Bill Nelson's View

Rowan University Area Rental

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:45:48 -0700

This is a great opportunity for a few friends who attend Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ to get a HUGE home at an affordable monthly rate. This 4 bedroom, 2 bath ranch style home offers a full basement with a bar, huge yard with two patios, living room with book shelves, dining room, eat-in-kitchen, and another large bonus room off the dining room. A new 4 car+ driveway is being installed soon. This home is being offered for $2000 per month plus utilities and is professionally managed. Home has a maximum capicity of 4 adults as per Glassboro's current rental ordinance. Call me if you want to see it for yourself. I can be reached by phone, 856-466-2502 or via e-mail sent to wnelson@cbelitenj.com. You can get more information and pictures by visiting the home's webpage at http://220franklinrd.billnelsonrealtor.com.

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)

Do you Crowdsource?

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:12:06 -0700

Crowdsourcing - A great tool you need to use.

6/13/2010

By Bill Nelson, REALTOR, Coldwell Banker Elite

A new buzzword you might see in a friend's facebook/twitter post, hear on the news, or see in a magazine is "Crowdsourcing". This is a great concept that takes the idea that two heads are better than one to a whole new level. When used right, it will help you do your business and more a little better. Imagine, you have that listing that just won't sell no matter what you do. What do you do in that situation? Many will just chalk it up to the old "it will sell someday and there's not much I can do now" but a few special people will take the problem to the masses for a solution. There, I said it, you can actually ask for help and I'm giving you the permission to do so.

Collectively, we have the power to solve every problem that might come up. I know there's always more than one way to solve a problem and sometimes, another's method is better. So, how do I tap this incredible resource?...through Crowdsourcing. Many of us are using Facebook, Twitter, Active Rain, and other generic or industry specific sounding boards in our personal and professional life. What many fail to realize is the value of this resource to help us and I don't mean just asking them to attend an open house. The next time you have a problem sale or need advice on a color to help make a home show better, ask your "friends and followers". Although many might be professionals in your industry, hopefully more will be the "average joe/jane" that can give you honest feedback and suggestions from a consumer point of view. This type of feedback can carry more weight than the feedback we might get from an agent after a showing. One more thing, crowdsourcing works both ways so be sure to be part of the crowd and reply to your network's calls for help.

How do you test this? I dare you to ask your followers and friends if they would buy a home with wallpaper. You'd be surprised with the response and solutions provided. Put the pictures of that new listing in front of your virtual network and ask for solutions to make the home show better. How do I know it works, look at the April 2010 issue of REALTOR magazine. The tips and suggestions spotlighted in this issue were gathered by the editors asking REALTORs for ideas for an upcoming issue. 281 tips were printed as a result of crowdsourcing. By the way, the last tip on page 16 is among the best.

Links: www.activerain.com www.facebook.com www.twitter.com www.realtor.org/realtormag

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)

Its Memorial Day Weekend...what will you be doing?

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:48:42 -0700

I ask this question because most of the people in my area head to the beach over this 3 day weekend or gather with their family and friends for the ceremonial barbeque this Memorial Day weekend. If you're an investor or a savy home buyer, you'll recognize this as an opportunity to look at and put an offer in on a home this weekend. Typically, holiday weekends are the best time to look and buy because you have little competition trying to see the same home you want to buy. Less competition equals a better opportunity for you to get the home, price and terms you want. Why wait until next week or weekend to look? We don't know how long interest rates will be this low so forgo the beach for one day and spend a little quality time with your real estate professional and sieze the opportunity to buy your favorite home this holiday weekend.

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)

Save Money...With Your Home!

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:30:47 -0800

I don't know about you, but I really like saving money whenever I can. One of the biggest expenses in our life is the cost to operate the place we call "Home". Whether you are renting or own it, utilities are expensive!!! If you follow a few of the suggestions listed below, you should be able to save enough to pay a little more toward the credit cards in January.

1) Get an Energy Audit. An independant energy audit will cost around $200-300 to have done by a professional but might entitle you to government rebates and incentives to help offset the cost of adding insulation, upgrading systems, etc.

2) Visit the Eco Options page on Home Depot's website. This section of HD's website offers you the opportunity to find rebates by state, take efficiency surveys to see where you are wasting utilities, and offers suggestions to correct or improve the efficiency of your home. http://www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/index.html?MAINSECTION=energyaudit&cm_sp=homepage%2d%5f%2dwk43%2d%5f%2dF2%2d%5f%2dhome%5fefficiency%5faudit

3) Replace the Weatherstripping on your doors and windows. This will help eliminate drafts created by worn or crushed seals. If your windows are older than 20 years, consider replacing them with the latest in thermopane windows. If your door is an older wood door, consider replacing it with an insulated steel or fiberglass door and add a storm door.

4) Caulk around all windows, doors, and vents on the outside of your home. When coupled with replacing the seals as mentioned in #3, this will help eliminate the draft from the outside and help prevent water from getting behind your siding which can lead to other problems such as rot, mold, or wood destroying insects.

5) Insulate your pipes in the basement and crawlspace. This simple step is often the most overlooked point of savings in a home. Measure your pipes for the diameter and buy the appropriate pipe insulation. It is usually sold in 3 to 4' lengths and often features a tape seal making intallation easy. While you're at it, wrap your water heater with a pre-made water heater insulation blanket.

These are just a few suggestions to make your paycheck last a little longer or to help pay for your holiday shopping.

Thanks!

Bill Nelson
REALTOR, Real Estate Investor, SRES

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)

Landlord Reminder for Security Deposit Interest in New Jersey.

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:13:45 -0800

Its that time again...landlords in New Jersey have to make sure to cut a check to their tenants for the interest accrued in their security deposit. This must be done by January 31st or upon the lease renewal, but most will do this in January. Just a friendly reminder. Landlords...visit this link to learn more about the law concerning security deposits and your responsibilities to the tenant.

http://www.state.nj.us/dca/codes/lt/pdf/Secty_deposit_bultin.pdf

Bill Nelson

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)

Investors can Help!!!

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:20:35 -0800

Uncle Sam, Pres Bush...Congress,

Investors are here to help!!! Yes, there are some bad apples in our bunch, but please, make the banks lend us money!!! Investors are risk takers by definition, but we take the risk with plenty of research, planned exit strategy, and with the intent to pay the loan back so we can buy more properties. I wish someone would reinforce this to the banks who feel that lending to investors is too risky. I think its too risky to let the beautiful home in the premier community sit vacant and rot hoping someone might buy the property to live in it. Fannie, Freddy, open up your doors and let the investor have more than four! Perhaps we, REALTORs, should be holding signs and picketing the doors of Fannie/Freddy with sandwich boards and yells of "More than Four...More than Four". What politicians fail to see is that the investor has the ability to make a postitve impact on this economy by buying up the properties with failed loans and offer them to, dare I say, the former owner for rent. I'm not saying the former owner will have the opportunity to buy the home back, but at least they are happy with the neighborhood and it would keep the home from becoming a vacant eyesore and liability for the bank.

I'll start the chant..."More than four...more than four..."

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)

World of a Difference with Windows

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:06:02 -0800

I recently had the "opportunity" to have a tenant leave one of my rentals. We picked up the home in 2004 and put the tenant into the home within a month or two of the acquisition. We had the luck of not having to do much to the home to get it rented, but realized that over time we'd have to invest a few dollars to improve it. Now that the place was empty, we decided to make a few improvements. The windows were the old aluminum frame sliders that last had a good seal and clear glass in the early 80's. The front window was a 9 light window that had only two small panes that opened. Like most people, we opted to replace the windows with vinyl replacements and as per the contractor's suggestion, replaced a few sliders with double hungs. Bottom line, it was money well spent and the before and after pictures tell the story well. Al (the contractor), I thank you for your hard work and attention to the details.

Before After

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)

Save Money, Buy a Home Today - 5.5% Interest Rates!!!

Bill Nelson (Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:23:42 -0800

I only have one question for those on the fence...What are you waiting for??? This past week, the interest rates have been in the mid 5%. Couple these great rates with the amount of homes for sale who's prices are lower than what they have been in recent past, you have the making of an exceptional opportunity to own that home you have always wanted. I recently came across a home in a well respected neighborhood in Washington Twp, NJ that is now a bank owned property. It offers a great floor plan, full basement, 2 car garage, and in-ground pool. This home a few years back would have sold for over $380,000 with ease, today its being offered for $285,000. The rates a few years back when this home would have sold in the 380's, were in the mid 6% range. This means that if you buy this home today with 10% down, you will be saving over $600 in your payment per month. This calculates to a savings of $7200 per year + a discount on the purchase of about $95,000. My suggestion, use the savings and buy an investment property. There are many other homes that fit this category, so, I'll ask again, why are you sitting on the fence???

Bill Nelson
Sales Associate, Real Estate Investor, SRES, CNS
Coldwell Banker Elite
www.billnelsonrealtor.com
wnelson@cbelitenj.com
856-466-2502 (cell)