Laura Giannotta Keller Williams Atlantic

New Jersey's coastal counties have been declared a disaster area by Governor Corzine.

Though the rain and wind subsided over the weekend, yesterday was the first day local and state officials could take a firsthand view of the damage. They were out in force on Long Beach Island, calling last week's storm the worst in a decade.

Most lagoon front property in Little Egg Harbor and Manahawkin fared well, some of the beaches on Long Beach Island were not so lucky.

Bulkheads and jetties saw some real action during the 4 days of wind and rain.

The beaches in Surf City handled the storm far better. Last year, Surf City received beach replenishment help from the Army Corps of Engineers. The wider beach and plenty of dune grass helped against the winds and high tides.

That's not to say the Surf City beach was debris free...

So as state and municipal officials continue to tally the costs to repair the damage on the Island, some were just enjoying the remnants of the storm.

The day started out like any other...but the howling wind and pounding rain reminded me the Jersey Shore was still in the middle of some strange weather confluence.

Sounds like the beginning of a bad novel, but this was my morning. It didn't stop there!

I drove through flooded streets to make it to a termite inspection, only to find the copy of the key that was provided by the listing office hadn't been tested and didn't work!

I wasn't looking forward to it, but then I made the hour drive an hour to my next appointment. So, I recite affirmations and I continue on. Appointment done.

Arriving at my home office, I check my email. It's a habit. In my inbox, I read the following...

Laura,

You have really impressed me throughout this process. Thank you for looking out for the small details to make things go so smoothly.

Dawn J, Wells Fargo

This email was sent before I drove through flooded streets. The email was sent before I did what I promised today. We'll close in the next few weeks on this home, but this little note will stay with me forever!

Take the time to say good job; to another agent or to a contractor you're working with. Yea, we're doing our jobs, but we all love to know we're doing it well!

So, go ahead make my day!!!

Or more important...make someone's day. It doesn'T hurt!

Can I use the expanded and extended tax credit program to buy a home in New Jersey if I don’t have perfect credit?

You might have thought that you couldn’t meet the deadline to qualify for a tax credit on a home purchase because your credit score is less than perfect. But the expanded and extended tax credit program to buy a home in New Jersey is now law, and you have six more months! That will give you some room to work on your credit score.

The extended tax credit program offers first time home buyers six more months to get a home under contract to qualify for the $8,000. The expanded tax credit program allows homeowners, who’ve lived in their homes for five of the last eight years, to qualify for a $6,500 credit.

The first step to see if you can take advantage of the expanded and extended tax credit program to buy a home in New Jersey is to check your credit score, and work on improvements.

The best place to learn about your options to check your credit and increase your credit score is to speak with a mortgage professional. You can click here for a list of active mortgage professionals in New Jersey…they’re part of the ActiveRain professional real estate community.

The higher your credit score, the easier the mortgage approval process. Your credit score is made up of your payment history, the amount you owe, the length of your credit history and the types of credit you have.

Very simply, your credit score improves by paying bills on time, paying down credit card debt and having lines of credit.

But a mortgage professional after reviewing your credit report can offer suggestions to tweak your score. It’s important to speak with some one experienced in the world of home finance because, while not mysterious, credit scores are quirky.

This simple step will get you on your way to taking advantage of the expanded and extended tax credit program to buy a home in New Jersey if you don’t have perfect credit.

If you’d like some suggestions on mortgage professionals I’ve worked with feel free to contact me. And when you're ready to buy, give me a call!

Homes for sale in Tuckerton - October, 2009 Housing Market Report

Homes for sale in Manahawkin - October, 2009 Housing Market Report

The number of homes for sale in Manahawkin (inventory) was down in October, 2009 over 2008 by more than 100 units.

As you can see, prices are also down. With enactment and expansion of the homebuyers tax credit, I expect the prices of homes for sale in Manahawkin to continue to inch up. The median sold price of homes in Manahawkin increased in October, 2009 more than $10,000 over September, 2009.

If you'd like neighborhood specific information on homes for sale in Manahawkin (Stafford Township, NJ), or are interested in pricing your home to sell, contact me via email or phone.

Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore
Laura Giannotta
609-384-6121
Laura@JerseyShoreViews.com