see in your new living space. However, even a pre-approved mortgage loan can fall out of escrow. A change in your debt load or credit score affects your chances of closing on a property. Leave the plastic at home. Do not open new credit accounts (that includes new car leases/purchases, store credit accounts, or personal credit cards). Once you sign your final paperwork and receive the keys to your new home, then you can start shopping.

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

Westfield Chocolate Tour is Part of Glo Downtown Experience

March 5, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Westfield is positively buzzing about Glo Downtown. The excitement is palpable. Who knew that see-saws could be this exciting? Part of the “Glo experience” includes a weekend Westfield Chocolate Tour that starts today (March 5th). Sounds like things just got even better (and tastier) in Downtown Westfield.

What: Westfield Chocolate Tour
When: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays March 5th to 21st
Where: Downtown Westfield Businesses
Cost: Free to Tour, $2 samples available at every stop
Contact: Downtown Westfield Corporation (908) 789-9444 or via email

Westfield Chocolate Tour

While waiting for your turn at the Impulse Seesaws, take a self-guided chocolate tour in the downtown area. Start off with a chocolate croissant or muffin at Manhattan Bagel. Sip on a hot chocolate at Old Havana. Or try the frozen hot chocolate (yes, it tastes exactly as it sounds) at Rock ‘n Joe’s. For the more adventurous taste buds, visit RoosterSpin for their take on a fudge-covered Korean corn dog. Then, pick up a bottle of Meletti Ciocolatto at Nos Vino (a dessert wine at its finest). Finish things off with a fudgy brownie, chocolate-dipped strawberries, or a chocolate ice cream cone sundae at Bovello’s, The Chocolate Bar, or Kings Bowl, respectively. Those are only a few of the 17 shops you will find along your Westfield Chocolate Tour.

Westfield Shops on the Tour

The following shops in Downtown Westfield will be stops on the tour each weekend:

Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery
Bovella’s Pastry Shop
Bridgette’s Irish Cottage
Brunella Portuguese Coffee & Deli
The Chocolate Bar
Cinnaholic
Cold Stone Creamery
FroYo
Kilwins
Kings Bowl Cafe
Manhattan Bagel
Nos Vino
Old Havana Cafe & Restaurant
Ono Bowls
Patricia & Paul
Rock ‘n Joe
Rooster Spin

Many of these locations offer $2 samples of their wares. But you may also purchase a full-size version of the things you like most. Pick up several desserts along the way to take home for later. You never have a bad day when chocolate is involved.

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

March 2021 Market Update

March 2, 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

Glo Downtown Illuminates Westfield in March

February 26, 2021 by Scott Gleason

We tend to focus more on math and sciences when it comes to education. Sometimes, we forget how important art is to a child’s development. It also enhances everybody’s life overall. Art exists to trigger a response. So, when art sparks a fond childhood memory, you know your day is only going to get better. Glo Downtown wants to be that spark when they illuminate downtown Westfield throughout March.

Relive some of your fondest childhood memories. From March 5th to the 21st, Glo Downtown illuminates downtown Westfield with 15 jumbo seesaws that light up and make sound when in use at the North Ave Train Station.

What: Glo Downtown
Where: North Ave Train Station
When: March 5th to 21st, 9 am to 9 pm
Admission: FREE
Contact: Downtown Westfield Corp (908) 789-9444 or via email

Impulse Seesaw Origins

The brainchild of two Harvard alumni, Impulse seesaws invites public interaction that harkens back to the childhood days on the playground. A series of 15 huge seesaws inhabit the North Ave Train Station. Each seesaw accommodates up to 4 people (two on each end). Once aboard, the up and down motion lights up the seesaw and creates sound.

Over the past several years, this public art installation has traveled the world over. It started in Montreal and then moved across the pond to England before moving on to Australia. Eventually, it made its way back to the US with stops in major cities like New York City, Boston, Detroit, and Scottsdale.

Glo Downtown Westfield

Maintain your social distance while still enjoying the outdoors at Glo Downtown Westfield. Be a part of the opening ceremony on Thursday, March 4th at 5:30 pm. But, if you cannot make it for that, come back anytime between 9 am and 9 pm from the 5th to the 21st. Other activities centered around the seesaws throughout the month include a chocolate tour each weekend and a pizza challenge on the 13th and 14th. Sign up for professional photos taken at this public art installation. Several downtown shops and restaurants offer special deals throughout Glo’s duration as well. Downtown Westfield just got even more interesting.

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

Westfield Makes Top 10 List of Best Suburbs to Live in NJ

February 19, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Niche.com collects data on various cities all over the country. They compile this data in different “best of” lists. In 2020, they put Westfield in the top 10 of their Best Suburbs to Live in New Jersey list. (It is a little too early in the year to be releasing their 2021 list.) That actually moved us up a spot from our 2019 rankings. But that really does not surprise anyone who lives here.

Niche.com put Westfield in the #6 spot of its 2020 Top 10 Best Suburbs to Live in New Jersey, moving it up one spot from 2019.

Westfield Ranked in Top 10 Best Suburbs to Live in NJ

How Niche.com Determines Rankings

The folks at Niche.com base each city’s ranking on 15 separate categories. These include the cost of living, education, housing, public schools, and diversity among other things. They pull data from a variety of sources, including the US Census Bureau, FBI, US Department of Education, and local surveys. Each category equals a percentage of the overall score.

Why Westfield Made the Grade

While our cost of living may be higher than some other cities in New Jersey, we excel in just about every other category Niche.com judged us in. Our excellent public school system, community health and access to healthcare, and our family-friendly community set us in the “A+” category. Meanwhile, our abundance of outdoor activities, our economic growth, high employment rate, and an array of restaurants, bars, and entertainment options achieved “A” status as well. Our low crime rate, diverse population, and short commute times were all given a “B” grade.

With a population of just under 30,000, Westfield residents enjoy the close-knit community that a small town provides. Fortunately, its location allows an easy commute to NYC and everything that the city has to offer (both for work and play). Niche.com also ranked it #9 out of 637 other cities on its 2020 Best Places to Live in New Jersey list. And it made the #14 spot on its 2020 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey list.

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