http://realtytimes.com/117/ScottLauri

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month’s issue includes topics such as:

“Mortgage Rate Locks Become Crucial”;
“Man’s Best Friend May Be Costly When Selling Your Home”;
“Credit Scores Remain Misunderstood”;
“Washington Report: Tax Provisions”;
“Re-examine Your Risk For Flood”;
“Love The House, Hate The Traffic Noise — There Is Hope!”;

Plus a roundup of July real estate activity as well as much more advice and information.

I hope you enjoy this monthly newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me. Or, if you would like to see a certain topic covered in future months, let me know that too!

If you do not wish to receive this Newsletter each month, please reply to this e-mail with the word ‘REMOVE’ in the subject line.

Sincerely,
Scott Lauri

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/top100/

View Homes for sale in Franklin Township here

Give us a call today so we can outline in detail all the ways we might be of service. We look forward to hearing from you!

P.S. Would you like some valuable information you can take a look at right NOW to help you make your selling decisions? We’ve sent a link to our FREE special report : TAX MOVES: Seven Smart Strategies For Today’s Tax Game. To read it, just click the link. It’s yours with no obligation.

Thank you,

ERA Absolute Realty
732-220-6611
1600 Jersey Ave.
North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902
Office@AbsoluteERA.com
www.HomesofNJ.com

Things have sure changed. Nowadays it seems everything you want to do is expensive. That’s why we’re so delighted to be able to offer you something that is absolutely FREE!

We’ve sent along a link to our special report, SHOWCASING: Set The Stage For A Quick Sale. To read the report, just click the link. You’ll learn about a number of simple, effective things you can do right now to ensure the swift, successful sale of your home. Best of all, these fix-ups won’t cost you a cent!

Call us with any questions you have about selling your home. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

P.S. Take positive action today to make sure your home sells quickly and for the best possible price. We have many more suggestions that will attract buyers and offers fast. And they’re all free — just ask!

Thank you,

ERA Absolute Realty
732-220-6611
1600 Jersey Ave.
North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902
Office@AbsoluteERA.com
www.HomesofNJ.com

• How do you determine the best price to ask for your house?

• What are some inside secrets to make your house more marketable?

• What’s the best way to negotiate when a buyer makes an offer?

• How do you determine how much money you’ll clear from the sale?

• What do seller settlement costs include?

If you’re not sure you can answer these questions, give us a call. We have the answers along with so much more information you’ll need to successfully sell your home. There’s absolutely no obligation.

Call today. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

P.S. We’ve sent a FREE gift for you! It’s our special report, INCENTIVES: 12 Contract Options That Entice Today’s Buyers. You can read it right now just by clicking the link. The report is yours with our compliments. Please call us if you have any questions.

Thank you,

ERA Absolute Realty
732-220-6611
1600 Jersey Ave.
North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902
Office@AbsoluteERA.com
www.HomesofNJ.com

…Then your home will stand out from all the rest, and you’ll sell faster and get the best price, too!

If you’d like, we can meet with you at your convenience to discuss exactly where many sellers go wrong — with misguided choices about pricing, home improvements, financing and more. Then we can map out a strategy for you and your home sale that averts the most common pitfalls — so your home will sell FAST.

Call us today. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

P.S. We’d like you to have our FREE report, SOLD: How To Attract More Buyers With Seller Financing. To read it, just click the link. You’ll learn about one of the best ways available to increase the pool of buyers interested in purchasing your home. Give us a call for more information — at no cost, of course.

Thank you,

ERA Absolute Realty
732-220-6611
1600 Jersey Ave.
North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902
Office@AbsoluteERA.com
www.HomesofNJ.com

About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with more than 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. Since 1977, ERA Real Estate has teamed up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in its fight against neuromuscular diseases, raising more than $30 million. The ERA network includes more than 38,000 brokers and sales associates and approximately 3,000 offices throughout the United States and 49 other countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated except offices owned and operated by NRT LLC. ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. ERA Franchise Systems LLC information is available at ERA.com.

It’s hard to separate emotion from reality in a situation like this. And yet it’s critical that you do. In today’s competitive market, the #1 reason a home doesn’t sell is price. If you don’t enter the market with a price that is on target, you’ll waste a lot of valuable time and your best pool of potential buyers will never even hear about you.

The trick is to find that ideal price — right from the start. We can help you do that. We’ve had years of experience in the real estate business, and we know what factors to consider when making price deliberations.

We would be glad to visit you at your convenience, run some computerized comparables, and discuss with you the specific features of your home and your neighborhood that weigh into the pricing decision. Please give us a call today.

P.S. For your information, we’ve sent along a FREE special report, PRICING: Beat Your Competition To The Contract. This practical guide helps you determine how to set the correct price, the risks of both over- and under-pricing, and how price affects the prospective buyer pool. To read the report, just click the above link. There’s no obligation!

Thank you,

ERA Absolute Realty
732-220-6611
1600 Jersey Ave.
North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902
Office@AbsoluteERA.com
www.HomesofNJ.com

You’ve seen them around your neighborhood. Homes that have been on the market so long, the “For Sale” signs have acquired cobwebs.

You sure don’t want that to happen to you! Where did these folks go wrong? You’d like to know, so you can avoid the same mistakes.

That’s where we can help you. Our many years of working with home sellers have given us valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t when selling a home. Having this information could make all the difference between a home that sells fast and one that sits…and sits…and sits.

Call us today and we’ll be happy to tell you what we know — at no charge!

P.S. We’ve packed some of our knowledge into a special report we’d like you to have FREE. It’s called: CONTRACT: Who’s Offering What, When And How For Your Home. To find out how you can avoid selling to the wrong buyer, simply click the link. The information is yours with no obligation.

Thank you,

ERA Absolute Realty
732-220-6611
1600 Jersey Ave.
North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902
Office@AbsoluteERA.com
www.HomesofNJ.com

Summer yard sale for Jerry’s Kids.

Saturday June 28th from 10am-4pm to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy (MDA), Lupus Foundation and Salvation Army.  The location is the ERA Absolute Realty parking lot at 1600 Jersey Avenue, North Brunswick, NJ 08902

http://realtytimes.com/115/ScottLauri

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month’s issue includes topics such as:

“Moving Up? What You Need to Consider to Accommodate Your Growing Family”;
“How To Get the Goods On Regreening”;
“ID Theft Hits Home”;
“Keep Cool Starting From The Top”;
“Avoiding Home-Based Business Blunders”;
“Tax Rebate Uses For Sellers”;

Plus a roundup of May real estate activity as well as much more advice and information.

I hope you enjoy this monthly newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me. Or, if you would like to see a certain topic covered in future months, let me know that too!

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

Allowing your home to go in to foreclosure is like getting in to a severe credit crash while a short sale is a credit fender-bender.

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

Anxiety about leaving familiar surroundings.
We counsel potential transferees on the advantages of moving to the new location. Early on, we address their immediate concerns: problems and methods of selling homes, moving, and buying homes. This broad overview of the relocation process gets you focused on what’s ahead — instead of what’s being left behind.

Fear of the unknown.
Our relocation kit gives your family the specifics about the new community — its homes (prices, taxes, probable settlement costs, etc.), schools, transportation, shopping, recreational and cultural facilities, medical and other services as needed. The presentation of real facts makes the transferee less apprehensive.

Deadline panic.
For many, the time frame for a move seems too short. But we can help by coordinating the closings and move dates, expediting the sale of the present home, arranging for temporary housing and the storage of household goods if needed. Plus we can reduce house-hunting time through advance search of available properties.

Housing worries. 
Worries over the sale of your present home and the financing of a new home can cause stress. Our home-sale and purchase expertise helps to minimize those concerns. For outbound families, we help determine probable price ranges for your home, make a realistic estimate of the equity anticipated, and refer you to a top-notch affiliate in your destination area. When it comes to the purchase of the new home here, we help out-of-town buyers find the most suitable home and the most desirable financing in our area.

Personal conflicts.
Conflicts in a relocation can arise from many sources — a mismatch with a real estate agent, domestic storms over the spouse’s need to find a new job, a teen’s concern about finding friends. We can help minimize these concerns by providing area counseling and community tours, suggesting employment sources for spouses, and being sensitive to the special needs of children, elders and others involved in the move.

Summing up.
For a good move, move first against stress.

Call or e-mail us for our professional guidance through the relocation maze.

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

Here’s what some states have been doing:

• Ohio has contracted with more than 1,000 attorneys to work with borrowers free of charge to block foreclosures.

• Illinois is considering a bill that would impose a 60-day moratorium on some foreclosures.

• Maryland has enacted emergency legislation to give borrowers at least 150 days to cure defaults, effectively creating a short-term moratorium on foreclosures.

• Minnesota is considering requiring lenders to honor a borrower’s request for a 12-month deferment.

• Beginning May 1, borrowers in Massachusetts will have 90 days to cure any defaults before their mortgage company can foreclose.

The Mortgage Bankers Association opposes foreclosure moratoriums.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Ruth Simon and Amy Merrick (04/04/08)

The Fair Housing Act protects the basic right of all Americans to pursue the dream of homeownership, free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin. NAR has a strong commitment to fair housing through partnerships with real estate diversity partners, education, and grant and award programs.

“REALTORS® build communities and play a vital role in advancing fair housing laws and improving access to affordable housing,” says NAR President Dick Gaylord. “NAR and its 1.3 million members pledge to continue our work educating home buyers and homeowners in our communities about fair housing laws, discrimination, and predatory lending practices, making the dream of homeownership viable for all Americans.”

What NAR Is Doing

• Pushing for flexible FHA. NAR is working with Congress to make permanent the new FHA conforming loan limits, mandated by the economic stimulus package, so that Americans can access affordable financing in all areas of the country. REALTORS® also continue to push for a stronger, more flexible FHA program, to give more first-time buyers access to affordable and safe financing options.

• Educating real estate professionals. For the past decade, NAR has been educating REALTORS® through its “At Home with Diversity” program to be sensitive yet aggressive in meeting homeownership needs of a diverse society. More than 25,000 REALTORS® have completed the course. In celebration of Fair Housing Month, NAR is waiving the program fee for any local or state REALTOR® association that sponsors the course in April. Members can also save 50 percent off the online course this month.

• Rewarding progress. NAR also embraces fair housing by recognizing the efforts of individuals and organizations that advance minority homeownership. NAR joins together with five real estate diversity partners in sponsoring the HOPE Awards (Home Ownership Participation for Everyone). The awards showcase exceptional individuals and organizations that are working to increase minority homeownership, revitalize communities and expand affordable housing opportunities.

• Making a visible commitment. In 2007, NAR proudly contributed $1 million to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project. The memorial is due to open on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 2009.

• Funding special programs. In addition, NAR’s Community Outreach Department provides financial resources to local and state Realtor® associations for programs and activities that advance smart growth, diversity and housing opportunities. Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded twice a year; more than $239,000 was awarded in 2007.

— REALTOR® Magazine Online

http://realtytimes.com/113/ScottLauri

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month’s issue includes topics such as:

“What Does The Economic Stimulus Package Mean To You?”;
“Is Your Credit Score as High as You Think?”;
“Appealing Your Property Tax Bill”;
“Location Can Dictate Maintenance Chores”;
“Buying Bonds and the Mortgage Market”;

Plus a roundup of March real estate activity as well as much more advice and information.

I hope you enjoy this monthly newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me. Or, if you would like to see a certain topic covered in future months, let me know that too!

If you do not wish to receive this Newsletter each month, please reply to this e-mail with the word ‘REMOVE’ in the subject line.

Sincerely,
Scott Lauri

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

I expect the impact of these loan limit increases on the housing market to be significant because of the infusion of capital into the mortgage market, which should result in lower interest rates across the board. In addition, there will be a direct impact on high-cost areas that previously required borrowers to take out costlier jumbo mortgages.

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

Relocating can be particularly stressful for families with children. Younger kids may not express a reluctance to leave their old, familiar home, but they may react poorly as the process unfolds. Older children, especially teenagers, may vehemently object. “It’s my life too!”As parents, you can do a variety of things to bring the kids on-board for a move. Communication is key–listening to your kids’ concerns and letting them know you understand how they feel. Preparation is important too. Give your children lots of information about the new location, helping them visualize a great new life in an interesting place. Then get them involved shopping for the new home, visiting schools, making lists–anything that shifts their focus forward.

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

• If you are going to be in a home for more than two years, now is the right time to buy. Prices may still move lower this year, but based on statistics compiled by NAR*, they are expected to go back up before you plan to sell and you can take advantage of the more favorable mortgage rate.
• Get pre-qualified for a mortgage as soon as possible so you can make an offer before someone else does – more people will be out shopping for homes in a higher price range.
• If you saw a dream home you couldn’t afford last year, look again. Two trends are moving in the buyer’s favor – the price may have dropped and you will be able to afford a bigger mortgage at a lower interest rate.
• Sellers should not hold back at a time when more buyers are becoming qualified to get a larger mortgage. This program may not continue beyond this year. 
• Timing the market is not possible. While you may have to sell for less than you would have received a year ago, you’ll make it up on the lower purchase price of your next home and lower financing costs.

According to NAR research:·        Increasing FHA loan limits will help an additional 138,000 Americans achieve the dream of homeownership and will allow nearly 200,000 homeowners to refinance and potentially keep their home. ·        NAR believes that increasing the loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will bolster the severely stressed housing finance market by immediately infusing much needed liquidity into the nation’s mortgage market. “While such an increase will not solve the full range of housing challenges, it will play a vital role in improving the nation’s economy and making the dream of homeownership more attainable for thousands,” said NAR President Richard Gaylord.·        An economic impact study conducted by NAR earlier this month estimated that increasing the GSEs’ (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) conforming loan limits would result in as many as 500,000 refinanced loans and could help reduce foreclosures by as much as 210,000. ·        In addition, over 300,000 additional home sales could be generated, housing inventory would be reduced and home prices would be strengthened by two to three percentage points. “These are real results and will have an immediate and sustainable impact for families across our country,” said NAR President Richard Gaylord. * NAR Hails Passage of Economic Stimulus Package to Help Jumpstart Housing Market; available: http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/nar_hails_passage_of_stimulus_package.html 

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

South Brunswick - Single Family Homes Sold 12 homes and 15 home new to the market with a total of 146 homes available for sale.  Average sales price of $402,409 and an average listing price of $559,336.  Average sale price to list price of 96.0% and average days on the market of 67.

South Brunswick - condos and townhouses sold 11 homes and 9 home new to the market with a total of 94 condos and townhouses available for sale.  Average sales price of $334,209 and an average listing price of $317,394.  Average sale price to list price of 94.6% and average days on the market of 48.

Ok so what is this data telling us is that homes are selling from 4-6% discount from the asking price and they are still selling rather quickly in North Brunswick with homes averaging  67 day and townhouses averaging 48.  Buyer traffic has increased in January and look to be the same increased activity for February.  The problem for sellers is that even though buyer traffic has increased the buyers are feeling no pressure to purchase.  A smart move at this time of the year would be to get your home priced to sell either at market value based on recent sales or 1-2% below.

Stay tuned because tomorrow I will talk about South Brunswick.  We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

1. Paint, panel or paper
Keep in mind, light colors make rooms look larger, dark colors smaller (cozier). If you like soft colors (pale pinks, greens, blues, yellows), they’re ideal for enlarging small rooms. Perk them up with accents in deeper tones or with interesting textures (such as sponging some walls or adding sisal).

If you like a touch of the dramatic, paint a door in primary colors or add a “fool the eye” scene (such as a landscape that seems to be seen through glass). Don’t be afraid to put reds and pinks together, or blues and greens. For real drama, add white trim to deep colors. Remember, if you’re thinking of selling your home soon–neutral tones are “safer.” Splash color around using upholstery, throw pillows, artwork and other furnishings.

2. Give small rooms extra dimension
Put in floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Place one at right angles to a corner window to bring in the outdoors. Mirrors at different angles create a patchwork of repeated patterns that can be interesting, light reflecting and fun.

3. Light up the house
Consider creative lighting, including:

• Spotlights to point up art work
• Track lights to illuminate bookshelves
• Indirect lights or decorative wall sconces wherever shadows are too deep
• Under-counter lights in kitchens and workshops
• Using incandescent or halogen lighting, which is warmer than fluorescent

4. Transform your floors
Look under foot to refinish, recarpet or retile. Wood floors can be bleached, pickled, stained, painted almost any color or made unique by installing ceramic tiles in the kitchen, or a block of patterned wood (inside a wood border) in the center of a dining room or bedroom.

5. Open spaces and clear surfaces 
Go with the trend of fewer furnishings and belongings in view. For things you want handy but not displayed, create storage places:

• A window seat
• Narrow shelves inside closet and cabinet doors
• A tip-down triangular tray (for brushes, sponges, etc.) built into the cabinet at the front of the kitchen sink
• A wall system with cubes of different sizes, some with shelves, some with drawers
• A “Murphy” bed that folds into the wall

6. Large family kitchens
Top-grade is the trend in appliances, including microwave ovens, disposals and compactors, work islands that sport stainless steel double sinks or a down-vented stove, plus side bookshelves or lift-up table top. The dining end of the kitchen might be equipped with comfortable chairs, a desk, or book shelves. A fireplace turns the kitchen into a homey family room where everyone lingers.

7. Luxurious bathrooms
Make your privacy a pleasure. You might install light dimmers and thermostatically controlled mixer taps, extra mirrors, a solarium window, or create a sunken bath set in a raised floor that houses the plumbing.

8. Year-round comfort
Utility bills can be lower when windows are installed with low-emissity glass (gas filling between panes) that can be twice as efficient as double-glazed windows. They reflect heat, keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. An invisible coating also blocks ultraviolet light and protects furnishings.

9. Makeover the garage
The car park may not be the most beautiful part of your home, but it may be the most useful space you have–if it’s soundly built, clean, well organized and uncluttered. A garage can double as a workshop, garden house or playground. An automatic door opener is the warmest welcome in wet or cold weather.

10. Consider safety and convenience
Whatever alarm system you add to your basic smoke detector contributes to your peace and security. Electronic “smart” devices can be installed to turn lights, appliances and heating/air conditioning off and on at pre-set times, to warn of intrusion or announce a visitor, to remind you (in a synthesized voice) when you’re due at an appointment or when you’re using too much electricity.Home improvement possibilities are endless.

But if your home can’t accommodate your dreams–with neither love nor money–remember there are homes in the North Brunswick and South Brunswick that will. When you’re ready to explore the possibilities, we’re here to help make your dreams come true. 

More information about this North Brunswick Home

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

If you’re tempted to market your home without the aid and advice of a real estate professional, take a moment to ponder these questions: 

• Can you set a price on your home realistically and accurately?
• If you price your home too high, you’ll get few shoppers and help your neighbors sell their houses. Price it too low, and you’ll lose money.
• Local real estate markets change quickly, street by street, and unless you have the same information that real estate professionals receive daily, chances are you’ll set your price over or under current market value.
• Are you prepared to spend possibly many days glued to your home?
• Shoppers come looking every day of the week and every hour of the day. Remaining ready for them to show unannounced can make you a permanent home sitter.
• Are you able to reach a wide range of possible buyers?
• Experience shows more than 60% of home sales are made by matching a seller with a buyer from an extensive network of contacts. These contacts don’t come from ads but from a career of building relationships and the multiple listing service. Without that pool of qualified buyers to show your house to, self-sellers are reduced to expensive hit-or-miss advertising.
• Can you be sure that the people entering your home are genuinely interested in buying, not in taking advantage of your “open house” and unprotected presence?
• Real estate professionals both screen house hunters and accompany them as they go through your rooms.
• Are you experienced at negotiating and creating legal contracts?
• Buyers of homes sold by the owner typically offer much less than the asking price and may expect sellers without agents to share the “savings” on the brokerage commission.
• Can you size up a potential buyer’s ability to finance the purchase of your home?
• Many weeks can be wasted waiting for mortgage approval that lenders can’t give to unqualified loan applicants. Real estate professionals routinely pre-qualify house hunters and show them only property they can afford. Real estate professionals don’t like to waste time either.

As trained real estate specialists, we’d like to help you sell your home. Not just because it’s our livelihood, but also because we’ve seen the many difficulties that have beset would-be “Sale By Owners” who came for help after their efforts failed. We’d like to do the same for you, saving you the hassle of trying to go it alone. 

It makes sense to splurge on luxuries you can afford if you plan to live in your home for a while. If you’ll only be there a few years, however, maximize the return on your investment by choosing good-looking, less-expensive alternatives to high-priced finishes and appliances.

 For more details on what the future of New Jersey real estate can mean to you, your call or e-mail is welcome, We’ll be glad to share our knowledge

• The Rule
  

  Generally, real property will convey. Real property is anything attached to the house that would leave visible damage if removed. Typically included: the house, land, trees, shrubbery, fences, TV antenna, and any fixture outside or inside (such as wall-to-wall carpeting or built-in cabinets.). Anything else is personal property. You can take with you any freestanding personal property you want – the washer and dryer, refrigerator, firewood, swimming pool chemicals, window air conditioner, and so on – if removing the items doesn’t change the condition of the house. Ask us about typical local practice.

• The Strategy
  

  If there is real property in your home that you can’t bear to leave behind, either remove it before showing (and repair any damage caused by removal) or specify in the contract that it does not convey. Disclosure helps avoid deal-killing misunderstandings.

• The Options
  

  Some sellers leave behind awnings and window treatments bought to fit specific windows. Sellers may offer to leave items they no longer need, such as a riding mower; and buyers might ask for personal property like garden tools. Some items like chandeliers are normally considered real property. Your buyer may agree to let you take it, but if your sale hinges on the conveyance of the chandelier, let the chandelier go!

Reminder: If you are wanting to sell your home in the next 6 to12 months, now is the time to begin putting your plan into place, while time is still on your side. Please contact us for any real estate assistance you may need.

Please contact us for any real estate assistance you may need.

 So home sellers of New Jersey would be wise to stage their homes for selling so that you can take advantage of this.  Also ask your agent for an update market evaluation every 3 weeks.  In this market things are changing fast and not for the better for you.

 Home buyers of New Jersey should take note that home prices are at a great number right now and Interest rates are historicaly low.  There are some bargains out there that you could not find 2 years ago.  If you are looking to buy that second home or vacation home, now is a great time.  Also think outside of New Jersey were markets are feeling the pinch worse than us.  Florida is a great example where prices are down in some areas 40-50%.  The key thing for the New Jersey home buyer to remember is if you like it make an offer you never know what a seller will accept and you only cost yourself an hour of your time.  But if you don;t make that offer and your agent lets you know 3 months later what that home sold for you might be sorry.

 For more details on what the future of New Jersey real estate can mean to you, your call or e-mail is welcome, We’ll be glad to share our knowledge.

• A sales record that is sure to impress.
• Personalized marketing programs that use the most effective sales techniques available (multiple listing services, extensive advertising, “For Sale” signs, open houses, networks of real estate people, previous clients and good friends).
• Personalized service that keeps sellers informed and prepared for action.
• Well-trained people who are always available, who can evaluate your home’s value and help you arrive at the best possible sales price, who know how to size up serious buyers, and who can guide sellers through settlement.

We’d like to put our expertise on your side and at your service. Your calls and e-mails are always welcome.

• Here’s how “seller financing” works.
  

  A second mortgage offered by a seller is usually a short-term “balloon” note, with the buyer making fixed-rate monthly payments and paying off the balance within 3, 5, or 7 years. One very common seller financing arrangement is 10% of the purchase price, with the buyer putting down 10% cash and assuming the seller’s existing loan for 80% of the home’s value (figures will vary).

• This is what seller financing can do for a seller.
  

  Speeds up the sale of your home.
  Helps you get a better price for your home.
  Provides you with a regular income.
  Helps reduce capital gains taxes by spreading your profit over several years (especially advantageous in substantial financing).
  Can provide a higher interest rate than on some other investments.
  Gives you the later option (after your home is sold) of selling all or part of your second mortgage to another lender, mortgage broker or member of the secondary mortgage market – such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA).

• Watch out for these potential problems.
  

  Possible buyer default on the loan, lapsed or slow monthly payments.
  In case of foreclosure, you must outwait the first mortgagor for return of your money when the property is sold.

• Watch out for these potential problems.
  

  Precautions seller-financers should take.
  Check a buyer’s credit rating carefully.
  Refuse to make your loan assumable.
  Get at least 10% in down payment.
  Structure your loan so that it can (if you wish) be sold to another lender.

We often have buyers on hand who are looking for seller financing, and we have sellers who are willing to finance. We’d be happy to help make a match.

Many homeowners start thinking about refinancing when the current interest rate is lower than their mortgage-loan rate. Traditionally, homeowners have been advised to follow the “2-2-2 rule” when considering refinancing. This rule of thumb says your new interest rate should be at least 2 percentage points below your current rate. You should have lived in the home at least 2 years. And, you should be planning to stay at least 2 more years.

Although the “2-2-2 rule” is good advice in many cases, you should decide for yourself (with some professional advice!) what’s best in your situation. If the market doesn’t allow you to refinance into a lower-rate mortgage, you may still have a reason to change loans.

Some homeowners want to extend a 15-year loan into a 30-year plan to lower their monthly costs. Other homeowners who don’t plan to move for 5 years or more may benefit from a new mortgage even if it is only 1 percentage point lower than the old one.

Imagine you had a $200,000 mortgage at 8% over 30 years with a payment of $1,467 per month. If the loan amount is down to $175,500 (after making payments for about 10 years), you could use one of these strategies to lower your payment:
 

Five Great Reasons To Refinance

 1. Lower Rate. One method is to seek out a lower interest rate for the balance of $175,500. By lowering the interest rate to 7%, but maintaining the current payment schedule (20 more years of payments in the above example) your payment would drop to about $1,361 and the loan would still be retired at the original 30-year mark.

2. Longer Term. Another way to lower your payment would be to prolong the length of the amortization. For instance, by getting a new 30-year mortgage for $175,500 at the 10-year mark, your payment would drop to $1,167 (at 7%).

3. Cash Out. Some homeowners pull equity out of their properties for home improvement, vacation, college costs, big-ticket purchases or to consolidate debt. Especially when interest rates are rising or stable, cashing-out is often the primary reason for refinancing.

4. Change Loan Type. Other folks refinance in order to change the type of loan they are paying off. Some homeowners grow uncomfortable with the variability of adjustable-rate mortgages and would rather have a fixed-rate loan. Others need to reduce monthly expenses and choose an adjustable-rate loan to lower their payment.

5. Shorter Term. Yet another reason for refinancing is to shorten the term of your current mortgage. If your income has grown substantially and you’re happy living in the same home, you could reduce the length of your loan by simply refinancing to a shorter-term mortgage with a smaller balance but higher payment. Using the above example again, a $175,500 loan paid off in 15 years at 8% would cost you $1,677 each month (about $200 more than for the original loan), but the loan would be paid off relatively quickly–saving you thousands of dollars in interest payments.
Whatever you decide, be sure to weigh the costs of refinancing carefully. A lower monthly payment may help your cash flow, but is it going to cost you too much up-front to make sense? Be sure you’ll live in the home long enough to recoup the expenses associated with refinancing–points, closing costs and fees.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, how you care for your home will influence how your neighbors care for theirs. Human nature is, after all, competitive. Few people can resist the urge to “keep up with the Joneses.” So become the Jones family, setting a high standard that will create demand for your neighborhood–and boost home appreciation rates too!

By making the forgiven debt taxable income, individuals in already unfortunate situations most likely faced IRS actions because they did not have the money to pay the additional taxes. This legislation will relieve that additional burden and may also encourage families to work with their lender to negotiate terms, knowing they will now not be subject to an IRS bill.

Today’s bill will ensure that any debt forgiven on a mortgage secured for a principal residence will not be taxed. This is very significant legislation. This may also mean that some day in the future these families can once again achieve the dream of homeownership.

 Thank you Congress and the President for passing such a bill that was long awaited.

The Riverbend townhouse development built between 1980 and 1984 is one of the premier townhouse developments in North Brunswick and Middlesex County.  The style is contemporary with vertical wood siding and mature extensive landscaping set on about 12.5 acres. It is a small development of 142 townhouses inside the larger development of Hidden Lakes.  All units are detached and have a 1 car garage, full basement and at least 2 full bathroom and 1 half bathroom. There is a mix of 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units with one model having a master bedroom on the first floor.  Ownership in this development is fee simple and the homeowner is responsible for the maintenance of the exterior of their unit.

Right now there are only 2 townhouses for sale in the Riverbend community.  Here is a link to those 2 townhouses: Townhouses FOR SALE in Riverbend community in North Brunswick

In the past 12 months only 7 homes have sold within the Riverbend community.  Here is a link to those 7 properties: Townhouses SOLD in Riverbend community in North Brunswick

This is the first article of our series about the condos and townhouses development in the Middlesex County area.  We will move around the county to eventually report on all of the developments in the area.  If you would like us to do a report on specific development just let me know.