Many of our annual events went "virtual" last year. Girl's Night Out, clothing drives, and even beloved holiday events like Santa Claus Lane included severe restrictions to allow them to take place. Fortunately, we see life returning somewhat back to normal thanks to the percentage of people receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. Our local small businesses bared the brunt of economic hardship last year. It is time to show them some love again. So, grab your checkbooks and head out to the Downtown Westfield Sidewalk Sale 2021 next week.What: Downtown Westfield Sidewalk Sale 2021Where: Various Shops DowntownWhen: July 15th to 18th, 2921Contact: Westfield Town Hall (908) 789-4040 or via emailDowntown Westfield Sidewalk Sale 2021It is time to shop 'til you drop, people. Between July 15th an... 07/16/2021

Summertime means that there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy in Westfield right now. The New Jersey Festival Orchestra performed for a live sold-out crowd last weekend. The Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival starts up next week. And this weekend, we celebrate our nation's independence. Here are some of the places you can see Westfield area fireworks this 4th of July weekend.Westfield Area Fireworks and 4th of July CelebrationsCranfordIf you find yourself in Cranford tonight (July 2nd), they plan on an early Independence Day fireworks show at Nomahegan Park (1107 Springfield Ave). On July 4th, they host their annual Firecracker 4-Miler and Fun Run at Nomahegan Park. Find out more about the 4-Miler and how you can participate by visiting the Cranford Jaycees' website here.Scotch ... 07/09/2021

This weekend, the New Jersey Festival Orchestra brings Broadway to Westfield. But that marks just the beginning of a summer filled with beautiful melodies. Because in July, the Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival 2021 begins. Three different concerts. One cool location. All summer long.What: Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival 2021Where: Downtown WestfieldWhen: Every Tuesday from 7 pm to 9 pm in July and AugustAdmission: FreeSweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival 2021Make Tuesday night your date night and downtown Westfield your destination every week this summer. Not only do you get to enjoy a lovely evening with your special someone, but you also get to listen to live concerts as well. Each week brings new musical acts to three separate stages set up around the downtown area. In case ... 07/02/2021

Back in March of 2020, Broadway shut its doors amid COVID concerns. Originally, theater owners believed this would only last a few short weeks. However, the shutdown turned out to be several months long. Finally, after over a year of going dark, Governor Cuomo announced that the Great White Way will officially come back to life in mid-September of 2021. But who wants to wait that long? With how successful Glo Downtown turned out to be earlier this year, Westfield residents are itching for more artistic entertainment. Thankfully, the NJ Festival Orchestra brings its take on classic Broadway music to Westfield on Saturday, June 26th.What: NJ Festival Orchestra Performs "Back to Broadway"Where: Hertell Rear Gardens (241 E Dudley Ave)When: Saturday, June 26th, 2021 7:30 pmAdmission: $35 (Ge... 06/25/2021

At the end of April, we saw a return of weekend activities on Quimby Street. With COVID-19 cases dwindling in New Jersey, Governor Murphy relaxed mask mandates late last month. So, we should see even more fun summertime events taking place in our fair city. Unfortunately, the weatherman predicts a bit of a soggy weekend. But that will not hinder the very first Westfield Mini Grand Prix. Why? Because they set up tents to protect you from the elements.What: Westfield Mini Grand PrixWhere: Quimby StreetWhen: Saturday, June 12th, 1 pm to 5 pmAdmission: FreeContact: Extreme Party Racing (609) 458-6143 or via emailWestfield Mini Grand Prix 2021Enjoy all of the high-octane, adrenaline-inducing fun of a NASCAR racetrack but on a 1/18th scale. Extreme Party Racing invites all ages to participate... 06/18/2021

The real estate market is an ever-changing landscape. Currently, sellers wield the upper hand. But that does not mean that buyers will pay an astronomical amount simply because you asked for it. For a successful transaction, you must list your Westfield home at a price appropriate for the current market. Fair market value (FMV) helps sellers determine this price.Fair Market ValueHow to Calculate Fair Market ValueYou must take into account several factors to come to a proper FMV. They change from month to month and sometimes even from week to week. Talk to your Westfield REALTOR® about how the market is behaving right now. Look at how much buyers paid for recently sold homes in your neighborhood recently. Look at the price-per-square-foot of homes similar to your own to provide you with ... 06/11/2021

When writing an offer on a Westfield home, buyers must consider what types of contingencies (if any) they want to include. Contingencies stipulate specific conditions that must be met before a sale can be completed. If these conditions are not met, these contingencies allow a buyer to walk away from a sale and keep their earnest money deposit in the process. But buyers need to keep contingencies to a minimum, especially in a seller's market. Otherwise, a seller may pass on their offer and move on to someone else. Here are common contingencies we see in the Westfield real estate market.Common Contingencies for Home BuyersMortgageUnless you plan to pay for your home with all cash, It is extremely important that you talk to a lender about securing financing before you even start looking at... 06/04/2021

No one in a country as rich as ours should go hungry. But the fact remains that millions of people miss a meal or two every single day due to food insecurity. Some of those people live right here in our own community. Programs like the Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program help us reduce the amount of food that ends up in our landfills. But how do we make sure we get more food into the bellies of those who need it? Donating to the Westfield Food Drive is a good start.What: Westfield Food Drive 2021Where: Roosevelt Intermediate School (301 Clark St) & Westfield High (550 Dorian Rd)When: Saturday, May 22nd, 9 am to 12 pmWestfield Food Drive 2021Beginning at 9 am on Saturday, May 22nd, police officers and volunteers will be accepting food donations at both Roosevelt Intermediate School an... 05/21/2021

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