Nov. 26, 2007 - Book signings in town

Meet NJ authors at the public library

Co-author of 101 Ways to Improve Your Health, Marie Galdi, will appear and sign books tomorrow evening, Tuesday, November 27, at 7:00 PM

The folowing day, Walter Choroszewski, photographer and author of several books about New Jersey, will discuss and sign his latest book Somerset: A Celebration of Communities Wednesday, November 28, at 7:00 PM

To register for these two free programs, stop by the the Franklin Township Reference Desk or call
732-873-8700, ext. 111. The Franklin Townshi Public Library is located at 485 DeMott Lane Somerset, NJ 08873.

Nov. 18, 2007 - Thanksgiving 2007

What it means to me

For me, over the years Thanksgiving Day meant a trip to my mom's house; the Queens, NY home I grew up in. It was a chance to be with siblings, nieces, nephews, distant cousins, aunts, uncles and long time family friends. Not to brag but my mother, now in her eighties, still is a master cook. In preparation for the fest, she would have been cooking for more than a week; freezing what was finished. The menu would include the traditional turkey but continue with fresh ham, "string" beans, collard greens, peas & rice, sweet potatos, potato salad, homemade cranberry sauce along with assorted homemade cakes, pies and there was always room for Jello. Without exaggeration, easily 75-100 family members and friends would stop by in shifts for a plate (or two) of my mom's cooking. Tables were set-up in the dining room, breakfast room, living room and of course the "kids' table" in the basement. Mom, has retired from staging this event for several years. And honestly, I don't think anyone will every duplicate that total experience ever again.

Now that I'm a lot older and I would like to think, a little wiser; Thanksgiving has taken on a more subdued day for me. It's become less about stuffing my face and more about reflecting on what is important and truly what I am thankful for. Here is my top ten list, in no particular order:

I am thankful for my family and my close friends, who really are family without sharing the same gene pool. ( I still keep in contact with friends I've known for more than 50 years.)

With no disrespect to other nationals, I am thankful to have been born in the USA with the opportunity to have traveled the world. Having had experiences in underdeveloped countries, I am thankful for fresh food to eat and clean water to drink.

I am thankful to be in reasonably good health. As an adult, I've not spent a single night in a hospital bed.

I am thankful to own a comfortable and affordable home.

I am thankful to have a steady source of income and a (maybe foolish) sense of economic security.

I am thankful for the opportunity to expand my career horizons, contacts and knowledge.

I am thankful for the solid moral/ethical foundation that my parents instilled in me as a child.

I am thankful to have the ability to give back to my global community. I encourgae you to join me in support of Hope Unlimited for Children, the DREAM Project and the Franklin Township Food Bank.

I am thankful to you who are reading my Blog.

I am thankful to be blessed and to have awakened another day.

However you spend your day, may you enjoy a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Nov. 16, 2007 - This weekend's open houses

Local area open houses, Nov. 17-18

To view a list of open houses this weekend, click the above icon.

Be certain to check Our Town Realty Open Houses

But, why wait until the weekend? Be ahead of the crowd by scheduling a private showing today. And don't miss my Featured Homes

Contact me via e-mail or call (908) 583-0409

Learn about Buyer Agency and why home buyers should not venture into open homes alone.

Nov. 14, 2007 - Buying your first home

Surefire ways to make it happen

Buying and selling real estate is getting back to basics. Here are a few tips for first time home buyers.

Clean up your finances Your credit history will determine the loan terms and mortgage rates you qualify for. You could be offered a smaller loan or charged a higher rate if a lender is concerned you might not be able to repay. Also consider paying down some debt, especially high-interest debt such as credit cards that might flag you as a riskier borrower. For more on this read my other posting, "Your credit history"

Keep it separate Set up a separate account for your down-payment funds, so the money doesn't get intermingled with other savings and so you can keep track of how much you save. This would probably be a taxable account at a bank, credit union or brokerage firm.

Aim for 20 percent down I know this is easier said than done. But, aim to save up 20 percent or more of the price. The risk of putting down too little: If the home falls in value and you sell at a loss, you'll owe more to the lender than you receive from the buyer. In addition, many mortgages require buyers who put down less than 20 percent to get private mortgage insurance, which can add $80 to $100 to your monthly bill. And the less you put down, the higher your loan balance and therefore your monthly payment will be.

Get extra help Few first-time buyers pony up the entire down payment on their own. Nearly 23 percent of first down payments come as gifts from relatives and friends, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors.

When you are ready to take the first leap into home ownership, contact a mortgage advisor and get pre-approved, not just prequalified. For more information, go to Century21 Mortgage

Disclosure - Century 21 Our Town Realty is affiliated with Century 21 Mortgage

Nov. 9, 2007 - A salute to our heroes

Honoring our heroes

This Sunday, November 11th, we honor those who gave service to our country in the armed forces. It's hard for me to believe that this year marks the 25^th anniversary of the veteran's "Wall" in Washington D.C. honoring those who've paid the ultimate price of freedom during the Vietnam war.

This weekend as you walk or drive along DeMott Lane between New Brunswick and Amwell roads and our flags wave in the blowing winds, give a moment's thought to the sacrafices being made by our troops.

Please join me in thanking our veterans, past and present, and especially those Franklin Township neighbors who made the unselfish commitment of military service that benefits each and every one of us every day.

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" ~ Maya Angelou

May our troops return home safe, sound and swiftly. Read about the history of Veterans Day.

Nov. 5, 2007 - Your Credit History

Getting it all together

Nov. 4, 2007 - October 2007 Residential Sales

Franklin Township Residential Sales

The month of October ended with 48 Franklin Township single family residences sold in an average of 82 days on the market (DOM) and received 96% of the listing price. October ended with an average new listing price of $383,291 and an average sale price of $353,141.

The month ended with 601 active listings on the market, including 125 new listings. If you have a question about a specific property in town, or stats for surrounding areas, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Source: Garden State MLS, L.L.C. **Info. deemed RELIABLE but not GUARANTEED - ALL Room Sizes are Approx.**