The Bergen County Homes Blog

One of the wonderful things about owning a Bergen County home is how close you are to so many things.  Every season has it’s sports and activities and Bergen County is always within an easy 1-2 hour drive which makes for lots of fun family trips.  When people come here to buy a home in Bergen County they often ask “How easy is it to get to the city?”  They are concerned with transportation to New York City.  Once they live in a Bergen County home, however, they soon ask “How long does it take to get to the beach?”

With the summer season just begining, it’s time to think of going to the Jersey Shore.  Actually, you never say you’re going TO the shore, here in Bergen County we say we’re going DOWN the shore.  That’s because Bergen County homes are north of the shore so our famous beaches are south of where we live.

Point Pleasant NJ is a very popular destination and it’s only a short 90 minutes from your front door whether you live in Tenafly, Paramus or Ridgewood or anywhere else in our county.  Just hop on the Garden State Parkway or the New Jersey Turnpike and sooner than you’d think you’ll be on the beautiful sandy beaches of the New Jersey Shore.

Every year New Jersey Monthly Magazine publishes it’s annual shore guide.  This is one issue you do not want to miss.  From Atlantic City to Sea Girt and beyond you’ll find everything you need to know about what’s happening down the New Jersey shore this season.  Once you read it, you can plan your next trip down the shore from your Bergen County home!

In the world of Bergen County real estate, one of the most popular style of homes is the split level.  It’s efficient design, open floor plan, bright sunlit interior and uncomplicated mechanical systems makes these homes highly sought after by buyers.  Bergen County saw an explosion of split level home construction from 1960 through the mid 1970′s.  A wonderful example of the split level design is found in my listing at 18 Ridge Road which is offered at $795,000:

     It’s easy to see the multi level feature of this style: 

    To the right is the upper level where you’ll find all 4 bedrooms.  The lower level of the left is the entry level where there is a formal entry hall, the living room, dining room and kitchen.  One level down on the ground level is the family room, power door with laundry and entrance to the 2 car garage.  There’s also a basement with a rec room and separate storage/utility room.  All in all, you get a lot of living space in these mutli level homes.

The present owner renovated and expanded the home in 2004 – take a look at how well done it is:                                                               

The living and dining rooms are filled with light.  The open floor plan allows for tremendous light to enter the house through the large window at front and sliding glass door across at the end of the dining room leading to the outdoor deck.

 There was a lot of planning that went into this beautiful kitchen renovation and it shows.

This is the family room  on the left and the rec room is one level below – it’s a perfect set up because the adults can relax in the family room while the children are playing in the rec room.   

These 2 rooms in particular demonstrate the versatility of the split level home.

18 Ridge Road was constructed around 1960 and has only had 2 owners but that isn’t all that unusual.  People tend to stay here once they’ve moved in.  Cresskill is a highly prized location – it has an excellent school district, robust business district, terrific town services and a very strong community spirit.  It’s large enough to support it’s own school district but still very much a small town where one easily feels at home.  A classic Bergen County home located in a quiet family neighborhood with an easy commute to NYC, 18 Ridge Road is simply a wonderful home.

In the 1700′s, Demarest, NJ, was a beautiful area of farmers and and it was also the setting for one of the American Revolution’s major campaigns – Washington’s Retreat from New York, across the Hudson and later ending in his famous Delware Crossing into Pennsylvania.  One of those farmers, Mattias Bogert, built a house alongside what is today known as Old County Road and conducted a prosperous business.  Just to his north was the Demarest family with their farm and grist mill.  By the late 1700′s there were 6 or 7 7 farmers here most of whom were patriots and they helped to supply the Continental Army.  The story is that it was one of their sons who took off on horseback to warn General Washington who was camped at Fort Lee that the Tory’s were coming down Closter Dock in pursuit of him.

This was the time of Washington’s famous retreat having been badly beaten by the British in New York.  On May 9, 1779 the Tory’s unleashed a brutal attack on these farmers burning their homes, killing some and taking many prisoners.  Matthias Bogert, his family, his home and his farm were not spared.  They suffered along with all the other patriots in the area.  After the war, everyone returned to reclaim and rebuild their homes and farms.

Today the Bogert House is a registered National Landmark which the current owner has preserved forever with a conservation easement.  Currrently on the market for sale at $2,300,000 this Bergen County home is a part of our national history and an architectural jewel.  Magnificently preserved, the main part of the house is wonderfully elegant.  This beautiful Dutch Colonial estate home is constructed with the material of the day that all better properties shared – sandstone and wood.  The large front porch is an absolute delight and looks out upon most of the nearly 3 acres of property.  What was a full sized barn with stable is today a 2 car garage (the one horse stable remains) but none of it’s original charm and appointments is missing.   Bergen County was a large part of the American Revolutionary War as one of the 13 Original States and from time to time you will find one of these rare treasures among the Bergen County homes listed for sale although such listings are always exceedingly rare indeed.

Offered for the very first time by the current owner who purchased it from Matthias Bogert’s descendants, this magnificent historical treasure is only shown by private appointment.  We are hoping for a family who will maintain it as lovingly as it’s present owner.  Please call either the the Friedberg Properties Cresskill Office at 201-871-0800 or myself at 201-741-8490 for your private appointment to view this wonderful home and enjoy the pictures we have here for you: