About Sussex County, NJ

Dr. Michael Hallacker, Chiropractor, has been helping me enormously for a year now. I've experienced unbelievable pain relief! Hallacker Chiropractic Center is at 2764 Route 23 North, Stockholm, NJ 07460; email is optimumhealth@drhallacker.com. Throughout the community, this family man is better known as Dr. Mike.

When the orthopedist couldn't do more, medication didn't work, physical therapy had minimal results and my pain levels soared, I was not a very happy camper. Hurting all the time stinks and negatively impacts every facet of our lives. At Hardyston Day a year ago, my colleague introduced me to a fellow volunteer - Dr. Michael Hallacker of the Hallacker Chiropractic Center in Sussex County NJ. My coworker was a patient of Dr. Mike and praised his work.

Hallacker Chiropractic Center offers a holistic approach. Exercise, nutrition, stress reduction are all part of the healing practices that Dr. Mike preaches. My first stop was Dr. Mike's monthly Wellness Seminar. What a great learning experience, as I knew nothing about chiropractors. Then I literally put myself in Dr. Mike's capable hands - and haven't regretted one moment!

While I knew chiropractors treated bad backs, they help many "body parts." Benefits aren't just for those in pain. Even young athletes rely on Dr. Mike Hallacker Chiropractor to improve performance and maintain fitness, thereby avoiding injuries! The center offers "Optimal Health and Fitness Classes" too!

Worried about medical insurance? So was I because mine didn't cover chiropractic care. The Hallacker Chirpractic Center team will quickly set your mind at ease. Terri will interface with your insurance company and find a win-win solution, so don't let this prevent you from getting help. Terri will also squeeze you into the appointment roster, greet you with a smile and kind word, and make it seem like a pleasure to assist in any way possible. Just call Terri at Hallacker Chiropractic 937-697-2800.

Although Hallacker Chiropractic Center is located in the Stockholm section of Hardyston, NJ, Dr. Mike has regular hours in Franklin as well. He has an office within Nitro Fitness, even more convenient to fit into my schedule. Bet Dr. Mike's athletes also love the second location, as do the members of the Nitro gym!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from RealtorIrene.com represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County, NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right or HomesIrene.com.

Those considering buying condo vacation homes in Sussex County NJ may worry about maintenance issues from afar. Others might not be able to use them frequently and debate the value to owning a ski condo. Several popular resorts - Minerals Resort, The Appalachian at Mountain Creek and Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs - may be the answers.

Lovely resort condos that set you at the heart of Sussex County golf courses and ski slopes. Monthly maintenance fees cover the utilities at these Sussex condo hotels.

These 3 hotel-style vacation properties in Sussex County NJ run an optional rental program. Owners can permit their condos to be in the rental pool when you won't be using it. Each hotel sets its own rates and restrictions. I'll always help potential buyers obtain those rental details although I my real estate services don't extend to actual hotel bookings.

Minerals Resort and Spa SHORT SALE - Vernon NJ - The oldest (built in 2003) of our current Sussex County condo hotels, Minerals Resort has spectacular indoor and outdoor pools. Kites Restaurant provides delicious meals with a view. Meticulously maintained, the condos come fully furnished - right down to fluffy spa towels & tiny shampoo bottles. Why is this great for those coming from afar? You just pack a suitcase and show up at your Minerals Resort condo! The housekeeping staff will change linens, swab the tub and tidy up behind you. Hotel luxury, ownership prices! (Minerals is in the same Vernon NJ complex as Great Gorge Village, which does have a rental program but no hotel services.)

Irene Kennedy's video on what is

now a $36000 SHORT SALE at Minerals Hotel & Spa Condo - Vernon NJ

Condos at the Appalachian at Mountain Creek - Vernon are newer than Minerals and have more varied condo layouts - studios plus 1 or 2 bedroom suites. Kitchenettes offer better self-preparation options - important as no restaurant has yet opened within the Appalachian. These condos give you true ski-in ski-out access.

The Grand Cascades Lodge - Crystal Springs in Hardyston is Sussex County's newest condo hotel. I would say it is the most swank. Putting green in front, several golf courses all around. The country club connects to the lodge.

If you and each one of your friends buys a Grand Cascades condo with me as your real estate agent, I would spend time in the Biosphere pool, a year-round paradise. I could then afford some pampering in its Reflections Spa. Ultra luxury!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from www.RealtorIrene.com represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County, NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right or www.HomesIrene.com.

Although all the homes for sale in Sussex County NJ are fairly close to one of our 21 golf courses, many people immediately focus on the 7 Crystal Springs golf courses: Wild Turkey, Minerals, Great Gorge, Crystal Springs, Cascades, Black Bear and Ballyowen.

Although many of 21 courses are open to the public, some, such as Lake Mohawk Golf Club, are private. For those who plan to live year round in Sparta, membership at Lake Mohawk Golf Club might be of interest. Others who may want vacation homes in Sussex County will be happy to learn that all the Crystal Springs golf courses don't require a membership.

Your options for real estate in Crystal Springs are vast and we can chat about what best fits your needsl! The Grand Cascades Lodge is a hotel-condo; you own a unit that could be part of the rental pool. (My vacation home series will eventually highlight the local hotel-type real estate in Sussex County NJ.)

As for more traditional choices for homes for sale in Crystal Springs - Hardyston, NJ - the sky is the limit. We can focus on small condos, modest townhouses, luxury townhomes, quaint ranches or palatial Colonials. Some of these adjoin or overlook may of the Crystal Springs golf courses. Right next to its Ballyowen Golf Course is an active adult community, Ballyowen Bluffs.

To start our hunt for your residence or vacation home in Sussex County NJ, here are some larger 3 bedroom townhouses and condos. Some are Crystal Springs homes for sale; others are quite close.

Here you'll find my blog posts on Sussex County NJ vacation homes. Or, subscribe to all my posts by using the button to the right!

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from www.RealtorIrene.com represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County, NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right or www.HomesIrene.com.

Irene Kennedy, NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage.

July 26 Update - The new owners of this vacation property in Sussex County NJ have finished renovations. They invited me for a peek at their ski condo near Mountian Creek. Furniture is about to be delivered so the getaway property will be ready for them. At the time of the sale, this room had no sheet rock - floor or ceiling; a sump pump is now hidden in a tiny closet.

The former owners had used this as a mountainous Sussex County getaway property from New York City. Not only did they love the after shots I forwarded, they shared that the proceeds helped make their son's bar mitzvah extra festive!

End of Update

Another Win-Win Real Estate Transaction with one of the Sussex County NJ Vacation Homes!!!

Today I was at a real estate closing in which I represented both the home sellers and the buyers. One of the Great Gorge Village vacation homes in Vernon, NJ; it is a 2 bedroom condo that needed a lot of renovation. Photo of the lower-level family room proves I'm not exagerating about the work! Yet today, there are 2 delighted families. Why? Thank you for asking...

We'll call the buyers Bonnie and Clyde BradyBunch. (The sellers can be Romeo and Juliette Jones.) The Bradys were referred to me; they wanted a small vacation getaway near Mountain Creek ski slope for weekend use. At first they were intrigued by my condo-hotel listings in the Appalachian at Mountain Creek and Minerals Hotel and Spa. But with 5 children under the age of 13 and 2 small dogs, the hotels didn't suit their needs.

I showed Bonnie & Clyde several homes listed for sale. They wanted a lower-level unit for child safety reasons. Put in a reasonable offer on one and those sellers did not even counter, despite many months with no previous offers...

The BradyBunch headed to Florida while I went to bat for them. I contacted owners of lower-level condos adjacent to the Mountain Creek ski slope that the Bradys preferred. Two were more than pleased to be "solicited" and sent me keys to take a peek. The Jones family lives in New York City (about 55 miles outside Sussex County NJ) and had not been able to enjoy their condo for the last couple years due to water damage.

Despite condition of Romeo and Juliette's townhouse, I KNEW the BradyBunch would love it. (Clyde just happens to be involved with home improvement!) Sent photos to Florida and set a time to show the Bradys the end-unit townhouse. All 7 gave it a thumbs up! Lots of trees to climb, a creek to splash in, a fabulous Minerals Resorts with pools and a "cliff" to jump off - plus skiing when the weather changes.

Breaking all the rules, I phoned the Joneses with the Brady's offer, negotiated a deal and then did the paperwork. (Naughty girl!) Closed in less than 30 days. As neither the sellers nor the buyers lived in Sussex County, my sellers readily agreed to a slightly higher commission. In return I:

1. arranged for (but cancelled) estimates from 2 licensed general contractors;
2. installed smoke & carbon monoxide detectors, mounted a fire extinguisher;
3. learned there was an open building permit for the new water heater. Installed a "bond jumper" when it flunked inspection;
4. met Vernon Township officials a total of 4 times to get the required Certificate of Occupancy;
5. scheduled and met 2 HVAC people to get estimates on the air conditioner repair;
6. took a complete photo inventory of the condo contents and sent it to Mrs. Jones so she could decide whether to make a trip to take any personal property. (Deal specified the Bradys would do clean out of whatever the Jones decided to abandon.)

Four of the five children were in school today, but here are some happy members of the BradyBunch.

Where is my photo of the happy sellers? Not only do I not have a picture of Romeo and Juliette Jones - I have NEVER MET THEM. That is correct; we got their Sussex County vacation property sold long distance.

And what was the price tag for all this? $125,000 - sold As-Is. Yep, an amount that was win-win for both parties but didn't include some mega-commission.

I try to give all those looking to buy a home or to sell any home in Sussex County NJ - vacation properties or not -million dollar Realtor® service - at every price!

Sussex County NJ homes for sale - many potential vacation properties!

Track all the posts in Irene Kennedy's series on vacation homes in Sussex County NJ.

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from http://www.realtorirene.com/ represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County, NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right or http://www.homesirene.com/.

Irene Kennedy, who is a NJ real estate agent with Weichert, Realtors, lives in Sussex County & works from the Hamburg office. Her primary market includes: Augusta, Branchville, Crystal Springs, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Highland Lakes, Lake Mohawk, Newton, Ogdensburg, Scenic Lakes, Sparta, Sussex, Vernon, Wantage. With her vast network, however, Irene Kennedy also can help you find an equally talented real estate agent elsewhere.

As the number of Sussex County lake communities is at least 30, I will not even attempt to profile the relative benefits of each when considering a vacation home in Sussex County NJ. Residents of each one will be delighted to tell visitors why their lake community is better than the other 29. Community events, passing the home from one generation to the next, stopping for a neighborly chat when riding a bike or walking the dog are just some of the reasons the residents think their lake community rocks more than the others. And me? I wouldn't argue with a single one of them!

The only one of the Sussex County lake communities that I've never seen is Rock Lodge Nudist Club in the Stockholm zip code section of Hardyston. There currently are no homes listed for sale in this community, but I would be glad to introduce prospective buyers of vacation homes in Sussex to any area that might be of interest. We will just remain fully clothed at all stops, so I don't blow a sale. ;-)

With such a vast number of choices, how would a non-local potential buyer even begin to focus on a couple of our lovely lake communities in Sussex County NJ? This is where I come in as a full-time, full-service Realtor® who handles all facets of residential real estate.

First, I listen very carefully to what you're seeking and your motives for buying a Sussex County vacation home. We'll respect your budget; not everyone is able or willing to pay the premium required for lakefront property - especially if it isn't a year-round residence. Say you mention boating, we'll chat about whether you mean kayak or motor boat. (Many Sussex County lake communities completely ban gas engines.) Even for a kayaker, portage might be important. As I learn more about what your dream is, we start narrowing the list.

Second, we'll discuss your maintenance goals - very important to your enjoyment of a vacation property! When I tell you we have quaint log cabins in Sussex County lake communities, I mean the real McCoy. These rustic homes might be just want you want; for others they are too old and demanding to be of interest. Most areas offer a choice of newer and older homes. In another post in this series, I'll be covering maintenance-light and maintenance-free options, such as townhouses and hotel condos.

Third is size. Expecting lots of city-slicker friends and family to freeload come visit? A 2-bedroom, 1-bath might not work, although it does give you the perfect excuse to regretfully decline company. Within most Sussex County lake communities, we have a nice variety of sizes and styles.

Fourth, we'll examine your non-lake goals for a vacation home in a Sussex NJ lake community. Will you or friends want to come ski at Mountain Creek? Then we'll focus on the areas closest to the slopes. I'd share rental information with you in case you don't plan to use the home for a season or more.

Fifth - Location, location, location. We have lake communities in Sussex County NJ that are more remote than others. From where will you be coming? How long a drive is acceptable to you? Do you have a 4-wheel drive that can tackle an icy mountain, just in case your arriving before the snow plows next sweep?

Irene Kennedy's 2009 series on Vacation Homes in Sussex County NJ:

• Part 1: Vacation Homes in Sussex County NJ - A Long Tradition!
• Part 2: Highland Lakes Vacation Properties
• Part 3: Sussex County NJ - Lake Communities

Copyright © 2009, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post from www.RealtorIrene.com/ represents Irene's personal musings.

Considering selling a home or looking to buy one around Sussex County, NJ? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right or www.HomesIrene.com.