Engaged Couple Calls Mill Pond at Eatontown, N.J., Home

Are Attracted by New, Well-Built Spacious Units, Affordability, Location and Neighbors

When Rory Fitzgerald, 27, and his fiancée Sarah Roman, 26, college sweethearts from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., started looking to buy a home, they were all but serious. They had eight months left on their lease on an apartment in Red Bank, N.J., and had limited their home search to strictly the Web.

That was until they came across an ad in the local Sunday paper for American Properties Realty's Mill Pond at Eatontown, and noticed that the price for a home in the new luxurious condominium community in Monmouth County, the area that they were looking to reside in, was less for the size than anything else they had seen online.

Intrigued, the couple went to see the model, designed by nationally known Design Environments Inc. of Atlanta. They were instantly hooked. "We didn't look anyplace else," said Fitzgerald, a physical therapy assistant and personal trainer at The Atlantic Club in Red Bank. "We saw it on a Sunday and we put our deposit down the following Wednesday."

The couple, which plans to wed in February in a chapel on the campus of their alma mater, paid $268,000 for the masterfully designed two-bedroom, two-bathroom 1,430-square-foot, corner "Arlington" condominium.

"The model was beautiful," said Roman, a high school teacher at Rumson - Fair Haven Regional High School in Rumson, N.J. "They did a great job. It definitely gave us some good inspiration in terms of where things can go. We even tried to emulate the model a little bit in our decorating."

When the couple moved in at the beginning of October they liked everything that came with the home. "We were happy with the quality of materials used, including the hardwood flooring in the foyer, the tile in the bathroom, the crown molding throughout, the gas range in the kitchen and the abundance of windows, which let in a lot of light," said Roman.

Another appeal was the convenient location near Routes 18, 35 and 36 and the Garden State Parkway and the proximity to beaches -- they belong to a beach club in Sea Bright, N.J. -- the Monmouth Park racetrack, shopping at the Monmouth Mall and the dining and nightlife in Red Bank.

"I'm still taking a grad class at Rutgers, so it's great that I can just jump on 18 (Route 18)," said Roman.

Not to mention that Fitzgerald's commute to work is 10 minutes. While Roman's commute is 18 minutes, which is longer than her commute from their previous residence in Red Bank, it is a sacrifice worth making, she said.

The couple is also pleased that many of the neighbors are young and just starting out as they are.


"Mill Pond is rapidly developing a strong sense of community," said Paul Csik, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Iselin, N.J.-based American. "We have an abundance of young couples, newlyweds and young families -- all of whom are professionals. Residents here are very friendly and involved in their community, which is not something you see every day."

"We've been able to get together with neighbors for drinks and dinner and just relax," Fitzgerald said.

He even joked that one of his new neighbors -- a recently married couple -- had trusted he and Roman to dog-sit while they were on their honeymoon -- a favor, he said, that they are looking forward to having returned when they go on their honeymoon. They do not have a dog yet, but are soon looking for a four-legged addition to their new family.

"We've rented for a couple of years now," said Fitzgerald. "We've been in two other places, but this is the first that feels like home. Everything else we've been in felt like just an open space. This really feels like home."

Millpond's brilliantly designed interiors feature an elegantly appointed foyer and insulated steel main entry doors. Bathrooms feature Kohler fixtures, oak vanities, ceramic Dal tile floors and walls and oversized mirrors. Kitchens offer 42-inch Kitchencraft cabinetry, whirlpool gas ovens and ranges, multi-cycle dishwashers and microwaves and Kohler kitchens faucets and sinks.

Other highlights of the homes at Mill Pond include a spacious living room with an electric fireplace; a formal dining room, well lit by natural light; a convenient laundry room equipped with a washer and dryer; and a private balcony. The homes also have 9-foot ceilings throughout and abundant closet space, including a walk-in closet in the master bedroom.

The homes are energy efficient, with oversized single-hung vinyl windows, high-quality fiberglass insulation, high-efficiency gas furnaces and central air. In addition, they are wired for multiple phone lines, include centrally wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and are outfitted with Ademco home security systems. Residents' security is also protected through remote entry intercom systems that allow for secure access to building lobbies.

Each home at Mill Pond features up to 1,635 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, two baths and available garages -- all at prices starting at $252,990. Adding to the appeal is the fact that Mill Pond has received FHA approval, which means that buyers can put as little as 3.5 percent down with a mortgage interest rate of as low as 5.5 percent.

Mill Pond is among American's most popular developments, thanks to its competitive pricing, desirable location and top-notch features. The community recently won three Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards from the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA), including the prestigious "Community of the Year" award. American expects the development to be sold out by the end of the year.