Princeton, NJ

Sunday, was a blustery low 40 degree day in Central New Jersey. Saturday had been a warm and sunny 70.

No, I am not a weather commentator, just a "Returning Jersey Girl" taking in the wonder of an early winter day after spending last winter in sunny Naples Florida.

Saw a bumper sticker there once it said "Jersey Girls don't pump Gas"

My blood is slowly thickening to the cooler Jersey weather, especially after the early snowfall in mid October.

Yesterday was a farm day reminiscent of past farm days in Central New Jersey from prior years. I spent most of the day and evening outside. I did some raking and mucking and laid down straw for the animals. Quality time with the horses feeding them carrots and doing some other chores before cleaning up to go out to one of my favorite restaurants in the Princeton Area.

Tigers Tail is a local favorite in Princeton, just over the Montgomery Township border on Route 206 and one of my favorites. It has a nice oval bar area with high top tables and televisions broadcasting Sunday Football Games.

The dining room is warm and inviting with the menus on the walls chalkboard. Families after soccer games and couples catching up with parents all frequent on an early Sunday evening. Casual Dining and great food with good portions and nice size "beverages".

The table in back of us had a party of eight male Princeton fraternity glee club members. After they received their bill and decided who was paying for what, they called the waitress over, sat her in a chair and sang to her. They were on their knees, different ranges and keys and THEY WERE GREAT. (if I was better versed I would have known what they were singing) Everyone clapped and the waitress blushed.

Central New Jersey, Mercer County and Hunterdon is a Great area to live, close to Princeton and the beautiful rolling hills of the Hopewells and Amwells, not to mention all the small towns along the way. There is so much to offer in culture, diversity, education, entertainment and housing; from townhouses and condos to estate homes and farms.

Later in the evening I was outside with the dog, cats and horses. There was an almost full moon with a beautiful star lit sky and I could hear the soft hoot of the Owl. Absolutely beautiful and magical it was so peaceful, to think I was the one that use to complain about the cold and winter weather (and that fresh cold air really made me sleep soundly through the night)

Thinking about moving to Central New Jersey or know anyone who is, contact me, coshea@nationsrealtors.com

Photos courtesy of Microsoft Clip Art and Christine O'Shea

Copywrite Christine O'Shea - 2008 - all rights reserved

A recent stroll down Library Place, Princeton Borough, camera in hand snapping photos of the beautiful homes with their individual architecture and leaded glass windows lead me to search tax records in our Trend MLS to see what has sold on this street of 31 houses.

On February 29, 2008 one property on Library Place sold for $3,100,000. The property had been in the same family for generations and featured five fireplaces and an elevator.

Prior to that in August of 2007 a similar property sold for $3,250,000.

Needless to say, properties in this elete area of town do not come on the market often.

However, if you are interested in finding a home in Princeton Borough or Library Place, please contact me at coshea@nationsrealtors.com and I will be happy to help you find the home of your dreams

Please note neither of these homes are the ones listed in tax records recently sold.

Photos courtesy of Christine O'Shea

Copywrite Christine O'Shea 2008 all rights reserved.

When I think of Witherspoon Street in Princeton Borough, I immediately think of Princeton Medical Center.

I did not realize that there was a real life John Witherspoon until I took a tour of the Princeton University Campus.

John Witherspoon was one of the signers of the Declaration of Indenpendence along with a being the sixth President of Princeton and from 1786 to 1782 a leading member of the Continental Congress.

Originally from Scotland where he was an ordained minister he came to Philadelphia in August of 1776 and then moved to Princeton.

Central New Jersey, Mercer County is rich in history and our founding fathers contributed to making this country what it is today.

A trip down Witherspoon Street, its shoppes, offices and restaurants will now remind me of the founding fathers of this great country.

This is a shop on the corner of Witherspoon Street and Nassau in downtown Princeton Borough. Once a dorm it is now the home of Hamilton Jewlers.

Why some Princeton homes sell quickly while others languish? Worst yet, why some of the Princeton homes for sale don't sell at all? These are the frequently asked questions by those selling or contemplating a sale of their Princeton real estate. This year-to date in Princeton Township and Borough there were 327 Princeton homes for sale listed and 186 homes sold. This means approximately 43% of Princeton real estate did not sell and the homes were either withdrawn or expired. So, how as a home seller you could be part of the successful 57% ? One thing you could do is to examine some of the Princeton real estate success stories.
Read: Why Some Princeton Homes Sell Quickly?

Here is a case of the home I marketed recently - under contract within one week. The home was on the market 2 years ago. After several price reductions the offers were low. I found for these sellers an exceptionally profitable rental opportunity and the home was taken off the market and rented out.

Fast forward two years. The homes goes on the market and is under contract within a week for more then the offer two years ago. What has changed? Did Princeton real estate drastically improve over the last two years, or was there something else? How did we do it?

My seller clients know the secret word to make it happen and now I am going to share it with you. The word is "Wow". This is what a potential buyer has to say when they see your Princeton home for sale. It is as simple as that. This is what the "Wow" covers:

Price. Nothing trumps this in importance. The reaction you are looking from a buyer interested in a Princeton home like yours, is something like this: "Wow, all of this (meaning your home's amenities) for this $(meaning a realistic market price). Another way to look at it, your home has to beat all equal competing Princeton homes for sale on price. Often sellers are concerned they would end up selling for less then similar, but higher priced properties. Usually it's not the case. We have seen bidding wars for Princeton properties priced right.

Two years ago this home was priced the same or a bit higher then competition and didn't sell quickly. This time priced right it did, while many competing properties priced higher didn't sell at all.

Photography. You have to Wow buyers with photos. The goal is to make the buyers put your Princeton home for sale on the list of must see homes. You have to Wow the agents as well for them to want to come the Brokers Open House. It's only when they have seen how wonderful your home is in reality would they call their clients to say "Wow, I just saw a house you can't miss seeing".

This is exactly what happened with this Princeton home for sale. Pictures taken by a professional photographer - generated a lot of interest among other agents. Several agents said this could be perfect for their clients. There were many showings right after the house went on the market. One of these agents had a client who fell in love with the house and made an offer.

Bling. Professional photos could draw buyers and agents in and make your home look more appealing. They can't make up what it doesn't have. When the buyers visit the Wow factor has to continue. It doesn't mean the house has to be brand new or have gold plated faucets. Rather, buyers want to see the property was well taken care of and has been updated.
My clients' home was in good condition, it was well maintained, but it was vintage 80's. Reflecting on their first selling experience, my clients asked what updates could make a big difference. They replaced Formica counters with gorgeous granite in the kitchen and bathrooms. It wasn't cheap but it changed the look of the kitchen and bathrooms, the most important items buyers look at.

Visual appeal is very important. New home builders understood this, building elaborate model homes, long time before the concept of staging came to residential real estate resale. Buyers know they are not buying a home with furniture, yet this is how they see the home in their mind.

My client's furniture and presentation was OK, but the change was remarkable with the renter's furniture (at the time of the home being marketed). This furniture made the house look better and gave the rooms the needed extra punch.

There is a lot that goes into selling your Princeton home quickly and for the highest possible price in addition to the three factors above. One important consideration is what other properties are on the market at the same time. What do these houses for sale have that yours doesn't and visa verse. Pricing and marketing strategy have to take this into consideration. Timing is very important as well. For example, a home could have sold for X in June, but this opportunity could be gone for various reasons in July.

I see an opportunity now for Princeton home sellers in certain market segments because the inventory is low and there are buyers who wanted to buy this summer and are still looking. Your Princeton real estate success story could be the next to be told.

This article "House sold in one week- find out how" was first published in my other Princeton Real Estate blog.

If you are considering selling your home and have questions give me a call at 609-553-4175, or stop by at my office - 34 Chambers street, Princeton, New Jersey. Not ready to talk to an agent yet? Search on your own for Princeton homes for sale and homes for sale in West Windsor, Montgomery, Hopewell by clicking on this link Princeton Real Estate - Homes For Sale

This Princeton real estate housing market report may be the only report with some good news amid the financial crisis engulfing the country. The positive news is the 8% increase in the median house price and the 6% increase in the average home price in Princeton Township in the 3d quarter 2008 compared with the same period in 2007. The question "How is the Princeton real estate?" is something I get asked at least half a dozen times daily. I was happy my answer for this article had some good news.

Princeton NJ Mercer county real estate report has been developed to cover the results for the third quarter of 2008. This report details the prices of Princeton NJ homes for sale, trends in the numbers of homes sold, the average days on the market it took to sell the house and the rate at which houses have sold. Data is compared it to the real estate statistics for the same period of last year -Q3 2007.

Princeton Borough real estate median price have increased 6%. The median price of houses sold in both the Princeton Township and the Boro increased 2%.

The number of houses sold have continued to decline in Princeton Township by 25%, which is understandable given the decline in the supply - the number of Princeton Township houses listed declined 39%. In the Princeton Boro the number of homes sold increased by 23%, while the number of houses listed declined 26%.

This does not mean Princeton real estate and homes for sale have been completely immune from the declining prices. The median and average prices reflect a relative direction, but are not precise, because they do not measure the sale of the same Princeton property, i.e. the mix of the houses in the 3d quarter of 2008 is different from the mix of houses sold in the same period last year.

These are the details for this report*.

Princeton Township Real Estate - 3d Quarter
2008 2007
Number of houses sold 60 75
Average price sold 1,005,830 948,065
Median price sold $898,750 $831,000
Average DOM 97 75

Min. price sold $245,000
Max price sold $2,925,000


Princeton Borough Real Estate - 3d Quarter
2008 2007
Number of houses sold listed 27 34
Listed average price $918,103 $1,240,328
Houses pended 21 22
Houses sold 31 24

Average price sold $864,130 $906,531

Median price sold $699,000 $657,000
Average DOM 97 114

min sold $220,000
max sold $2,700,000

Combined Township and Boro Sept 2008 Sept 2007
Houses listed 27 40
Houses pended 10 17
Houses sold 23 24
Average price sold $799,714 $903,041
Median price sold $850,000 $831,000
Average DOM 137 120

Information is based on Trend MLS data as of 10/03/2008. Presumed accurate but not guaranteed.

Princeton NJ Mercer County Real Estate Market Housing Report -Second Quarter 2008

Princeton NJ Mercer County Real Estate Market Housing Report -First Quarter 2008

Princeton NJ Mercer County Real Estate -Homes for sale prices 2004-2007

Princeton Real Estate - Housing Prices, Market Reports, Statistics

Princeton NJ Mercer County Real Estate - How Long Does It Take To Sell Princeton 2006-2007

Please call 609-553-4175 to find out how real estate in Princeton, Montgomery Township, West Windsor, Plainsboro, Princeton Junction, Hopewell, Pennington, and Lawrenceville New Jersey affects your buying and selling decisions.

Faina Sechzer does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for accuracy of the information on this site, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied. Every consumer is urged to perform their own research and analysis.

Copyright © 2008 Faina Sechzer All rights reserved. This information cannot be copied, reproduced, transmitted, distributed, displayed or published.