Bernie & Juli's Blog

Real Estate Investing vs. Stock Market Meltdown!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:43:04 -0600

Wouldn't you like to have a better place for your IRA or Retirement Account??? Real Estate has been around since the beginning of time and always appreciates over time! The Stock Market just evaporated about 11 years of "gains" in a few months????

Talk to your QUALIFIED CPA About Real Estate Investments. You can use your Retirement Funds (without withdrawal penalty) and see your investment and watch it give great Tax Benefits, Cash Income, Return on Investment, etc.

Key is a Good Realtor (Juli & I) and even more so - knowing what to buy and what to pass on!!! We have the worksheets that can help you make some good BUSINESS decisions, with no emotions!

We have some key questions to ask your CPA to be sure you are getting all your Tax Benefits and info so you utilize the right CPA and get the right Property. Why not have a Tenant Buy your Bldg for you, get Cash Flow and have great Tax Advantages!!

The Price of Real Estate is AWESOME and the Price of MONEY is Awesome!!!

Get started today with your local Realtor that can give you the guidance you need to make a good Business Decision on Investment Properties!

Email us at: www.SNJRealEstate.com

5 + Acres with Stream & Woods to Build Dream Home

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:06:05 -0600

5+ Acres - Stream & Trees for Privacy

Build your own dream home on this perfect piece of 5+ Acres. Plenty of trees and stream on one edge with Public Water at the Street

Possible Subdivision - Site planworkup already completed

Close to New Regional Vineland Hospital at Sherman Ave

Visit this Property at: www.1909SOrchardland.com

9 + Acres, Stream & Pole Barn for your Dream Home

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:49:40 -0600

Rancocas Creek w/9+ Acres

Huge 50 x 100 Pole Barn

Full Foundation already Built w/Side Entry Garage. Custom Designed Home already drawn up for this beautiful 9+ Acres. Foundation sits way back off the road with stream on one side, horse farm the other side and of course trees/forest behind it!

Possible Subdivision

Visit this Property at: www.517Harrisonville.com

Custom Built Home - Washington Twp

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:57:40 -0600

Custom Built Home in Crofton Run

Washington Twp, Sewell, NJ 08080

4 Bedrooms with a HUGE Master Suite

2 Full Baths upstairs

Completly Enclosed White Fence Yard

Finished Basement - 3 Car side entrance Garage with Large Extra Wide Full Concrete Driveway

Finished Basement with Full Bath also

www.31Eton.com

www.SNJRealEstate.com

Custom Model Ready for your Holidays!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:28:58 -0500

Whitetail Crossing Estates, Deerfield, NJ 08352

Dream Works Homes, LLC

Incredible Custom Built Model Home with every upgrade you can think of is finally available for immediate Delivery!

Hardwood Floors, 3 Acre Lot, Gourmet Kitchen, Finished Lower Level w/Walk Out

Visit it at: www.320CherryLn.com

Proudly Represented by: Bernie Martin & Juli Morella

www.SNJRealEstate.com

Lakefront Home - 8 Acres on Willow Grove Lake!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:27:28 -0500

Incredible Lakefront Home on 8 Acres of Land right on Willow Grove Lake!!

This 4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath Home features a Huge 30' Above Ground Pool, Brand new Hot Tub, Koi Pond with Waterfalls and, of course, 900+ feet of Lakefront!

Enjoy all the Benefits of Pittsgrove Township with it's great Schools and Community - yet close to Rt 55 & Cumberland Mall (3.5 Sales Tax!!)

Visit this home at: www.1080WillowGrove.com

Deerfield New Construction Sale!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:17:32 -0500

BUILDER MODEL SALE!!

This Exceptional Model Home is Finally available to Purchase!!! Everyone has marveled at all the Awesome Upgrades throughout - Gourmet Kitchen, Beautiful Custom Curved Staircase, Hardwood Floors, Sun Room, Finished Lower Level with Huge Sliding Door walk out, Master Suite with Sitting Area and 3 Sided Gas Fireplace.

Located within a Small Cul-d-Sac Community of 3 Acre Lots off Lebanon Rd, Deerfield, NJ

Visit it at: www.320CherryLn.com

15 Acres - Mantua Horse Farm!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:03:14 -0500

15 Acres - 3 Acres Corralled!!

Enjoy having your Horses right in the Center of Gloucester County on this wonderful 15 Acre Farm with a 3 Bedroom Rancher, Full Walk-out Basement, Huge Barn/Stable and Trails to ride!! Convenient to everything, yet private entrance driveway to enjoy it as you wish!!

Clearview School District

Visit this wonderful site at: www.660Main.com

Franklinville Estate Home!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:35:58 -0500

Awesome Estate Home

This Beautiful Estate Home is located in Franklinville Village!

The Front Entrance is such a Wow!!!! It has a "Butterfly" Staircase going up with Rich Hardwood Flooring, Marble Entrance, Conservatory and wonderful Wall of Windows in the Great Room!

The Gourmet Kitchen has an Incredible Wall of Cabinets, Center Island, Custom Countertops - a True Must See!!!!

Visit it at: www.757Rachel.com

Glassboro Home!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:01:17 -0500

312 Overbrook, Glassboro, NJ 08028

$239,900

Wonderful Home on a tree lined Street in Glassboro. 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath with a Basement, Garage and even a Gazebo included in the rear yard! The Owners want to downsize after decades of caring for this wonderful home. The Kitchen is incredible with a complete upgrade just recently, hardwood floors throughout the upper and main levels.

Visit it at: www.312Overbrook.com

Would make a great Starter Home as well!

Short Sale Issues!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:44:45 -0500

Short Sales are the latest "Buzz"! Well, this may take some "buzz" out of it, despite all the Books, articles and Seminars, etc!!!!!

It is very very time consuming, distracting and hopelessly difficult to get a Bank/Mortgage Company to agree to your request through a Contract of Sale! We have had a Contract of Sale with a Buyer (obviously a GREAT Buyer!!) since JUNE 4th, 2008 (now Sept 3). We still do NOT have an agreement with the Bank.

The Bank even countered with a price that was $20,000 HIGHER than neighbor same homes that had just SETTLED!!!! Wow... that should really appraise!!!!!

As a Listing Agent, you still need to promote and advertise and market a Short Sale home (and Disclose that it is!!). This takes time and MONEY... only to be turned down by some impartial Lender that has no idea what to accept or reject.

We are using a Short Sale Attorney to handle the process for our Seller - he only gets paid when the Bank says Yes to the Contract so it is in his best interest also to get it approved!! He also trys to get the Personal Liability removed for the Sellers!! Beware of that if you don't get that for your Sellers!! That will haunt YOU later!!!

Short Sales are a very real part of business in 2008 and I'm sure in 2009! Just be very aware of the TIME and energy it will take and the frustration for all parties - especially a Buyer that has so many homes to pick from today. If the approval isn't gotten pretty quickly, you stand a very real chance of redoing another Contract with another Buyer.

We did have a Buyer that wanted to purchase a Short sale home also. We were very fortunate in that one! The Seller had lost 2 previous deals from delays and walking Buyers so we knew the Short Sale accepting price and our Buyer was able to get the house she wanted!

As a Buyer, try to find out if the Lister has already obtained a price or range from the bank from a previous lost Buyer - that's the best way to be a Buyer!!!

As a Lister, be prepared for a lot of time, energy, expense and frustration trying to put together a "House of Cards"!!

Software for Agents???

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:21:17 -0500

Help???

I've been using Top Producer for several years from the 6 on a computer to the 7 to the 8i....

What happened... am I getting stupid or is it sooooo complex now it would be easier to just shot myself!!?!?!!?

I am looking for a software system that is NOT complicated to keep track of emails, clients, listings, etc. I would like it to be web based so I can access from anywhere. Top Producer has some great features, but I dare someone to try to "tweak" an email that is already in an action plan... would be easier to get an Act of Congress passed!!!!

I always had the stupid impression that the "box" was supposed to work for me!??!?!? How silly of me!!!!!

Thanks, Bernie Martin

Buyers ARE Buying!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:43:08 -0500

Keep the faith!!!! Buyers are here!!! We just put 2 contracts together this week on 2 very nice homes. One was new construction and the other an awesome deal on a HUD house.

Lending seems to be progressing also!

Despite the incredible negative news media campaigns, we have to work our Buyers as always and show them the advantage of buying while the selection is so great and the Mortgage Rates are low.! We all know the Mortgage rates will start to climb, so NOW is the time to get Buyers looking!

It is very tough sometimes to be up and positive in such negative surroundings! However, we owe it to our Buyers AND sellers to help bring both sides to the table... that's what we do!!!

Keep up the positive attitudes!

Bernie Martin & Juli Morella

$$ Bonus Brought Buyers Out!!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sat, 24 May 2008 17:47:13 -0500

Interesting thing happened this week!

I asked a Seller to consider a Buyer Agent Bonus on his Listing to help move the property, since it is a rehab and all the "Big Box" store credit cards are now coming due on his purchases (6 months free!!).

We were averaging 1 showing a week with the price at a fair value. Dropped it several times with a few more "lookers" but NO Offers.

We did a $5,000 Buyer Agent Bonus and all of a sudden Buyers are coming out of the wood work like ants!!! Were these agents hiding them or did they just see dollar signs and pushing this listing??? My Seller doesn't care - he just wants to move his property.

What has caused this "sudden" activity??? I kinda have to believe the agents stopped complaining about everything and took out Buyers to Purchase a House?!?!?!!? Sometimes, it is all in our mindset as to how we react and behave with Buyers (and Sellers)!!

If money talks, and it certainly seemed to do so here, perhaps that is the push we need to start this train moving again.... cause it sure is stalled in many areas of the country!!!

If your price seems fair on a listing (by who's standard?), perhaps consider offering an attractive $$$ Bonus to get agents back to selling houses!!!

We still don't have an offer, but I am convinced we will shortly - too many agents and too much activity not to!!

Bernie Martin & Juli Morella at www.snjrealestate.com

20+ Acres w/Home & 48x60 Steel Butler Building!! Contractor's Dream!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:52:20 -0500

CONTRACTORS DREAM location & Set-up. Located just off Rt 55 in Monroeville, NJ This 20+ Acre Site has the best of everything. The house is 700+ Feet from the public Road with the trees and the 48 X 60 Steel Double Sliding, Drive Thru Butler Building is 400+ feet further into the woods!!!

Ideal for Contractor and Equipment - MONROEVILLE, GLOUCESTER CO., NJ 08343

Property can be viewed at our Listing Domain Site of: Http://www.250CedarBridge.com

Bernie Martin and Juli Morella Thank you for looking at our wonderful home for sale!

Mickleton Home Backs to Woods

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:40:14 -0500

Beautiful Home in Mickleton (E. Greenwich Twp.), NJ. The Great Room AND the Solarium both have Beautiful "Walls of Windows" - Overlooking the woods behind your yard!! What a great home to escape to!! It's located in Summer Meadow off Wolfert Station Rd.

See it at: Http://www.276Jennings.com

Bernie Martin and Juli Morella thank you for looking at this great home!

Glassboro Rancher - Near Rowan University

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sat, 03 May 2008 21:22:07 -0500

Beautiful Rancher in Glassboro, NJ Near Rowan University

Bernie Martin and Juli Morella are proud to showcase this wonderful Rancher in the "Ridge" Section of Glassboro This home features 3 large bedrooms, upgraded kitchen, full Brick Wall woodburning fireplace and hardwood floors.

The Lower Level is finished and ready to entertain in. It can also be seen on our Visual Tour of our Homes at:

http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=101777 The Domain name is www.325Deptford.com

It is offered through Bernie Martin and Juli Morella at $299,000

Visit our website at www.SNJRealEstate.com for all the details!

Thanks

NJ Real Estate Taxes!!!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:33:37 -0500

Could Someone Please explain NJ Real Estate Taxes???

I can't comprehend how open farm land that has been paying only several thousand dollars a year for huge Acreage, can suddenly be worth $10,000 - $15,000 - $20,000 in Tax Revenue per LOT a YEAR to municipalities that didn't spend any money to build that community??

Where is all the extra CASH going to these towns and worse, how can they justify that amount of money?

When a builder develops a community, they incur all the expenses of roads, sidewalks, installing utilities - basically everything!

A good example is Glassboro.

They had open farm land that was developed by a builder (at the builder's complete expense!) as a 55+ Community. As a 55+ Community, they are not going to have too many school kids, won't need too much police activity since the neighborhood watch is probably the best in Glassboro, the Fire Dept is on minimal call since the homes were all built to new building codes.

So - the question is WHY are the taxes($8-10,000 per tiny lot - 6,000 Sq.Feet) sooooo high??? And where is all that NEW CASH MONEY going in Glassboro???

I was speaking with a resident who purchased a large new home in Woolwich Township on 1.5 Acres of open land (not a tree in sight!!) 2 years ago in a regular development (not 55+) that had all the streets, utilities, etc built by the developer and their taxes are now $18,000 a YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now the sad part - these people are leaving New Jersey because of the TAXES!!!!!

Can someone please explain how these towns can justify such high TAXES!!?!?!?!

How about a basic standard rate for the type and amount of land you own? Farm Land would be minimal; unimproved land would be low; improved (with ANY structure) would be high; 55+ Communities would be exempt from the school portion; and commercial would be highest? Then it wouldn't matter what is built on it. Each town would determine how many acres it had and base everything from there. Here's a novel idea, as a structure is added - taxes would actually drop each year since that would then be an improved lot and contribute to the town's tax base.

Let's go back to Glassboro with that 55+ Community - they have gained at least $500,000 in Revenue a year from it, yet the Revenue Dollars needed by the town are still higher each year?????

I am only pointing out Glassboro because it's easy with a 55+ Community that is forced to pay so much - each town has its nemesis, believe me!!

Help - before everyone has left NJ broke and in disgust!!

Swedesboro Estate Home - 1.5 Acres

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:57:23 -0500

Brick Front side entrance 3 Car Garage Home in Woolwich Township of Swedesboro, NJ

Almost 6,000 square feet of Luxury. The Gormet Chef Kitchen is just Awesome with it's 6 Burner Gas "GE Monogram" Range with warming shelf Hood, 2 different Ovens, Corian Countertops all around as well as the very LARGE Center Island. All Stainless Steel Appliances - Dishwasher, Trash Compactor and cooking. The Sub-Zero is 48" with the external Ice/Water and matches the Lesington Cherrywood 42" Cabinets!!!!

Naturally, it has 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths, a Solarium, Media Room and Massive Master Suite Area!!

It can be seen on it's website: www.362Rainey.com or our Website: www.SNJRealEstate.com

All of this offered at $799,000 through Bernie Martin & Juli Morella

Spring is Here!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:42:55 -0500

It's so beautiful out!!! What a great time to be looking for a new home. Yards look nice, trees and shrubs and flowers are all blooming and everyone is in a better mood too!

Housing selections are the best ever and interest rates are incredibly low!!

Let's ALL do what we can to help the Real Estate world get back on it's feet - we really all need to pitch in and help get it started. Perhaps just sprucing up your yard, painting your house inside or outside will get Buyers and Sellers motivated to get this big train movin again!!!!

Let's get it started again!!!!!

Active Living - Village Grande at Camelot

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:52:17 -0500

309 Gosling Way 101 Heritage Loop

This Eden is at http://www.309Gosling.com This Coventry is at http://www.101heritageloop.com/

We just got 2 great Lisitings in the Active Adult Living Community of Village Grande at Camelot in Glassboro, NJ

We listed a 2 Bedroom with 2 Bath Loft Home called the "Eden" and a 3 Bedroom 3 Bath with a Loft home called the Coventry.

Thanks for taking the time to view these great homes!!!

Bernie Martin & Juli Morella

One of a Kind Home!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:21:34 -0500

This 5 Year Dream House is becoming Reality!!! Inspired by Famous Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, a local Custom Builder Has finally achieved his dream creation. Vincent Builders wanted to step outside the "box" and have a challenge!! This certainly was - however, what an amazing House!!!

Some "teasers" - it has a THREE STORY WATERFALL INSIDE the huge atrium, a custom Elevator, EIGHT FOOT Anderson Glass Entrance/Exit Doors as well as 8' doors throughout the main level!! A Kitchen that is just out of this world!!! The Cabinets are all HAND MADE and CUSTOM Fitted on Frameless cabinets with "Sapelle" Mahagony exteriors that have ALL the grains matching on the Drawers and Doors - just an incredible look! Naturally, a Commercial Grade 48" Wolfe Top of the line Stove with 6 Burners and Waffle Griddle, a 48" Subzero Refrigerator, TWO Bosch High Efficiency Dishwashers, an 8 Night Vision Camera Security System. Oh, did I forget the 7500 GALLON AQUARIUM!??!?!!?

It is nestled on 24+ Wooded Acres just minutes from Philadelphia in Monroeville, NJ 08034.

It is being offered at $3,812,000

Here's a Link to really see this Incredible Home: http://SNJRealEstate.com It's right on our Front Page!!!

"Ain't nothing like it" within MANY, MANY Miles!!!!!!!

Wellcome Mat???

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 09:50:43 -0500

Does anyone know what is going on with Wellcome mat???

They are an awesome video server company and it has not been available for about 36 hours now???

Help... they are the best out there!!!

Bernie

Enough Already! "Ceaseless Talk of a Recession"

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:51:41 -0600

Robert Toll, in an interview while announcing their Company's loss (Toll Brothers), is quoted as stating:

"Ceaseless talk of a recession continues to dampen the mood of consumers in general, whether or not a recession actually occurs. For home buyers, we believe this drumbeat, coupled with concerns over mortgages, the direction of home prices, and foreclosures, has kept pent-up demand on the sidelines," Toll stated.

I must agree 101% with Mr Toll. The News Media's constant negative headlines are giving home Buyer's the excuse they need to not purchase their next home. Or, worse yet, not get their existing home sold.

As Realtors, we must point out the positives to our Sellers and Buyers so they can see that the choices of homes to chose are great, the price of money is awesome and we can help them find their next home of their dreams! If you look at the typical interest rate of 6%, plus all the write off power against your income, it is incredibly "cheap" money!!

It's Turning!!!

Juli Morella (Weichert Realtors) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:14:20 -0600

Finally!!!! Just within the past 7 days, I've had to go back to Buyers and tell them 2 of the homes they wanted to see are not available - they have a MEETING OF THE MINDS!!!!!!!

Yes Indeed!!!!!!

Then, I had a Buyer I had to go back to and tell her we suddenly were not the only Buyer for what she wanted and they were going to go for Highest and Best Offers to have the seller make a decision!!!

The Market IS ALIVE and WELL?!?!!? Course that all depends on which side of the fence you are sitting on!!! In reality, it's good for everyone to finally see!!!

Despite all the Gloom and Doom of the News Media, people are Selling and Buyers are Buying... Buyers will now have to get a little more aggressive if they want a Property and not "assume" it will still be there tomorrow... it may not be!

The selections are the best ever and the price of money is soooo incredibly cheap!!! I remember buying a house in the 80's at 18%.... by today's standards, the rates now are basically free Money...... especially after using the Tax advantages of the interest!!