Keep the faith!!!! Buyers are here!!! We just put 2 contracts together this week on 2 very nice homes. One was new construction and the other an awesome deal on a HUD house.

Lending seems to be progressing also!

Despite the incredible negative news media campaigns, we have to work our Buyers as always and show them the advantage of buying while the selection is so great and the Mortgage Rates are low.! We all know the Mortgage rates will start to climb, so NOW is the time to get Buyers looking!

It is very tough sometimes to be up and positive in such negative surroundings! However, we owe it to our Buyers AND sellers to help bring both sides to the table... that's what we do!!!

Keep up the positive attitudes!

Bernie Martin & Juli Morella

Could Someone Please explain NJ Real Estate Taxes???

I can't comprehend how open farm land that has been paying only several thousand dollars a year for huge Acreage, can suddenly be worth $10,000 - $15,000 - $20,000 in Tax Revenue per LOT a YEAR to municipalities that didn't spend any money to build that community??

Where is all the extra CASH going to these towns and worse, how can they justify that amount of money?

When a builder develops a community, they incur all the expenses of roads, sidewalks, installing utilities - basically everything!

A good example is Glassboro.

They had open farm land that was developed by a builder (at the builder's complete expense!) as a 55+ Community. As a 55+ Community, they are not going to have too many school kids, won't need too much police activity since the neighborhood watch is probably the best in Glassboro, the Fire Dept is on minimal call since the homes were all built to new building codes.

So - the question is WHY are the taxes($8-10,000 per tiny lot - 6,000 Sq.Feet) sooooo high??? And where is all that NEW CASH MONEY going in Glassboro???

I was speaking with a resident who purchased a large new home in Woolwich Township on 1.5 Acres of open land (not a tree in sight!!) 2 years ago in a regular development (not 55+) that had all the streets, utilities, etc built by the developer and their taxes are now $18,000 a YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now the sad part - these people are leaving New Jersey because of the TAXES!!!!!

Can someone please explain how these towns can justify such high TAXES!!?!?!?!

How about a basic standard rate for the type and amount of land you own? Farm Land would be minimal; unimproved land would be low; improved (with ANY structure) would be high; 55+ Communities would be exempt from the school portion; and commercial would be highest? Then it wouldn't matter what is built on it. Each town would determine how many acres it had and base everything from there. Here's a novel idea, as a structure is added - taxes would actually drop each year since that would then be an improved lot and contribute to the town's tax base.

Let's go back to Glassboro with that 55+ Community - they have gained at least $500,000 in Revenue a year from it, yet the Revenue Dollars needed by the town are still higher each year?????

I am only pointing out Glassboro because it's easy with a 55+ Community that is forced to pay so much - each town has its nemesis, believe me!!

Help - before everyone has left NJ broke and in disgust!!

Finally!!!! Just within the past 7 days, I've had to go back to Buyers and tell them 2 of the homes they wanted to see are not available - they have a MEETING OF THE MINDS!!!!!!!

Yes Indeed!!!!!!

Then, I had a Buyer I had to go back to and tell her we suddenly were not the only Buyer for what she wanted and they were going to go for Highest and Best Offers to have the seller make a decision!!!

The Market IS ALIVE and WELL?!?!!? Course that all depends on which side of the fence you are sitting on!!! In reality, it's good for everyone to finally see!!!

Despite all the Gloom and Doom of the News Media, people are Selling and Buyers are Buying... Buyers will now have to get a little more aggressive if they want a Property and not "assume" it will still be there tomorrow... it may not be!

The selections are the best ever and the price of money is soooo incredibly cheap!!! I remember buying a house in the 80's at 18%.... by today's standards, the rates now are basically free Money...... especially after using the Tax advantages of the interest!!

Exactly what you've been looking for! Architecturally Gorgeous, Brick Front Home sits high on a Cul-d-Sac St. within Harrison Estates. Enjoy your Morning Room AND Sunroom while looking outside at your natural stream with the little wooden Bridge over it! Upgraded Gourmet Maple Cabinet Kitchen is a chef's delight. Enjoy your back staircase as you come downstairs for your midnight snack! The Master Suite has a special Tray Ceiling as well as a Walkin Closet bigger than many bedrooms! The Lower Level is spotlessly clean, partially finished with a full bath and Walk out door

This 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath Home has BOTH a Sunroom & a Morning Room

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=1387289

Yes indeed!!!!!

We're getting BUSY!!!!! Super Bowl Sunday was the key again this year (as always!). Can't get men out of the house to look all January!!!

2 Buyer's bought this week in the early $200,000 range.....

I'll take 2 of those every week!!!!!

We still need to encourage Buyers that it is ok to Buy and the market is a great opportunity to get the house they want, at the right price and FANTASTIC MORTGAGE $$$$$$$$$$$$$ are available!!!!! Buy now before the rates go up!!!!

Let's all keep up the postive attitude and help each other BePositive about Real Estate in 2008!!!!

Have a great year!!!!!

Well, we can all "gloom and doom" or take a hard look at the opportunity we all have and run with it!

Yes, the Media is slamming Real Estate and all the Mortgage woes. However, as a Buyer, look at what's really available to you.

Housing selections and pricing hasn't been this good in 5+ years?? The Mortgage Industry has rebounded with great rates and many programs they've always offered!! Yet, as Buyers, we are all afraid to buy. Why? The Media hasn't given you "permission" to buy!! The negative news has become so consuming in the Real Estate and Mortgage Industry, we aren't seeing the great opportunity we really have!

Yes, the prices of homes may drop a little more and perhaps the mortgage rates will drop a little more?? Does that mean we just stop and look forever???? I even have Seller's that are willing to help Buyer's with their old unsold home's mortgages for up to 6 months, just to help get things going again! We know it's difficult to carry a new mortgage as well as the old mortgage and that has also stopped a lot of transactions from going to settlements. However, when a Seller is willing to fund your old mortgage for up to 6 months or until sold, that's a "win-win" for everyone!!

Let's look at the facts and realize that prices are the best for a Buyer in a very long time and the interest rates are awesome. It's time we stopped listening to the negative sensationalism of the Media and get back to Buying and Selling Real Estate!

It's a great time to be Buying or Selling!!

We had a great Mortgage meeting yesterday mostly on the Mortgage Industry.

As our Mortgage people were explaining, we need to provide ways for our Buyers and Sellers to come together to help both sides achieve a great win-win deal. If we help our Seller's provide Concessions for the Buyer's to use towards buying down points to help their mortgage payment, we can get a larger base of Buyers for a particular Listing Price.

Likewise, if we help Buyers understand the value of discussing their true goals with a good mortgage Banker, perhaps they can see the merits to some of these great Programs our Lenders have for today's Buyers!

We are certainly not like the Automotive Industry; however, once we get past the sticker shock of a new car, we always are really concerned with the monthly payment!

Purchasing a house is no different! Let's do our best to help our Sellers and Buyers see the value in being open minded with a good mortgage person to achieve a great settlement for all!

Hi Everyone,

In case you missed it, Kurt wrote a great story on the mortgage industry and why it is struggling to maintain itself and still provide rates that Buyers are willing to absorb. I provided the link below!

http://activerain.com/blogsview/165688/American-Home-Mortgage-The

Hope this helps - it sure helped me get a better understanding as a Realtor

Wow...... Just Listed an Entertainer's Delight!!! Or a Secluded Retreat!! The choice is yours!!!

This 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath, First Floor Master Suite Estate is located in Historic Mullica Hill, Harrison Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. It is on 3.7 Secluded Acres that backs up to a Creek and Forest that will stay that way forever. It is naturally tree lined and shrubs all along the side yards so no fencing is needed for privacy. As you drive down this famous area of Harrisonville Rd, smile as you gently turn into your lighted and pillared driveway and coast past the trees and flowers and shrubs as you approach your circular driveway in front of your Estate Home with the Water Fountain in the center of the Circular Island - smile, you've arrived!!

The home has over 5,000 sq. ft. plus an unfinished Lower Level of 3,000'. The first floor Master Suite is an Oasis in itself. It is the entire right side of the first floor level with a huge bath area, a sitting area, an exercise room off it as well as a deck off the rear to the heated inground swimming pool. Relax under the retractable awnings while enjoying the privacy of your estate. All of this wonderful life dream can be yours for $1,199,000. The Visual Tour is

http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?u=101777

Well, the market sure has changed!! It has been a good run for the Sellers but certainly, not now. Unfortunately, Buyers are really trying to capitalize on that. Before sending off a too low offer to a Seller, take the time to educate your Buyer what is a realistic offer for a seller. Use Comps, CMA's and most importantly time on market, number of solds in the area, number of actives, etc.

If your Buyer insists on putting in a low offer (that's fine, actually!) just help them understand that they should also explain why it is sooo low. We put a very low offer in for a cat "smell" house (SERIOUS ISSUE) and I explained in the offer cover letter that was the primary reason. It made it easier for the Selling Agent also to present our offer... also for that agent to discuss how bad that problem was in the house... The cat(s) used that Bathroom as their own - without flushing and washing down!!!! Whew... really bad!!!

Whatever tools you use to help the Buyer's arrive at their asking price, forward that on with your offer to the Selling Agent.. it just might be the one tool that helps the Sellers say YES to a low offer!