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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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Colonial home glows at dusk, with a brick chimney, lantern-lit entry, lawn, and bluestone walk.

September 3, 2026

Millburn Doesn't Need a Ticket This Fall

The Carriage House dropped its ticket requirement, Rocktoberfest returns to Taylor Park, and new storefronts are filling Millburn Avenue. Here's what's actually changing downtown this fall.

Commuter rail platform beside leafy residential houses, with a train approaching in warm evening light.

September 1, 2026

South Orange NJ to NYC Commute Guide for Home Buyers

Commuting from South Orange NJ to NYC? Learn the train, jitney, and parking details that matter most before you begin your South Orange home search.

Residential neighborhood with a clock tower, flowering trees, and a distant city skyline

August 27, 2026

New Jersey Is Apparently the Second-Best State to Live In. We're Not Surprised

New Jersey ranks among the best states to live in for 2026, and if you live here, you already know why. Here's what the data confirms, and what it still can't fully capture.

Herringbone brick path leads to a green door, bordered by shrubs and a dogwood.

August 27, 2026

South Orange Train Station Commute: Which Stop Fits Your Home?

South Orange train station commute: direct ride or transfer? Compare both stations, walking routes and parking rules before you make an offer. Read the guide.

Suburban house beneath rising market trend lines and bars

August 21, 2026

What's Actually Happening in the Maplewood & South Orange, NJ Housing Market Right Now?

A local, data-backed mid-2026 look at pricing, inventory, and buyer demand in Maplewood and South Orange, NJ, from Allison Ziefert Real Estate Group.

Stone-front home with a covered porch decorated with autumn flowers and pumpkins.

August 17, 2026

How to Prepare Your Northern NJ Home for a Fall Sale

Planning to list your home this fall in Maplewood, Montclair, Summit, or Chatham? Here's exactly how to prepare, from curb appeal to heating systems, before buyers start touring.

Bluestone terrace and fieldstone wall frame a clipped boxwood opening onto a shaded woodland path.

August 13, 2026

The Short Hills Walk That Costs Nothing, Even When Greenwood Gardens Is Closed

Greenwood Gardens only opens three days a week. Here's the free trail, arboretum, and historic depot that make up the rest of Short Hills' best walk.

Two real estate agents, Allison Ziefert and Sarah Ginge Calhoun, pose beside moving boxes.

August 10, 2026

Moving Away From Northern NJ? Here's How We Help You Find the Right Realtor Anywhere

Leaving Maplewood, Montclair, Millburn, or another Northern NJ town? Here's how we help clients find carefully vetted real estate agents in Florida, the Carolinas, the tri-state area, and beyond.

Bluestone steps climb between weathered fieldstone walls, with hydrangeas, moss, and dappled oak leaves.

August 6, 2026

West Orange in Late August: A Resident's Guide to the Ridge

A West Orange resident's guide to late August on the First Watchung ridge: Turtle Back Zoo evenings, the Aug 14 Eagle Rock concert, the Fairy Trail, The Highlawn, and what's changing at West Orange Plaza.

Covered porch with turned white columns, wicker chair, blue hydrangeas, and a leafy lawn beyond.

August 6, 2026

August Nights in South Orange: A Resident's Guide to the Last Weeks of Summer

A walkable guide to South Orange's August calendar: the Sloan Street farmers market, Downtown After Sundown concerts, Flood's Hill movie nights, and where to eat.

Elevated view over a tree-lined neighborhood of homes with steep shingle roofs.

August 3, 2026

Montclair and Glen Ridge NJ Housing Market: Mid-2026 Buying Outlook

Montclair and Glen Ridge NJ housing market favors sellers in 2026. Explore prices, inventory and competition. Read the buyer and seller takeaways.

Two people exchange a thick home inspection report in a wood-trimmed living room.

August 3, 2026

Is a Long Home Inspection Report Normal for a Northern NJ Home?

Got a long home inspection report in Maplewood, Montclair, Summit, or a nearby Essex, Morris, or Union County town? Here's how buyers and sellers should read the findings, and what's actually worth negotiating.

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