Pascack Valley New Jersey Real Estate | Pascack Valley Newsletter

Hi everyone and Lisa says Hi!

May has arrived and so has our updated Real Estate Newsletter!

Summer is about to start it seems as the temperatures rise. The flowers are in full bloom now.

Grape Hyacinth

The market has heated up as well. We have been overwhelmed with the amount of buyers and listings we have been deluged with lately. Thus I have not been able to blog as much. I digress. Business is great and I am enthralled at the possibilities available for first time home buyers as well as sellers looking to move up.

 

Historically, interest rates are at an all time low and now is a great time to buy or sell. Either moving up or buying for the first time, now is a great time to make the move up to home ownership.

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month’s issue includes topics such as:

“With Affordability Up, Home Buyers are Starting to Return”;
“Time To Move From Renting To Owning”;
“No Money To Buy a Home? Try These Savings Tips”;
“Why Is It So Difficult To Get A Home Loan?”;
“Smart Technology in The Intelligent Home”;

Plus a roundup of April real estate activity as well as much more advice and information.

Here is a link to my “May Real Estate Update”:

Click on the Button below to access our newsletter:

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Robert and Lisa Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker • (201)315-8618

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •

Bergen County New Jersey Real Estate Newsletter Update

Hi everyone Bob says Hi  and Lisa says Hi!

April has arrived and so has our updated Real Estate Newsletter!

The flowers are starting to pop up along with the temperatures.

 

Spring Flowers

Historically, interest rates are at an all time low and now is a great time to buy or sell. Either moving up or buying for the first time, now is a great time to make the move up to homeownership.

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that we think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month’s issue includes topics such as:

“Five Ways to Wow Buyers”;
“Where Housing is Headed”;
“What You Need to Know to Buy a Home Today”;
“Investor Report: Refinancings”;
“Seller’s Home Appeal for Today’s Market”;

Plus a roundup of March real estate activity as well as much more advice and information.

We hope you enjoy this monthly newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to us. Or, if you would like to see a certain topic covered in future months, let us know that too!

Click on the Button below to access our newsletter:

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Robert and Lisa Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker • (201)315-8618

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •

 

Home Buyer Advice |Paralysis by Analysis Can Stop You From Buying a Home in Bergen County New Jersey

The current real estate market has been somewhat of a challenge for many Home Buyers and Home Sellers alike. The media reports and real estate professionals are calling it a “Buyer’s Market”. The description of a “Buyer’s Market“ is when homes are coming on the market or “Listing” faster than homes are going off the market or “Selling”.

Sometimes even the most astute Buyers and Sellers can become confused by all the choices. We like to refer to this state of confusion as “Paralysis By Analysis”. Sellers can become overwhelmed with indecision regarding pricing while Buyers are confused by all the home choices. Before you become paralyzed by over analysis, read on for some real estate tips.

This month we were reminded about this phenomenon when our own daughter was trying to decide whether or not to renew her apartment lease or search for a new place. When she had located an alternate apartment, we told her to sit down and make up a “Pros and Cons” list to assist her in the decision process. In real estate, as with any major decision, there are most asuredly going to be some compromises to negotiate. It is a rare instance that life provides us with the absolute perfect scenario to fuel our decisions.

When faced with an important life decision such as Home Ownership, flipping a coin isn’t the answer. A more helpful approach to take is formulating a list. Some people are big fans of making lists. From earliest childhood we are told by our parents that Santa himself makes a list and checks it twice. This sage advice can be applied to most situations regarding making important decisions.

 

For instance, when a Buyer begins the Home Search process, the first order of business is to sit down and make a list of the features necessary to accomodate their family’s needs. Click here to read more about starting the Home Search Process.

If we are indeed in a “Buyer’s” market, the average Buyer will find more than one choice to fit their criteria. Once you narrow your selections, the Pros and Cons List becomes a helpful tool. Click here to read more about the Home Buying Process.

Home Sellers can capitalize on a Buyer’s market as well. Click here to read more about Selling Before Buying your next home.

With many fine homes to chose from, our Home Buyer Advice is don’t let paralysis by analysis stop you from Buying a home.

Call Lisa and Bob today at (201)218-6802 and let us help!

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

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •

Home Inspection Issues – Can You Have It Your Way?

Home Inspection issues seems to have become a hot topic in the real estate market.  But can you have it your way?  When we were experiencing a Seller’s market, Buyers were striking Inspection Contingencies right out of the contract just to secure their bids.

The sort of inspection issues that were accepted by Buyers in the past few years of the Hot Seller’s Market are now causing negotiations to continue right up to the Closing Table.  While home prices have come down in most parts of the Country, there are still areas where prices have not been affected by the overall state of the market.

The problem with this new  viewpoint is that not all Sellers are seeing the same issues as reasons to negotiate.  They aren’t allowing Buyers to have it their way in many cases because they are now holding two mortgages!  Is it possible that Buyers have become more demanding due to the state of the economy?  Or has the media become the scapegoat in this new trend?  How many people are blaming the media for the reality of the market? Could it be that the Sellers are just not getting the fact that the market moved over to the “other side”?

Everyday we talk to other agents involved in transactions fraught with inspection issues.  Have we become so smart about homes that we have lost touch with the main reason home ownership is such a wonderful thing?  When did the American Dream become such a Nightmare?

Perhaps we have come to a point when negotiating is the new phenomenon!  Obviously something has shifted – but what?  The average home inspection lasts approximately two hours in duration.  The following is an abbreviated list of points that your Home Inspector will review with you after you have the home of your dreams inspected:

• Driveway condition
• Sidewalks, stoops & Decks
• Roof age & condition (including eaves, soffits and facia boards)
• Sprinklers, Hoses and outside drainage
• Gutters & Downspouts
• Siding material and condition
• Kitchens & Baths
• Chimneys and Fireplaces
• Heating & Cooling Systems
• Oil & Underground Tanks
• Windows & Doors
• Electric Service and Panel
• Interior Walls, Floors & Ceilings
• Attics
• Basements
• Appliances (if included)

Now this is an abbreviated list as it depends on the type of home you are purchasing and what inclusions there are.  But you get the idea, there are many issues to explore when purchasing a home.

Let us not forget that Homes are one of the single largest expenses that most people will have in their lives.  Sellers and Buyers should review all things considered in the negotiation process.   Having said that, is it any wonder that in this current market, with Home Inspection Issues many are asking Can You Have It Your Way? 

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

• Address • 52 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •