By Pascack Press

Real Estate & Business Section

In today's housing market, homeowners need to be more proactive than ever before when it comes to selling their homes.

Whereas the real estate boom at the turn of the century made things easy on sellers, the current real estate climate is not so seller-friendly.

To make their homes more attractive to prospective buyers, these are small and easy projects, but if neglected they'll give buyers the impression that other, bigger things might have been neglected as well.

If your home has a front porch or stoop, be sure to inspect it for cracks. An older porch or stoop should be replaced, and any chips or cracks in the steps should be fixed.

• Ready the roof. A new room is very expensive, and buyers understandably often run from homes that need a new roof.
  

Sellers should hire their own home inspector to determine the condition of the roof before putting the home up for sale. If you wait until after putting the home up for sale, it will likely take more time to sell the home, and buyers will wonder why the home was listed so long.

Know the home's ups and downs before putting it up for sale to minimize any potential concerns from buyers.

• Perfect the paint job. For homes without siding, be sure that the paint job is up to snuff. Any areas with peeling or chipping paint should receive a fresh coat of paint, and this is another job that should be handled wel ebfore listing the home

• Lavish the lawn with attencion. Buyers love a lush green lawn, and that the lawn goes a long way to creating a solid first impresson. The first thing buyers will see once they pull up curbside is the lawn. If the grass is dry with brown spots or apprears neglected, many buyers will find that hard to over look.
  

Homeowners preparing to sell their home in the fall should lavish attencion on their lawn throughout the summer, keeping it watered and possibly hiring a landscaping service to make it more appealing. Consider planting flowers or other decorative folliage.

It's a Sunday afternoon, and after passing by the newly constructed building on Old Tappan Road for the 100th time, and hearing a bit of Dino's Cucina, we decide to give it a try.

One of the owner's Frank Molitisanti greeted us as we entered. A very welcoming atmosphere, with soft lighting, and a wall of wine and liquors that wrap around from one end to the other. He offered us a drink, and why not. I had a Merlot, and my husband had a bacari and soda. We waited for the Pizza as we chatted about the business. When we passed by Saturday night, it was packed, and not a table available. At the back of the restaurant is a stone wall where the brick oven is located, and the chef is preparing the dough, and making the homemade bread for the sandwiches. We ordered a simple Margharita Pizza. They watched closely, as we cut a slice, and proceeded to take a bite. We looked at each other with such delight. This was the most amazing slice of pizza I have ever had! The dough was so fresh, with fresh basil, and fresh tomatoes. Bite after bite, Kevin, and I finished a whole pie. They brought us two sauces on the side. One was the marinara, and one was the pizza sauce. The marinara was so tasty, with an abundance of fresh basil, and Italian imported tomatoes, with a light seasoning of italian spices. Bite after bite, we finished the whole pie! The whole pie! We ordered another pie to bring home, and an eggplant parmesian on the homemade bread. Each piece of eggplant was thinly sliced, and layered with marinara, and mozzarella, and lightly breaded with a great deal of flavor.

As a resident, as well as a Real Estate Agent in Old Tappan, Westwood, Emerson, River Vale, Norwood, Northvale, Hillsdale, Montvale, and Park Ridge, this is a Restaurant that should go on your list for Top Restaurants in Northern Bergen County. Reasonably priced, fresh, and comfortable atmosphere.

Just ask for Frank or Chet. Tell em Paula Clark sent you!

www.PaulaClarkRealtor.com

Another feature of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 offers qualified first-time buyers a tax credit of up to $7,500 (or up to $3,750 for married filing separately) if they purchase a principal residence on or after April 9, 2008 but before July 1, 2009. (The purchase date is the day of closing or settlement.)

The credit-which is more like an interest free loan--must be repaid to the government over a 15-year period in equal installments, or repaid in full when the home is sold or ceases to be used as a principal residence and there is enough gain from the sale to repay the credit. If there is no gain, however, the remainder is forgiven. The first payment is due two years after the credit is claimed. The amount of the credit is limited to 10% of the purchase price of the home, but no more than $7,500 or $3,750, depending on filing status. Those who qualify can claim the credit on their federal income-tax return. Qualified first-time buyers cannot have owned a principal residence during the three years prior to the home purchase. For married taxpayers, the rule applies to both spouses-if either has owned a principal home within the prior three year period, neither spouse can claim the credit. However the new law does not disqualify those who have owned a vacation home or rental property within the three year period. Also, in a divorce, although recapture is not triggered immediately, the spouse who get the home becomes liable for paying back the credit eventually upon sale.

The full credit is available to married joint-filers with Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) up to $150,000, and to single filers with MAGI up to $75,000. The credit is phased out for buyers with MAGIs above those levels and is totally unavailable for MAGIs at or above $170,000 (joint filers). Contact your tax professional to learn more about the fine points of qualifying for and taking advantage of this limited time opportunity.

The Gooder Group, December newsletter

Hillsdale New Jersey History - The October 13, 2008 edition of the local Pascack Valley's Hometown Newspaper The Pascack Press, talked about the October 7th meeting of the mayor and council where the landmark Hillsdale Police booth received a plaque noting it's historical significance.

The article, written by correspondent Sonia Kinzler, went on to talk about the country's hard times and how the town of Hillsdale is doing it's part to keep the local food pantry stocked with donations from residents.

According to the president of Hillsdale's Historic Preservation Committee, Beverly Rosenstein, the longtime residents might remember when the Traffic Booth was located in the middle of the intersection of Hillsdale Avenue and Broadway, as pictured below in the picture on the righthand side.

Having grown up in the town of Hillsdale, my husband Bob remembers a time when his father John recalled his father Sebastian Hammerstein was a local builder. Hammerstein Family lore rumored that there was some possibility that grandfather Sebastian Hammerstein may have been involved in the design of the Traffic Booth. The historic plaque being dedicated to the Hillsdale Traffic Booth honors the name John Oley, with whom the Hammersteins were friendly.

Ms. Rosenstein's mention was recalled by both my husband and I as we remember when the Hillsdale Traffic Booth was moved. Time fades many a memory but it's still a great feeling to drive through the town of Hillsdale and see the icon poised proudly in the town center.

For more Hillsdale New Jersey History, call Bob & Lisa at (201)218-6802 - your Pascack Valley Hometown Real Estate experts.

Lisa & Robert Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker • (201)218-6802

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •