Planning first home in Maplewood

mbaldwin said:

Perseverance said:

jeanneh said:

I'm selling my home at 464 Elmwood Ave. Open house is this Sunday 3/20.

It's a sweet home to raise a family, walking distance to train, or jitney stop 1.5 blocks away. Best neighbors you could wish for. 


It doesn't match your bathroom criteria, as it only has 1 really nice full bathroom with heated floors. Part of the yard is fenced. And this home is missing having little kids in it. It yearns for a little family.

http://www.trulia.com/property/3228761413-464-Elmwood-Ave-Maplewood-NJ-07040

You have a beautiful home! I especially love your hardwoods. 

Yeah, super nice kitchen renovation and beautiful plasterwork in the dining room, too.  Sent it to my colleague who's looking this weekend. 

My colleague loved your house and will go to the open house tomorrow.  

Thanks for the compliments on the house. The interest in my house is overwhelming to me.
Before we renovated the kitchen 8 years ago, it had original cabinets only 18 inches from the wall out, with no upper cabinets. They had been painted so many times they didn't close. I've been in the house 21 years and 8 months -- so many years I lived in an old icky cold kitchen. Now having been spoiled with heated floors in the kitchen and bath here-- how will I ever survive in my next home without them? (TBD)

Here's my home's own website:

http://www.464elmwoodave.com/index.html

The house is gorgeous, but it needs a few more dogs.

Where are you going?

I'm thinking seriously of moving to Easton Maryland -- changing my entire life -- starting in a new place. My brother lives there and I'm trying to talk our mother into joining me.

new207040 said:

not sure if you would be interested in renting while you try to buy (it may take a while)- but i just gave notice to my landlord i will be moving into a home I bought- rental is in Millburn but walking distance to maplewood - house is a lovely corner lot - 3bdrm 2ba fireplace, hardwoods, finished basement, updated kitchen 

My partner and I did this a million years ago, rented a house in Maplewood and spent weekends walking around, looking at neighborhoods in Mplwd and SO and visiting open houses.  When we finally bought a house (in Maplewood) 18 months later, we knew the neighborhood well and were able to time the market better.  This was 26 years ago, love the neighborhood even more now than I did originally.

FC_ said:
 This was 26 years ago, love the neighborhood even more now than I did originally.

That's because your neighbors now are WAY cooler now.... ;-)

FC_ said:

new207040 said:

not sure if you would be interested in renting while you try to buy (it may take a while)- but i just gave notice to my landlord i will be moving into a home I bought- rental is in Millburn but walking distance to maplewood - house is a lovely corner lot - 3bdrm 2ba fireplace, hardwoods, finished basement, updated kitchen 

My partner and I did this a million years ago, rented a house in Maplewood and spent weekends walking around, looking at neighborhoods in Mplwd and SO and visiting open houses.  When we finally bought a house (in Maplewood) 18 months later, we knew the neighborhood well and were able to time the market better.  This was 26 years ago, love the neighborhood even more now than I did originally.

I totally agree with this.  I wish I had done this.

As for what Jeanne posted, there were a whole bunch of comparatively little things that I didn't want to spend the money on while I lived in my house, but it was suggested to me to do many of them when I put the house up for sale.  I just wanted to kick myself the whole way because I could have been enjoying them all those years, rather than for only 2-3 months until I moved.

TigerLilly said:

FC_ said:
 This was 26 years ago, love the neighborhood even more now than I did originally.

That's because your neighbors now are WAY cooler now....

That is absolutely true!!

There is a small, sunny 3BR 2.1 bath rental available in the Wyoming section of Millburn, a 12 minute flat walk to the Maplewood train station, in case that might be of interest. Nice neighbors.

For anyone stopping by here still looking and shopping:

http://azhomesnj.com/listing/6-oakland-ter-maplewood-nj/

There is a very pretty house on DeHart Road in Maplewood fitting your description.  It is very pretty on the outside and I understand the inside has all been updated.  Definitely worth a look.

A Coldwell Banker Sign went up today for 449 Richmond. Contractors have been working on the house since late fall........

stateguy said:

A Coldwell Banker Sign went up today for 449 Richmond. Contractors have been working on the house since late fall........

Who worked on the house? Do you know? I looked at that house when it was on the market and it had a lot of potential. I would have changed things up a bit. The layout was weird.