Things are starting to (somewhat) return to normal again. Kids went back to school. Businesses and restaurants opened back up, albeit with some restrictions in place. Last week, Quimby Street activities started up again. Now, the Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program is back.Westfield Food Waste Recycling ProgramThe City partnered up with Green Bucket Compost to create a food waste recycling program here in Westfield back in 2019. Unfortunately, they suspended the program last year during the global pandemic. With so many people cooking for themselves over the past 12+ months, household food waste went up. Westfield residents began asking to bring back the recycling program. The City listened. And now it is back. So, instead of dumping it down your garbage disposal or put out to the cu... 05/14/2021

Last summer, City officials tried something new. They restricted vehicular traffic on Quimby Street to just one way on the weekends. They hoped to encourage more people to get outside and enjoy the fresh air in a safe manner. Then, they lifted the vehicular restrictions during the winter months. But, starting today (April 30th), Quimby Street activities are back.Quimby Street ActivitiesCOVID-19 made many businesses rethink how to make their customers feel safe while also keeping their doors open. City officials understood the pressure our local businesses felt. To help make things a little easier, they created the Quimby Street pedestrian plaza. Thankfully, Quimby Street activities start back up today for the public to enjoy.Expanded Outdoor DiningAs of the writing of this post, indoor ... 05/07/2021

The very first Earth Day celebration took place in Wisconsin back in April of 1970. The goal was to bring awareness to the environment and the part we play in affecting it. The City of Westfield encourages its residents to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle with their Westfield Earth Day Fair 2021.What: Westfield Earth Day Fair 2021Where: Parking Lot of the South Ave Train StationWhen: Saturday, April 24th, 9:30 am to 3 pmContact: City of Westfield (908) 789-4040Westfield Earth Day Fair 2021The Westfield Green Team put together some very important information they wish to share at the fair. Learn about the "how's", "what's" and "why's" of recycling. (You might be surprised at what you thought was recyclable but really is not.) Find out how to identify the spotted lanternfly (an invasive... 04/23/2021

Do you like Sherlock Holmes novels? Is Agatha Christie one of your favorite writers? Do you love a good mystery? Then you will be happy to hear that the Midday Madness Clue Hunt is returning to Downtown Westfield next month.What: Midday Madness Clue Hunt 2021Where: 100 Quimby StWhen: 1 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, May 1stAdmission: $11 per adult, $7 per child ages 11 and underContact: Downtown Westfield Corp (908) 789-9444 or via emailMidday Madness Clue Hunt 2021Put your sleuthing hat on, grab your COVID pod, and head down to Quimby St on Saturday, May 1st to solve clues and win prizes. Organizers encourage you to come up with a fun team name and a costume to go with it. Let everyone know which team you belong to by wearing the same color or, better yet, create a crazy costume that sets you... 04/16/2021

I have been involved with the Westfield Area Y Men's Club for years now. Thanksgiving marks the start of our annual Christmas tree lot. (Thank you for selling us our well ahead of Christmas last year, by the way.) Our local YMCA offers so much to the community. Next week, they need your help to provide assistance to those less fortunate all over the world. They are asking you to donate to their Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive.What: Westfield Area Y Clothing Drive 2021Where: Westfield Area Y (422 E Broad St)When: Wednesday, April 14th, 7:30 am to 2:30 pmContact: Eileen Rooney, Westfield YMCA (908) 301-9622 ext 134 or via emailWestfield Area Y Clothing Drive 2021Spring has sprung. For many, that means that it is time to clean out your closets. If you plan on channeling your inner Marie Ko... 04/09/2021

Many real estate markets across the country are in the midst of a seller's market. Westfield is no exception. Recently, Ryan Hartman with Inside Real Estate interviewed RE/MAX Select's very own Rob Lyszczarz about how to get your home offer accepted in a crowded seller's market.How to Get Your Home Offer AcceptedUnderstand Your MarketMany people are leaving the City to settle in the suburbs like Westfield. (We did make the Top 10 List of Best Suburbs to Live in NJ.) Historically low interest rates helped spur buyer demand. Unfortunately, the supply of available housing cannot keep up with demand. In turn, that means multiple offers for many homes. Thus, we are deeply entrenched in a seller's market. If you want your home offer accepted, you need to understand how your local market curre... 04/02/2021

When you enter escrow on a Westfield property, you must provide an earnest money deposit. Typically, this is about 1-2% of the purchase price. This money sits in an escrow account until your final closing. At that time, it becomes part of your down payment. Why provide an earnest money deposit? Because it shows how serious you are about buying the property. In exchange, the seller agrees not to entertain any other offers while the property is in escrow. However, buyers may still lose their deposit by making these easily avoidable mistakes.How to Avoid Losing Your Earnest Money DepositContingenciesYes, the fewer contingencies you ask for in your sales contract, the more attractive your offer looks to a seller. In fact, sellers love to see no contingencies. But things like a financing con... 03/26/2021

Glo Downtown appears to be a smashing success. Have you made it there yet? You have until March 21st to give them a go. So, there is still time to hop aboard. Try the self-guided Westfield Chocolate Tour after you finish playing. It makes a tasty end to an afternoon or evening of see-saw fun. Are you in the market for a Westfield home? Once you find one, you must present an offer to the seller. Then, once a seller accepts, you enter escrow. After that...you wait. Sometimes, deals fall out of escrow through no fault of your own. Other times, you might unknowingly jeopardize the deal. What can you do to make sure you do not hurt your chances of reaching the finish line?How to Fall Out of EscrowGet Pre-Qualified Instead of Pre-Approved Last month, I wrote about the difference between pre-q... 03/19/2021

Westfield is positively buzzing about Glo Downtown. The excitement is palpable. Who knew that see-saws could be this exciting? Part of the "Glo experience" includes a weekend Westfield Chocolate Tour that starts today (March 5th). Sounds like things just got even better (and tastier) in Downtown Westfield.What: Westfield Chocolate TourWhen: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays March 5th to 21stWhere: Downtown Westfield BusinessesCost: Free to Tour, $2 samples available at every stopContact: Downtown Westfield Corporation (908) 789-9444 or via emailWestfield Chocolate TourWhile waiting for your turn at the Impulse Seesaws, take a self-guided chocolate tour in the downtown area. Start off with a chocolate croissant or muffin at Manhattan Bagel. Sip on a hot chocolate at Old Havana. Or try the fro... 03/12/2021

We tend to focus more on math and sciences when it comes to education. Sometimes, we forget how important art is to a child's development. It also enhances everybody's life overall. Art exists to trigger a response. So, when art sparks a fond childhood memory, you know your day is only going to get better. Glo Downtown wants to be that spark when they illuminate downtown Westfield throughout March.What: Glo DowntownWhere: North Ave Train StationWhen: March 5th to 21st, 9 am to 9 pmAdmission: FREEContact: Downtown Westfield Corp (908) 789-9444 or via emailImpulse Seesaw OriginsThe brainchild of two Harvard alumni, Impulse seesaws invites public interaction that harkens back to the childhood days on the playground. A series of 15 huge seesaws inhabit the North Ave Train Station. Each sees... 03/05/2021

Niche.com collects data on various cities all over the country. They compile this data in different "best of" lists. In 2020, they put Westfield in the top 10 of their Best Suburbs to Live in New Jersey list. (It is a little too early in the year to be releasing their 2021 list.) That actually moved us up a spot from our 2019 rankings. But that really does not surprise anyone who lives here.Westfield Ranked in Top 10 Best Suburbs to Live in NJHow Niche.com Determines RankingsThe folks at Niche.com base each city's ranking on 15 separate categories. These include the cost of living, education, housing, public schools, and diversity among other things. They pull data from a variety of sources, including the US Census Bureau, FBI, US Department of Education, and local surveys. Each categor... 02/26/2021

With the winter weather blustering outside, many people may choose to stay inside this weekend. If you desire to purchase a Westfield home in the near future, you might want to choose to start looking at available homes for sale. Another task on your home buying "to do" list should be to get your funding in line before you physically start to look at properties. This entails either getting pre-approved or pre-qualified. But these are two very different things. Which option should you choose?Pre-Qualified vs Pre-ApprovedPre-QualificationThe pre-qualification process takes much less time than the pre-approval process. First, you sit down with your lender. (Avoid one of the common mistakes buyers make by interviewing several lenders before deciding on the one you want to use.) Then, you pr... 02/19/2021

When buying a Westfield area home, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what you should do. For example, ignore home buying myths (like you cannot have any debt whatsoever and your credit must be excellent or forget about ever being approved for a loan). Fortunately, lenders offer several different loan options for buyers to choose from. And avoid these common mistakes home buyers make to help ensure a smooth transaction.Common Mistakes Home Buyers MakeWaiting to Hire an AgentHiring a qualified Westfield REALTOR® that you trust should be one of the very first steps you take when buying a home. Feel free to go online to see what is available in the area. But make sure an agent accompanies you to any viewings. Last year, many buyers and sellers opted for virtual viewings... 02/11/2021

You bought a Westfield home two or three years ago. Its value increased quite a bit since then. The difference between what you owe and your property's value is called "equity". You can use this equity in a myriad of ways: a vacation, a wedding, a new car. But to make the best use of your home equity, you should either use it to buy a new home or borrow against it to pay off debt or remodel/update to further increase the value of your property.Smart Ways to Use Your Home EquityNew Home PurchaseStarting a new family? Need a larger home? Downsizing after the kids flew the nest? Ready to retire and want to simplify your lifestyle? Are you simply ready for a change? Then it is time to buy a new Westfield home. When you sell your current home, roll over your home equity into the purchase of ... 01/29/2021

First of all, let me thank everyone who purchased their trees and garlands this year from the Westfield Area Y's Men's Christmas Tree Lot. The response we received was tremendous. We sold out of our entire stock well before Christmas Day. All money raised from the lot helps us with our community programs throughout the year. So, we greatly appreciate the public's patronage. Speaking of Christmas trees, the City recently released their Westfield Christmas tree disposal information to help residents know where to take their trees now that the holidays are over.Christmas Tree Disposal in WestfieldUnfortunately, curbside service does not include Christmas tree disposal. However, they do allow free drop off of all trees, Hanukkah bushes, leaves, and other recyclable materials at the Westfiel... 01/22/2021

You decided to make 2021 the year that you set aside any home-buying myths you previously believed in and purchased a new property in the Westfield area. Congratulations! Part of your house-buying process more likely than not includes a home appraisal. Alleviate some of the stress of buying a house by learning why this is needed and where it fits in with your journey to homeownership.What to Expect from a Home AppraisalWhat is It?Basically, an appraisal is the valuation of a property provided by an unbiased, third-party licensed appraiser. Unless you pay all cash for your new Westfield house, you need to secure financing for it. To do so, your lender will require a home appraisal. Your mortgage company wants to make sure that the property's value comes in at or above the amount of money... 01/15/2021

I hope everyone welcomed in the New Year in their own fun yet safe way. Westfield came in at #1 on Coldwell Banker's "Top Places to Live in New Jersey" last October. (It was #9 on Niche.com's 2020 list.) But that comes as no surprise to anyone who lives here. With buyer demand rising, homeowners might want to put their properties on the market soon. As the new year begins, consider these home seller resolutions to make your house ready for a buyer in 2021.Home Seller Resolutions for 2021Get Rid of the ClutterOne of the first (and possibly easiest) home seller resolutions to tackle is to declutter your Westfield home. Just because the holidays ended does not mean that charities do not need your help anymore. Go through your house room by room and start boxing/bagging up clothing, linens,... 01/08/2021

Are you considering purchasing a Westfield home in the new year? Do you think you need to put 20% down in order to qualify? That is absolutely not the case. Some programs allow you to purchase a property with as little as 3.5% down (or less). But that is just one of several home buying myths that stops people from buying a new home. What are the others?Home Buying Myths You Should Just IgnoreZero DebtStudent loan debt lands among the top reasons why undergrads delay purchasing a property. Even if you paid off your student loan, thousands of people believe they must pay off all of their debt before they could qualify for a home loan. Not true. While extensive debt might hurt your chances of loan approval, lenders like to see that you manage your debt properly. So, a debt load of 36% or l... 01/01/2021

Christmas Day is exactly one week from today. For all of you procrastinators out there, that means just six more shopping days. While you run around ticking off names on your Christmas list, please consider visiting the Stop & Shop to participate in their food drive. It takes place through December 24th. If you plan on shopping in the downtown area this Tuesday afternoon, include the kids on your trip and visit the Westfield Santa Claus Lane drive through.What: Westfield Santa Claus Lane Drive ThroughWhere: South Ave Train StationWhen: Tuesday, December 22nd, from 3 pm to 5 pmContact: Downtown Westfield Corp (908) 789-9444Westfield Santa Claus Lane Drive ThroughSanta is always busy this time of year. But he wanted to take a moment to visit with all the good little boys and girls in the ... 12/25/2020

Westfield hosts their annual Westfield Holiday Light Contest starting next weekend. Sign up today! Registration deadline is Dec. 9th.What: Westfield Holiday Light Contest 2020Where: All Westfield NeighborhoodsWhen: December 12th to 19th, after duskRegistration Deadline: December 9thContact: Town of Westfield (908) 789-4040Westfield Holiday Light Contest 2020Does your family go all out with their holiday decorations each year? Let's end 2020 on a high note by showing off your Westfield home's best Christmas look. The contest is open for free to all residents. Simply visit the Westfield Recreation Department website to register. Registration closes at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 9th. Once you finish decorating, email a photo of your home to Lauren with the Town of Westfield. Entries m... 12/11/2020