Housing Market Got Your Goat? Not at LSR!

“If the housing market gets your goat, then come to LSR.”  Those words, spoken by Lois Schneider, President and CEO of Lois Schneider Realtor, could not be more true.

Lois Schneider Realtor, located at 431 Springfield Avenue in Summit, NJ, is the premier boutique real estate company in the area. With over 30 years in the business, Lois and her top-notch sales associates are no strangers to fluctuating market conditions. A big key to the success of the firm is Lois’ ability to anticipate real estate trends and use that knowledge to broker the best deals for her buyers and sellers. “It is true that knowledge is power,” Lois states, “and at Lois Schneider Realtor, we pass our knowledge of the state-of-the-market, proper pricing techniques, and marketing strategies on to our clients. It’s the best way to provide them with the successful real estate experience they deserve.”

Lois Schneider Realtor proved to be right on the money again this week.  With the news of a more positive market just beginning to leak out, LSR once again jumped ahead of the curve and posted their best week…EVER!  Not the best week since the recession, not the best week since the bubble, but the best week in the history of the company.

And how fitting that the news should come during the lively and festive Girls Night Out held in Summit last evening. Lois and her team pride themselves on being an active and vibrant presence in the community, and are proud of their involvement in community-focused events. Lois loves to give back to the community that has given her so much, whether it be through her philanthropic endeavors or by opening the doors to her office building to serve food and drink during a downtown street festival. Last night was a perfect example of why Lois loves this town. Laughter filled the air as friends streamed in and out of shops, restaurants, boutiques, and businesses. There were treats, bargains, prizes (a Tiffany Key Pendant for one!), and even an appearance by local celebrity Cocoa the Goat!

So don’t let the complexities of the housing market get your goat. Instead, let the real estate professionals at Lois Schneider Realtor lead you to the celebration of your very own successful real estate transaction.

*Photo of Lois Schneider, and Summit residents Cyrus Fadroddin and Cocoa the Goat courtesy of Christine Layng of Vicinity Media Group

Friends+Food+Fabulous Bargains=Girls Night Out

It’s really a simple equation—take your best girlfriends and add a little food, a little drink, a little shopping and you have everything you need for a great night out on the town.  And if you are anywhere near the town of Summit, NJ, then this is your lucky week!  Girls Night Out will be held this Thursday, April 29th, from 4:30-9:30 pm.  This fun and festive social event is being sponsored by Summit Downtown, Inc.

Plan to start your evening at the Welcome Tables, which will be located on Beechwood Road (by the Bank Street parking lot) and at the Summit Promenade (on Springfield Avenue by Seal & Company).  After you receive your Welcome Bag,  enjoy a bite at one of our wonderful restaurants or go hunting for treasures in Summit’s fine shops and boutiques. A complete list of participating businesses and restaurants can be found on the Summit Downtown web site.

Save a little time to stop by the Lois Schneider Realtor office, located at 431 Springfield Avenue, right in the heart of downtown. We are thrilled to be a part of such a terrific community and honored to be a participant in Girls Night Out. It will be our pleasure to serve you a cosmo (for those shoppers 21 and over) and some tasty treats while you browse the fun “girly gifts” offered by Johanna Hale.  And of course, if you’re looking for the ultimate shopping experience, maybe we could interest you in a beautiful key…to your dream home!

What Will $50 Buy You?

What can you get for $50 today? A new summer dress, a decent meal, a tank of gas? What if $50 could  save your local economy?

According to Cinda Baxter, Founder of The 3/50 Project, that is exactly what your $50 could do. The 3/50 Project works by asking members of a community for a commitment to pick 3 and spend $50. It’s as simple as that!

* Pick three locally-owned businesses that you would hate to see disappear and patronize them each month.

*Spend $50 per month in locally-owned businesses. If half of the employed U.S. population did so, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue annually.

How does it help the local economy?

*If you spend $100 in a locally-owned business, $68 is returned to the local community. When the same amount is spent in a big box chain or franchise, only $43 remains within the community. Purchases made online from distant businesses represent no financial benefit to the local economy.

Baxter, a retail consultant and professional speaker, spent 14 years as a successful independent store owner. Back in March of 2009, she posted a blog responding to the fear and reluctance of consumers contemplating spending money in a challenging economy. She wanted to create a positive, achievable message aimed at helping the small, independent business owners stay afloat during the turbulent times. All it took was one post on her Always Upward site and a free, downloadable flyer and within 48 hours 350 people were emailing and asking for more information. Two weeks later, Baxter launched The 3/50 Project website and within 7 days, more than 7600 people found it!

As an independent, “brick and mortar” business, Lois Schneider Realtor is committed to joining other local business owners in an effort to keep our local towns the vibrant, interesting, service-oriented and consumer-friendly communities that they have always been.

So…where will you spend your $50 this month?

*Information about The 3/50 Project and Founder, Cinda Baxter, is courtesy of www.the350project.net.

Open House Extravaganza on Sunday, April 11th!

Please join Lois Schneider Realtor as we celebrate the blooming spring market with our participation in National Open House Weekend on April 11, 2010.

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. At Lois Schneider Realtor, we will be featuring nearly 20 Open Houses, with a large number that qualify for the Tax Credit. Please visit the open house page on our website for complete list of our featured open house listings. Tax credit information is also available on our website.

Remember, interest rates are low and housing affordability is high. 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 call 908-277-1398, or stop in our office at 431 Springfield Avenue in Summit to speak to one of the real estate experts at Lois Schneider Realtor.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

How does your garden grow? Does it bloom with vibrant colors and sweet scents perfect for a June wedding, or does it produce delicious fruits and vegetables for summer cookouts and picnics? In Chatham, New Jersey, a new garden will grow full of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers, and it will be a community effort.

The Chatham Community Garden will be located on the corner of Main Street and Division Avenue, on a plot of land leased from PSE&G. The garden will consist of 40 plots, each 10 x 10 feet, and each plot will be surrounded by a fence.  The land is in full view of the sun and has adequate access to water. 

Zach Subar, a writer for Chatham Patch, has been reporting on the development of the Community Garden and the local companies that are donating their time and resources to the project. He reports that “Green Path Organic Landcare has donated its labor and will help set up fencing, and Coviello Brothers will work compost on site into the ground.” In addition, Chatham Borough is planning to pay for some of the garden upkeep and mowing around the site. Gardener Marta McDowell, who will be blogging about the project, has also donated plant materials to the Chatham Community Garden.

Because of their dedication and commitment to the project, Community Garden Coordinator Marcy Wecker and 18 other volunteers were given the first opportunity to reserve a plot.  After that, plots were assigned through a lottery system, offered to both Township and Borough residents. At least 25 residents were not selected in the lottery and will be put on a waiting list for next year, at which time planners hope to expand the Garden by an additional 60 plots.

At Lois Schneider Realtor, we applaud the efforts of our local volunteers and thank them for the time and talent they donate to make our communities a better place. We look forward to watching their garden grow!

Realtor Tax Credit Countdown

Don’t forget. Write it down. Tell a friend. Tie a string around your finger. Remember.

There is still time to take advantage of the Homebuyer Tax Credit before it expires on April 30th.  If you have any questions, please contact a real estate expert at Lois Schneider Realtor at 431 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ.  We know time is money and the clock is ticking!