FLMD SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

Group Administrator & Your Local Go-To Realtor

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

Mortgage Rates Down in September

Patricia Cormack

Mortgage rates have been on a downward trend in September 2024, providing relief to homebuyers and those looking to refinance. In the U.S., the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to around 6.09%, its lowest in over a year. This marks the seventh consecutive week of rate declines, offering a significant decrease from the 7.31% rate seen a year earlier.

Several factors are driving this trend, including expectations that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates further. These lower mortgage rates are expected to boost housing activity, making homeownership more affordable for many buyers. Additionally, jumbo loan rates and FHA-backed mortgages have also seen declines

The downward trend is welcome news for both new buyers and homeowners looking to refinance, as lower rates can lead to reduced monthly payments and overall savings. However, market conditions remain dynamic, so prospective borrowers should stay updated on future rate changes. For very reliable mortgage information, reach out to Fair Lawn’s own Brian Spatz.

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Patricia’s Hyper-local

Fair Lawn Market Perspective

If you are looking to sell, you are in the driver seat here in town. Fair Lawn remains a seller’s market. The average sale price year to date is $696,777. So if you are looking to move on to your next adventure- now is still a great time to sell.

Having said that, I am having a difficult time writing this piece for buyers because there are still more buyers than there are homes for sale. What makes it particularly difficult for the buyers right now is that according to the NJMLS, there are nearly twice as many buyers fruitlessly searching at the $500,000 price point than there are buyers searching at Fair Lawn’s average sales price and above.

What does that tell us? Again, if you ponder selling, now is a good time.. but if you are looking to buy, you have to realize that Fair Lawn home values have increased significantly even from last year and continue to be on the rise. Ultimately, you may need to lower your expectations for a “move in ready” home and instead opt for a fixer upper... and over time, make it everything you always wanted. If you would like to learn more about the market conditions for sellers and buyers, I am here for you.

What’s MY Fair Lawn home

worth in today’s market?

Get you own copy of Year One Today!

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

“At the Heart of Our Community”

Resident Spotlight

About Year One:

Marina is off to a rough start in the country of her dreams. Fresh off the plane from Belarus, this eleven year old cannot seem to catch a break. Her family is split in two, she doesn’t speak a lick of English, and there is a rusty fire escape outside her grandmother’s bathroom window that terrifies her. The adults around her are convinced that, by virtue of her age, she’s immune to true hardships. After all, they have bigger things to worry about than her overwhelm. But the complicated family dynamics and the complexity of becoming a middle schooler in Brooklyn, NY in 1994 prove that nothing is as easy as it is prophesied. Marina is in for a lonely and testing ride, seeking solace in the bright colors of American television and finding company in the music played on her second-hand stereo. What awaits Marina on this journey that is her Year One?

What Readers Say about Year One:

“It’s nice to have a book that really defines my experience moving to the United States out of the former Soviet Union…from the perspective of an adolescent.” Kat Y., reader

“Year One is a captivating nonfiction story about a young girl moving from the Soviet Union to New York City in the mid 90s.” Shaniqua M, reader

[Year One] was an easy and compelling read, and I think it was wonderfully descriptive.” Julie Z.C., reader

“I found this book historically educational and psychologically enlightening.” Bena S, reader

“Awesome coming of age story…witty, funny, and so relatable!” Eugene S., reader

AMAZON BOOK PURCHASE LINK: https://a.co/d/2PPEH5a

mraydun@gmail.com

marinaraydun.com

facebook.com/AuthorMarinaRaydun@Author_MRaydun

To subscribe to our mailing list, please visit https://www.marinaraydun.com/mailing-list/

In this month's column “At the Heart of Our Community”…

We highlight Marina Raydun, local Fair Lawn mom and author. You may recognize Marina from seeing her around town at events, school functions or author meet and greets around town. She is truly a gift to Fair Lawn and such a huge talent.

One of Marina’s newest accomplishments is the publication of her fictional memoir, Year One. This is a fictionalized memoir about the author’s first year in America. Having arrived in the country as a Jewish refugee from the former Soviet Union at the age of 11, Marina’s first year in Brooklyn, NY with her family was quite a hoot.

Between the language and culture shock (not to mention the drastic change in family dynamics), 1994-1995 wound up being the most formative of years. Marina’s retelling of her story is commonly described as poignant, hilarious and heartbreaking, as well as vivid and relatable.

Marina Raydun’s other published works of fiction include a compilation of novellas One Year in Berlin/Foreign Bride, a suspense novel entitled Joe After Maya, as well as a two-part series, Effortless. Year One is her first (fictionalized) memoir.

Born in the former Soviet Union, Marina grew up in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a J.D. from New York Law School and a B.A. in history from Pace University. She is an avid music fan, a cat lover, and an enthusiastic learner of American Sign Language. Whenever she is not writing, Marina enjoys spending time with her family, catching up on Netflix, and baking.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

“We built our own Little Free Library on Estler Court. We carefully curate donations and feature books for all ages, levels, and interests. Please stop by and check it out!” - Marina

click here

for a map of

Fair Lawn’s Little Libraries

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

Business Spotlight

Chocolate Central is a gourmet chocolate shop, specializing in gourmet and specialty chocolates, gift baskets and platters, party favors, corporate gifts and more. Located at 180 Franklin Turnpike in Mahwah, NJ, Chocolate Central is owned and operated by Fair Lawn’s own very talented Lisa Cestaro.

Chocolate Central is your one stop shop for goodies as well as a perfect venue for your child’s next birthday party or your next Sip & Sample events with friends.

Birthday party packages are $35 a child and it includes pizza. Please contact us for more details regarding Sip & Sample event pricing.

Upcoming Events:

Sip, Treats & Tarot Card event on September 20 from 6:30 - 9:30.
Kids Halloween Boo Bash on October 25.

We offer FREE Fair Lawn delivery or 10% off in store shopping for Fair Lawn.

@patriciacormack

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

Student Spotlight

Back to School Night

Schedule

School	Date	Time
Fair Lawn High School	Sept. 25	7 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School	Sept. 17	7 p.m.
Memorial Middle School	Sept. 18	7 p.m.
Westmoreland	Sept. 24	6:30 p.m.
Warren Point	Sept. 24	6:30 p.m.
Radburn	Sept. 24	6:30 p.m.
Milnes	Sept. 24	6:30 p.m.
Lyncrest	Sept. 24	6:30 p.m.
Forrest	Sept. 24	6:30 p.m.
Edison	Sept. 19	6:30 p.m.

A huge congratulations to Lindsey Samuel and Nitin Krishnaswamy who have been accepted into The Governor's School of New Jersey program this summer! The highly-selective program provides an educational opportunity for high school juniors at two programs: Governor's School in the Sciences at Drew University and the Governor's School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Lindsey will be attending Governor's School in the Sciences at Drew University and Nitin will be attending the Governor's School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Your hard work, dedication, and passion have truly paid off. We are incredibly proud of you for achieving this remarkable milestone.

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

Back to School: Helpful Tips

“Back to school” is a time of year everyone either LOVES or dreads… or both! There’s so much potential, everything is new, and our children are going back to a schedule and routine… the adjustment after the summer

can be hard for many kids and adults.

Now that a couple of weeks have passed from the first day of school, I actually think it’s the best time to assess and reassess what works for our family. As much as it’s nice to make plans in the summer for all the things

we would do better this year… now that we got a couple of weeks of experience in the new routine, we can put it to the test!

Here are things you can do to make your life just a bit easier:

1. Mornings:

Write down the ideal morning routine. Make sure you include some buffer time for the things that go wrong in the morning, like not finding one shoe…or realizing your kid grew overnight and needs a different pair of shoes…

Ideally, choose clothes the night before based on the next day’s weather and if they have PE the next day! … or even have your kids sleep in the clothes they will wear to school… This is a lifesaver for more sensory-

sensitive kids.

2. Lunch and snacks:

Make a list of all the foods and combinations that work for each kid for lunch and snacks. Each school has its own rules (e.g - no nuts…) and it’s helpful to have the list handy. You can try new foods at home, never in their lunchbox!! Remember that the lunch box goes through a lot before

your kid actually opens it… so many foods can be squishy, crumbled, the wrong temperature etc. Keep it simple at school! Don’t let instagram trends

fool you! While you’re at it, practice and make sure your kid can open all food containers and all food packaging on their own. Because while teachers might offer help, your kid might wait a while before they can get to

them! So make sure you choose items that are right for your kid’s developmental stage, or repackage so they can be independent.

3. Routine after school

Your kids have just spent the WHOLE DAY listening to other grownups, following rules, and being on having no control over their time and activities. If your kid falls apart after school or gives you attitude… that’s because they need to regroup in their brain and process the day. This will

be especially pronounced for kids who have a harder time listening and following rules, or that academics are harder for them.

The best thing to do - is feed them, and give them space. Allow them to breathe and save the questions for later, there will be a time later in the

day when they will be more open to share stories from their day.

Your kids love and want to connect with you… but just like you don’t want someone asking you lots of questions as soon as your work day ended, so do they.

4. Homework:

Homework is a sore topic for many kids and parents. It is one of those things that we can’t fully control, as the teachers assign it! It needs to get done, but we don’t always have the tools to help our children with it.

What you CAN control is the environment and timing of homework. As much as we would all love for homework to be done as soon as they arrive from school, that might be frustrating for some kids… Based on your schedule and needs, see if you can afford to give them a meal, a break,

and some free choice before you get into homework.

A quiet and uncluttered spot would be best, and it can be anywhere in the house. ONE surface where they will be comfortable sitting down and doing

their homework. You can make that spot more appealing and joyful, to give some extra encouragement for doing homework… and if possible, something to look forward to once they are done!

5. Clothes, shoes, and recreational activity gear

The weather is changing soon! This is also the time to check if their clothes for the Fall still fit and figure out what you need to buy. You do not want to be caught unprepared on the first rainy day… or when their school uniform is two sizes too small!

This is also the time of year that all the after-school activities gear up, so find out what they need and order it now.

6. Life skills and independence

For younger kids, practice life skills when it’s not a rushed moment. When your kid wants to tie their shoes or put on their coat in their own, that’s wonderful! But not when you’re late for work and school. Find time to practice those skills now, so when you have that morning rush, you have

fewer hiccups in the morning!

Wishing you a wonderful school year, full of joyful moments and growth.

Remember that help is out there for any home-life challenges you may face. Find a parent mentor, executive functioning coach, a babysitter/

mother’s helper, cleaning and organizing professionals, etc. While it is an investment, making your life less chaotic and more fulfilling is worthwhile.

You got this!

Liora Seltzer is a professional organizer, parent mentor, and educator.

Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

The Power of Routine

Hello Wellness Warriors,

As the summer days fade and the school bells ring, September marks a time of transition and new beginnings. For many, this month brings a return to structure and routine, especially as children head back to school. As your trusted Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, I’m here to guide you through the benefits of establishing a routine this September and how it can positively impact your health and well-being.

The Power of Routine

Creating a routine can be a game-changer for both you and your family. Here’s why:

1. **Enhanced Productivity and Focus**

A well-structured routine helps streamline daily tasks, reducing decision fatigue and allowing you to focus on what truly matters. By setting specific times for activities, you can enhance productivity and ensure that important tasks don’t fall through the cracks.

2. **Improved Sleep Quality**

Consistent routines, especially around bedtime, can significantly improve sleep quality. Establishing a regular sleep schedule helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up refreshed.

3. **Stress Reduction**

Knowing what to expect each day can reduce anxiety and stress. Routines provide a sense of control and predictability, which can be particularly comforting during busy or uncertain times.

4. **Better Health Habits**

Incorporating healthy habits into your daily routine, such as regular exercise, balanced meals, and mindfulness practices, can lead to long-term improvements in physical and mental health. Consistency is key to making these habits stick.

5. **Quality Family Time**

With children back in school, routines can help carve out dedicated family time. Whether it’s a family dinner or a weekend outing, scheduling time together strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories.

Tips for Establishing a September Routine

**Set Clear Goals**: Identify what you want to achieve this month, whether it’s more family time, improved fitness, or better sleep.

**Create a Schedule**: Use a planner or digital calendar to map out your days. Include time for work, exercise, meals, relaxation, and family activities.

**Be Flexible**: Life is unpredictable, so allow some flexibility in your routine. Adjust as needed to accommodate changes.

**Involve the Family**: Encourage your family to participate in creating the routine. This fosters a sense of responsibility and teamwork.

**Prioritize Self-Care**: Don’t forget to include time for yourself. Whether it’s a morning walk, a yoga session, or quiet reading time, self-care is essential.

As we step into September, let’s embrace the opportunity to create routines that support our health and happiness. Remember, I’m here to support you every step of the way. Feel free to reach out with any questions or for personalized guidance.

Wishing you a September filled with structure, joy, and wellness!

Lets connect !

Rob Klein

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

SEPTEMBER Cultural Corner

WHY IS LABOR DAY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY?

PATRIOT DAY: SEPTEMBER 11TH

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

Keys to Successfully Navigating Homework

Homework is a key part of a child’s educational journey, providing an opportunity to reinforce what is learned in school and develop essential skills, allowing children to practice and apply what they have learned in school. This repetition helps solidify their understanding of key concepts, making it easier to recall information and build upon it in future lessons. When children complete homework regularly, they are more likely to

retain knowledge, have more confidence in the classroom, participate more, and perform better on assessments. Here are some strategies to help ensure homework is

beneficial for your child.

*Creating a consistent time for homework each day allows for homework to be part of their daily routine, perhaps after playing outside and having a small snack. A quiet, well-lit area free from distractions is essential for maintaining focus.

* Every child is unique in how they approach homework. Some might breeze through their assignments, while others may need more guidance to understand the material or stay focused. As a parent, it is important to provide the level of support your child needs to be successful, whether that means sitting close by, offering encouragement, or helping them break tasks into manageable steps. However, it is important to remember

that your role is to guide and support your child, not to provide answers. If your child struggles with the homework, communicate this to their teacher. Teachers rely on this

feedback to identify areas where students need more reinforcement.

* Pay attention to how your child responds to homework. Some may have difficulty sitting still and might benefit from standing while working, chewing gum, taking breaks,

or listening to soft music in the background. Flexibility can help accommodate different learning styles and needs, making homework time less stressful and more productive.

* If homework consistently takes an excessive amount of time, it is essential to speak with your child’s teacher. A general rule of thumb ( in my opinion) is that homework should take about 15 minutes for kindergarten to first grade, 30 minutes for second to third grade, and 45 minutes to an hour for fourth to fifth grade. For middle and high school students, homework should not exceed an hour or two. After a full day of school

and extracurricular activities, children need time to relax, play, and be kids. If your child is spending too much time on homework, discuss this with their teacher.

* If your child is having difficulty in any area regarding school, including difficulty with academic skills, focusing, completing tasks, feeling anxious, not having friends, or social issues, you can reach out to your child’s teacher or school counselor. There are many supports in your child’s school that you may not be aware of that can support some of your child’s weaknesses or challenges.

Please keep in mind that teachers, counselors, principals, and staff want your child to succeed and be happy. They appreciate your input and view each student’s learning experience as a team approach, and they want to work in collaboration with parents to ensure success.

Susan Strumpf has two adult children and is the founder/owner of Successful Student Services, LLC. Susan and has worked as a School Psychologist for over 30 years. She created this agency to help parents and children communicate better, as well as cope with behavioral challenges.

If you have any questions regarding you child, she can be reached at sue@successfulstudentservices.com for a free consultation.

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No.08

Community Corner

My name is Chrissy Gerolimos. My husband (Al Santucci) and I were married in 2007 looking forward to having happy and healthy family. Currently, we live in Fair Lawn, NJ with our 4 beautiful boys. Christian, whose 16, Angelo & Stefan identical twin boys who are 13 and Mario who is a big 8. They are just like ordinary boys; they love animals, super heroes, cartoons, video games. Christian was born healthy, happy, and very bright. He was verbally advanced when he was young. However, when he was 3 years old he started becoming sick frequently with ear infections, high fevers, frequent falls with bruising, and was frequently hospitalized. Medical professionals were unsure of what the cause was. After multiple appointments with the pediatrician, the eye doctor, neurologists, geneticists, blood work, and hundred of tests at the Children’s Hospital in Washington (CHW), we finally learned of Christian’s diagnoses. He was then 5 years old! He was diagnosed with Leukodystrophy/ POLR3A. We met with the team of genetic professionals at CHW to hear the devastating news and that there is no cure and this disease is TERMINAL. At this time , I was 6 months pregnant, and we learned that there was a 25% chance of our other children to have the disease. The twins Angelo and Stefan, were born healthy without any problems, but soon after were also diagnosed with Leukodystrophy/POLR3A. Mario, our youngest, has the gene, but is only a carrier. He is developing well at age 8

WHERE WE ARE AT NOW Christian has advanced disease; he is paralyzed, requires a wheelchair, tube feedings and is dependent on another for all of his care. He is no longer verbal and will become frustrated if he is unable to express his need. He suffers from tremors and leg and arm spasms In addition, he is on medication to control seizures. He still enjoys watching movies, listening to music, going for walks in his wheelchair, and being a practical joker. His twin brothers, Stefan and Angelo, have poor balance, poor hand eye coordination and tremors. Angelo and Stefan are now also wheelchair bound. They require help with simple tasks like dressing and feeding themselves and using the bathroom. Marios is not physically affected by the disease, but will continue to need support to help him grow and cope with the families life challenges and losses.

HOW ARE WE DOING We believe things happen for a reason, however, we are not sure what that reason is yet. We hope in the future we will be able to share more on this topic.

HOW YOU CAN HELP We need the help with funds to now pay our mortgage, utilities, Groceries and general life.

Al has the only income coming in, and when christian or the twins are sick and I need to be with them in Hackensack medical center or at home due to nurse shortage. Al can't work and has to help with the twins/christian. When this happens, bills get backed up and pile up, with no income coming in. Please give as little or as much as you can to meet our first goal of $10,000.

We can't do this without the help of others who understand, and we are so very grateful for those in our life and community who care. Thank you for taking the time to read some of our story. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/leukodystrophy/#general-discussion

By Fair Lawn Resident Expert, Leon Granovsky, CPA

Monthly Newsletter – SEPTEMBER 2024

Issue No. 08

Home Sale: Failure to Plan may Raise Your Tax Bill

As the saying goes, there’s nothing certain in life except for death and taxes. But when it comes to selling your home, proactive tax planning can help you reduce your federal income tax bill.

A Costly Mistake to Avoid

Let’s say Tom is a soon-to-be married homeowner who’s looking to sell his principal residence. If certain tests are met, an unmarried individual may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of taxable gain.

Just before the wedding, Tom sells the home he’d purchased 20 years earlier. The home had appreciated by $500,000. He and his future wife, Stacy, plan to move into her much smaller fixer-upper home after the wedding.

As an unmarried taxpayer, Tom can exclude $250,000 of the gain from the sale of his home, leaving a taxable gain of $250,000 ($500,000 minus the $250,000 federal home sale gain exclusion). He owes 15% federal income tax on the gain, plus the 3.8% net investment income tax and state income tax.

Instead, suppose that Tom and Stacy had taken the time to seek tax planning advice. Their tax advisor would have let them know that the home sale gain exclusion for married couples is $500,000 if various tests are met, including that both spouses have resided in the home as their principal residence for at least two years.

Rather than sell Tom’s house before the wedding, they might have kept it and lived in it as a married couple for two years. That would have allowed them to avoid the full $500,000 in taxable gain and the resulting taxes when they later sold it. Even if Stacy had sold her fixer-upper home before the wedding, the gain would likely have been much smaller and may have been fully sheltered with her $250,000 home sale gain exclusion.

Slow Down and Seek Advice

Proactive tax planning is generally worth the effort, especially if you have a lot at stake and/or tax rates increase. Even if you don’t need advice on the subject of home sales, other issues may be much more complicated and a lack of knowledge could lead to costly mistakes. Contact the office to get the best tax planning results for your circumstances.

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