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Selling and buying advice, market insight, and what is happening this month in Maplewood, South Orange, Montclair, Short Hills, West Orange, and the towns around them.

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Blue colonial with a bright front door on Lexington Avenue in Maplewood NJ

October 15, 2026

Maplewood vs South Orange NJ, What Home Buyers Should Compare in 2026

Maplewood vs South Orange NJ compared for 2026 buyers, with real prices, taxes, school assignment and train times, plus how to decide which town fits you.

Stone steps and a garden temple on the lawn of a historic estate in Westchester County, New York

October 15, 2026

What to Know Before Buying a Home in Llewellyn Park, West Orange NJ

Buying a home in Llewellyn Park means gated privacy, historic rules, and high carrying costs. See 2026 prices, taxes, fees, and what to check before you bid.

Columned Knox Hall at Bloomfield College near the town center of Bloomfield NJ

October 15, 2026

Bloomfield NJ Home Prices and the Market, Explained for 2026 Buyers

Bloomfield NJ home prices explained with 2026 sales data, why homes sell over list, real tax bills, condos and two-families, and what to check before you bid.

Stone-front colonial on a tree-lined lot on Thornden Street in South Orange NJ

October 15, 2026

South Orange NJ Neighborhoods Guide, All Ten Compared

All ten South Orange NJ neighborhoods compared, with 2026 sale prices, Midtown Direct access, real tax bills and how school assignment works.

Bright foyer with a staircase, hardwood floors, and home purchase documents and keys on a table.

October 12, 2026

What Happens After Your Offer Is Accepted in Northern NJ?

Offer accepted in Maplewood, Montclair, Summit, or Chatham? Here's exactly what comes next, attorney review, inspections, appraisal, mortgage commitment, and closing, step by step.

White clapboard home entrance with a charcoal door, glazed sidelights, slate porch, brick steps, and three inkberry shrubs.

October 8, 2026

Short Hills Trains Stop at Hoboken Until Mid-November. The 6:13 Is the One to Know.

Weekday Midtown Direct trains from Short Hills end at Hoboken until mid-November. Here are the temporary departure times, what February's cutover showed about the Hoboken transfer, and which ticket to buy.

Outdoor patio with yellow picnic tables and pink umbrellas in front of a colorful mural.

October 1, 2026

Boyden Avenue Is Quietly Becoming Maplewood's Second Downtown

A look at how Boyden Avenue and Newark Way in Maplewood, NJ became home to Corner Slice, Perla Oyster Bar, and Pallet Brewing Company, a food corridor distinct from the Maplewood Avenue train station strip.

Aerial view of a residential neighborhood with autumn foliage at sunset.

September 30, 2026

Should You Wait for Mortgage Rates to Fall below 7% Before Buying a Home in Northern NJ?

Rates are up, but so are home prices. Here's the math on waiting vs. buying now on a $1.5M home in Northern NJ, and what it actually costs to sit on the sidelines.

Two-story house with a covered porch behind a table holding keys and inspection tools.

September 25, 2026

What Does "Sold As-Is" Mean When Buying a Home in Northern NJ?

Buying an as-is home in Maplewood, Montclair, Summit, or another Northern NJ town? Here's what "as-is" really means, what buyers can still inspect, and what sellers should understand before listing.

Brick walk crosses a broad lawn toward a clipped hedge, framed by a gray porch and black paneled door.

September 24, 2026

Bloomfield Avenue Got Two Ramen Counters Across the Street. A 30-Year Bagel Shop Closed Six Blocks Away.

A resident's look at Montclair's 2026 restaurant turnover: new sushi counters and a returning family name on Bloomfield Avenue, a 30-year bagel shop closing in Upper Montclair.

Street market social graphic advertising independent makers, vintage, music, and food, rain or shine.

September 17, 2026

Maplewood Booked a Flea Market and an Oyster Roast for the Same Saturday. The Overlap Is the Point.

A look at how Maplewood Village's late-September calendar, from the Baker Street Flea to the Robert J. Miller Oysterfest, is built to hand residents from one event to the next instead of making them choose.

Bright entry hall with a polished wood staircase, window, and bench beneath the stairs.

September 16, 2026

Don't Let the To-Do List Stop You From Your Next Chapter

Selling a home in Maplewood or South Orange? Learn which updates can help you attract buyers, reduce days on market and avoid inspection issues, and which projects may not be worth doing.

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