Welcome Spring

Spring has sprung in Summit, New Jersey! The budding trees, crocuses and daffodils are a delightful reminder that the long, cold winter does eventually end and brighter days are ahead.

Spring is in full bloom in the housing market as well, and the New Jersey Association of Realtors (NJAR) wants to spread the word that there are great opportunities in this market for buyers and sellers alike. To that end, NJAR has announced that real estate companies throughout the Garden State will be participating in a nationwide Open House Weekend on April 10-11. The Open House Weekend is set to take place  before April 30th to allow buyers to take advantage of the  Homebuyer Tax Credit, which will expire at the end of the month. For additional details, NJAR has posted this video link on www.realstorynj.com.

Lois Schneider Realtor is pleased to be joining in the extravaganza. Visit the open house page on our website for updated information about our featured open house listings. Remember, interest rates are low, housing affordability is high, and inventory is abundant. And as always, if you have any questions about buying or selling your home, or about the current housing market in our area, feel free to speak to any of the experts at Lois Schneider Realtor. 

Happy Spring!

Thank You For Keeping Us #1 in 07901

We are grateful that in 2009 so many loyal clients placed their confidence in our ability to navigate the complexities of a challenging market.  We pledge that in 2010—our 35th year in business—we will continue to provide the unparalleled expertise that makes Lois Schneider Realtor “The First Name In Fine Properties.”

The Sun Is Shining…On Summit High School

The sun is shining on Summit High School, and thanks to SHS junior Justin Cyrus, it will power several classrooms every day!  Patrick Sullivan,  a writer for SummitPatch, reported today that Cyrus was instrumental in getting the new solar panel system—and at no cost to the school board or the taxpayers! 

The $18,000 panels were donated by Sunlight Photonics, a New Jersey-based company that Cyrus worked for this past summer.  He heard they were donating a system and got them to agree to donate to Summit High School. He then worked with Julian, his older brother and engineering student at the University of Texas, to convince the school board that it was a viable project. 

Justin wanted to show that the project was good for the school and good for the community. “Summit has been really accepting,” he said.  “We did not meet any opposition and everything went smoothly.”  The panels have been attached to computers so that their operation can be monitored by the environmental science classes, creating even greater educational value.

During a week when the loss of state aid to schools and budget cuts lined the front pages of all the local newspapers, it’s great to see that our young people are looking for innovative ways to save money and be more environmentally conscious.

Living and working in the Summit, New Jersey area, we here at Lois Schneider Realtor  are especially proud when we learn about the great ideas coming out of our community. We just add it to the innumerable reasons why this is a great place to live–and now we can add one more feather in our cap–thanks to Justin Cyrus!

For more information about this story or the author, visit SummitPatch.com.

Symbols and Traditions of Saint Patrick’s Day

Seems we are all a bit Irish on March 17th, but if you are not versed in the traditions of the Emerald Isle, you may feel left out while friends and family spin tales around the symbols of the day. Thanks to History.com, here are a few fun facts to casually drop into a conversation while sipping a Guinness or an Irish Coffee tomorrow.

The Shamrock

The shamrock (originally dubbed the “seamroy” by the Celts) symbolized the rebirth of spring.  In the 17th century, it became a symbol of Irish nationalism and was worn as a symbol of pride by the Irish who were displeased with English rule. Some say it was used by St. Patrick himself as a way to describe the Christian concept of the Trinity when he brought the religion to the Celtic people.

The Leprechaun

In Celtic folklore, leprechauns were cranky little fairies who were responsible for mending the shoes of other mythical fairies. One legend of the leprechaun says that when the Danes plundered Ireland, they left their gold under the watchful eye of the mythical little elf.  And so, if you can catch him, he will be forced to tell you where the gold is hidden. But be careful—to keep him from disappearing, you have to hold his gaze and this master of mischief will use all of his tricks to make you look away. And when you do—poof, he is gone!

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Irish immigrants living in the lower east side of New York City are responsible for this one.  In an attempt to save money in the late 1800s, the immigrants substituted corned beef in their traditional dish of Irish bacon and cabbage—a less expensive alternative they learned from their Jewish neighbors.

Go to History.com to read more about St. Patrick and the holiday named in his honor.  Here at Lois Schneider Realtor, we will be wearing our green and exchanging recipes for Irish soda bread and Shepherd’s Pie–and if you are looking for more than a bit of “the luck of the Irish” when it comes to buying or selling your home, stop by and see us at our office at 431 Springfield Avenue in Summit, New Jersey. We’ll provide you with the expert advice and service you’re looking for—no blarney!

Share your favorite St. Patrick’s Day Traditions with us—we would love to hear your comments!

Viva Las Vegas

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a global network of over 600 premier real estate firms around the world, held its annual conference in Las Vegas this past week, and as I attended the sessions and listened to the speakers, I realized that Vegas was the perfect place to hold this year’s event.  And it’s not because I believe that real estate is a gamble—studies have shown again and again that the housing market is a sound long-term investment.  It’s because I left the conference believing that it’s time for a comeback–and if Elvis could mount the biggest career revitalization of all time through his “Comeback Tour” in Las Vegas, then this oasis in the desert was the perfect place to revitalize and re-energize the hard-working professionals in the real estate industry.

“Suspicious Minds” might say that heading to Vegas while the industry is still turbulent in much of the United States may not be the best use of resources. There is no doubt that the real estate industry has been going through some tough times, and by all accounts, there are still challenges ahead. But the overriding message at the conference was one of optimism–cautious optimism–but optimism nonetheless.  And so the purpose of the conference was to acquire  information regarding the market, but most importantly, it was about how we, as real estate professionals, can use this information to best serve and guide our clients through the rapidly changing market.  One of the best ways to do that is to talk to other real estate professionals from all over the world and see how they are overcoming local market challenges to deliver the most positive results to members of their community.

Here at Lois Schneider Realtor, we take great pride in sharing our knowledge and expertise with our community.  So whether you are looking to buy or sell a home, have a question about the local real estate market, or just want a recommendation on a great place to dine or shop, please feel free to stop in and visit our office at 431 Springfield Avenue in Summit, New Jersey.  And to Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and all of their affiliates—for the great information and positive view of the market, let me just say thank you…thank you very much!

Dinner And A Show

One of the best things (and there are many!) about Summit, New Jersey, is its proximity to New York City.  Because of this, residents of Summit often take advantage of the Mid-Town Direct train line or the easily accessible major highways and head to Manhattan for dinner and a show.  But this weekend, dinner and a show can be experienced right here in town.  Downtown Summit is home to an array of wonderful restaurants, with Italian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and American cuisine as just a few of the international dining options.  For a more detailed list, visit the Downtown Summit web site.

After dinner, round out your evening by heading over to Summit High School to catch the show.  Last night, students from Summit High School debuted their production of the Mel Brooks Tony Award Winning musical The Producers, and performances will continue through Saturday night.  The musical is about a producer and his accountant who collaborate to create a Broadway show so bad that it is sure to flop, thus allowing them to run off with the surplus cash from their investors.  The show’s director, Anne Poyner, is quoted in an article by Rayna Lewis for Summit Patch, as saying this is one of  the “best shows we’ve ever done,” with the cast of 55 bringing energy and excitement to their roles. Poyner adds, “this is absolutely the right show for this group because we have so many talented, funny kids this year and this allowed them to shine.”

Summit High School is no stranger to great performances either.  For the last four years, Summit has been entered into the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Competition, and in 2007, the school was honored with 7 out of 18 awards, including Best Overall Production, for their production of  Titanic.  100 New Jersey high schools enter the competition, and are judged in a variety of categories.  Final nominees get to perform on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage at the Awards Gala Ceremony.  For more information, visit www.papermill.org.

Come out and show your support for our local aspiring performers.  Shows will be performed Thursday, March 4th-Saturday, March 6th at 7:30 pm.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.summit-nj-online.com or for more information, call (908) 918-2122.

Updated and Upgraded

The world of Real Estate is constantly changing and evolving—new listings come on the market, other listings are sold, photos change with the seasons, prices are reduced—information can change in the blink of an eye.  And as every Realtor knows, the way in which we process this information and present it to clients is constantly being updated and upgraded.  In the past, agents would call clients on the telephone, drive them from listing to listing, and send information via the post office.  Now, we reach our clients through email and cell phones. We use our laptops to  prepare CMAs, create PowerPoint presentations,  and preview homes through virtual tours. Digital cameras are used to take professional-quality photographs and videos that can be uploaded and shared on websites in a matter of minutes. And smartphones are like miniature mobile offices with what seem like endless capabilities.

Of course, every technological breakthrough seems to force us to run out and upgrade our equipment, which leads to a new dilemma—how to properly dispose of the old. In an article in the March 2010 issue of New Jersey Realtor, Dan Rafter states that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that 2.25 million tons of tvs, cell phones, and computer products  were discarded in 2007, and only 18% were recycled properly. According to Rafter, there are many options for recycling old electronics in New Jersey. If you go to www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/lrm/uwaste/ucomplist.htm, you will find a list of more than 40 state facilities where old electronics will be given a new life or a proper burial. Another option is to contact places like schools, libraries or social service agencies where donations of cell phones and computers are appreciated. Just remember to erase your personal information. For computers, you can find disk erasing software for free online, which will allow you to delete personal information and will not allow this information to be retrieved from your hard drive.  For cell phones and smart phones, it is best to contact the manufacturer for the best way to remove your personal data.

Do you know of other ways to donate or recycle used electronic equipment? What is your favorite electronic upgrade? Post a comment on our blog and let us know!

Restaurant Week in Maplewood, NJ

The Maplewood Village 2nd Annual Restaurant Week will be held between March 1st and March 7th this year.  Sponsored by the Maplewood Village Alliance, the event will feature a variety of dining experiences with participating restaurants offering customers a range of options from prix-fixe and tasting menus to daily lunch and/or dinner specials.  In addition, many of the local merchants are supporting Restaurant Week with discounts of their own. 

For more information about participating restaurants and merchants, or to download a Merchant Coupon Card, please visit http://maplewoodvillagealliance.wordpress.com/upcoming-events/.

Do you have a favorite restaurant or merchant in Maplewood Village?  Post a comment and let us know!

Thank You Vancouver

A very special thank you to the people of Vancouver, British Columbia for being such gracious hosts to Olympic athletes and fans from all over the world. Between the opening ceremonies on February 12th and the closing ceremonies on the 28th, people from every corner of the world tuned in to watch the XXI Winter Olympic Games, sharing in the highs and lows, victories and disappointments, and heartaches and celebrations of the participants. Bleary-eyed from staying up until midnight or after, fans in the United States would spend the mornings talking about Apolo Ohno’s personal medal count, the four-man American bobsled team winning their first gold medal since the 1940s, and Evan Lysacek beautifully skating to gold without the help of  “a quad.” We collectively mourned after the tragic accident that claimed the life of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili.  We watched in awe as Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette bravely skated to bronze following the sudden passing of her mother. We were amazed by the thrilling performances of the snowboarders, skiers, and speed skaters.  And oh that hockey game! The final minutes of the final event could not have been any more exciting if it had been scripted for the movies!

The dedication and commitment displayed by the Olympic athletes, coaches and families is a valuable lesson to take away from these games. The Olympic spotlight is bright, but the Olympic spirit comes from early morning practices, perfecting a skill, getting up after a fall, and being humble when you win and gracious when you don’t. It really is about how you play the game, and these Olympic games were a memorable example of that spirit. 

Did you watch the Olympics?  What was the most memorable moment for you? Feel free to post a comment and let us know.