Maplewood, NJ

The average sales prices for single-family homes in Maplewood, New Jersey have been on just a slight roller coaster ride since the first quarter of 2008 but have never dipped below the $400,000 mark. The highest average price occurred in the third quarter, July-September, of last year at $542,672. This was just a slight tick up from the previous quarter. After September you started to see a dive beginning to happen. It finally ended and hit bottom with an average sales price of $402,069 in the first quarter of this year.

The graph to the left gives you a visual interpretation of what has been happening. The first table below lists this interpretation in chart form with the average price per quarter at the very bottom. It then takes you a step further and provides a breakdown of what the average price was in various price ranges. The last table, at the bottom, gives you a different view. It shows how many residential homes sold in each of the price ranges. This is important because knowing the average price is good but knowing what it means in the price range you're thinking of selling in is even more vital. For example, in West Orange, New Jersey in this same time frame you see a dearth of home sales in the $500,000 range. You also see the average sales price of homes are lower and the majority is grouped under the $400,000 mark. Unlike West Orange, Maplewood has much more of a good, even spread across a wider price range, $350,000 - $750,000. Like South Orange, Maplewood also has a much more higher-end market compared to West Orange; but not as high-end of a market as Millburn/Short Hills.

We like when people ask us how the real estate market is going in Maplewood, South Orange and West Orange, New Jersey. It's important for us to demonstrate that we understand what's happening in the market with anecdotes about houses we have seen, stories of what real estate agents are going through to keep deals going, and numbers. Numbers, stats, whatever you want to call it, show a logical look at the market past and present. It allows us and our clients to take a step back to see the market objectively.

We love to go over some numbers and charts that are useful to understanding the real estate market and allow you to take a step back. It lets you have a good pulse on the market in towns like Maplewood. It's good for a seller as he/she strives to set the best price for the home to sell the best. It's also good for the buyer to take a step back once in awhile and learn the market from this numbers point of view. Many buyers go by what they assume based on tidbits they read or hear in the news, or stories from friends and family.

When you take time to know the market you are taking time out of your busy schedule to save yourself some confusion, agony, and more because working from the facts allows you to step back and make an educated decision on how to proceed with a purchase or a sale, not just an emotional one. I say "just" because we know real estate is part emotion because when you "fall in love" with a house, that's it. When you have been in a house for what feels like a lifetime, that's it.

We believe an educated consumer is our best client and partner. Contact us to partner with you today.

Compared to the first week of November, this second week in the month saw a slight drop in the number of homes that went under contract in 8 New Jersey towns. There were 35 homes this week November 8 - November 14, 5 less than last week.

You can see how each town made out in the list below:

Livingston = 6
Maplewood = 2
Millburn/Short Hills = 1
Montclair = 5
Nutley = 3
South Orange = 5
Verona = 2
West Orange = 11

The full list only shows when a real estate agent has listed a home as under contract in the Garden State Multiple Listing Service (GSMLS). This signifies that the homeowner is on track for the house to be sold in the near future. However, there are things that can go awry and cause the house to not be sold. These weekly lists also show the current activity in the market and what price point is moving within each town.

It's important to know how houses are moving in the towns you're looking to buy or sell in. Following what price a home generated an offer gives a strong indication of prices at the moment, even though you don't know what the home actually sold for. Knowing the price when it sold and how long it was on the market can tell you a lot; just ask us more about it. We love providing useful information to clients and potential clients because we know that an educated consumer is our best client and partner. Why would you work with anyone else?

The town has been abuzz with the release of Split Ends, a movie from the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce member Libby Christensen, the owner of The Chelsea Set. Libby has been cutting hair for decades and now she moved into the movie arena.

The movie premiered at the Maplewood Theatre on October 18 with a Meet the Stars reception across the street at the Maplewood train station. With a two-week run at the theatre, each show was sold out.

Split Ends won the 2009 Garden State Film Festival Best Home Grown Feature Film. Maplewood residents Libby Christensen, Gila Zalon, BobPusateri and Jimmy Allen wrote and produced the movie. The entire move was shot locally so residents got a blast seeing people and sights they knew all to well.

Libby has been the hairstylist for the singer Connie Francis for quite awhile and she or one of the other talented stylists at The Chelsea Set can be your hairstylist, too. Stop by Maplewood and give them a try.

To learn more about Maplewood, NJ contact us today and we'll show you your various real estate choices.

Photo courtesy of Maplewood Chamber of Commerce

The holidays are a big deal in Maplewood, New Jersey. It all starts with the annual Halloween Parade that's sponsored by the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce and continues to New Year's Day with celebrations, events and activities mostly hosted by the Chamber and the Maplewood Village Alliance. The annual Dickens Village event is a series of activities that help ring in the holiday spirit for the old and young alike.

Holiday decorations transform the village downtown streets and the Dickens Village is set up in the Ricalton Square, the little park across from the Maplewood train station along Maplewood Avenue. The base of Dickens Village is an assortment of small houses each decorated uniquely for people to come by and admire and take pictures. But, it's so much more. You'll see the holiday spirit come alive through many festive activities. There will be carolers dressed in character, you may see Scrooge causing havoc in the pub or store, and Santa will be around, too. Santa will arrive via a fire truck on December 5 for the annual tree lighting cermeony at Ricalton Square. Live reindeer will be around and visitors can take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the village. There will be live music on some days, a petting zoo on other days, and more things to come. Stay tuned to the Dickens Village website, www.maplewooddickensvillage.com for the full schedule.

This all began years ago as a "thank you" from local merchants and has become a part of the town tradition. The Maplewood Village Alliance is comprised of property owners, merchants and residents dedicated to the betterment of Maplewood Village. The Maplewood Chamber of Commerce promotes and strengthens the business community through goals and programs that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit and foster a positive image of Maplewood.

It's great to have these groups around to help insure a great community spirit for Maplewood, New Jersey.

Come by and get in the spirit.

There were 26 residential homes sold during the month of September in Maplewood, New Jersey, a 61.5% increase in the amount of homes sold year-over-year (between 2009 and 2008). A house sold in September normally means a homeowner accepted the offer that led to this closing somewhere around July.

The average list price for these 26 single-family homes was $493,380. The average sales price was $477,019, which translates into 96.68% of the averaged sales price. Although the number of homes sold increased this year, compared to last year, the price of homes didn't. The average list price in 2008 was $528,679, while the average sales price was $521,843.

Contact us to learn more about the Maplewood real estate market. Click here to view all the Maplewood homes currently for sale.

MAPLEWOOD RESIDENTIAL HOMES SOLD - SEPTEMBER 2009