Camille Miller

I understand your frustration haven been a past seller myself. The best thing to do is keep your home picked up as best as possible and hopefully you will have a little notice before a buyer shows up to straighten up or do major cleaning. At least once a week do a complete cleaning. Hopefully this spring your home will sell and you won't need to feel stressed any longer.

Good luck to you.

It's a good idea to do a brief search. Begin going to open houses and looking on the internet to get a "feel" for the market. The inventory will begin to build in New Jersey in the next 30 days as the weather warms. I think this spring you will have a large inventory of homes to choose from too. In the meantime, you should prepare your home for sale by getting it cleaned out and perhaps having an agent do a market analysis so you know what it's really worth...especially if you need the money from one home to purchase the next home. Depending on the list price of your home the market in New Jersey can see a home in inventory from 6mos to 1yr. so you have plenty of time to search. You can also put in a reverse contingency clause which states "seller must find suitable housing before closing". Let me know if I can help you in your search or find you an agent in your area. Either way, the best place to start a NJ home search and keep current on the NJ real estate market is http://www.JustJerseyRealEstate.com.

I am interested in a property in mendham which i know sold in early 2003 for a price in the region of $400k less than the current listing price. The property has been listed for a long time (through the back half of 2008), and been through 2 or 3 price reductions, and has still not sold. I dont believe the current owners have made any significant upgrades to justify the current listing price since their purchase in 2003. Given that i keep hearing that prices are now in the 2003 domain, would it be a reasonable place to start to offer at around the 2003 purchase price level, bearing in mind that it is so vastly different from what their expectations appear to be? I don't wish to insult anyone, and im a good prospect as a buyer (nothing to sell, finances in place etc). I know noone is able to categorically say what the best thing to do is, but i would welcome advice and opinions. Thanks!

Yes, pricing has dropped to about the 2003 level on average but not in all townships. I'd love to buy a beach house in Sea Girt at 2003 prices but I doubt anyone would sell it to me:) Do some research to determine pricing in Mendham. You may may find a 2003 price is to low but a 2005 price is just perfect. I'm finding incredible buying opportunities every where and some negotiations even surprise a seasoned agent like myself. If you do the research and still feel your pricing is correct then go for it. It never hurts to try.

My husband and I do have a realtor working for us. But we haven't signed any agreements with him. Are we not able to see any properties that are strictly forsalebyowner?

There is nothing wrong with purchasing a FSBO. In this market I'm sure they are already cooperating with local real estate agents too. At no additional cost to you your current agent can bring you through the home and negotiate on your behalf. Best of luck,

We are planning to buy our first home and are leaning towards Bridgewater, NJ because of its proximity to major highways and good schools. We both consult so we don't know where our jobs will be in the coming years. Just want to know from those living in Bridgewater,NJ what the pros and cons are and how is life in this area. We are planning to look at homes only in Community Living Setup. How are the home prices in Bridgewater,NJ in this market?Thanks for all your advice.

Bridgewater is an excellent choice however since you are both consultants you have the option of so many other areas as well. My advice is to take your time and see what else there is. Depending on where you are living now you may be looking for certain attributes in your next home town. For me when I moved out of Somerset County I found value in Hunterdon County. Towns on the 78 corridor, like Clinton, offer lower home prices and excellent schools and access to major highways too. The River towns offer history and great afternoons. Flemington offers all of the above.