Millburn Short HIlls Archives - Living in Millburn-Short Hills NJ

Millburn High School: Smart and Sporty

May 1, 2015 by rbenjamin Leave a Comment

Millburn High School

A recent article in The Patch said that Millburn High School was “challenging”, and thank God. Facts: a challenging high school has challenging classes like: Funny Business: Humor and Satire in Literature and Film, AP Economics, Business Law, and Astrophysics, which push your children to learn more, do more, grow more. A challenging high school has challenging teachers who went to schools like Columbia, Harvard, and Yale, who motivate and inspire your child, but also instill in them their experience of high achievement, which prepares your child for the future. A challenging institution like Millburn High School routinely produces students who achieve high scores on AP exams, go on to prestigious universities, and who win robotics competitions. All the while having every major sport from football, baseball and wrestling, to tennis, golf, lacrosse, and fencing (because smart and sporty is a nasty combination).

Wait a second, Astrophysics and Business Law? Can we stop and remember that this is a public high school? As in, free. As in, your child gets a top-notch education just because you live in the town (makes buying a Millburn home seem like a good idea, eh?)? Another fact: U.S News and World Report ranked Millburn High School the fourth best in New Jersey and 2015 NICHE rankings just released The Best High School Teachers in New York City Metro Area and Millburn High School received a overall grade of A+ ranking in the TOP 3.

The bottom line is this: you put your kid in Millburn High School and the expansiveness of the curriculum will get the best out of them, nurture them, support them, all the while allowing them to make mistakes and learn things about themselves. Putting your kid in Millburn High School will pave the way for a bright future. Now, how is that a bad thing?

Juicing Energizes This Millburn-Short Hills Real Estate Agent!

August 7, 2013 by rbenjamin 2 Comments

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, it’s important to have a lot of energy. Between previewing homes and open houses, meeting with clients, creating home marketing plans, and tracking Millburn-Short Hills home inventory, there is simply a lot to do in a short amount of time. To help keep my energy levels up, my focus sharp, and my cheeks rosy, I’ve started juicing.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed that juicing is everywhere. Many times last year I attempted juicing and didn’t understand the hype. It really didn’t seem to do much for me. So instead I choose to eat well and make sure I do my best to stay away from the foods that are high in fat and bad types of sugar. However, I still struggle with a few pounds and have concerns about reaching my optimal health.

About a month ago I started researching what this “juicing craze” was all about. The first thing I learned was that it’s often been said by health authorities that we should have 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables per day to stay healthy because our bodies have taken a hit from all of the junk we’ve been eating for years and our ability to digest the nutrients from the fruits and veggies directly diminishes. Yet, with juicing, the nutrients of the fruits and vegetables deliver maximum value almost instantly to the body.

Besides getting healthy, I decided there had to be more to the story since it seems that is is akin to the fountain of youth. Some of the promised benefits include things like clearer thought, weight loss, increased energy, improved mood, a feeling of satiation, and of course glowing skin, hair and nails. Sounds like benefits that could definitely benefit me and really anyone searching for Millburn-Short Hills homes!

With those in mind, I searched Millburn-Short Hills and Summit to find sources of fresh juice. I found Juice Caboose in Summit, NJ and then discovered that a brand NEW juicer is due to open this month in Millburn. Called the Green Nectar Juicery, this place offers the best in juice, it’s organic, fresh, AND local! Or, the other option is you can buy your own juicer and do it yourself. That’s what I did. I bought the Omega 8006 Masticating Juicer. I love it. I’m drinking it everyday and I’ve lost 5 pounds! As far as the other claims of promised benifits–to be continued..

If you choose the DIY route, try these two juices. I love them!
Bright Skin Juice – Combine 1 carrot,  1 green apple,  1 cup cantaloupe , 1 orange.
Green Hydrating Juice – Juice together 4 ribs of celery , 1 cucumber , 1 green apple , 1 handful spinach,  1/2 lemon, peeled.

Searching for a home in Millburn-Short Hills NJ can be daunting!

March 20, 2013 by rbenjamin 1 Comment

Robin Benjamin

Searching for a home in Millburn-Short Hills NJ can be daunting. Especially coming from Jersey City or Hoboken when you’re looking for your first Millburn home! One of the biggest problems first time buyers face are, finding a home that they can both afford and is truly in ‘move-in condition’. Around here in Millburn-Short Hills NJ, you may have a long wait!

A new property has just been listed in the Wyoming section of Millburn NJ that defines what ‘move-in’ really means. With three bedrooms and 1.1 bathrooms. Freshly painted interior spaces create a lively environment where entertaining and daily living are accommodated equally. The renovated eat-in kitchen is a busy home cook’s delight! The sunny family room is open to the kitchen. A gas fireplace distinguishes the living room, while the formal dining room is poised to host your next dinner party. There are three generous bedrooms and a full bath, while the beautifully finished lower level includes a kitchenette and versatile spaces ready to suit you individual needs.

Outside, the open backyard has lots of space for active play, while the paver patio is great for entertaining.

Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in the desirable Wyoming section, shopping, recreation, top schools and Midtown Direct trains are only blocks away.

Robin Benjamin

Call me for more details 973-202-7270

Millburn-Short Hills NJ Home Reports and More

March 18, 2013 by rbenjamin Leave a Comment

If you are thinking about a Millburn-Short Hills NJ home or another home in a Midtown Direct town in New Jersey, you are probably interested in local real estate market reports. Whether you prefer to live in a town like Chatham NJ or would rather search for homes in Summit, it’s always a good idea to have a feel for the current real estate market so that you can be more effective in your search.

Listed below you’ll find all kinds of information on Midtown Direct towns for the month of February in report style. Recognizing that only the briefest of information can be shared in these reports, I hope you’ll only use them as a guide, and call me at 973-202-7270 for specifics on homes and areas you are interested in. In February, for instance, if you were buying a Millburn-Short Hills NJ home, you’ll notice 16 active listings and 12 under contract in that market report. You can also scroll down to see Millburn year to date trends and previous months, as well as that same information on other midtown direct towns.

Click on the links below to get the information you seek on the Millburn Short Hills NJ home market and additional New Jersey real estate.

Millburn-Short Hills Market Reports
Chatham Market Reports
Summit Market Reports
Livingston Market
Madison Market
South Orange Market

Searching for a Millburn-Short Hills NJ home – Try Mid-Century Modern!

March 1, 2013 by rbenjamin Leave a Comment

Searching for a Millburn-Short Hills NJ home will lead you to a variety of home styles, many of which are traditionally designed. However if you look in Millburn NJ, today, you will find a beautiful just listed Mid-Century Modern home!

This home, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, has been well-cared for and truly is a striking example of open design. Every detail was carefully and deliberately pondered and the home as a whole is simply stunning. You’ll see floor to ceiling windows with views of the New York skyline as well as views of the South Mountain Reservation, making it the perfect home for entertaining and just enjoying life.

This home is an art collector’s dream house with high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, and abundant natural light. Nestled into the South Mountain landscape, it’s location is just minutes from Millburn’s downtown and walking distance from the Midtown Direct train station. This, combined with the concepts of modern sleek design, contributes to a feeling of privacy in this Historic Mid-Century Millburn-Short Hills NJ home.

Designed to be sustainable, this Mid-Century Modern home makes great use of natural sunshine and the overall home design is efficient, too! Intentionally designed to draw residents from bedrooms into main entertaining areas, you’ll find this style of home increases interaction and brings you and your family closer together. What more could you ask from a home?

Call me for more details! 973-202-7270

Save Money When Buying A Millburn-Short Hills, NJ Home

February 2, 2012 by rbenjamin Leave a Comment

Save Money When Buying A Home

Any major purchase requires analysis and thought, and buying a home in Millburn-Short Hills isn’t any different. Specifications on location, bedroom and bathroom quantity, and yard size may come more quickly to mind, but there are many other considerations to be aware of, as well. Did you know that you can compare prices on mortgage rates and lender options? That’s right – not every broker will offer the same programs – and you can save a lot of money through a little comparison shopping.

Buying a Home in the Millburn Short Hills Housing Market

The last five weeks have brought mortgage rates to historic lows according to Freddie Mac, with many averaging below 4%. That means more buying and bargaining power for you, the home buyer. In fact, according to last Thursday’s Primary Mortgage Market survey by Freddie Mac, the average rate for a 15 year mortgage was 3.16% with fees and points averaging .8 and the average rate for a 30 year mortgage was 3.89% with fees and points of .7.

Keeping those stats in mind, it’s always wise to do your homework and ask your lender (here’s contact information on Shaleen Mahtani with Wells Fargo) for a list of current rates and determine if those are lowest for that day or week and if the rate is fixed or adjustable, as that answer will affect your payment significantly. Keep in mind that the APR (annual percentage rate) considers all fees, including points and other charges such as origination, underwriting, or closing costs fees, so it may be advantageous to use in comparisons. In a constantly evolving real estate market, it’s always wise to educate yourself and shop around, listen up, and be ready to make the best deal you can on your home purchase and your lending costs.

If you would like to learn more about my local community or discover the meaning behind A New Suburbanism click here or contact me at 973.202.7270

Local Mortgage Lenders -Rich Hirsch Phone: 908-410-9066 Andrew Giameo 908-789-2250 (Hudson City)

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Living in Millburn NJ has not been easy

August 30, 2011 by rbenjamin Leave a Comment

Main St Millburn NJ 8/28/2011

On Friday August 19th the warnings went out that hurricane Irene was heading our way and that the New Jersey Shore line was definitely going to take the direct hit. Having lived in Short Hills through hurricane Floyd and watching helplessly as my brand new refinished basement sprung leaks 5 feet deep, I held my breath. Living in Millburn and the Short Hills area for over 30 years, I’ve made this my home and when I saw the ravage of the storm Sunday morning, I physically felt ill. By Monday the water had receded and the clean-up had begun. The police and fireman have been working non-stop rescuing the locals and pumping out the water. Millburn-Short Hills is still boiling the water with at least 4000 people without power to date. I talk to people all day on twitter, facebook and just around and nobody is complaining. Counting the days and war stories, but not complaining. Yes, we have the greatest school system in the state and the Midtown Direct to get us into the city in 30 minutes. Those are not the highlights that I like to point out as a realtor. I want YOU to know what I’ve seen in the last few days in this town. It’s what I’ve always known and why I have stayed here long past my kids getting out of grade school. Living in Millburn-Short Hills.

Call me for more info 973.202.7270

Why Choose an Accredited Buyers Representative(ABR) in Millburn Short Hills and surrounding areas?

May 3, 2011 by rbenjamin 1 Comment

You probably already know that choosing the right buyer’s agent to assist with your purchase of a home can mean the difference between success and frustration.

So what does the ABR designation have to do with choosing the right agent?

I’m glad you asked.

The ABR designation signifies that the agent has completed advanced training on issues specific to home buyers, and has a documented history of successfully representing buyers. In a nutshell, it means we’ve spent time and money to learn more about helping buyers, and we have a proven track record.

And while any agent could earn the designation, only about 2% of us actually do it. So no matter where you’re planning to buy, look for an agent with the ABR designation.

Next, choose an agent who specializes in the area where you want to live. Here in the Millburn Short Hills area, that’s me, Robin Benjamin.

Specialization and strong area knowledge is important, especially in an area like ours, where home values differ drastically from town to town. It also helps if, like me, your agent can share some of the non-real estate information about the community. After all, you aren’t going to spend all your time inside your house!

I’ve not only been serving buyers in Millburn Short Hills, Maplewood, Chatham, Summit, and Livingston for 16 years, this is my home. This is the area where I’ve lived for 25 years, and where I brought up my 3 kids – so ask me anything!

Finally, choose someone you like and trust – and stick with them.

You and your buyer’s agent will be spending quite a bit of time together, so make sure you’re going to be comfortable and enjoy that time. And by sticking with just one agent, you ensure that you’ll have someone consistently working for you, searching for just the right home.

If you’re looking for a home, get in touch. I’d be happy to give you the same dedicated service that I’ve been providing for buyers here in the Millburn – Short Hills area for the past 16 years.

Join me online to discover the
meaning behind
A New Suburbanism
or call 973.202.7270 to chat with me in person.