Every Major League Baseball fan knows the significance of July 31 – the day a flurry of activity takes place in the league.For those who don’t know, Sunday is the final day of Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline, where players may change teams without teams having to put their players through the waiver wire.This once-a-year blockbuster event signifies the time of year when teams determine if they have what it takes to contend for the postseason.Players in the final year of their contracts on non-contending teams are often dangled to contending teams willing to trade prospects …

New Home Could Become “Happiest Place on Earth" Make Sunday The Day Your Home Search Goes From Fantasy to Reality. It’s known by many names, but none more popular than “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Its two star residents are two oversized rodents, appropriately named Mickey and Minnie. Yes, it’s Disneyland, the amusement park with four “lands” – Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland and Frontierland. But that’s not all. There’s Main Street, U.S.A., New Orleans Square, Critter Country and Mickey’s Toontown.What does this adventure through Walt Disney’s playland have to do with real estate …

Today’s House Hunt column is dedicated to birthday girl Jessica Simpson, who will turn 31 Sunday.In those 31 years, Simpson has accomplished a lot — movies, television and commercials. She even sang at the inauguration of President George W. Bush in January 2001.Simpson has also dated some pretty famous men, including Nick Lachey (whom she eventually married, then divorced) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.But, perhaps the Simpson song most relevant to this week’s open house listings is her May 2008 hit, “Come on Over.”So, for everyone looking for a new home, come on over and check …

What says Summer better than July 4?The barbecues, the parades, the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, the fireworks. Yes, the fireworks. Who can resist their sounds and beautiful colors?But, let’s not forget why we celebrate. Our Forefathers risked life and limb when they declared independence from England. What they did was considered treason. Yet, they took a leap of faith and 235 years later, we honor them for their courage and fortitude.So, besides taking a few minutes to honor the John Hancocks and Thomas Jeffersons of this country, take a few minutes to look at the red, …

The idea began more than 160 years ago – and grew beyond what anyone could imagine.In the early 1850s, two men, Dr. Jonathan Pitney and civil engineer Richard Osborne, began developing the area on Absecon Island. That idea grew when Alexander Boardman, a railroad conductor, and Jacob Keim, a hotelier, conceived of the idea of constructing a boardwalk in Atlantic City to keep sand out of the railroad cars and hotels.It took 20 more years for the Atlantic City Boardwalk to be built, but the city used its tax revenues to build an eight-foot-wide temporary wooden walkway from the beach into town …

One of the most important criteria people look for when they consider buying a home is the neighborhood. How far are the schools, the local shopping, the religious institutions? What are the neighbors like? Are there children on the block?This Sunday we remember the birthday of crooner Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York, June 12, 1928).No birthday remembrance would be complete without the Damone song from My Fair Lady, “On The Street Where You Live” from 1956. The song rose to number four on the U.S. music charts.Make sure to check think of Damone today when you look …

Happy Birthday Suze Orman! The financial guru, who can often be found on the pages of women’s magazines, celebrates her 60th birthday Sunday. Part of her financial advice is getting people to fix their credit so they can become financially solvent – and you guessed it – buy homes. So as you check out real estate this weekend, make Suze proud.For additional open houses this weekend not listed, click here. 

Sunday marks the anniversary of a momentous event in history. On May 22, 1906, two brothers in Kitty Hawk, N.C. changed the face of history when they received a patent for their flying machine. Over the years, their invention has changed the way we travel and where we live. Nothing is more certain than how people can pick up and move from one coast to another across the country or across town. However, in order to do that, people need someone to help them settle down and find a place to live — and that job falls to local Realtors. So, in honor of Orville and Wilbur Wright, keep in mind the …

Sunday is celebrated as the birthday of prolific American author L. Frank Baum, who is most remembered for penning the children’s novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The book, as everyone knows, was made into numerous productions including the famous 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland as Dorothy.The book tells the story of Dorothy searching for a way back to her aunt and uncle’s Kansas farm following a cyclone that dropped her in a field in Munchkin County in the land of Oz. Baum followed up with a series of sequels about the wizard throughout his lifetime.She eventually …

The royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton early Friday was a fairy tale — full of pomp, circumstance and many yards of lace applique. After an "austerity" honeymoon in the Scilly Isles, the couple will settle in their home on the Welsh island of Anglesey, where William is stationed as he serves out his tour of duty as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot. It ain't Buckingham Palace, but we're certain it's quite comfortable. Looking for your own starter castle? This weekend, Montclair is home to a load of open houses. For those ready to live out their fairy tale, take a …

It seems like all of Montclair has burst into flower simultaneously. With the blossoms at full peak, realtors are happily showing homes in their spring glory.This weekend, take the time to stop and smell (and sneeze) and enjoy the delicate beauty of the season and these homes on the market.For additional open houses available this weekend, click here.

April began with a snowstorm that fizzled out and the month appears to be improving with each passing day. With both Easter and Passover quickly approaching, what better way to celebrate than to host the holidays in your new home? Realtors can help you do that. They’ll help you find the right home at the right price and in the neighborhood you desire. Five Montclair open houses are listed here. To see more available open houses scheduled for this weekend, click here.

Could this be the weekend you finally find the house of your dreams? There’s lots of choices out there, so take your time and choose wisely. Realtors are out in full force to help you make the right decision. They’re trained to find the home you seek and won’t stop until they do. So, head out this weekend, meet with your realtor and check out some area open houses. You won’t be sorry. For additional open house listings not listed, click here.

We’re in the midst of March Madness in college basketball, but another type of March Madness is taking shape in your neighborhood. Realtors are preparing for the latest wave of buyers to visit open houses in neighborhoods all around the Garden State. Don’t be left out. Contact one of the realtors listed above or click here for more choices.

You’ve waited all winter — through the snow, the wind, the sleet and freezing rain — for spring to finally appear. The wait is over as spring 2011 is officially ushered in at 7:21 p.m. on Sunday. Make the most of the new season and check out these open houses in Montclair. For a listing of additional open houses this weekend, click here.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and the wearing of the green, homeowners may be green with envy at the quality of homes available this weekend in the Montclair area. This week, Montclair Patch features six homes. For a more complete listing of homes in the Montclair area, please click here. 

Baseball crowned a new champion last October. But that doesn’t mean teams get time off to recover. They’re back at it in Grapefruit League action in Florida and Cactus League action in Arizona. Time off is over. Unlike the ballplayers, however, real estate agents have spent the winter prepping and preparing for the spring with open houses. This week, Montclair Patch features six of them open for a sneak peak on Sunday.

Spring made a brief appearance last week. But thoughts of warmer, sunny days were just a pipe dream as snow on Presidents Day eve and day changed those thoughts back to hats, gloves and warm jackets. The local housing market is heating up as evidenced by the abundance of open houses scheduled for Sunday in Montclair. This week we feature five open houses.

There are five open houses on Sunday we’re featuring in Montclair. Take advantage of the extra day for the holiday Monday and make plans to look for a new house.

There are five open houses on Sunday that we’re featuring in Montclair. Be sure to check out the information and find the home of your dreams.