Real Estate Information

Considering buying waterfront property in New Jersey? Check out this article from New Jersey.com written by Kathleen Lynn.  Read on for highlights/inserts and my  own quote from Kathleen’s article.

"....you don't need to move to the Shore to live near the water. North Jersey has a number of lake communities — natural havens, hidden away from the highways and shopping malls.

Homes in lake communities don't necessarily cost more than similar properties nearby, but houses right on the water do. Realtors estimate that lakefront properties go for 30 to 35 percent more than similar homes that are landlocked. But many people are willing to pay that price.

In fact, home values range widely among North Jersey's lake communities. You can find small two- or three-bedroom homes in Ringwood or West Milford lake neighborhoods for as little as $200,000 to $350,000 — or pay more than $1 million for luxurious, newer waterfront homes on Greenwood Lake or Pines Lake or in the Smoke Rise gated community in Kinnelon.

However, there are trade-offs. Many of North Jersey's lake communities were developed in the first half of the 20th century as summer colonies and some started their lives as tiny summer cottages or log cabins. They sometimes lack the size, closet space or multiple bathrooms that buyers crave. And many of North Jersey's lakes are in hilly, remote towns such as West Milford, making for long commutes and a rural lifestyle that might include too many bears for some families' comfort.

The sprawling town of West Milford has many lake neighborhoods that started as summer communities, including Pinecliff Lake, which is near the downtown shopping district and has a lot of log cabins, and Upper Greenwood Lake, where lots were sold in the 1930s for $97.50 each in a marketing gimmick by the New York Daily Mirror newspaper.

The real beauty of Pines Lake is that the real estate is very diverse, from starter homes to bigger homes. It's not like you have to spend a million dollars to get started here…”

"Some people come here because it's affordable and commutable, and they discover a gem of a community and never want to leave," said Orly Steinberg, a Coldwell Banker agent in Ringwood who sells many lake homes.”

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Compliments to the Robert Erskine and Peter Cooper Elementary Schools in Ringwood, NJ.  By establishing the Ramapough Native Gardens’ into the classroom curriculum these schools have gained the attention of the New Jersey Network (NJN) public television and radio program "Classroom Close-Up, NJ".   The producers and crew have taped several parents, teachers and their students tending to a native garden (The Three Sisters), grinding corn into flour, and hear a native tale about vegetation.

 “According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together.  This tradition of inter-planting corn, beans, and squash in the same mound, widespread among Native American farming societies, is a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and healthy diet to generations.”

To acknowledge the Native American influence at Robert Erskine and Peter Cooper Elementary Schools gardens, artists have designed a mural depicting the Ramapough Mountain Indians Clan sign:  the Turtle.

The New Jersey Agricultural Society (NJAS) named, Christine Schouten, Teacher of the Year for her efforts in promoting gardening with children.  “The New Jersey Agricultural Society, a 501 C (3) non-profit, is the oldest agricultural organization of its type in the nation.  Established in 1781, its mission is to preserve and enhance agriculture, farming and related activities and businesses in New Jersey through educational, informational, and promotional programs.”

Amy Jolin of the Ringwood Farmers Market; a venue to promote locally grown produce, collaborated with a Board of Education member, Melissa Griegel, about the garden curriculum; designing the curriculum to encompass the school year. 

So kudos to the students, the teachers, the parents, and to the Board of Education for developing and supporting another way for New Jersey to be “sustainable” and “green”.

 Compliments of Orly,  Neighborhood Specialist

Orly Steinberg offers homes and real estate for sale in and around Passaic County, New Jersey including the towns of Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Wanaque and West Milford.

Click on the link if you would like to Schedule a Showing http://www.onlyorly.idxco.com/idx/5065/contact.php to any of Orly's Featured properties or any Properties you may find when you use Orly's handy Automated Home Search

Ringwood, NJ can boast of having a magnificent state park nearby.  The Ringwood State Park, sprawls across two counties, Bergen and Passaic, with several well-known attractions within its boundaries.

The Park consists of 4, 044 acres of fun.  Within these 4,000+ acres sits The State Botanical Garden at Skylands Manor,  The Forges and Ringwood Manor, and Shepherd Lake Recreation Area.

The Botanical Garden, Skylands Manor, and Ringwood Manor are opened year round while Shepherd Lake Recreation Area is only open from May – September (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day) from 10 am to 6 pm.

Skylands Manor and the State Botanical Garden host weddings and special events year round.  The Garden has thirteen specialty gardens.  All the stone in the Manor was quarried on the estate.  St Luke’s Chapel, built in 1895 is partnered with Skylands Manor for weddings and other events.

Shepherd Lake Recreation Area is a 74 acre spring-fed lake.  With Boating, canoeing and fishing allowed and trails surrounds the lake.

Ringwood State Park has several different trails to choose from:

• Hiking
• Nature trails
• Horseback riding
• Biking
• Mountain biking

The State Park also allows hunting, picnicking, winter sports, and skeet shooting at Thunder Mountain Skeet Range. http://www.thundermt.com/Thunder_Mountain/Thunder_Mountain.html.

There  much to do and see in Ringwood State Park.

Courtesy of Orly Steinberg, Neighborhood Specialist

 Click here to view Orly's Ringwood NJ Real Estate

and Wanaque NJ Homes for Sale

Click here to Search homes for sale in Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford

and the surrounding area.

In Ringwood, NJ the Ringwood Public Library, may have to cut services and materials.  What does it mean to the public to lose services and materials?

It means a possible loss of the Ringwood Public Library’s:

• Books
• CD’s
• DVD’s
• Hours of Operations
• InterLibrary Loans (ILL’s)
• Internet Access
• Personnel
• Programs/Events
• Research Databases
• Website

Access to knowledge hasn’t always been available to the general public.  For centuries books were considered a valuable possession to be passed down to the next person.  A person who could read and write was held in high esteem.  And the opposite for the person’s who could not read nor write.  Women, even from wealth, were not encouraged nor given access to education; people of color even less.

At one time libraries were not a part of the mil’s of the tax revenue but, supported through private donations.  Now a day’s governmental bodies place libraries under Human Services.  Human Services departments, unfortunately, are the first to suffer budget cuts when the economy slows. 

The State of New Jersey doles their funding on a per capita basis.  Gov. Chris Christie proposes a 74 percent budget cut to libraries.  If this happens on July 1, 2010 it will take libraries years to recover from this loss of aid; if the libraries are able to recover.  Many libraries will close because their local economy can’t give them enough support. 

What is sad, as the libraries, across the nation, are being downsized and/or closed is the very time that the public needs the library the most. Same my New Jersey Library.

Compliments of Orly Steinberg

Neighborhood Specialist

 Click here to view Orly's Ringwood NJ Real Estate and Wanaque NJ Homes for Sale

Click here to Search homes for sale in Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford and the surrounding area.

I wanted to share a cause with you that I hope you will join me in supporting.

On July 18th “Pick It Up! Pictures” and “Real Women Real Beauty” show and Alexa Prisco from the Style Network hit show “Jerseylicious” are teaming up with the charitable, non-profit entity, “Strengthen Our Sisters” (SOS).  Their goal is to help raise money and awareness, and to save 8 SOS that are facing being shut down due to lack of funding. Over 50% of homeless people are women and children fleeing abuse and trying to start a new life.  Every 9 seconds a woman is beaten in America and over 8 women and children are beaten to DEATH everyday in America due to abuse. This is an epidemic and these voiceless victims desperately need a voice.  These non-profits need help BREAKING THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.  They are fighting poverty, gangs, dysfunction, ignorance, abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking, everything, etc.

The minds and the inspiration behind this event should be recognized what they are doing will have a direct impact on the lives of so many women and children who need all the help that they can get.  WORLD PEACE BEGINS AT HOME was started by Pick It Up! Pictures” founder Jacquelyn Aluotto. Because of her vision this event is also taking place in other parts of the country to raise awareness and funds for various social services.

Please join me in supporting  this worthy cause by helping me sponsor this event. Click on this link for the Sponsorship Form and additional information.

Hans Brueckl, an 83 year old coppersmith, is still practicing his art/skill at The Manor Restaurant in West Orange, “The Manor is a veritable village of craftsman and artisans”.

This unique restaurant is a glimpse into the past century of how a self contained property is managed. Today this feudal concept is transformed into a place for artist and craftsmen to showcase their skills.  From the kitchen, to the gardens, to the carriage house (mechanics) the Manor’s personnel can do it all.  It is a “living history” that is a business.  A successful business!

What is wonderful – the artist get to utilize their skill in a practical manner.  Hans Brueckl, learned the art of coppersmith as an apprentice in Austria.  When the term smithy is used the first thing that comes to mind is the blacksmith.  The blacksmith – think horseshoeing, is still a known skill but, coppersmith is rarer.  Even silversmith – think handmade jewelry, is known more than coppersmith.  So what do coppersmiths make and how does one learn the skill?

Coppersmiths aka redsmiths make many everyday items with copper, hence the name redsmith. This skill in copper began transforming over to sheetmetal work in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.  Coppersmiths now include working with aluminum and stainless steel.  Instead of a forge an acetylene torch is used to transform the raw material into useful items.

Unfortunately, coppersmithing at the Manor may be seeing an end to an era.  Hans Brueckl doesn’t have an apprentice to train.  What he learned more than 50 years ago, the style, the quality of work, the time and patience to work the copper may become a lost art.

Coppersmiths have been around a long time – it is one of the few trades mentioned in the Bible.  Losing this art/skill would be a shame. 

Courtesy of Orly,

Neighborhood Specialist

 Click here to view Orly's Ringwood NJ Real Estate and Wanaque NJ Homes for Sale

Click here to Search homes for sale in Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford and the surrounding area.

June 22, 2010, the New Jersey FFA Alumni Association is hosting the 9^th Annual FFA Golf Benefit, Mercer Oaks Golf Course in West Windsor, NJ to help raise funds for the FFA.  Players and sponsorships are welcomed.

The Future Farmers of America (FFA), was established in 1928, and has grown into The National FFA Organization as of 1988.  This 82 year old organization has chapters in every state and usually a part of the Department of Agriculture. The Ringwood High School has an Agriculture program.  If you think that FFA doesn’t appeal to the kids of today – think again.  Taylor Swift, teen singer, is a former member of FFA. 

Why should you support the FFA?  Because the FFA offers programs that are much more than “down on the farm”.  According to the National FFA website, there are three components to the program. The FFA organization is only one piece of the three pronged model that works together to provide students with leadership, academic and career experience in the agricultural field.

The model components:

1. classroom/laboratory instruction (Instruction)
2. supervised agricultural experience programs (SAE)
3. student leadership organizations (National FFA Organization, National Young Farmer Educational Association, and National Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization).

Compliments of Orly,

Neighborhood Specialist

Click here to view Orly's Ringwood NJ Real Estate and Wanaque NJ Homes for Sale

Click here to Search homes for sale in Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford and the surrounding area.

Ringwood Library or the Borough Hall could be a testing site for a renewable energy source.  At the expense of the company who is proposing this effort the Borough Council is putting this request on their agenda to discuss the possibility.

There are several reasons why the Borough Council will be considering this request.  Every state in the union was mandated by the federal government to develop an energy plan.  The State of New Jersey, since the 1970’s, has an energy master plan that is required to be reviewed every ten (10) years.  The last time the energy master plan was reviewed was in 2008 and is currently being reviewed and revised by the state government. This plan requires 20 percent of New Jersey’s energy to come from renewable sources. There are several points in the master plan that have deadlines:

• 2012 – 1,000 megawatts of wind energy by offshore wind farms
• 2020 – 3,000 megawatts of wind energy by offshore wind farms
• 2020 – 200 megawatts of wind energy by onshore wind generators or farms

With this in mind, there is $19 million in grant money to off sit the cost of providing a renewable energy source in a community. 

In 2008, New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm was approved and since has become a tourist attraction.  So the first point of the master plan has been achieved and now reviewing for the other points is underway.

Because of Ringwood’s location; there seems to be enough wind to investigate having a wind turbine placed either at the library or the Borough hall. Of course, this company has proposed a power purchase agreement or a contract if there is enough wind to generate a cost effective energy.

The Ringwood Zoning Board will assess the request for a testing tower to be raised in either location.

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As of March 23, 2010 a new law was signed into existence by the Congress and the President; the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  This new law will give a tax credit to small employers that have health care coverage for employees.  On the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, there will be several pages, with different focuses, that will help to explain this new law.  The current Q&A page pertains to the tax years 2010-2013, in 2014 the rate will increase.

On the Q&A page, you will find the questions group under headings:

• Employers Eligible for the Credit: Q&A 1-2
• Calculation of the Credit: Q&A 3-8
• Determining FTEs and Average Annual Wages: Q&A 9-15
• How to Claim the Credit: Q&A 16-21
• Anticipated Transition Relief for Tax Years Beginning in 2010: Q&A 22

April 19, 2010, The IRS started sending out postcards, http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/health_care_postcard_notice.pdf, to small businesses to inform them of this new law and how much it can save them.

In short, the IRS has simplified the information:

“Eligibility Rules

• Providing health care coverage: a qualifying employer must cover at least 50 percent of the cost of health care coverage for some of its workers based on the single rate.
• Firm size: a qualifying employer must have less than the equivalent of 25 full-time workers.
• Average annual wage: a qualifying employer must pay average annual wages below $50,000.
• Both taxable (for profit) and tax-exempt firms qualify.

Amount of Credit

• Maximum Amount: the credit is worth up to 35 percent of a small business premium costs in 2010.  On January 1, 2014 this rate increases to 50 percent (35 percent for tax-exempt employers.)
• Phase-out: the credit phases out gradually for firms with average wage between $25,000 and $50,000 and for firms with the equivalent of between 10 and 25 full-time workers.”

but, suggest that a small business consult with their tax advisor first or call the IRS.

The IRS even has a 3 Simple Steps pdf form, http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/3_simple_steps.pdf, to help a small business owner to determine if their business qualifies. 

Check it out – it may be worth your time and effort.

 Click here to view Orly's Ringwood NJ Real Estate and Wanaque NJ Homes for Sale

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Ringwood, NJ residents have you heard of “Hypermiling”?  The New Oxford American Dictionary selected hypermiling as the best new word of 2008.  It means to “attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one’s vehicle and one’s driving techniques.”

What contributed to the invention of hypermiling was the rise in gas prices.  With the younger generation having to deal with gas shortages and a strong desire to go green, hypermiling was a natural result.   They eventually became  a green gear head community known as ecomodders with over 10,000 members.  A website dedicated to Ecomodding, states it is “an automotive community where performance is judged by fuel economy rather that power and speed.”  Their goal – is to “squeeze every penny out of the pumps.”

The community promotes efficiency in miles per gallon by tweaking their vehicles with weight reduction and improved gear ratios to improve fuel. However, the Ecomodder community frowns on illegal modifications or driving techniques that endangers other motorists.

The green “gear heads” have their own sport arena. This year, 2010, is the third annual Green Prix. The Geen Prix is a road rally for hybrids and alternate fuel vehicles and their drivers to get the best MPG.

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Click here to Search homes for sale in Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford and the surrounding area.