Bergen County Realtor Blog

Social Media - Something I can finally use.

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:55:25 -0500

Being a member of Active Rain for over two years I have seen many changes. When I first started getting involved here all the talk was about having a blog and getting people to contact you. Over the last six months or so, it seems like a majority of articles are about how to use facebook, twitter, etc.

John Aramini is a management consultant; in his blog post John makes the point that some people have forgotten. We are in the relationship building business. John points out the eight steps that we use to build personal and professional relationships. It's worth the time to check it out.

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Broker Associate, Realtor, Marketing Advisor,

Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or shortsaleguy.org

Follow me on Twitter: @salanddawn

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

USDA - More than just grading Meat!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:24:46 -0500

"USDA" is more than grading meat and providing nutritional information. The United States Department of Agriculture through Section 502 Direct Loan Program is providing assistance to people impacted by the recession. The Federal government has put aside almost $1 billion dollars for this program. That is billion with a B! The USDA will be assisting low and very low income applicants who cannot qualify for other credit.

Currently the biggest issue we are facing in the Real Estate market is getting loans closed. Previously our issue was with pricing; buyers were offering too little and sellers were demanding too much. Over the last three months or so there has been an upward spike in activity. Clearly buyers and sellers are more able to agree upon the value of a given property. Now the focus is getting the mortgage company to provide the money for the buyer to purchase the home. As Real Estate activity dropped, companies scaled back their staff and were letting people go. Now that there are more loan requests, my experience has been that mortgage companies are backed up and under staffed; making it more difficult for them to produce on time.

Fortunately, in a time where the money supply has tightened, I was introduced to a program that can help people. This is especially beneficial to first time home buyers who can also take advantage of the up to $8,000 tax credit. Scott Scarpelli from FIF Corp (201) 841-5897 introduced me to this great program. Here are some highlights as he explained them to me.

100% Financing/No Down Payment to Qualified Borrowers

If appraised value is higher than purchase price; you can use difference for closing costs and pre-paid expenses

No monthly mortgage insurance

Seller can pay up to 6% toward closing costs and pre-paid expenses

No cash reserve requirements

No credit score required with alternative credit

Must purchase in an eligible rural area*

Single family and condominiums only

*Eligible areas in New Jersey include all or portions of Passaic, Morris and Sussex Counties as well as 14 other counties in New Jersey.

Interested in finally getting some "stimulus" from the Government?

Scott Scarpelli at FIF Corp. will walk you through the process. Scott Scarpelli Mortgage Consultant at FIF Corp. Cell 201-841-5897

Now is the time to get moving. Great financing is available and home prices have come down considerably. Don't be the person that looks back years from now saying, "I should have bought in 2009".

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Broker Associate, Realtor, Marketing Advisor,

Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: http://www.salanddawn.com/ or www.shortsaleguy.org

Follow me on Twitter: @salanddawn

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

Interest rates don't matter!

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:32:13 -0500

Just recently interest rates for 30 year fixed mortgages spiked up about one percent. What's the big deal about one percent?

Let's take a look at a first time homebuyer and what that does to their purchasing power.

Recently people were qualifying for rates at or below 5%. A $300,000 mortgage at 5% interest on a 30 year fixed loan had monthly principal and interest payments of approximately $1,600.

The same family will only be able to finance approximately $270,000 at 6% to keep their payments the same. A 1% change in interest rates cost this family $30,000 in purchasing power. Where do you think that is going to come from? The buyers can look at less expensive homes or more realistically this will affect the sellers. If the cost of money goes up, typically home prices will have to come down. We have been in a unique period of time lately. Home prices have come down and the cost of money has decreased as well. A Perfect Storm if you will.

Going forward, the case can be made that we really didn't have much more downside to go in mortgage rates. Consensus is that rates will be increasing, we just don't know when. A concern is that this "stimulus" is just temporary. What will happen a year from now if confidence hasn't been restored and interest rates continue to climb? Not to mention the very real threat of inflation.

People are sitting on the fence, waiting for "the bottom". There is a flaw in that strategy if you are getting a mortgage. The $300,000 home we are talking about would have to drop 10% or $30,000 for a person to be able to afford it when rates go up just one percent from 5-6%. The tendency is to forget that the cost of the money you borrow is as important as the amount you pay for a home. The point I am trying to make here is that home prices may or may not go down. Interest rates will probably rise in the future.

Opportunities are great in this market. These opportunities are only for people who are ready to act. Last month I wrote of a home that was originally listed for $950,000 and sold for $395,000 in Wyckoff, NJ. The opportunity was out there for every buyer in the price range, but only one family was able to capitalize. Ironically enough, now that the property has been sold, plenty of people are interested in a "deal" like that.

If you are a seller, this is an appropriate time to be thinking about preserving equity. Based on the past couple of years, I'm sure there are sellers that wish they had sold their homes three years ago. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed. We have worked with sellers who sold their home in 2008 and were glad they didn't wait until 2009.

How long will this current cycle continue? No one knows for sure. History always repeats itself. Coming out of the last housing crisis in the late 1980s home prices were flat for almost 10 years. Are you as a seller, willing to put your life on hold for that long? Hoping to squeeze out every last drop of equity that you can? Folks who have owned their homes for quite some time still stand to make a tidy profit on the sale of their home. Could you wait it out and maybe get more? That answer in a future post.

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Broker Associate, Realtor, Marketing Advisor,

Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: http://www.salanddawn.com/ or www.shortsaleguy.org

Follow me on Twitter: @salanddawn

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

Twitter headlines Real Estate Section in Bergen County

Tue, 05 May 2009 22:43:51 -0500

This past weekend there was an article in the Bergen Record about Twitter and how Real Estate agents are using it. The reporter signed up and started following me and some other people.

Here is what she had to say, "When I joined "Twitter" last week, I immediately got an e-mail from Realtor Sal Poliandro of RE/MAX Properties in Saddle River, saying he wanted to "follow" me. I clicked on his "tweets" and found that he loves to bowl and that he just got a listing at 6 Saddle Horn Drive in Upper Saddle River. To see photos of the place, you could click through to Sal's blog on the real estate Web site ActiveRain.com."

Judging by the article, I was the first to fire off an email to her. It is nice to be mentioned in the newspaper. I can't believe how we have transformed from blogging to micro blogging, from Active Rain to Facebook to Twitter. I'm more amazed how interested we have become in each others lives. While all this social networking is great, don't forget to pick up the phone and call people. Face to face meetings are still what makes the world go round.

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor, Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org

Follow me on Twitter: @salanddawn

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

$950,000 home sells for $395,000

Tue, 05 May 2009 21:31:49 -0500

$950,000 home sells for $395,000
Wyckoff, NJ

In this market - it's possible! A home in Wyckoff, NJ was originally listed for $955,500 in March of 2006. I showed the property around that time and it was clearly overpriced. I had shown the property to clients who said that they would have purchased it if the price were more like $799,000. Prices have certainly come down in the last 3 years, but not 50%.

This property closed the last week of April 2009 for $395,000. The purchasers got a great opportunity on the house.

Everyone buyer wants to know how to get a great deal on a house. What's the secret? Where are these opportunities? Before you go and spend money on a "foreclosure" website, listen to this; the property we're speaking about should have been a short sale in 2006. (If you are unfamiliar with short sales, read my previous columns or visit shortsaleguy.org) Simply, the property was overpriced for 2006 market conditions. Since the homeowners couldn't sell, the property went into foreclosure in October of 2006. This property then showed up on all the websites that peddle "foreclosure" properties. The homeowners eventually left and the property was sold at auction to the mortgage holder in November of 2008, a full two years after it was first tagged as a "foreclosure" property.

Once the bank took possession of the property, they had to secure, winterize and clean it out. In order to sell the property in a reasonable period of time, the bank had to hire a Realtor to market it. Please note: they didn't call an 800 number nor did they go to a "we buy foreclosure" website. Truth is, anyone who really needs to sell a property will hire a realtor to give it the best chance of selling.

As a disclaimer, I do subscribe to some of these "foreclosure" services. The amount of misinformation is astounding. The reason why a subscription is necessary is because I have clients who "find" properties on these sites. They then ask me to find out more information about the property. It is great to be living in the information age. Twitter and Facebook are transforming how we keep in touch with each other. Technology has changed the Real Estate landscape as well. Fifteen years ago, if you wanted to buy a home, you drove to the town that you wanted to live in and called a local Realtor. They brought the "book," a print out of all the listings. Today, buyers can take a virtual visit to hundreds of homes in their local area or across the country. The "book" is online; we are in information overload. Availability of information is wonderful, but understanding the data and derive relevancy is something else.

A big mistake buyers make in trying to secure a great opportunity is that they're not ready. Timing is everything. When you see an opportunity, it is important to seize it. Are you ready? A bank will not entertain contingency offers.

If you have to sell your home first, you have a contingency. Having all of your ducks in a row is important. A good down payment, nothing to sell and being ready to close immediately with make a bank look favorably on your offer.

Great opportunities are available every day. Your best chance to get one is to build a relationship with a Realtor who is full-time and is active in the market. Please don't call someone up and say, "If you have any good deals, email them to me". If you don't have a relationship with them, why would they send them to you? Common sense tells us that the people that want to work with us will get the first call when something good comes along. This is the benefit for you the buyer, to have a great relationship with one Realtor. Good Realtors have expertise that you can't get from searching websites. In the end, relationships rule the world. Get yours started with a Realtor today.

Here is a link to the previous blog about the home I have been describing.

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor, Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org

Follow me on Twitter: @salanddawn

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

6 Saddle Horn Drive Upper Saddle River Real Estate

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:29:53 -0500

This home is located in tranquil Upper Saddle River, NJ. It is the home you have been looking for. Move in, renovate or build new on this almost an acre of property. Location, location, location.

Thi

This property is not a short sale or a foreclosure, but it may be a better value.

Please contact me for a private showing.

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor, Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

Recession, Depression: Housing is to blame!

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:20:53 -0600

On February 26, 2009 President Obama submitted his proposed budget. Here are some excerpts from "A New Era of Responsibility"

"We start 2009 in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetimes. Our economy is in a deep recession that threatens to be deeper and longer than any since the Great Depression. More than three and a half million jobs were lost over the past 13 months, more jobs than at any time since World War II. ...This crisis is neither the result of a normal turn of the business cycle nor an accident of history. ... For decades, too many on Wall Street threw caution to the wind, chased profits with blind optimism and little regard for serious risks-and with even less regard for the public good. Lenders made loans without concern for whether borrowers could repay them. Inadequately informed of the risks and overwhelmed by fine print, many borrowers took on debt they could not really afford. ...This irresponsibility precipitated the interlocking housing and financial crises that triggered this recession."

Wow, you get the feeling that things really are bad. It is easy to blame Wall Street and Housing for our current situation. While it is clearly obvious that some people were misled, others purchased homes that they couldn't afford with their eyes wide open. The risky loan, the Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) was part of the problem. However, there were many people who had this type of financing that didn't lose their home. As a matter of fact, they were able to finance a much more expensive home than they would have afforded with conventional financing. There were quite a few people that made money in the boom years simply by living in their home for two years and then selling it. As long as the market is in an upward swing the riskier financing wasn't that risky. Confidence in the Real Estate market became shaky and prices started to decline. Once that was the case, the markets had to adjust.

I respectfully disagree with the statement "This crisis is neither the result of a normal turn of the business cycle nor an accident of history". Real Estate is cyclical. Sir Isaac Newtown said, "What goes up must come down". Experience tells us that he was right. Were there people who took advantage of the system? The answer is a resounding yes! Trouble is that when things are good, most people aren't thinking about the inevitable rainy day. All markets are cyclical and history repeats itself. Clearly, when we don't pay attention to the mistakes of the past, we repeat them. The stock markets have had a few "crashes", 1929, 1987 and today. The Dow industrials are down over 40% in the past year. Even the worst estimates for Real Estate aren't a 40% decline over the past year.

My grandparents generation lived through the great depression. I remember as a child, my grandfather re-using tea bags and coffee grinds. They understood what it meant not to have things. They lived in a time period before the FDIC insured banks. My grandfather told stories of how there was a run on the banks when the stock market crashed. The banks didn't have the money to give back to the people who had deposited money in their bank. People lost their life savings and then the bank would go out of business. You can understand why my grandfather felt it was safer to save money in his mattress.

Today, the consensus is that the Real Estate market is down from the highs of just a few years ago. You don't have to have an MBA to figure that out. In this challenging market you need to go back to the basics. A well priced, well maintained and appealing home will still sell in the shortest period of time. This era in Real Estate is calling for more specialized services. Our world moves at the speed of light. We are in the information age. Embracing the newest technologies is essential to survive in this environment. A homeowner trying to sell today may be at a disadvantage because they are forced to compete against short sales and/or bank owned foreclosure properties. Whether your home is distressed or not, you can still sell in this market. Interest rates are near all-time lows and the government is giving nice incentives to first time homebuyers to enter the market. Don't be misled, not everyone thinks doom and gloom. There are many buyers in this market who are ready to purchase. I know, I am working with them every day. Real Estate is still the best investment. The last time I checked, they weren't making any more land.

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor, Short Sale Specialist

ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

NJAR® ENCOURAGES CONSUMERS TO EXPLORE SHORT SALES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FORECLOSURE

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:23:14 -0600

The New Jersey Association of Realtors has jumped on board, finally.

For Immediate Release:
February 18, 2009

NJAR^® ENCOURAGES CONSUMERS TO EXPLORE SHORT SALES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FORECLOSURE

(Edison, NJ) In today's unsteady economy, many homeowners experiencing financial difficulty have turned to a short sale as a means of avoiding a foreclosure. In many cases, sellers who cannot keep up with their mortgage payments strike a deal with their lender to sell the home and payoff less than the total amount due on the loan. In some cases, the lender forgives the outstanding debt. A short sale can occur in any real estate transaction where the purchase price is less than the amount required to pay off the liens on the real property, such as mortgages, judgments, taxes, homeowner or condominium association fees, assessments, as well as closing costs including but not limited to brokerage commissions, realty transfer fee, and attorney's fees.

There are key advantages to pursuing a short sale over a foreclosure. Depending on how the lender reports the loan, short sales can appear on your credit report as "pre-foreclosure in redemption," not as "debt discharged due to foreclosure." Thus, people who come to an agreement on a short sale with their lender do far less damage to their credit rating than those who go through a foreclosure. Additionally, a benefit to a short sale is that borrowers will generally face a shorter waiting period before they can obtain another mortgage.

"In general, a short sale can be much faster and less expensive than a foreclosure," said 2009 NJAR^® President Diane Dilzell, CRS, e-PRO. "Troubled homeowners should remember that a short sale is not a cure-all but the ramifications are less harmful to their long-term financial well-being."

Homeowners who are having difficulty making their mortgage payments and who may be considering a short sale must generally meet three qualifying criteria: they must be behind on their payments, be able to prove a legitimate hardship, and have little or no equity in their home.

Sellers should be aware that a short sale is a complex transaction and can take several months to complete. A short sale also requires several parties to come to an agreement on negotiated terms. In addition, different lending institutions have different policies. Some lenders may agree to forgive the difference between what they are owed, while others may require repayment of the deficiency. If your lender "writes off" any portion of the amount owed it may be reported as taxable income. Therefore, sellers should always seek the advice of an attorney or tax professional.

Dilzell noted that a REALTOR^® is a valuable resource to home sellers considering a short sale. REALTORS^® can help consumers navigate the short sale process, as well as facilitate communication between interested parties.

"REALTORS^® don't just sell houses; we work to help people to afford to stay in their homes. In the end, we want troubled homeowners to know that a foreclosure might not necessarily be their only option. Whether it's a refinanced loan or a short sale, resources are available to homeowners having difficulty making their payments," concluded Dilzell.

# # #

The New Jersey Association of REALTORS^® is a non-profit organization serving the professional needs of approximately 53,000 REALTOR^® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE^® members in the state. REALTOR^® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who subscribe to the REALTOR^® organization's strict Code of Ethics and are members of the national, state and local REALTOR^® organizations. For more information, please visit www.njar.com.

I guess we finally have a crisis now that our state association has released a press release. I have been telling people this for over two years. As a Real Estate community here in New Jersey we have officially admitted that consumers should explore short sales. A Short Sale has been a viable option for our Bergen County customers for two years now. I have been blogging here since 2007 about our success stories. Please know that the banks are making deals. They understand this crisis. We have clients that we helped in 2007 settle short. This process is almost two full years in their past. If you believe that you may be a candidate for a short sale contact someone sooner rather than later. It is imperative that you hire a professional who has experience in handling this complicated situation. At this time being a Realtor is not enough. You have to know how to navigate through these difficult waters. A trusted advisor who has access to attorneys, accountants, financial planners, credit specialists, etc. is very important. Don't go it alone. Don't ignore the problem. When you are interviewing someone for this position, make sure you ask them specifically how many short sale transactions they have closed, be careful that you are not a guinea pig. It is very difficult to take a three hour seminar and become an expert. This is a very important process, choose wisely.

Get Educated. Get Empowered. For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor, Short Sale Specialist ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

Friday Night Football in Texas

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:03:16 -0600

A friend of mine, emailed me a link to this video. It is well worth watching. You may need a tissue. This is a story of the heart of America. People from a small town pouring out love on folks who seem undeserving of it. I love football and I love these folks in Texas. As Americans, we need to stop complaining and get out there and support our fellow man. Watch the video, you will be inspired.

Wyckoff Foreclosure, Wyckoff REO Property, Bergen County Foreclosure

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:38:34 -0600

This home is in Wyckoff, NJ located in Northwest Bergen County. This property was listed in March of 2006 for $955,500. It may have been overpriced for the time, however, it wasn't 50% overpriced. This home is on the market for $470,900 that is less than 50 cents on the dollar than what it was listed for just 3 years ago. The real estate market in Wyckoff has retreated in the last three years. But not 50%!!!! 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, this is a lot of house. Not to mention that Wyckoff is a blue ribbon school district.

Three years ago, this could have been a short sale and perhaps the foreclosure could have been avoided. Here is a virtual tour for you to see what the home looks like today.

Foreclosure not in Bergen County, but it could be.

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:05:53 -0600

This is a painful situation to be in. This is the face of foreclosure. Don't let this happen to you. I got teary watching this. People say to me, "We'll just walk away and let them foreclose". Imagine your children as they are changing the locks and putting you out of your home. This is not a dignified way of giving possession of your home to someone else. Look at the pain in Julios face. The people never had the intention of not being able to afford their homes. They are good people, just like you and me that have come upon hard times. There are people to help you. We are here to help you. If you are having difficulty making payments or think you will have difficulty in the future, don't wait. Be proactive and look at the options you have. You do have options. I really feel bad for this fellow.

Have We Finally Hit Bottom?!

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:02:15 -0600

What is wrong with everybody? Has all common sense left the people of this country? We are clearly in the middle of the Perfect Storm for bad news. Economy is in a recession, housing prices won’t stop falling, people are losing their jobs and most importantly people are afraid to spend money.

Now that the election and inauguration are over, let’s get back to business. I can sit here at my computer and quote statistics. Is that really what we need? What we need is someone to speak the truth (in love). There are talks of the economic stimulus package. People are all fired up about giving money to the big three car makers, the banks, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, where does it end? The problem is that these are all short term fixes for long term challenges. The U.S. government will be in debt for over $1.2 trillion dollars for fiscal 2009. As bad as that sounds, the individual family is the one I am concerned about. Believe it or not, most folks have credit card debt, mortgages and home equity lines of credit (not to mention a car or lease payment). We have become a nation living on what we have been able to borrow over the last ten years.

Through this last wave of the housing boom, some people made a lot of money. It was not uncommon to see 10-20% increases per year in the value of homes. People were using their homes as an ATM. I spoke with a man who had refinanced his home four times in a 2 year period. He had originally paid around $250,000 for his home. By the time he was done refinancing for the fourth time, he owed over $450,000. Prices were increasing and he was using his home as an additional source of income. There are many stories just like this. The banks were giving money away like candy. Unfortunately most of us didn’t have the capacity to say no.

People are talking that this recession is really like the Great Depression. Something to remember about the Great Depression is that right before it we had the Roaring 20s a time of great speculation and wealth. Does anyone remember what preceded this current “crash”? I remember in the late 1990s when people were speculating on Technology stocks. In March of 2001, that “bubble burst”. People had lost money in the stock market and their 401k accounts. They took their money out of the stock market and started investing in Real Estate. When prices are increasing most people are happy. The Real Estate industry as a whole is making money. The real problem that we faced is that in our hearts, some people believed that Real Estate would never stop increasing. What we have now is a cyclical shaking out of the past 6 years.

I specialize in Short Sales and Foreclosures, two things that most homeowners don’t want to talk about. Unfortunately I come in contact with people everyday who are underwater. Meaning, the value of their home is less than what they owe. Who is helping that person if they can’t make their payments? Some folks believe that they can keep borrowing and eventually get caught up. What ends up happening is that they can go for a time (as long as they have access to credit). Once the credit lines have been exhausted they have to face a stark reality that perhaps this isn’t going to work out. Some people will tell me that they are going to hang on until the market comes back. I wonder if any of those people are still holding on to intel (it was at over $70 a share in 2001 – it is listed around $14 a share 8 years later). The reality of our Real Estate market is that we need to move this inventory. If people can’t afford their homes, they should sell them! It is possible to sell your home for less than what you owe and be able to start the next chapter in your life. Find someone who has been helping these families. Have a phone conversation. Do something! Being proactive will help you keep your dignity. Don’t sit still and wait for something bad to happen.

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor,

Short Sale Specialist ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187,

visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

Eastern Christian School in NJ

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:29:32 -0600

There are many private High Schools in North New Jersey. How does someone from out of the area come to a decision? Online research is a great place to start.

Here are some search terms to get you started

Private secondary schools in New Jersey

Christian Schools in NJ

Christian School NJ

Private Schools in New Jersey

Private High Schools in North New Jersey

Private Christian Schools in Bergen County NJ

Private Christian Schools in Passaic County NJ

or Christian Schools in Northern New Jersey

Let me tell you a little bit about Eastern Christian. Eastern Christian is a Private Christian school in Bergen County New Jersey. The elementary school campus is located in Midland Park, NJ. The middle school is located in Wyckoff, NJ a family friendly town with a great sense of community. The High School is a Private Christian school located in Passaic County NJ in North Haledon.

At the top of the home bulletin that goes home every week is this saying

ENGAGING THE MIND, NURTURING THE SPIRIT, TRANSFORMING THE WORLD!

Eastern Christian is a very special place. The sense of community is world class. Once you step inside and see what is going on there, you will be hooked.

Upper Saddle River Short Sale

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:18:51 -0600

Too good to pass up. This home was listed for $2.825 million in 2007. It is now listed at around $1.9 million and the outstanding mortgage seems to be over $2 million. Here is your chance to get into a great neighborhood at rock bottom pricing. The short sale and foreclosures seem to be hitting the high end as well. Contact me if you are interested in knowing the address of this property. I just listed a foreclosure in Wyckoff. The good deals in the more expensive towns go quickly. Make sure that the person you are working with has access.

Get Educated. Get Empowered. For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor, Short Sale Specialist ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, or visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

Short Sale, then Foreclosure, now on market 198 Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:00:53 -0600

I just began marketing this listing. It was originally listed for $955,000. It never did sell. It then went to foreclosure and was purchased by the first mortgage holder. Now that the bank has it as a REO listing I am marketing it for the bank. Judging by steep discount, this property would have been a perfect candidate for a short sale two years ago.

Here is today's listing report. Come and see the bargain. Please visit me tomorrow 1/4/09 for an open house from 12p-2pm. The property is listed at $537,900,

Starbucks Marketing Like a Church

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:23:36 -0600

Could you imagine if Starbucks marketed like the Church does? I love Christmas because it always gives us a chance to start over. This time of year people begin to return to churches across America. Christmas and Easter are the two biggest attended services throughout the year. What if a church was more relaxed, like a Starbucks. It is easy to understand why people keep going back to Starbucks and may take a pass on returning to Church.

I came across this funny video on YouTube. I am so impressed with the people who created this and the other videos. Beware, once you look at one, you will be hooked. I know I was. Merry Christmas!

Men vs Women at Christmas

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:58:25 -0600

I was reading my buddies blog and came across this piece of goodness. So Bert, thanks for the photo.

Wow, what do you say after that photo? Now I know why it is so hard for us to figure out what to buy. I have had this conversation with many women that I know. If your wife asks for a vacuum cleaner or a blender or a dishwasher; buy it but it doesn't count as a Christmas present, even if that is what they asked for at Christmas time. If you do get it you will definitely end up in the doghouse. See video below.

Merry Christmas, I'm going to throw up!

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:38:37 -0600

It was about midnight on Christmas Eve, Santa had visited our home. The cookies were eaten, the doors to the fireplace had been left open. All was quiet on the Poliandro front... until my son came into our room and said the title of this blog. Actually, it went more like this... I don't feel well, I'm going to... as he ran for the bathroom. He just about made it. I stress just about, had he made it all the way there would have been nothing to clean up. So I did the right thing, I helped him change his pajamas, did a load of wash and cleaned up the mess. All while holding my nose, so I wouldn't puke myself. Dawn and the girls were able to sleep through the whole thing. Hopefully Henry will wake up feeling great. Christmas is the best day of the year! No little kid should have to sit in bed all day. It's now early on Christmas morning, I need to get back to bed but I can't. I hope this doesn't happen to you. Merry Christmas!

2009 Will be a terrible year in Real Estate

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:12:22 -0600

Now that I have your attention...

Carpe Diem; 2009 will belong to people who seize the day and the year.

2009 will prove to be a difficult year for The United States and for its people. There is plenty of bad news to bathe yourself in if you are looking for it. The economy is terrible, people are losing their jobs, foreclosures are at new heights. Fear is gripping our country. What will it take for us to return to normalcy? When will the public sentiment turn towards optimism? FDR said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” in the same inauguration speech in 1933 he said, “Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.” Let’s dissect this with an eye on the Real Estate market.

Real Estate is still the best investment.

Everybody has to live somewhere. They aren’t making any more land. Prices have dropped considerably in our area. Homes that just two years ago may have been out of reach for the average homebuyer have now come back in play. In a typical Real Estate cycle home prices and mortgage rates move in the opposite direction of each other. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, home prices were low but mortgage rates were near 18%. Right now we are in the perfect storm for a homebuyer. Prices have come down drastically and mortgage rates are near all-time lows. What is happening right now will probably not happen again in our lifetime. So, why are we afraid? We are afraid to make a mistake! Nobody, I mean nobody wants to buy a house today and then see it lose value. Then the question becomes; should I wait until the market “bottoms” out before I buy? Do a quick google search on timing the Real Estate market and you will find many opinions. Fortunately most of these folks have some kind of “Real Estate System” or book to sell you. Many people who try to time the market miss out on building equity because the only way to tell the bottom is when prices start to rise again. The Real Estate cycle only becomes clear in retrospect. Buying a home is not like buying a stock. You should plan on living in your home because you like the neighborhood and the amenities of the home. Any equity that you build should be a bonus, not the reason you purchase. The longer you stay in your home; the more likely it is that you will make money. We all know people who bought their house 15 years ago or more. Very few of those people are complaining that they bought their house “at the peak”. They may have spent more than they wanted to at the time, but looking back it was a great investment.

What are our dark realities?

One of the realities that we face is that unemployment is rising and credit markets have tightened. There are a percentage of our neighbors who are “underwater” in their current homes. Their homes are mortgaged for more than they are worth. Some of our neighbors will lose their homes to foreclosure in 2009. Others will be proactive and decide to sell the home that they can’t afford before they lose it. A short sale may be the answer. When someone owes more than their house is worth they may still be able to sell it. In a short sale a homeowner can sell their home for less than what is owed on it and have the bank pay for all the closing costs; including the Realtors fee, transfer tax, attorney fee, back taxes and possibly more fees. A short sale is a complicated process, make sure that the person representing you has the experience necessary to navigate through the waters.

Final FDR thought.

“This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.” This quote reminds me that life is cyclical, the economy is cyclical and Real Estate is cyclical. We are citizens of the greatest country in the world. We will endure, revive and prosper once again. 2009 will belong to the proactive. Don’t be fearful; get off the sidelines, this year will bring us innovations that people would have never thought possible just a few short years ago. That is what adversity does to people. More small businesses will be created because people have lost their jobs. When times are good we have to be careful of complacency. I believe that we, as a nation, are ready for the challenge. Go and seize the day!

Get Educated. Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Realtor, Marketing Advisor,

Short Sale Specialist ePRO, SRES at 201-259-2187, or visit our websites: www.SalAndDawn.com or www.shortsaleguy.org

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 73 East Allendale Road Saddle River, NJ 07458

Boating in December???

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:45:18 -0600

Just a reminder for all of those boat enthusiasts out there, the New York National Boat Show is currently being held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. This is a great opportunity to take the family out to see some incredible boats, fun entertainment, game and activities and more! The show has been running since December 13th and will end on the 21st. For more information visit their website at http://www.nyboatshow.com.

Don't Be The Pathetic Realtor Guy!

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:29:47 -0600

The guy I am talking about is NOT Leander McClain. To catch you up, in my last blog post I wrote how Jim Albano had connected Leander and I. As the story unfolds Leander is at the Triple Play Conference as well. We touch base and agree to meet outside one of the main conference halls.

Here is how it happens, I meet Leander we begin to chat about Jim Albano our mutual Active Rain friend. I get to know a little about him, he gets to know a little about me and we are both comfortable referring business to each other. There clearly is a right way and a wrong way to go about getting people to help you in your business. Here is a true example of what not to do.

While we are speaking, this dude comes up to us and interrupts our conversation.
Pathetic Realtor Guy Mistake #1

He then starts talking to me because I work in Bergen County and he wants to send me business (yeah right). Turns out the guy is licensed in the same town as Leander.
Pathetic Realtor Guy Mistake #2

His pitch to us is that he is going for his brokers license and he is a few transactions short. Did he really think that would make me motivated to send him business? He probably isn't the first Realtor (or the last) to just go about things the wrong way. Reminds me of a guy who was camped out at the bottom of an escalator handing out his business card yelling 35% referrals.
Pathetic Realtor Guy Mistake #3

Moral of the story... DON'T BE THE PATHETIC REALTOR GUY!

Feel free to share your (not you, but someone who came up to you) Pathetic Realtor Guy moments.

Active Rain Connects 2 more Realtors

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:01:53 -0600

I was down in Atlantic City the past few days. There was a lot of learning going on. One of the cool things was getting to meet people who I have met through my computer on Active Rain. Jim Albano was my first Active Rain meet up at the convention. Jim is friends with Leander McClain from Burlington, NJ. Last week Jim connected Leander and I up. Seems Leander has a client with a home to sell in Bergen County. I'm glad I finally got to meet Jim and Leander.

This picture was shot on my blackberry curve. I guess the lighting wasn't very good. The next picture will look better.

A Little Paint, Tile and Carpets Can Go a Long Way in Down Market

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:41:39 -0600

Everyone know it but sometimes it is amazing how many people don't pay attention to the details when looking to sell their house. Some newly painted walls, fixing cracked or chipped tiles and replacing worn carpets can transform a house from a maybe into an enthusiastic yes! Potential buyers will love seeing that you have taken the time to fix any problem areas and a fresh new coat of paint can make a room really stand out.

Still not a believer? Take a look at this case in Waldwick, New Jersey.

New Jersey Center for Food Action

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:46:29 -0600

Since its founding in 1976, the Center for Food Action in New Jersey's mission is to prevent hunger and homelessness and work to improve the lives of individuals and families living in poverty. The center provides individuals and families with emergency food packages, rental and utility insurance, counseling, advocacy and other essential services to those in need living in Northern New Jersey.

This is a tremendous organization that has helped a countless number of people since their inception. With the upcoming holidays and the increased need for charitable giving, it is important to remember that there are others in your community that are in need of assistance. While it may be hard to give during the economic downturn, simply volunteering your time to help out at a local soup kitchen or unpack charitable donations can be a big help to these types of organizations.

Here is one location in Bergen County that is looking for help this upcoming weekend.

Center for Food Action-Mahwah

201-934-5085

Distribution location: Lincoln Technical Institute

70 McKee Drive,

Mahwah

Volunteers needed to load and unload with Thanksgiving food packages:

Friday, November, 21 10am-3pm

Saturday, November, 22 10am-noon

Want to Increase Your Business?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:17:24 -0600

Of course everyone is interested in increasing their business. But how do you do it without spending money on advertising? The answer lies in getting yourself quoted or mentioned in newspaper articles. This is a simple way to get your name out into the community without spending money. I have developed a relationship with a local reporter and have been a consistent source of real estate information for her. Below are some of the articles that I have appeared in:

Desperate Owners Turn to Short Sales

Everywhere You Look, There's an Open House

Curb Appeal Can Pay Big Dividends

When it's Time to Turn to Short Sales

How Low Will Homes Go?

Spring Backward to Sell Your House