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January 2011 – week 1 Issue
Alpine’s Frick Estate Catches Oprah’s eye
Luxury homes in Bergen County
Bergen Homes for Buyers
Edgewater to See Development of Walkway
Bergenfield Residents Celebrate at Cooper’s Pond
Alpine’s Frick Estate Catches Oprah’s eye
Alpine Real estate has had many eyes on it due to celebrity residents. Sources state that Oprah Winfrey has her eyes on a large Alpine property – the $57 million Frick estate. Located near the Alpine Country Club golf course and at 20 minutes from New York City, the property has been in and out of the news for the past few years. The mansion stretches over 30,300 sq ft and comprises five stories. It boasts a sports bar, a movie theater, wine cellar, basketball court, ballroom and also tennis courts. The entire property is 27 acres and also includes a swimming pool and a private pond with swans. A three-bedroom carriage house and a 26-horse stable is also part of the property. Built as an English manor style mansion, the construction has 19 bedrooms and 12 baths. Once owned by the grandson of American industrialist Henry Clay Frick, the property was restored in the 1990s. It was purchased in 2006 by Richard Kurtz, CEO of the Englewood Cliffs based Kamson Corp. It is also a part of the prestigious ‘Estates of Alpine’ list.
Luxury homes continue to rule in Bergen County, with many affluent home buyers opting for luxury properties in the region. As per statistics, approximately 42 homes are listed as luxury homes in Bergen County in the over $5 million segment. Of these, the highest priced is the $68 million worth Stone Mansion of Alpine. This mansion spreads over 30,000 sq ft and has a ballroom, pool and cabana along with other amenities. Next on the list is the Frick estate that is priced at $57 million. Another impressive Bergen County property is the home on Autumn Terrace in Alpine. Priced at $11 million, the property belongs to an overseas seller and was designed by modern architect Norman Jaffe. The house has been on and off the market for the past eight years. It is also available for rent at $20,000 a month. Another luxury property that has many affluent buyers’ attention is a modern styled home in Edgewater. Priced at $4.9 million, it is a single family home located in a co-op community. Those seeking traditional-style mansions may also like the $15.9 million property of Englewood. The house boasts a herringbone wooden floor, and wood and limestone that were originally brought in from France.
Besides the luxury housing market, which offers plush properties in grand settings, Bergen County has a mix of all kinds of homes for a range of home buyers. Those seeking a luxury home in a limited budget need not be discouraged as offers are available. Statistics show that there are a range of homes that sell at a substantial 22% below from the market price. This happens when homeowners fail to pay the mortgage and lenders take over the property. While such properties, also known as bank-owned homes, are available in various Bergen County towns, buyers need to be prepared. For one, these homes may often be vandalized and be in need of structural repairs. If you are considering the purchase of such bank-owned homes, you may also need to check out market prices of similar properties in the region. Getting a mortgage pre-approval can also help as banks are often in a hurry to close these deals.
Edgewater to See Development of Walkway
Plans are now in full swing to develop Edgewater’s Hudson River walkway. Starting from Fort Lee, through Edgewater and to the North Bergen border, plans are now on to convert it into a continuous, non-motorized transportation artery. With the unanimous approval of the Bergen County Planning Board, the waterfront walkway will become a focal point of the region by the year 2030. The design and strategy plan for the walkway will ensure a safe, attractive and family oriented urban park with modern design. Two alternatives have been outlined, the first one costing $1 million, while the second one would cost $7 million (a third alternative was raised and discarded when residents termed it unsafe). While the plan will focus attention on Edgewater, a few resident groups, especially from the Colony, expressed concerns that some aspects of the second strategy option will disturb their privacy and must therefore be removed. Some residents also raised the view that the recession was not the right time for such development work, suggesting that it should be rescheduled to ten years from today.
Bergenfield Residents Celebrate at Cooper’s Pond
Residents of Bergenfield enjoyed the holiday at the Cooper’s Pond festival. Held on December 18, the festival had been rescheduled from its original date of December 12 due to bad weather. The festival held much excitement for the young and the old with horse drawn carriages and children’s train rides. Santa Claus also dropped by and took gift requests from the children. Hanukkah gifts were also distributed. Complimentary snacks, hot chocolate and coffee were also offered. While this year’s celebrations went well, officials hope that with renovations, next year’s celebrations will be even better. Plans for beautification of the pond are now complete, and improvement work is scheduled to begin next year. Once the plan is implemented, the area would consist of landscape upgrades, bridge upgrades, landscape beautification and also trimming of trees. The beautification plan would be funded with a matching grant from the County of Bergen. Thus out of the $134,000 budget, 50% funds would come from Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
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Find out more about Bergen County homes available for sale. Anat Eisenberg can help you find your dream real estate property. Anat is no ordinary real estate agent. In short, she is professional, honest and dedicated. Call: 201-341-4765 or email here.