Sayreville & Piscataway NJ Real Estate Blog

Yes, it’s time for the Holidays again, which means it’s time to decorate your Sayreville & Piscataway New Jersey home. If you’re big on recycling, use eco-friendly products and try to keep your carbon footprint on a low scale, you may be trying to figure out how you can make your Holidays a blast without stepping away from your ideals.

 

Here are a few tips to help you get your Sayreville & Piscataway New Jersey home decorated in eco-friendly style!

 

Tips for an Eco-Friendly

Holiday: 

1. Instead of buying wrapping paper, buy decorative wooden boxes, tin boxes, cloth bags or other eco-friendly packaging to hold your presents. You can get any of these with Holiday themes, most won’t get thrown away for years and, when they finally do fall apart, they’re biodegradable.

 

2. If you do use wrapping paper, save the paper and reuse it next year: recycling at its best!

 

3. Buy a real tree instead of a fake one and find an organization to plant one in its place. Once Christmas is over, you can have the Christmas tree recycled into wood chips, mulch and other wood products.

 

4. Try buying your gifts from an eco-friendly store. Online or offline, these businesses offer gifts made from recycled, reused or all natural materials.

 

5. Create fantastic holiday decorations with reusable materials from around the house. There are tons of decoration ideas around the Net, so you’ll be able to find some ideas that use things you already have lying around.

 

6. Send an e-card instead of a regular Holiday card, or buy
   Holiday cards made from recycled materials.

 

7. If you want lights, use LEDs (low-energy lights). Not only do they use less power, but also if one light goes out, the rest stay lit.

 

With a little bit of thought and ingenuity, your Sayreville & Piscataway New Jersey home can be as bright and cheerful as you’ve always wanted without worrying about the impact on the environment. Have a Happy (and eco-friendly)

Holiday!

 

If you’re looking for a green home to hang your eco-friendly wreaths in, I can help. Call me at 732-247-1935 ext 182 or email me at freddie@freddiemoorer.com for more information.

 

Links:

Eco-friendly packaging

http://www.nashvillewraps.com/eco-friendly-packaging/mc-051.html

 

Christmas tree Recycled

http://www.christmastree.org/recycle.cfm

 

Holiday decorations

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/holiday-ideas/christmas-wreath-projects

 

Few questions are more important this time of year than which Christmas tree you should buy for your Sayreville & Piscataway New Jersey home.  There are some things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect Christmas tree, here are just a few: 

Real Or Artificial Tree?Real Christmas trees require some care; if you’re planning to travel this holiday season, you may not want a live tree.  You must water the tree to make sure that it doesn’t lose its needles before Christmas day.  The live trees are not fire resistant, the dried out pine needles can get too hot from the lights and may burst into flame.  

On the other hand, there isn’t any up-keep with an artificial Christmas tree, and many look quite realistic.  The plastic Christmas trees have an added bonus of being flame retardant.  Then, there’s the convenience of not having to go out in the cold weather to pick the tree out. 

For those of you who can’t imagine Christmas without the pine needle smell, you can buy air fresheners that mimic the smell of fresh cut pine.  For some, an artificial tree is the best of both worlds. 

How Big Is Too Much Tree?Now that you’ve decided what kind of Christmas tree to buy, you have to find out how big a tree you can fit in your Sayreville & Piscataway New Jersey home.  It could be that the only thing limiting the size of your Christmas tree is your budget; in that case, your decision is easy.   

However, if you’re limited on space, you’ll need to decide the best place to put your tree first.Try to think of how the area will “frame” your Christmas tree.  Consider how much traffic goes by the area and whether there will be enough room for the presents to stay safe.   

Break out the measuring tape so you don’t have to guess when you’re on the Christmas tree lot; trees look deceptively small on the lot.  Or, if you opted for the fake Christmas tree, you’ll know exactly which box to pick out; just look for the right size. 

Want to buy a Sayreville & Piscataway New Jersey home that has space for a bigger tree?  I can help.  Give me a call today at 732-247-1935 ext 182 or email me at freddie@freddiemoorer.com. 

LINKS:Christmas treehttp://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/trees/featuredplants/ChristmasTreeOptions.aspx 

Water the treehttp://www.ehow.com/how_2343113_care-christmas-tree.html 

Artificial Christmas treehttp://pre-litartificialchristmastree.info/ 

A recent interview with FHA commissioner David Stevens on CNBC gives hope to Sayreville New Jersey real estate owners with FHA loans. The Federal Housing Administration now covers at least 30% of new home loans, so when Stevens announced that it might not make its 2% capital reserve, people were understandably nervous. For no reason, Stevens says in the CNBC interview.

 

Instead of immediate risk management in the form of strict guidelines that might make it harder on potential Sayreville New Jersey real estate owners, such as those Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have put on condo mortgages, the FHA is going for some changes. The changes include hiring a chief risk officer and requiring higher capital standards for loan originators.

 

Once it was out that the FHA wouldn’t meet its 2% (please note that the FHA itself is the one who broke the news), news portals, blogs and other websites spread the news that the FHA was a train wreck. However, the CNBC interview with Stevens cleared the air a bit.

 

It appears that the FHA, put in place for instances like this when people can’t afford other loans, actually has two capital accounts. According to Stevens, the FHA has “lots of capital in primary reserve to cover expected defaults.” Combined, FHA capital is over $30 billion dollars.

 

At the present, says Stevens, the FHA isn’t considering a minimum credit score, and they may not have to. Looking at their portfolio, the average credit score has gone up 60 points, from 630 to 690, pointing to a higher quality of borrowers.

 

So, when thinking about buying Sayreville New Jersey real estate and looking at mortgage companies, don’t forget to look at the FHA. If Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are lending, the FHA is – and it’s going strong!

 

You can watch the CNBC video for the full interview.

 

If you’re looking for a beautiful home, I can help. Call me now at 732-247-1935 ext 182 or email me at freddie@freddiemoorer.com for more information.

Links:

Might not make its 2% capital reserve

http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/federal_housing_administration/docs/FHA%20Actuarial%20Review%20Briefing.pdf

 

FHA

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/fhahistory.cfm

 

CNBC interview

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1274114504&play=1

 

Oh, the dreaded/happy DOM question. “How long has this house been up for sale?” If it’s your Sayreville & Piscataway NJ home for sale we’re talking about, you’re probably wondering about the split “dreaded/happy” bit. For that matter, whether you’re a buyer or a seller, you’re probably asking, “what the heck is ‘DOM’?”

 

Days On Market

“DOM” is the shortened industry term for Days on Market, used by the multiple listing services (MLS). It’s exactly what it sounds like: the number of days your Sayreville & Piscataway NJ home for sale has been on the market. This metric covers the time it actually goes on sale to the time the deal is closed.

 

Why Is DOM Important?

Remember the “dreaded/happy” part at the beginning of this article? As a buyer’s agent, I might gleefully answer, “Fifty days.” I say “gleefully”, because a house that has sat on the market for a long time is a good thing for my client. The seller is probably more eager to sell than a month before, and is most likely willing to work a deal. An eager seller makes a happy buyer in most cases.

 

On the other hand, as a seller’s agent, I might not be so happy about it, and for the same reason. My seller is now an eager seller. I want to get the best deal for my client, but I know the buyer has the upper hand. It is then up to me to help my client get the home sold without giving away the barn, the pool, the tool shed and the tools.

 

Already, you may be beginning to understand how the Days on Market metric can affect the sale of your home.

 

The problem with the DOM metric is that it causes buyers and agents to build false assumptions. If a home has been on the market for an above-average length of time, we start to wonder, “What’s the matter with that listing?” Even though I know there are other reasons for a home to go static and not sell, many people automatically think there’s something wrong.

 

Although you can’t force a house to sell, you do have control over some of the reasons for an extended DOM metric:

 

• The home may be overpriced – Nothing is wrong with the property itself; it’s just priced too high.

 

• Testing the market – Although it’s a big mistake and agents will tell you so, some sellers test the market by throwing a high price on a home they don’t care if they sell – just to see if somebody is foolish enough to take it.

 

• Sticking to your guns – Often, sellers get fixed on a price and won’t budge, come hell or high water. They figure they can wait around until the market can meet their price, not the other way around.

 

• Renovations – Sometimes, a home will go on the market in the middle of renovations. The sellers aren’t ready to let the home be seen, so it just sits there.

 

• Availability – A growing problem is the lack of access to a Sayreville & Piscataway NJ home for sale. Sadly, agents and FSBOs alike seem to be unavailable when a buyer wants to view the home. Obviously, no viewing means no sale.

 

Don’t let your DOM get high because of simple mistakes. If you’re serious about selling your home, remember the five reasons above and make sure you aren’t doing them.

 

If you’re ready to sell your home with a professional who understands how to keep the DOM to a minimum, give me a call today at 732-247-1935 ext 182 or email me at freddie@freddiemoorer.com.

 

 

Links:

Multiple listing services

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_Listing_Service

 

Buyer’s agent

http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/house-buying11.htm

 

FSBOs

http://www.realtor.org/research/research/fsbofacts

 

The real estate industry is full of numbers and metrics that can influence your home for sale in Mercer & Middlesex County NJ. Here are just a few you need to know before putting your house on the market:

 

1. Pricing – Is your home for sale in Mercer & Middlesex County NJ worth more than you bought it for? Even now, it’s a possibility. Check the average sales prices for the homes in your area, neighborhood and street. You might be pleasantly surprised. Contact your local agent for the information.

 

2. DOM – Days on Market is the time period a home sits on the market before closing. Currently, the average days on market in almost any area are rather high, but the actual metric may change depending on the price of your home. If you’re faced with a timeline and have a set goal for the sale, the average days on market for your area is a number you need to know. Again, you can ask your local real estate agent.

 

3. List Pricing – The average list price tells you how much your competition is going for. If you’re trying to sell your house way above the average list price, it probably won’t leave the market.

 

4. Competition – How much competition do you really have? How many “For Sale” signs are up? The higher the inventory, the lower your chances of selling the home quickly.

 

Of all the numbers to know, these are at the top. As every agent knows, the best way to sell your home for sale in Mercer & Middlesex County NJ is to do the research – and then hire a proven real estate agent!

 

If you want to sell your home and need current information, I can help. Call me now at 732-247-1935 ext182 or email me at freddie@freddiemoorer.com for more information.

 

 

Links:

Average sales prices

http://www.realtor.org/research/research/ehsdata

 

Days On Market

http://homebuying.about.com/b/2008/03/10/why-days-on-market-matter-to-home-buyers.htm

 

Listing price

http://www.realtor.com/Basics/Sell/Index.asp

 

Have you heard of the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit extension? Last month, President Obama signed the extension to help first-time homebuyers (who didn’t get their sales in by November 30th) buy a house that meets their needs. What about those who already own Mercer & Middlesex County NJ homes, are doing well and want a larger home?

 

To those who already own a home, Merry Christmas! The Workers, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 didn’t just come with an extension; it came with improvements. Those in governmental positions of authority reasoned that if someone wanted to get a bigger home, they should get some kind of help too, thus further helping the overall real estate market.

 

If you own a home, you can now receive up to $6,500 in tax credits for buying one of the Mercer & Middlesex County NJ homes for sale. The actual wording is “$6,500 or 10%.” Here are a few of the important points you need to know:

 

• Income Qualifications – Your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) as a single taxpayer must be less than $125,000 ($225,000 if you file jointly). Partial credit may be received by those with a MAGI of less than $145,000 (single) and $245,000 (jointly).

 

• Home Ownership Qualifications – You must have lived in the home you own for five consecutive years out of the past eight to qualify. You do not, however, have to currently own the home you’re using to qualify. The key terms are “five consecutive years” and “in the past eight years.” If you lived in your home for five years straight, but sold it two years ago, you are still eligible for the tax credit. If you’re filing jointly with a spouse, both you and the spouse have to qualify.

 

• Cost Qualifications – The cost of the home doesn’t have to be more than the home you already own, but it does have to cost less than $800,000. As a side note, the government has put a definitive cap on the housing costs. If the home you’re looking at is a solid, non-negotiable $801,000, it isn’t eligible for the credit.

 

• Purchase Date – The final date for the purchases to be secured is April 30, 2010. The actual closing date must be finalized before June 30, 2010.

 

Most couples move into a home thinking they will “eventually” get a bigger home once they have a family. Then the family comes along, the house is full and they can’t buy a larger home due to financial issues. The tax credit is a perfect opportunity for families to find Mercer & Middlesex County NJ homes that fit their expansion needs. Take a chance and look around; your dream home may be only a city block and $6,500 away!

 

If you’re looking to expand and take advantage of the tax credit, I can help. Call me at 732-247-1935 ext 182 or email me at freddie@freddiemoorer.com for more information.

 

Links:

First time homebuyers

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

 

Modified adjusted gross income

http://www.moneybluebook.com/adjusted-gross-income-and-modified-adjusted-gross-income/

 

Tax credit

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html