Andrew's Blog

Res Tantum Valet Quantum Vendi Potest: Requiem for a Disappointed Holmdel New Jersey Buyer

2009-12-10T01:37:22Z

Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest. Latin for the phrase "a thing is worth only what someone else will pay for it."

Yet the lucidity of the observation, the indefatigability of this simple argument, rarely mandates a successful offer. The buyer may portend worth.

The trick is coercing the seller to agree with the buyer's approximation.

The buyer of a Holmdel home for sale is well advised to plead competently when submitting an offer. Remember that in God we trust but all others must bring data.

To position your offer in its best light, the seasoned Realtor, one with experience as a Holmdel, New Jersey buyer's agent, provides the seller with an opinion of value supported by recent comparative sales.
Or the buyer can simply approach the purchase with the humble caveat "This is all I can afford for your house."

Either way, it is simplistic to believe every seller in today's market must accept any offer. There are few Holmdel short sales.

Not every homeowner over leveraged. Not every citizen defaulted.

There are fortunate real estate owners who chose not to the roll the bones in the credit market and enjoy a high percentage of equity in their Holmdel residence. (In Ancient Greece the first die were carved from sheep anklebones called Astragali.)

Financially secure sellers can -- and do -- pass on discount offers. I realize that perplexes today's buyers and confounds those who vest stock in pundits and soothsayers.

Although the majority of Americans fight to dislodge themselves from the grip of the Great Recession, many Holmdel sellers are free to disagree with the buyer's perception of value. They've risen above the fray, reminding me of another Latin phrase -- Aquila non capit muscas.

The eagle does not hunt flies.

If you're looking to purchase a Holmdel, New Jersey home for sale and need the eye of sharp Roman, I may be your Cicero :)

Here’s my contact information: E-mail Andrew at alenza@weichert.com.

Andrew J. Lenza, ABR GRI MBA Broker Associate

Weichert Realtors, 43 East Main Street, Holmdel New Jersey 07733. Office (732) 946-9400 and Mobile (732) 580-0822

The Colts Neck New Jersey 07722 Land Report: Spotlight on Horse Farms and Land for Sale

2009-12-09T14:14:56Z

Sometimes amid the property inquiries a theme emerges. My blog reflects the latest interest in Colts Neck raw land or Colts Neck land values.

Let me throw another keyword search at you: Colts Neck New Jersey land for sale.

We all know the construction industry, especially home-builders, have taken it on the shin AND the chin. I can’t remember the last time in my fifteen years of Monmouth County residence that land appeared so cheap.

I need to restrain myself from dressing up like Tom Cruise in that movie Far and Away about the 1800’s Homestead Act and plant my red flag on a corner of green earth.

How green grows the meadows of Colts Neck?

The dilemma today is pricing. That’s a challenge for both buyer and seller of Colts Neck real estate. There’s a vacuum of recent closed sales prices for vacant or raw Colts Neck land.

If you're new to Colts Neck, consider that raw land is the polar opposite of The Grande development of Colts Neck, New Jersey. (The Grande is likened to a planned "urban" development -- also called a "P.U.D.")

We have twenty-three (23) MLS listings for Colts Neck lots and parcels. Some of the acreage is farm assessed; some are approved for building. Still others will require a variance for sub-division.

Or you could purchase a tract of Colts Neck land and transform the dirt into your equestrian retreat. You know, Master of Universe. Lord of the Stable. Mistress of the Manor.

The positive for buyers of Colts Neck real estate is some of these land lots have been on the market for a long time. Imagine the glee of a seller if a flesh-and-blood buyer appeared?

If you’d like additional information on some of these horse farms, Colts Neck rehab properties and just plain wierd pieces of real estate, you will have to call me.

A related article on Colts Neck real estate !

Here’s my contact information: E-mail Andrew at alenza@weichert.com.

Andrew J. Lenza, ABR GRI MBA Broker Associate

Weichert Realtors, 43 East Main Street, Holmdel New Jersey 07733. Office (732) 946-9400 and Mobile (732) 580-0822

Renting a Home in Colts Neck, New Jersey: Basic Information

2009-12-09T14:04:56Z

Back in the day, the halcyon days of Colts Neck real estate when the largess of executive estate builders made the Great Gatsby era look like The Grapes of Wrath, local landlords and investors enjoyed enviable liberty.

They charged, mostly, whatever they wanted to tenants and eager tenants, mostly, paid.

Why?

Because the tenants needed access to the Colts Neck schools, the small town community and the local shops while the developer finished their new mansion.

(Back then "mansion" lacked today's negative connotation. To be fair these enormous homes come with a large property tax bill that subsidizes smaller Colts Neck home values.)

Today landlords are much more realistic and motivated to rent an empty Colts Neck house. Of the twelve (12) Colts Neck MLS listings of homes rented through the Monmouth Ocean County MLS(c) system this year
the lowest home rented for $2,500 per month; the highest at $5,500.

The average rent of a single family Colts Neck home featuring four bedrooms and three baths is between $3,300 and $4,500. I'm describing an older home built between 1960 and 1980; newer homes can rent for as high as $5,000 and up.

Lease Provisions -- Every Element is Negotiable

The tenant can expect to pay for utilities (electric, gas) and possibly lawn care and snow removal. Just like with a purchase, all terms are negotiable.

Same applies to the term or the length of the occupancy. Many landlords are considering shorter term rentals (at least one year) although the Colts Neck rental market is not a seasonal one. There's no beach or boardwalk here. Instead of riding the Tilt-a-Whirl you can saddle up on a pony.

Now if you're planning to rent a Colts Neck, New Jersey 07722 home the typical documentation includes (a) credit application or recent credit report, (b) completed lease agreement and (c) security deposit. In the state of New Jersey the maximum is one-and-a-half times the base month rent.

Summary
Are you a landlord, property owner or real estate investor who needs an experienced Realtor to rent your Colts Neck home or horse farm? Perhaps you're a corporate relocation client or a potential tenant looking to rent a Colts Neck single family home?

I have experience on both "sides" of the lease and appreciate the opportunity to represent you with your Colts Neck New Jersey real estate needs.

Andrew J. Lenza ABR GRI MBA, Broker Associate
Weichert, Realtors
43 East Main Street, Holmdel N.J. 07733
Office (732) 946-9400 Extn 223
Mobile (732) 580-0822

Weichert, Realtors ... Yellow i$ the New Green!

Freehold Township, NJ 07728 Listing: Spotlight on 119 Heritage Drive for $549,900

2009-12-08T13:00:47Z

Welcome home. This house could be your home, especially if you're looking for a Freehold, New Jersey house for sale. I go into many Freehold Township, New Jersey homes.

This one is better than most Freehold New Jersey MLS Listings and it's located in the picturesque, manicured subdivision called Sleepy Hollow.

How autumn-appropriate is that lead-in? I'm partial about this "complete" deal.

Built in the 1960's when "bones" made a home.

Before the pneumatic nail gun, when a carpenter drove every steel nail by hand. When the nails were cast in the United States.

When we ate on plates instead of plastic and argued with our siblings whose turn it was to clean the table.

The 60's -- when you fought over the hard knob on the television for channel control before the LED's came in a business card size and every teenager retreated to their own pre-man and pre-woman teen cave. We saw a man walk on the moon, the tragic end to JFK's Chamelot, conflict and resolution.

What's so special about this center hall Colonial on Heritage Drive, Freehold New Jersey 07728? Some of you Internet buyers may know the property as "MLS20942603." It's a large Freehold Township N.J. Colonial priced under $600,000 for starters.

There's fresh paint on the walls waiting for a wedding photo. There's new carpet on the floors waiting for a wrestling match. There's a new shine on the hardwood waiting for a sunny day. Or a cloudy day and a Matchbox car. And this Freehold, New Jersey home is priced under $600,000.

The home features six (6) bedrooms and three (3) full baths. Three full baths -- do you know what that means? Everyone gets to school or work on time!

Take a look at the photos then call me for an appointment. It's not unheard of that you and I want to go back to go forward. Good parks, great schools, easy commute -- these features define Freehold, New Jersey real estate. So come home already.

Check out the full Monmouth County Association of Realtors listing and Virtual Tour here.

Andrew J. Lenza ABR GRI MBA, Broker Associate
Weichert, Realtors
43 East Main Street, Holmdel N.J. 07733
Office (732) 946-9400 Extn 223
Mobile (732) 580-0822

www.andrewlenza.com

Weichert, Realtors ... Yellow i$ the New Green!

Freehold Township, New Jersey 07728: Neighborhood Spotlight on Sleepy Hollow

2009-12-08T12:39:37Z

If you're driving down Elton-Adelphia Road late at night and a shadowy visage appears on horseback you may have wandered into Sleepy Hollow.

Tough to avoid reading Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow growing up and not seeing the Headless Horseman behind every maple in the park at night. Then came along Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci and Christopher Walkin on the silver screen and I got scared a second time.

But somewhere in between the book and the movie ground broke in Freehold Township, New Jersey and the peaceful, sedate Sleepy Hollow section of Freehold NJ (or subdivision) was born. Most Sleepy Hollow homes were built during the late 1960's and early 1970's. Sleepy Hollow encompasses a variety of "drives" notably:

Coachman Drive South
Coachman Drive North
Hampton Drive
Heritage Drive
Old Post Road
Portage Drive
Woodstock Place.

What type of homes were built? A mix of Split levels, Dutch Colonials and center home Colonials. The model names harken right out of literature: The Katrina, Van Tassel's Castle, Baltus, the Washington Irving.

How big are Sleepy Hollow Freehold NJ Houses for Sale? On the lower end 2,800 square feet and on the upper end 3,800 square feet. The Sleepy Hollow development of Freehold NJ is zoned Residential R-25.

How much do these Freehold New Jersey Homes For Sale cost? List prices vary from the low $400,000's to the mid $500,000's. Currently there are six (6) Freehold MLS listings for sale located in the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood, including our current Weichert Realtor offering.

Buying or selling a home in Sleepy Hollow or perhaps you're interested in general information for Freehold New Jersey 07728 real estate? Please contact Andrew today. We can discuss buyer information for the area as well as me representing you as a Buyer's Agent.

Call (732) 946-9400 Extension 223 or E-MAIL ANDREW.

Andrew J. Lenza, ABR GRI MBA Broker Associate

Weichert Realtors, 43 East Main Street, Holmdel New Jersey 07733

Office (732) 946-9400 and Mobile (732) 580-0822

 (c) Copyright, 2008. Andrew J. Lenza, All Rights Reserved

Dear Holmdel New Jersey 07733 Seller, Is Your Listing Dead on its Feet?

2009-12-07T23:28:41Z

I call it listing fatigue. There's a point of Dimishing Returns to every unsold Holmdel, New Jersey house sale. Some Realtors call it overpriced or stale.

The condition is worse. The once "hot" Holmdel MLS listing is now "not."

Eventually your home turns invisible to the potential buyer. Like you hired Claude Rains to sell your home.

Consider that almost 20% of the single family homes for sale in the Monmouth and Ocean County Multiple Listing Service (MLS) have been on the market for six (6) months.

That represents 800 of the 4,000 houses for sale in Monmouth County. For those sellers languishing, the listing is dead on its feet. The "For Sale" sign blurs into the landscape.

Increased advertising won't necessarily increase the number of showings. Bear in mind that multiple "small" price reductions will stigmatize your property. Ask the Roman Emperor Caesar. The Senators killed him with a hundred nicks before Brutus delivered the fatal blow.

So what should you do? Go back to the beginning when you first signed the listing agreement.

Did your listing broker prepare a punch list of improvements on how to increase the home's marketability?
Is your home exposed on the Internet? The Internet casts a far wider net for buyers than www.Realtor.com. That's the basic platform. Is your home listed on www.Trulia.com? Did your listing broker post a specific blog highlighting all the wonderful features of your home?
I use a Point2Agent site that allows me to syndicate the listing ad and send the photos and captivating description to over thirty sites. You can find me at www.andrewlenza.com.
Did your listing broker attach a Virtual Tour to the Internet listing? I use a fantastic local company called Virtual Access Tours that produces quality, eye-catching digital presentation.
Did your listing broker effectively advertise the public Open Houses, including flyers or postcards to the neighborhood, Internet listings, signage and an e-mail blast to other Realtors?

This is just the beginning of my triage -- an urgent, impassioned Marketing Plan to drive the droves of hungry buyers to your Holmdel, New Jersey 07733 home for sale.

I've counseled some home sellers to remove the home from the market. Let the house breathe. Then perform another punch list. Bleach and fresh paint are cost-effective (read cheap) ways to liven up a dead listing. Decluttering and staging the home are two proven methods to recapture your home's WOW factor. Seek out new venues of advertising.

Check out the full Monmouth County Association of Realtors listing and Virtual Tour here.

If you need assitance selling your Holmdel, New Jersey house or real estate, please call me at (732) 946-9400 Extension 223 or email me at alenza@weichert.com.

Andrew J. Lenza ABR GRI MBA, Broker Associate
Weichert, Realtors
43 East Main Street, Holmdel N.J. 07733
Office (732) 946-9400 Extn 223
Mobile (732) 580-0822

www.andrewlenza.com

Weichert, Realtors ... Yellow i$ the New Green!

P.S. Claude Rains was an English stage actor whose most famous role was that of The Invisible Man.

Plan on Selling Your Holmdel, New Jersey Home During the Holidays? Make it Festive!

2009-12-07T22:06:25Z

"De-clutter" does not mean "de-personalize."

Staging a Holmdel, New Jersey home for sale during the Holiday season is a great opportunity to dispel some myths. Often, when I list a seller's home they ask me: "Do I have to pack away all my family pictures, trophies and memorabilia?"

Of course not. The buyers want to experience the same positive aura you enjoy in your home. The trick is to find a balance, especially during the holidays.

So here's a simple rule.

If you empty a box of ornaments, then fill the same box with your year-round chatcka's. This way you won't overwhelm buyers with stuff when they enter the foyer.

I suggest to keep corners and nooks devoid of items. Corners collect our social debris. Buyers need to visualize how their belongings are going to fit inside your Holmdel home.

Clutter, chaos and mayhem will send a subtle message that your house is small and unmanageable. Your Holmdel, New Jersey MLS listing for sale is competing with other properties, so it must shine to attract the successful buyer.

The key is to decorate in a way that won't turn off buyers. The following tips will help Holmdel sellers succeed:

Too many decorations obscure the truly dynamic features of your home. Be careful not to hide mouldings, six panel doors and custom carpentry.
Avoid too many personalized seasonal items. We want Holmdel home buyers to "see" themselves celebrating their own holidays within your four walls.
If you're striving for elegance, I suggest muted greens, flat silvers and golds, traditional white. Avoid the glossy, glaring color schemes. Folks are buying a house -- not an airplane runway. (Oh my gosh, that came out rather snobbish.)

Remember to de-deck those halls ten days after the holidays. Nothing says "stale" and "unmotivated" like an inflatable Santa parked on the front lawn for Easter Sunday.

Don't forget to keep walkways clear. In a few weeks I'll blog about safety-proofing your Holmdel home before putting it up for sale and into the Monmouth County MLS system.

If you're thinking of selling your Holmdel home, please give me a call at (732) 946-9400 Extension 223 or E-MAIL ME.

Andrew J. Lenza, ABR GRI MBA Broker Associate
Weichert Realtors, 43 East Main Street, Holmdel New Jersey 07733
Office (732) 946-9400 and Mobile (732) 580-0822