About Morris County, NJ

What we are finding here in Morris County, NJ is a large pool of buyers who are willing, ready, able, and PICKY to buy. As new listings come onto the market, a well priced home with good location will have a very busy week of showings. I tell my sellers to expect this and to expect one or more offers, if they have placed the home competitively to sell. This does not have to be a low price, just a good marketable one. I also make sure they are placed in a price to show up on 2 different search ranges. So many agents today are still using the ---,999 approach. This only limits the search range, instead use the whole number (such as 400,000 instead of 399,900) and the house will show up in the 375000 - 400000 search plus the 400,000 - 425000 search.

I prepare the seller ahead of time to either experience a quick offer or ending up in the land of price reductions with the rest of the inventory. It is a make it or break it market.

The key to understanding what's happening for housing and real estate right now is to remember this: In a recovery that's just getting going, don't expect all the economic arrows to point the same way at any given moment.

New Jersey Estates/ Weichert Realtors Paul Stillwaggon & Pat Cornish

June 2009 LINKING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO OLD FASHIONED SERVICE

Copyright © 2009 Realty Times All Rights Reserved

The latest numbers on housing sales, prices, mortgage rates and foreclosures are great examples of that point:

Sales of existing houses came in on the upside for May, with a 2.4 percent increase nationally over the month earlier.

That's the first consecutive monthly gain in resales in the U.S. since way back in September of 2005.

But then again -- last month also saw sales of newly-constructed houses fall by six tenths of a percent, as low-priced foreclosures swamped the market and pulled buyers away from builders' showrooms and subdivisions.

Meanwhile, prices in both the resale and the new construction segments continued to head downwards. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home sale price in May was $173,000, 16 percent below what it was a year earlier.

The number one reason for the drop, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, was the heavy presence of foreclosures carrying rock-bottom prices in many markets.

Nationally, one of every three homes that went to closing in May was a "distressed" situation -- foreclosure or short sale. In some hard-hit areas, the percentage was much higher -- well over half.

Prices won't really stabilize until foreclosures fall to a much lower proportion of total transactions.

Now, on the other hand, there were scattered reports of resale prices beginning to get a foothold. For example, in the Tampa Bay metropolitan market on Florida's west coast, median prices jumped by four percent. They were also up slightly in Orlando.

On the sales side, Florida markets were red hot, with record increases in closed transactions. Florida as a whole saw a 16 percent statewide gain in May. But Broward County sales were up a phenomenal 47 percent and Orlando condo sales were off the charts for the month -- up 206 percent!

Looking ahead, mortgage rates appear to have at least temporarily reversed their recent increases. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the average 30-year fixed rate loan went for 5.4 percent last week -- that's down from 5. 5 percent the week before and close to 6 percent just a few weeks ago, based on quotes from major lenders.

Thanks to slightly lower rates, homebuyers continue to pour into the mortgage market. Applications for home purchase loans were up by 7.3 percent last week, pointing to continuing strength in sales during the coming several months.


Written by Kenneth R. Harney
June 30, 2009

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The graph shows that new listings in Harding Township stayed about the same level, while pending sales decreased but total inventory increased.

For additional information about Harding Township click here. For information about other Morris County communities, schools, etc. please click here. You can also call or text me with any questions (20) 259-4449.

To search for homes in Morris County including Madison, Chatham and Harding, click here. If you would like to read my blog, click here.

Want a real easy way to get more exposure for your business without spending a whole lot of cash? Try publishing an online newsletter to prospects and existing clients.

	New Jersey Estates/ Weichert Realtors Paul Stillwaggon & Pat Cornish June 2009 LINKING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO OLD FASHIONED SERVICE Copyright © 2009 Realty Times All Rights Reserved.

That's right. Go to Constant Contact.com, sign up for a free trial and start getting the word out on who you are and what you're all about.

"Whoa there Brian", you might be thinking. "You want me to publish a newsletter? What could I possibly say?" Great question. This is something people ask me all the time, so you'll be happy to know that the answer is real easy: It can say anything you want.

Remember, the objective of this newsletter is not to promote yourself as the #1 Agent in town who can do all of these great things. (People hate that and will tune you out.) But instead, it's purpose is to position you as a credible resource in your local real estate community. The type of person who's knowledgeable in her industry, and isn't afraid to share some of that information when it comes to the buying and selling of your home.

So how exactly do you do that through an online newsletter? Well, how about answering some Frequently Asked Questions you've picked up over the years from different clients and prospects? Questions like: · When is the best time to sell my house? (During the spring and summer months.) · Does "curb appeal" really have an impact on how potential buyers view my house? (Yes!) · Should I consider hiring a "staging expert" prior to putting my house on the market? (It depends.) And so on down the line.

You see, a lot of times people have been in an industry for so long that they take for granted what they know, and as a result, discount the value that information would have to others. So even though some of those questions might seem "too basic", or even self explanatory in your mind, they could be quite insightful for someone who hasn't bought or sold a home in a few years.

"All right fine", you might be thinking. "I can see how this newsletter thing might be helpful, but I'm not a great writer. What should I do now?" Ok, let's talk about that.

"Not a great writer." I'm not entirely sure what people mean when they say that. Does it mean they're physically incapable of putting their thoughts on paper? They don't like to write? They haven't written something in a long time? Because anyone who's gotten through even the most basic of formalized education here in the United States has had experience in writing before. And since most readers of this article have fully assimilated themselves into society, let's assume that "not being able to write" simply means that it's not an easy, or natural skill they've acquired over the years.

No problem. Let's talk about how we can make writing easier by providing a template you can use with your articles.

Part I (first couple of sentences): State the question at the top of the page as well as the reason why something like this might be important to the reader.

Ex. Question: How much of an impact does "curb appeal" have on the sale of my house? Well that all depends on how close you want potential buyers to get to your original asking price.

You see how with those first two sentences I've not only "hooked" the reader with a relevant question, while simultaneously providing a follow up sentence that makes the question important to them.

Part II (next few sentences): Discuss examples where you've seen "curb appeal" impact the sale of the house. This might be based on personal experience or what you've heard around the office, but try to point out some "real world" examples of why this is so important.

Part III (2-3 paragraphs): Provide some thoughts and ideas on how you've recommended clients impact the curb appeal of their home. It doesn't have to be too fancy, and can actually be written in a bullet type format. But it needs to be 3 or 4 things that people can do right now to impact the sale of their home.

Part IV (last couple of sentences): Tie it back to your original point or question at the top of the page, along with the following call to action. Ex. And if you have any questions, comments, or just want to chat about the upcoming buying or selling of your home, feel free to call or shoot me an email. Even if you or someone you know isn't ready to buy or sell their home right now, it's never too early to get out in front of what for most people is their largest personal asset.

You see how easy that was? And believe me, that type of newsletter will go a long way towards helping you stand out a market as "challenging" as this. And speaking of standing out, if you'd like some more ideas on how to get more business in today's tough market, just email info@agitoconsulting.com (Subject: Today's Tough Market), and we'll be sure to send out our free report right away.

But in the meantime, jot down some questions people have asked you over the past few years, and put together a newsletter that others would want to read. Because when it's all said and done, it'll be your business who thanks you for getting the word out on all that you know.

Written by Brian Hilliard
June 24, 2009

COMPLETE INFO UPDATED WEEKLY

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For further information Phone: Paul Stillwaggon (908) 561-5492 Cell: (908) 310-1358 Pat Cornish (908) 561-6499 Cell: (908) 578-0890

You can Email us at: njestates@gmail.com We are located at: 55 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ 07069

It's not always what buyers can see in a home that causes them to want to buy it or not. Sometimes it's the way the home feels. I'm not talking about staging, the size, or how spacious the home is, although those factors are important too. In this column I'm focusing on how buyers' allergies may be affected when they tour your home.

	New Jersey Estates/ Weichert Realtors Paul Stillwaggon & Pat Cornish June 2009 LINKING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO OLD FASHIONED SERVICE Copyright © 2009 Realty Times All Rights Reserved.

"We have about 300 million Americans and about 60 million of them have allergies or asthma," says, Mike Tringale, Director of External Affairs for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

Allergy problems can be debilitating for sufferers. Many will go to great lengths to avoid any possible influences that might bring on symptoms. Allergies and asthma are increasing, Tringale says, "some of that may actually be because of the houses we're living in." He adds, "it all comes down to the air quality in the home." According to AAFA, there are some simple steps that you can take to help clear the air in your home and reduce any harmful fumes-making it more appealing to those with allergies and even those without.

Tringale says do this three-step process: take an organized approach to looking at how your home is built, look at materials used in your home, and understand the types of cleaning agents that you're using and how they can affect indoor air quality.

Check for mold. Mold is one of the most common indoor allergens. "Look for cracks in foundation. Check to see if the windows are completely sealed or if moisture is getting in-too much moisture can lead to a mold problem," says Tringale. He adds that there are also housing products, such as wallboard, that are mold resistant. So be sure to check for those items when replacing housing materials.

Clean with hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate not bleach. Bleach is a common cleaning chemical but it has a very strong odor and, people with highly sensitive allergies to bleach, often immediately can sense symptoms coming on even if with just a brief exposure to the chemical.

Use PVC-free shower curtains. Hard to imagine that a pretty shower curtain can wreak such havoc on people's allergies, but the polyvinyl chloride shower curtains can release more than 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including two (toluene and xylene) that are classified as hazardous pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency. Having PVC shower curtains hanging around while your home is being shown can make those suffering from allergies feel the need to escape quickly.

Opt for area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. The U.S. Green Building Council provides information on "going green," the Council says carpeting can be particularly troublesome because the padding underneath is very difficult to clean or remove for drying. Carpets also harbor dirt, organic detritus, and moisture and can become a significant source for mold and mildew. Instead use area rugs over a hard-surface floor. The Council also recommends avoiding all biocide-treated (moth repellent) wool or cotton carpets.

Use products that contain low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A lot of homeowners will paint just before they list their homes for sale. But Tringale says, if you do, be sure to use paints that contain low VOCs. "Many paints contain volatile organic compounds and smells that can linger for weeks and cause all kinds of symptoms including eye irritations for people," says Tringale.

"If you're re-staining your floors ask for the low VOC stains, or even better, put in pre-treated floors rather than raw wood that you then have to apply polyurethane over the top of," says Tringale. He cautions sellers to "Make smart choices; otherwise you're going to have a house that is really chemically offensive to buyers who are walking through." For more information visit asthmaandallergyfriendly.com.


Written by Phoebe Chongchua
June 19, 2009

COMPLETE INFO UPDATED WEEKLY

Current Listings Info
Luxury New Homes
Custom Build A New Home
Land & Building Lots
New Jersey Estates
All New Jersey Homes
Real Estate Listings Blogs
Real Estate Info Blogs
Open Houses & Directions
Our Testimonial Letters
Going Green/ Complete Info

For further information Phone: Paul Stillwaggon (908) 561-5492 Cell: (908) 310-1358 Pat Cornish (908) 561-6499 Cell: (908) 578-0890

You can Email us at: njestates@gmail.com We are located at: 55 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ 07069