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"Antoinette" Scognamiglio ~ GRI Morris County, New Jersey Homes for Sale

Lake Hopatcong, NJ ~ Area Dining and Restaurants

jefferson houseIf you're spending the day or a weekend on Lake Hopatcong and looking for a dining experience or just a quick bite, there's a great selection for you to choose from.

Here's a list of Lake Hopatcong's offerings on the Lake, both lakefront and landlocked!

Cambiotti's Tomato Pie Cafe

102 Shippenport Rd. Landing

973-770-1020

Entrees for all appetites!

Brooklyn Cafe & Deli

393 Maxim Dr.

Hopatcong, NJ

973-770-9881

Full Delicatessen, Bar & Restaraunt. Entertainment on the Weekends

Davy's Dogs

14 Howard Blvd. Mt. Arlington

973-770-3289

Wide variety, casual

Feurerstein's Tavern

438 River Styx Rd. Hopatcong

973-398-1437

Entertainment, Party Room, Darts, Pool Table, Jukebox

Jefferson Diner

Rt. 15-Lakeside Shopping Center

Lk. Hopatcong

973-663-0233

American Diner

Jefferson House

Nolan's Point Rd.

Lk. Hopatcong

973-663-3063

Continental Cuisine(Lake Front)

Kabobs at the Northwood Inn

300 Lakeside Avenue

973-663-1075

Of course, shish kabobs, but so very much more! Also serving breakfast. Great lakefront location and lakeside dining.

Mason Street Pub

24 Mason St.

Lk. Hopatcong

973-663-4412

American (Lake Front), Breakfast, Entertainment

McDonalds

Rt. 15 & Edison Rd

Lk. Hopatcong

973-663-1102

Fast Food, Play area for kids!

Mizuumi

404 Mt. Arlington Blvd.
Landing

973-770-2203

Japanese-style restaurant that offers a sushi bar, asian dishes, daily specials, and more!

Oh! Sullivans

125 Rt. 181

Lk. Hopatcong

973-663-9200

Irish/American/Italian Food, Lakefront Dining. The marina offers slip, storage, shrink wrap and winterizations.

Parma John's

49 Lakeside Blvd. Hopatcong

973-398-3400

Great Pizza! Eat-In or Take-Out!

Paul & Christa's Diner

Rt. 181

Lk. Hopatcong

973-663-4405

American Diner, Open 7 Days, Baking Done on Premises

Pavinci Italian Grille

453 River Styx Rd. Hopatcong

973-770-4300

Come by Boat! Open 7 Days, Sunday Brunch, Live Entertainment

The Wearhouse Grille

161 Rt. 181

Lk. Hopatcong

973-663-2222

Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials, Boat Docking, Entertainment on the Weekends

Windlass Restaurant

Nolan's Point, Lake Hopatcong

973-663-3190

Italian (Lake Front)

34 benedict drive, lake hopatcong, nj"Antoinette" Scognamiglio (licensed as Maria), Sales Associate, Prudential New Jersey Properties. 64 Diamond Spring Road, Denville, NJ 07834.

Office: 973-625-1870 x105.

Cell: 201-240-8699.

Email: ascognamiglio@njrealestate.com.

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Are you considering purchasing a home in Morris County? I specialize in the Morris County, New Jersey marketplace, with expertise in Lakefront property (especially Lake Hopatcong). Certified by Prudential New Jersey Properties as a relocation specialist, I take exceptional care in assisting my clients in finding their new home and community.

Please visit my website to learn more about my philosophy in conducting real estate business and to access the resources I offer to buyers and sellers. My credo is..."The title of REALTOR® should be held with great care or not held at all." Put your real estate transaction in careful hands.

Community Block Parties...And How This One Came Together...

I moved to my current neighborhood in June 2005 and just flung myself right into the swing of things. I joined the Woman's Club (which I'm still with to date) and decided right off I was running the block party which seemed to need a leader as current folks had stepped back.

The past organizers were a bit burnt out in organizing the event and it was time for a takeover, so fine, I elected myself. That event went great as did Block Party 2006. But in 2007 no one stepped up for the job, and I was way too busy so no block party. This year I was 3x as busy as I was last so when my kids asked me about the block party I said, "sweetie, I'm just too swamped, can't do it."

Well, let me tell you some kids just can't be told "no."! My son, pseudonome "Rocker" and his buddy "Puck," ages 14 and 15 respectively, decided THEY were going to organize the block party. And they did...very, very effectively!

I can't begin to elaborate how proud I am of these kids. They took the project, took my spreadsheet from previous years, enlisted minimum help from adults and ran with the job to a complete success!

My husband's band provided some entertainment as they played a few songs before their gig tonight. Everyone BYOB and contributed a dish or dessert.

What a great event! And joint-organized by non other than my 14 year old. Poor kid. Now that he's demonstrated the skill to pull this off, I'll be looking for further initiative in terms of his academic and volunteer effort! Hey, mom's job is to continuously raise the bar, right?

Ten Critical Mistakes You May Make When Marketing Your Home for Sale - Mistakes 6-10

As mentioned in my first installment of Ten Critical Mistakes You May Make When Marketing Your Home for Sale, there are a number of faux pas that, as a homeowner marketing on your own, you just cannot afford to make!

Real estate transactions have a tendency to be fraught with emotion, ego and everything else that doesn't belong in a business transaction, but somehow manages to weedle itself into the fray! Unique business, this real estate stuff!

Here's the second installment of Ten Critical Mistakes You May Make When Marketing Your Home for Sale. Read up!

Costly Mistake No. 6
Signing a Listing Contract with No Way Out

Shouldn't you have right to fire your agent if they're not performing? In some companies the broker will assign your listing to someone else in the office, someone you didn't personally select. As a Quality Service Certified® Realtor, I offer a written guaranteed of exceptional service. All of my clients have the opportunity to rate my performance at the end of the transaction. I'm accountable to you at all times as it should be.

Always protect yourself by getting a guarantee of performance, or some sort of "out", which gives you the right to cancel anytime for any reason.

Costly Mistake No. 7
Limiting the Market and Exposure of the Property

The two most obvious marketing tools (open houses and classified ads) are only moderately effective. Surprisingly, less that 1% of homes are sold at an open house. The Open House, although it gives good exposure to the home, to the buying public and also neighbors who may know someone who wishes to buy in the neighborhood, it also is used to attract future prospects, in addition to selling the house.

The right Realtor will employ a broad spectrum of marketing activities, emphasizing what he or she believes will work best for you. There are more effective ways to find buyers than just open houses and print advertising. Did you know that most calls come in during business hours when sellers are at work, and most home showings are between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday? My listings are marketed 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year, and all marketing efforts are paid for by Prudential New Jersey Properties as the broker, or myself...not the homeowner.

Costly Mistake No. 8
Using a Re-finance Appraisal or a Dated Comparative Market Analysis to Price Your House

An appraisal is an opinion of value for a certain purpose and is based on comparable sales in the same township. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the value you were told 6 months ago when you refinanced your home is what a real buyer would pay. Ask your Realtor for ALL the recent sales in your area, and then decide. Also the homes located in our lakefront markets in our area are extremely unique and deserve a REALTOR who specializes in that specific market, and have seen the inventory...both active and sold. There are lots of opinions but only one set of facts. Insist on the FACTS!

Costly Mistake No. 9
Choosing the Wrong Realtor, or Choosing Them for the Wrong Reasons

It's very likely that you don't interview people very often, and yet in order to find the right Realtor, you may interview several. The quality of your home selling experience is dependent upon your skill at selecting the best qualified person.

Should you list with the real estate agent who has the most listings? How will they deliver the best service? When a broker has many signs in a neighborhood, it means they have many listings...that aren't selling. The world is populated with real estate agents who are wrong for you.

The sale of your home could well be the most important financial transaction you have ever been involved with. The person you select can make it a satisfying and profitable activity or a terrible experience. It's your home, your time and your money. The choice of your Realtor is up to you. Make the selection carefully.

Costly Mistake No. 10
Hiring an Agent that Doesn't Understand or Utilize Today's Technology

Technology is rapidly changing the world that we live in. Naturally, the real estate industry is also being impacted by technology as well. Today, there are new and exciting tools that home sellers can utilize to improve their bottom line and reduce market time. Unfortunately, most real estate agents are way out of touch with today's technology and insist on doing things the old way. They refuse to welcome and embrace change.

I'm very excited about the possibilities that exist for my selling clients and utilize different methods to help achieve a top-dollar sale as quickly as possible. My website, www.AntoinettesHomes.com provides a venue that prominently exposes your home to local buyers, as well as those that are relocating to Morris County. Consistent follow-up helps keep our clients feeling informed throughout the home selling process, never adding to the stress levels which are bound to be tested at this important time!

If you've got questions about your particular situation, please feel free to contact me at 201-240-8699. I take a no-pressure, no-hassles approach to my business and strongly feel that people who want to work with me, will realize that without any badgering on my part!

www.antoinetteshomes.com

"Antoinette" Scognamiglio (licensed as Maria), Sales Associate, Prudential New Jersey Properties. 64 Diamond Spring Road, Denville, NJ 07834. Office: 973-625-1870 x105. Cell: 201-240-8699. Email: ascognamiglio@njrealestate.com. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Are you considering purchasing a home in Morris County? I specialize in the Morris County, New Jersey marketplace, with expertise in Lakefront property (especially Lake Hopatcong). Certified by Prudential New Jersey Properties as a relocation specialist, I take exceptional care in assisting my clients in finding their new home and community.

Please visit my website to learn more about my philosophy in conducting real estate business and to access the resources I offer to buyers and sellers. My credo is..."The title of REALTOR® should be held with great care or not held at all." Put your real estate transaction in careful hands.

Ten Critical Mistakes You May Make When Marketing Your Home for Sale

I specialize in working with homeowners who are marketing their home independently to educate them to the pitfalls of the For Sale By Owner path. Why? Because I respect the effort you're making to save the commission, but at the same time, I've seen too many homeowners squander valuable marketing time or accept an offer much lower than they would have gotten had they hired a Realtor!

Without further propaganda, here are the ten critical mistakes you ay make when marketing your home for sale. Let's cover Mistakes 1 through 5 first...

Costly Mistake No. 1
Pricing Incorrectly

Every seller wants to get as much money as possible when selling a home, and it's understandable when you're talking about thousands of dollars. But, a listing priced too high often results in less money for the seller. If your home is not priced competitively, people looking in your price range will reject it in favor of other, larger homes for the same price. At the same time, the people who should be looking at your home will not see it because it is overpriced! Overpricing usually increases time on the market, and adds to the carrying costs. Ultimately, many overpriced properties sell below market value.

To help avoid this, I've prepared guidelines on how to assist homeowners in selecting the right price to list their home. You'll learn:

  • What market value really is.
  • The recent sale prices of comparative homes in your area.
  • When and how to review pricing.
  • How much bargaining room to leave in your process.
  • How the principle of substitution affects your home's value.

Once you learn these principles, you'll know how to sell your home for the best price. Not only that, you'll know how to avoid paying too much for any home you buy in the future!

Costly Mistake No. 2
Failing to "Showcase" the Home

Once you decide to sell your home, the property ceases to be "your house" and becomes inventory...a product for sale. Owners who fail to make repairs, such as sprucing up the house, touching up the paint and keeping it clean, can chase away buyers. If you were selling a car, you would wash it, or maybe even detail it to get the highest price. Houses are no different.

As an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP), I can guide you in making improvements that will yield the most return for your effort. Being an ASP, I know how to take exceptional photos of your home that will highlight its best features and draw buyers to the listing. Buyers are very visual, and will rule out any home whose pictures do not appeal to them!

Costly Mistake No. 3
Using the "Hard Sell" During Showings

Buying a home is an emotional decision. Resist the temptation to talk the entire time a buyer is there, and let them discover things on their own. People like to "try on" a house and see if it is comfortable for them. It's difficult for them to do that if you follow them around pointing out every improvement that you've made. It may even have the opposite effect you want. One of the biggest complaints I hear from my buyer clients who have looked at homes that are being marketed independently is that the homeowner will take them through each room and proclaim, "...And this is the kitchen (or bedroom, or bathroom). Sell the sizzle and the high points within each room!

Costly Mistake No. 4
Mistaking Lookers for Buyers

For Sale by Owners get lots of activity from lookers and other real estate agents, and not enough with qualified buyers. A qualified buyer is one who is ready, willing and able to buy your home, and has been approved for the purchase in that amount by a lender.

A good agent will qualify the buyer before taking them out to houses. Agents will ask buyers how much they can really spend for a home, determine what the buyer's true timeline for home ownership is, inquire about down payment and credit AND get have them speak to a mortgage broker to ensure no one's time is wasted! Unless you have a Realtor® getting all the facts first, you should ask these questions before the buyer crosses your threshold. Otherwise, you may be spending hours showing your home to Sunday shoppers with big dreams and no ability to perform!

Costly Mistake No. 5
Not Knowing Your Rights and Obligations

Real estate law is extensive and complex. Although an effective real estate attorney will advise you and prepare the final contract for sale, you must be completely knowledgeable about the laws of disclosure to avoid a future lawsuit. If there are defects in your title, steps must be taken to remedy them before marketing the property, or risk jeopardizing a successful sale. Also, buyers have and take the option to perform home inspections. An experienced Realtor® can educate you to the alternatives you can exercise here, before you can be taken advantage of.

Watch for my next installment of Mistakes 6-10!

"Antoinette" Scognamiglio (licensed as Maria), Sales Associate, Prudential New Jersey Properties. 64 Diamond Spring Road, Denville, NJ 07834. Office: 973-625-1870 x105. Cell: 201-240-8699. Email: ascognamiglio@njrealestate.com. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Are you considering purchasing a home in Morris County? I specialize in the Morris County, New Jersey marketplace, with expertise in Lakefront property (especially Lake Hopatcong). Certified by Prudential New Jersey Properties as a relocation specialist, I take exceptional care in assisting my clients in finding their new home and community.

Please visit my website to learn more about my philosophy in conducting real estate business and to access the resources I offer to buyers and sellers. My credo is..."The title of REALTOR® should be held with great care or not held at all." Put your real estate transaction in careful hands.

Boonton Township, NJ Residential Sales Report ~ August 2008

Boonton Township, located in Morris County, NJ currently has 43 homes available for sale. Following is the solitary closed sale for the month of August 2008, including most recent list price at time of sale, final sale price and days on the market.

No:

Address

List Price

Style

RM

BR

TBT

Gar

BSMT

Sold Price

DOM

1

17 Luff Road

$474,999

Ranch

9

3

2.1

1

Yes

$465,000

87

www.antoinetteshomes.com"Antoinette" Scognamiglio (licensed as Maria), Sales Associate, Prudential New Jersey Properties. 64 Diamond Spring Road, Denville, NJ 07834. Office: 973-625-1870 x105. Cell: 201-240-8699. Email: ascognamiglio@njrealestate.com. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Are you considering purchasing a home in Morris County? I specialize in the Morris County, New Jersey marketplace, with expertise in Lakefront property (especially Lake Hopatcong). Certified by Prudential New Jersey Properties as a relocation specialist, I take exceptional care in assisting my clients in finding their new home and community.

Please visit my website to learn more about my philosophy in conducting real estate business and to access the resources I offer to buyers and sellers. My credo is..."The title of REALTOR® should be held with great care or not held at all." Put your real estate transaction in careful hands.