It was an excellent week in Ridgewood Real Estate.  16 Ridgewood Homes were marked as being under contract or in attorney review while only 6 newly listed homes hit the market.   One of the homes that went into attorney review this week was last week’s Ridgewood Front Porch Home of the Week.

Newly listed Ridgewood homes ranged from a handsome ranch on Doris Place for $462,500 to a wonderful victorian on Prospect for $1,449,000. 

Ridgewood Real Estate Update - June 13th - 19th
To view more detailed info on each home below - click here.

The properties in this blog post were listed and sold by various participants of the NJMLS based on information from the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, Inc. for the period of June 13th  through June 19th 2009. 

Ridgewood Home of the Week - 252 E. Glen Avenue

This centrally located, completely renovated Colonial Home sits on an oversized 75×162 lot and is in easy walking distance of schools, downtown, Graydon pool and New York City transportation.  Click here to learn more about this Ridgewood Home.

Related Articles

More Ridgewood Homes Go Under Contract or into Attorney Review…

Ridgewood Home Sales Report - May 29th

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“Debra has had a very positive impact on our office,” said Aloysius Donohue, a partner with the firm. “She is an extremely serious and professional agent but at the same time Debra enjoys her work so much that she always looks like she is having fun.  This type of attitude is contagious and it is why both her clients and colleagues enjoy spending time with Debra.”

Debra is a Bergen County native, and currently lives in Ridgewood with her husband and two children, who both attend Somerville Elementary School.  Prior to entering the real estate business, Debra worked for a prestigious Manhattan Law Firm. She feels that having worked on real estate deals in both a legal and a sales capacity gives her a unique perspective and an advantage in today’s competitive marketplace.  Debra is very active in community events and spends a lot of time volunteering at Somerville School.  Her family is also very involved in various sports programs here in Ridgewood where her husband volunteers as a little league coach.

DeSena seems to be very proud of the fact the she earned the prestigious Associate of the Month award within a few months of joining the firm.  She says she was a bit intimidated her first day because everyone at Marron Gildea & Donohue seemed to be so technology oriented. “I knew I was a good agent before I joined Marron Gildea & Donohue but the training here has really enabled me to kick my business up to another level - or two,” says DeSena.  She says some of the newer agents have helped her with technology and she has returned the favor by sharing advice and tips on negotiating and making sales presentations.

For current information on the Ridgewood real estate market contact Debra DeSena at 201.445.8880.  If you are interested in learning more about a career at Marron Gildea & Donohue please contact Aloysius Donohue at 201.445.8880.

 ”I am thrilled that Nancy decided to join our Ridgewood office,” said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm.  “Nancy works hard and she understands the business but her greatest attributes are probably her thorough knowledge of the town of Ridgewood and her incredible networking skills.  Nancy is an excellent match for the environment and culture here at Marron Gildea & Donohue and we expect big things from her.”

 DeFeo is an eleven-year resident of Ridgewood.  She has years of successful real estate experience in Northern New Jersey working both in sales and office administration. 

 Having lived in several Ridgewood neighborhoods gives Nancy a unique perspective that she shares freely with her customers.  In addition, raising her family in Ridgewood, with her two oldest sons graduating Ridgewood High School and her youngest currently at Ridge, gives Nancy personal knowledge of the Ridgewood school system that is so important to prospective buyers.

DeFeo enjoys the low key environment at Marron Gildea & Donohue.  She says the other agents and management are extremely supportive and positive but they are never over-bearing and they never pressure her.  “When I was working at another firm I would read these stories about Marron Gildea & Donohue being like a family and wonder if that was really how it was or if that was just creative spin,” says DeFeo.  “Now that I am here I see that it truly is a family environment where information flows freely between agents and management and everyone supports one another - like a family.”

 Marron Gildea & Donohue is a full-service real estate firm with offices in Ridgewood, Saddle River and Ho Ho Kus. For current information on the local real estate market contact Nancy DeFeo at 201.445.8880.  If you are interested in learning more about a career at Marron Gildea & Donohue please contact Aloysius Donohue at 201.445.8880.

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In the May 30th to June 12th period 18 Ridgewood homes were newly listed for sale but 20Ridgewood properties went under contract or into attorney review in the same time period.  This means Ridgewood is burning off more of what is already a pretty reasonable inventory level.  During the same time period 9 Ridgewood homes closed at an average sale price of $822,511.  There were also 17 homes with price changes during this time period.

Click the links below to see detail info on the Ridgewood Homes listed in each of the categories discussed above.

Ridgewood Homes Under Contract or in Attorney Review

Ridgewood Sold Properties

Ridgewood Price Changes

New Listings in Ridgewood

Ridgewood Home of the Week - 164 Grant Street

 164 Grant Street Virtual Tour
This incredible new home is not quite finished but if you wait until it’s complete (60-90 days from now) there will be someone else’s name on the mailbox. The home is located on one of Ridgewood’s most desirable streets and sits just steps from the prestigious Willard school.  The residence has unquestionable curb appeal with its charming front porch and striking stone and hardie-plank exterior. You’ll love the high ceilings, authentic moldings, open floor plan and the feeling of bright spaciousness.  The home will feature a gourmet kitchen with granite counters and separate breakfast area, large family room with handsome fireplace and coffered ceiling, oversized dining room and impressive master bedroom with 2 walk-in closets and a truly spa-like master bath.  The home will also include 3 full baths on the 2^ndfloor, high-quality hardwood floors on both levels, two-car attached garage with carriage doors, stone patio and a finished lower level with office, rec room and full bath.

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Why Choose Aloysius Donohue?

It’s hard to answer this question myself without sounding like a complete blowhard so please click below to see what clients and local newspapers had to say.

Clients Are Saying…

Local Newspapers are Saying…

Click here to see some of my current listings.

The properties in this blog post were listed and sold by various participants of the NJMLS based on information from the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, Inc. for the period of May 23rd through May 29th 2009. 

It was another busy week in Ridgewood real estate.  In addition to the all new listings there were also 12 Homes with Price Changes.

There were a total of 19 New Ridgewood Residential listings.  The average price of these newly listed homes was $948,674.

Ridgewood Homes Under Contract  and in Attorney Review - Week Ending 5/29/2009

Under Contract

Attorney Review Period

Ridgewood Homes Sold

Three Ridgewood Homes closed the week ending 5/29/2009. The average sale price was $697,633. Click below to view all 3 homes.

Ridgewood Homes Sold

Related Posts

Weekly Ridgewood Real Estate Report - May 22nd

12 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Ridgewood Home

Top Ten Reasons to Relocate to Ridgewood New Jersey

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Why Choose Aloysius Donohue?

It’s hard to answer this question myself without sounding like a complete blowhard so please click below to see what clients and local newspapers had to say.

Clients Are Saying…

Local Newspapers are Saying…

Click here to see some of my current listings.

The properties in this blog post were listed and sold by various participants of the NJMLS based on information from the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, Inc. for the period of May 23rd through May 29th 2009. 

Here are 2 Ridgewood-Specific home buying mistakes to avoid and below is a document outlining 10 general mistakes to avoid.  Armed with this info you will have a better chance of getting a good deal on your Ridgewood Dream Home.

1.  Do you really have to be within walking distance of Ridgewood’s Downtown?

Finding a home within walking distance of Ridgewood’s Downtown is at, or near, the top of many buyer’s wish lists.  Being able to walk to town and to the Ridgewood train station is a huge benefit.  That said, before you let this drive your home buying decision be sure to ask yourself “How often will I really walk to town?”

I have found that most buyers, including the one writing this blog, overestimate how much they will walk to town.  I wouldn’t trade my home on Colonial Road for anything.  I love my home and my neighborhood and I have the greatest neighbors in the world.  However, I have to admit that I can count on 2 hands how many times I have actually walked to Ridgewood’s downtown even though I am only a few blocks away.  Yet, being within walking distance of downtown was a “must-have” when I bought my home.

2. Are you looking for a termite-free home?

If so, please keep driving right past the Ridgewood exit.  Don’t let these creepy crawlers scare you away from the charming old Ridgewood Colonial you’ve dreamed about.  Nearly every Ridgewood home inspection I have been involved in has turned up some form of termite damage.   So, if you want that beautiful old Ridgewood Tudor, you are going to have to face down the termite menace.

Don’t get me wrong, termite infestation and/or termite damage are serious issues that cannot be ignored.   However, before you cut and run at the first mention of termites, you should hire a certified wood destroying insect inspector (who also has an exterminator’s license) to assess the termite issue.   If there is existing damage you should also call in a qualified contractor to determine what can be done to fix the damage and what it will cost.  Once you have all facts you can then determine if you should walk away or fix the damage and move forward.

Who should pay to fix the termite damage and/or treat the infestation is a topic for another post…

Click the icon below to view more detail on mistakes #1- #5 and to see mistakes #6 -#10.

1. Chosing the wrong agent.
2. Making an offer without the proper pre-approval.
3. Not knowing ALL the costs involved.
4. Limiting your search to open houses, the Internet, etc.
5. Thinking there is only one perfect home for you.

List is courtesy of Buffini & Co.

Related Posts

Weekly Ridgewood Real Estate Report - May 22nd

Top Ten Reasons to Relocate to Ridgewood New Jersey

Top 5 Tips for International Relocation

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It was a very positive week in Ridgewood Real Estate for two reasons.

1.  The number of Ridgewood Homes that went under contract and into attorney review were sharply higher than the week before.
2.  The average price of homes sold increased from $534,498 to $810,222.  Obviously, with the small sample size these numbers jump around from week to week but we are finally starting to see some of the more expensive homes selling whereas earlier in the year it was mainly the starter homes that were moving.

Here’s a brief summary of the week’s activity…

• 13 Properties went “Under Contract”.
• 19 New Properties were listed (10 for sale, 9 for rent).
• 14 Properties were marked as being in “Attorney Review”.
• 4 Properties were Sold at an average price of $810,222.
• There were 15 price changes.

Sold Properties

New “For Sale” Home/Condo Listings

“The properties above were listed and sold by various participants of the NJMLS based on information from the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, Inc. for the period of May 16th through May 22nd.

Related Posts

Top Ten Reasons to Relocate to Ridgewood New Jersey

Home Buyer’s Tax Credit Plus 4 Other Reasons NOW is the Time to Buy a Ridgewood Home

Ridgewood Makes List of Top 10 NJ Housing Markets - Train Station a Big Factor

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“This is the second time Kathy has won the Associate of the Month award and she has been with us less than a year,” said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm. “Kathy’s success does not surprise me one bit.  She works hard, she is always upbeat and she has a thorough knowledge of the local real estate market.”

A native New Englander, Kathy attended Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.  Upon graduation, she pursued a career in sales and marketing at leading financial institutions across the globe, from Boston and New York to Sydney, Australia. Kathy frequently draws on skills learned in the corporate world in her work as an effective real estate professional.

Kathy and her husband have lived in Ridgewood for nearly a decade and have two elementary school-aged children. She is an active member of numerous community organizations as well as the public school system.

Lops seems to take the awards and accolades in stride and prefers to credit her company, clients and coworkers for her success.  “The management and agents here really work as a team and they have helped me so much since I joined the MGD family,” said Lops.  “I’ve also been lucky to work with some incredibly wonderful clients who continue to refer their friends and family to me.”  Lops says the market continues to be challenging but notes a recent upswing in the number of clients looking at homes and making offers.   She is looking forward to a busy Spring.

 Related Articles

LOPS NAMED MARRON GILDEA & DONOHUE NOVEMBER ASSOCIATE OF THE MONTH

Priscilla “Bitsie” Reynolds Joins Marron Gildea & Donohue’s Ridgewood Team

JENNIFER HENDERSON JOINS MARRON GILDEA & DONOHUE

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Priscilla Reynolds joined Marron Gildea & Donohue’s rapidly expanding Ridgewood office, a company spokesperson announced today. 

 ”I am thrilled that Priscilla decided to join our Ridgewood office,” said Aloysius Donohue, a managing partner at the firm.  “Priscilla brings a lot to the table.  She has a wealth of real estate experience, a strong work ethic and she is really plugged in to the Ridgewood community.”

It was only a few years ago that Reynolds was a top producing local real estate agent.  While at the top of her game, she consciously decided to scale back her business so she could focus on other endeavors.  Reynolds has now re-focused on real estate and is back and better than ever.  She says she is ready to help her clients with the business of buying and selling real estate and she is ready to reclaim her position as one of the area’s top agents.

Reynolds is a Ridgewood resident who previously managed commercial real estate as well as residential properties for overseas investors through M.E. International Services, Inc., in Washington, D.C.   She also worked on several committees at the Real Source Board of Realtors - including the prestigious Circle of Excellence and Technology committees.

 ”It feels wonderful to be helping clients again and I couldn’t have chosen a better place for my return to full-time real estate,” said Reynolds.  “The training we receive here on a weekly basis is incredible and everyone has been so open and willing to help.  I know it sounds like a cliché but everyone at Marron Gildea & Donohue really rows in the same direction - and that makes all the difference in the world”.

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I say this is because Ridgewood is unique in that it is one of the few affluent towns where residents still get to know their neighbors and really feel a sense of community.  Many other affluent towns are filled with huge McMansions set on large lots where you barely see your neighbors - much less get to know them.  For example, within a week of moving to Ridgewood a neighbor planned a BBQ to introduce us to other neighbors and took note of the ages of our children and made sure to invite families with children of similar ages so our kids could instantly make friends.  Our children have lots friends that are within walking distance and can “cut-through” yards to see these friends. In other towns most interactions with other children involve the complex ritual of setting up “play dates”.

2.       Ridgewood Schools are excellent.

Ridgewood High School ranks at or near the top of the state rankings every year for important benchmarks such as SAT scores, percentage of students attending 4-year colleges, etc. but perhaps more importantly the Ridgewood Schools System excels at providing a top-notch education to all types of students from the gifted to the students with learning issues and/or special needs.  Students with special needs are integrated so seamlessly into the general education population, and so many students receive extra help of some sort or another, that the students themselves don’t even make the distinction between special education students and general education students.  Students are students. Period. And that’s the way it should be.

NJ Monthly Magazine’s List of Top NJ High Schools

Ridgewood School System Website

3.       Ridgewood is a great town for New York City Commuters.

Whether driving, riding the bus or taking the train most Ridgewood residents can walk out their front door and be sitting at their desk in Manhattan in about an hour.

Ridgewood NJ Commuter’s Secret - Manhattan Door-to-Door in Less than an Hour

4.       Ridgewood’s downtown is the best in New Jersey.

Ridgewood truly has a self sufficient downtown that features everything from quaint little shops to high-end chain stores such as Anne Taylor and Lucky Jeans.  And, of course, we have a Starbucks.

5.       Ridgewood has some of the best restaurants in NJ.

Ridgewood restaurants feature everything from fine dining to sandwich shops and everything in between.   My favorites are Marcello’s  and The Office

List of Ridgewood Restuarants

6.       Ridgewood has an incredible Newcomers Club.

The Ridgewood Newcomers Club features dozens of special interest groups and clubs so that new residents not only get to meet other new Ridgewood-ites but they can also be sure to meet folks with similar interests.  This club is very active and features agroups for expats and repats, sports groups, play groups, international groups, and more.

Ridgewood Newcomers Club

7.       You will have more fun in Ridgewood.

There is so much to do in Ridgewood that you really have to pick and choose carefully what to get involved in or you will be busy 24 hours a day.  Ridgewood’s Graydon Pool is a great place to spend a summer day but if you spend the whole day there you may miss some of the great programs at The Stable or the Ridgewood Public Library.

8.       Ridgewood Real Estate.

Ridgewood features homes that run the gamut from large newly constructed homes to sprawling brick ranch homes to quaint cape cod style homes .  However, Ridgewood is best known for its charming older Colonials and Victorians - many of which feature incredible architectural details such as stained glass, built-ins, intricate woodwork, and beautiful front porches.

Click Here to See Ridgewood Homes for Sale

9.       Ridgewood is in the center of it all.

Ridgewood is just minutes from the Garden State Parkway, Route 17, Route 4, the New York State Thruway and the New Jersey Turnpike.  Ridgewood also borders Paramus which is the shopping capital of New Jersey with its many malls, outlets and shops.  Not only is Ridgewood convenient to NYC city but you can also be snow skiing at a great resort or surfing at one of New Jersey’s many beaches in less than an hour’s drive.  And don’t forget that the Meadowlands Sports Complex is less than 20 minutes away.

10.   Ridgewood is the perfect town for expats, repats and families moving out of New York City.

Because of many of the points stated above, Ridgewood is the perfect place for folks relocating from large American cities or from abroad.  Many of New Jersey’s quiet suburbs, with no neighbors in sight and no downtown to speak of, can be quite a shock for those used to the culture and excitement of a large city.  However, with its vibrant downtown, active newcomers club, great restaurants and easy access to Manhattan Ridgewood allows folks to ease into suburban life without sacrificing the things they love about city life.

If you would like additional information about Ridgewood or a guided tour or if you would like to see some of our beautiful homes please call me at 201.906.3287.

Aloysius  Donohue is Ridgewood Resident with two young children in the Ridgewood School System, an award winning REALTOR® and a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist with a focus on Ridgewood real estate.  For more information on Ridgewood real estate you can contact Aloysius Donohue at 201.906.3287 or aldonohue@marrongildea.com. 

Click here for more information about Ridgewood NJ

All statements contained in this blog post are strictly the opinion of the author (Aloysius Donohue). 

Related Articles:

Ridgewood High School’s Ranking Surges in NJ Monthly’s List of Top New Jersey High Schools

Ridgewood Makes List of Top 10 NJ Housing Markets - Train Station a Big Factor

It’s Time for Savvy Buyers to Snap Up Real Estate in Ridgewood New Jersey.

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