About Franklin Township's Somerset

The communities of Somerset and Middlesex counties will get a taste of Caribbean culture on June 27 when New Jersey Caribbean Festival 2009 will offer the spice-infused cuisine, diverse music rhythms and vibrant art of the islands, commonly called the West Indies.

Organized by the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey, the Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition and the Hamilton Street Business and Community Corporation, the street festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 720 Hamilton St., in the business district section of Franklin Township in Somerset County, N.J.

The Caribbean festival will be rich with familiar cultural expressions, such as foods embellished with curry and jerk seasonings, steel bands, cultural dances and performances by Caribbean artists. The event will also include vendors of all cultures, illustrating the multicultural tapestry of the United States, organizers said.

I just completed the core course requirement for my NAR GREEN certification and it was unbelievably enlightening. The course encourages the real estate professional to become an advocate for Green principles in the design and use of homes and to become a positive force for creating sustainable communities. The next step is to take the Elective follow up course in April that specifically targets a field of interest and/or expertise - residential, commercial or property management.

I am very excited about this initiative and plan to ride this GREEN wave all the way in the residential field for the benefit of future generations.

Gloria Laughton Allston, REALTOR, SRES

BURGDORFF ERA REALTORS, PRINCETON, NJ

Somerset, NJ market analysis for October 2008

Compared to September 2008

October: September:

Active Listings = 507 554

Average LP = $ 380,315 $ 406,988

New Listings = 71 107

Average LP = $ 345,108 $ 391,593

Under Contract= 50 47

Average LP = $ 327,059 $ 343,984

Sold Listings = 43 54

Average SP = $ 339,517 $ 325,019

Average DOM = 86 82

Average SP/LP = 97% 95%

*Statistics based on information from Garden State MLS, L.L.C. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.