www.activerain.kateconover

How Many #1 Realtors Can There Be?

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 05:38:31 -0700

I'm amazed that Realtors still market themselves as "Top Agent," Number One Listing Agent," Circle of Excellence Stand-Out," and on and on. While I understand and endorse marketing is very important in our business, I also understand a few other things. First and foremost, Sellers and Buyers think we make too much money for what we do. Now, we all know that's far from true. I remember a friends of mine, a reporter, talked about trailing a Realtor for two days to get an idea what we actually do in a day. She told me not only was she exhausted by the time they wrapped up, but she knew she would never consider selling homes as a career. But, for most people perception is reality, so if our target audience thinks we make too much money, why in the world would you want to keep shining the spotlight on yourself? I tell my clients THEY are Number 1! And before I present their homes to the market, I dress them up so the public knows they're #1! Putting our accomplishments out there is important way to stand out among our competition, but tacking #1 on to our profile is, well, tacky. And, it's often untrue. Your clients will know you're #1 when they watch you work.

The Battle of the Appraiser, the Assessor & Me!

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:37:54 -0800

Every few years, my job as a Realtor becomes a lot busier, but not because I'm listing and selling homes, in Northwest Bergen County --- Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff, in particular. It's because of the dreaded REVALUATION!! This is the time where towns realize the taxes they collect aren't enough to pay for the programs they've promised their residents. What to do. What to do, For the last 25+ years, I've asked the same question of all the Assessors I've worked with --- why don't you assess homes for as close to REAL MARKET VALUE as you can, then raise the tax rate to meet the needs of the residents? But, they continue to tack on numbers that are so obviously in excess of the real value of the homes that there's a stampede to meet with the appraisers who came up with what I call Market Values in Fantasyland. For years, towns have been overwhelmed with homeowners standing on lines outside their offices demanding an explanation of their latest assessment. It got so bad that towns like Wyckoff arranged for homeowners to meet with homeowners so they could each explain their case. The only way a homeowner could make a case for a tax reduction would be to bring comparable homes that sold between October 15 of the previous year to October 15 of the current year. Guess how they get those comps? Bingo --- Realtors! So here's my solution: Assessors, taxpayers are on to you. They know you think they'll feel better to see their home has increased in value, and you have kept the tax rate "low." The problem is it makes no sense, much like the equalization ratio. It's called "cookin' the books."

The Great Exodus from New Jersey

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 00:36:51 -0800

I read a very unsettling article, I think it was in Forbes, about the top 25 states where more people are moving out than moving in. As I recall, New Jersey was either at or close to the top. Sadly, I was not surprised. New Jersey today is nothing like it was when I was a teenager, in the 60s. Asbury Park (Monmouth County) was a very cool place to grow up --- APHS had great sports teams, you could walk or take a local bus anywhere you wanted to go, and, best of all, it had the OCEAN!! From what my parents told me, taxes were very low. Actually, they are still much lower than Bergen County, but NOT low compared to other, more desirable state in which to live. Our state has continued to deteriorate under the tutelage of our esteemed Governor Christie who seems never to have found a promise he couldn't break. So when my clients (transferees) moved here from San Francisco, one of the most expensive cities in the country, they were shocked at how little they got for $1,200,000, and how incredibly high the taxes were on that home! "We get a fixer-upper for over a million $$, they moaned?" Wait til it starts snowing, I thought!

When Should I List My Home?

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 04:42:22 -0800

We all get asked this question, and there is no one right answer. If, for instance, the thing that sells the home is the property, gardens, pool and tennis court, there will be more interest if you wait until early Spring. Even when the home is lovely, there's nothing quite like having beautiful gardens framing the home. I know we don't really have a "Spring Market" anymore. The days of waiting until April/May to list a home are long gone --- people have to sell when they have to sell, and often waiting for the flowers to bloom isn't feasible. So, when that happens, it's time for creative ideas. I use artificial trees (only buy the good ones; cheap decor inside or out won't help to get sellers to their goal. I also use woven baskets filled with pine cones bunches of spruce, and artificial purple cabbages, in between the trees. I also encourage my clients to keep their Christmas lights up --- but only if they're white, and only on shrubs that frame the home. It's every bit as important to dress up the exterior as it is the interior. First impressions are critical in real estate.

Real Estate Doesn't Stop on Christmas

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 01:32:03 -0800

About 10 years ago, while delivering gifts to longtime clients, I suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm --- long story short, 7 hours of surgery and two weeks in Intensive Care, I was home, and three weeks later was back at work. As my ex-husband loved to say, "she can't be killed!" This was the first year I got back to that tradition --- not sure exactly why, but the passing of my daughter didn't help. In any case, what I realized was how deeply I missed catching up with the people who had meant so much to me. It isn't the size or value of the gift that matters, but the time you take to put it all together, get in your car, and deliver it. I not only get hugs and best wishes, but each year I get Christmas Day family photos which get posted on my office bulletin boards so each time I look up, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have chosen real estate over law school. Happy Holidays to All!

Foes of Uber === Stop Trying to Take My Cars!

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 01:07:21 -0800

While I realize a blog about Uber cars may not be seen as relevant to real estate, I can't read one other negative article about my favorite mode of transportation without sounding off. The naysayers continue to rant about how Uber has been surreptitiously collecting personal information from anyone who has logged on to the Net. Well, welcome to the Internet, guys! And welcome to the United States government. Our "personal and private" information hasn't been private since J. Edgar Hoover sashayed into his FBI office, and began distroying innocent people's lives. When you share your lives online, you can no longer claim any right to privacy. As far as Uber transportation goes, I LOVE it! (I find the people who are most vociferous about it have never actually used it. The cars are spotless, the drivers are impeccibly dressed and friendly, and they won't accept tips (included in the fare). Now, let me tell you what Uber is not: 1. It is not as expensive as most cabs. 2. It is not as filthy as most cabs. 3. Its drivers don't take circuitous routes to drive up the fare. When I took a cab from LAX to Silver Lake, the fare was $65 plus tip. When I took Uber, it was $55, including the tip. 4. The drivers don't grunt or ignore you when asked a question. So here is what I'd like to say to JFK, Newark Airport and the other Uber haters: Don't use their service! Just don't try to stop me from using it.

Another Great Performer Leaves the Stage...

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 05:44:22 -0700

Much of my childhood was spent in Asbury Park and Wanamassa, a small town just over the bridge from AP. One of our most celebrated residents was Tim Hauser (yes THE Tim Hauser, of Manhattan Transfer). Occasionally, Tim would take pity on my, and give me a ride home from APHS (about 2 miles from my home). This was quite a thrill since Tim was four years older than me, and worked summers at the Monte Carlo Pool (long gone). In those days, nice girls didn't date boys that much older than them, but I did feel like quite the hot shot riding in his car. Tim and Tom Picardo (Tommy West, producer of Jim Croce's music) were dear friends, and Tim talked Tommy into coming to my friend's birthday party, in Asbury Park. We were shocked that they showed up, and stunned that they brought their guitars, and sang all night! We had no idea how lucky we were. Note: Yvonne's mom didn't think this was nearly as cool as we did. We both got heated lectures from both our parents about "what older boys want from younger girls." My wonderful friend, Tim, passed away a week ago, and I am flooded with memories of a joyful time in my life. I would only see Tim once again ---about four years ago --- at a club in NYC playing with Manhattan Transfer. They were as magnificent as ever, and Tim's voice was still magic. I regret not hearing it more.

Mortgage Rates in 2015...a real estate slowdown?

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:55:10 -0700

Neil Barofsky has written a riveting book on the 2008-09 government financial bailout which he oversaw as the Special Inspector General for TARP -- the Troubled Asset Relief Program (see, if you name it something like that, with the word “Relief” in it, everyone gets on board because it sounds like you’re making something broken whole again). As he attempted to take down the Princes of Wall Street, he appeared to underestimate their power. And the $700 billion bailout did little to repair the damage that had been done by the banks and Wall Street. An Inside Account of How Washington Abandoned Main Street While Rescuing Wall Street is a must read. Just don’t be surprised that certain government officials who promised to make things better were in bed with the bad guys. So, what has this to do with mortgage rates and the 2015 market? Just that whenever the government has anything to do with any program, you can count on it never turning out the way you’d expected. I hear everyday how the “market is better, the market is stronger, houses are selling over asking, and mortgage rates are too good not to buy!” There’s some truth in that, but once you look deeper, we still have problems. Before you can talk about mortgages you have to look at the economy in general. While the economy is stronger than it was 1-3 years ago, we’re still facing some serious obstacles to a stable economy:• Russia/Ukraine• Israel/Gaza• ISSA• Heath care• Affordable housing• U.S. eroding educational system My mortgage gurus are telling me what I already knew --- you can’t predict where mortgage rates will be in 2015 without knowing what 2015 will look like. But, we can say this: homeowners have gotten far more savvy when it comes to pricing their homes, and it’s showing in the percentage of list to sold prices. Towns like Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Ridgewood, and especially Saddle River are starting to see those numbers in the 89-95% range again. As has always been true, if you price a home realistically, it will sell quickly and for more money. P.S.: This should be an interesting week because bailout leaders will be in court explaining why they took over AIG --- was it a way to bail out the banks through AIG rather than direct government intervention? Stay tuned.

Time Out From Real Estate -- Breast Cancer Awareness

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:48:40 -0700

Twenty years ago, I read an interesting article in Mother Jones. It railed against the practice of women starting to have yearly mammograms at age 40. Dense breast tissue made it difficult to make an informed diagnosis, it said, so women should wait until age 50 for the test. Because my aunt died of breast cancer, I began having them at 40, but at age 48, I thought I’d wait for my next screening until I turned 50. Unfortunately, it didn’t sound good to my Ob/Gyn, and so I gave in and went. When my surgeon called my office, two weeks later, I figured the news was good. It wasn’t. I don’t remember much, but I do remember hearing the word mastectomy. Not only had they found cancer in my breast, but I would lose my breast?? Long story short, I had no lump or any other sign that would have told me something was wrong. When they did the radio tactic breast biopsy, it showed heavy calcification in several milk ducts which is an indicator of cancer, and meant a mastectomy was necessary. And then I cried. I had the mastectomy, and as if getting on my feet and back to normal would erase what I’d just gone through, I went back to work in 6 days --- with the drainage tube still under my arm. But the biggest shock was when I went to see Dr. Tom Rakowski, a Ridgewood oncologist, to go over the pathology findings. I don’t know how anyone can do what he does, day in and day out, but I thank God he does. He told me that when I hit my knees at night, to thank God for mammograms. They pathology had found cancer in every milk duct in my breast --- ductal carcinoma in situ he called it. Th cancer was not in the breast tissue itself, which was a miracle considering what he went on to explain. The pathology also showed it was comedo carcinoma --- referred to as “galloping cancer” by oncologists. Dr. Rakowski said comedo carcinoma moves rapidly, and that the mammogram I had planned to skip had saved my life. If I had waited another year, the odds were good I would have died. And, by the way, I didn’t need chemo or radiation. It really was a miracle. After counselling women through Reach to Recovery, I can tell you that mammograms have saved thousands of lives. Please have yours, and encourage those you love to do the same.

Realtors Give Back --- Don't Forget to Help Those In Need!

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 04:03:58 -0700

With school coming up soon, I was reminded of how many things kids need to start school --- new clothes, coats, shoes, boots, backpacks, school supplies, and all the goodies that help them feel like their schoolmates. It can be very hard for families just making ends meet. The Center for Food Action, in New Jersey (and similar food banks across the country) works tirelessly to fill the needs of families who are struggling. Our office does a fundraiser, every year before the holidays. Shaming my colleagues into giving more than they think they should is something I'm good at, and you can do the same in your office. I'll never forget my mentor's words to me as I stood complaining about how bad business was, back in the early 90's. He asked me if I thought I'd be happier bagging groceries or selling Tupperware. "When someone hands you $10,000 for the job you did selling their home, you darned well better be very grateful, and expect to work your buns off. Grocery stores don't pay that in a year." Remember those less fortunate even when you're having a slow year.

2015 Bergen County Real Estate Market

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 02:19:10 -0700

I have to smile when sellers excitedly tell me "I think the market's back!" Ok. But, let's not forget the market dropped at least 20% from its high, in 2006-08, and it's only up 5-8% in this market. And, I wouldn't be just considering the percentage of price increase. I'd be looking at who is buying, how much house they're buying, how much mortgage they'll need, and --- what price range it's in. We're seeing a lot of movement in the "up to $500k market," and some in the "up to $800k market," but the "$900k-$1,400,000 market" is still shaky, and the "over-$1.5 mil market" is really struggling. More and more we're seeing homes that have been on and off the market for 2-4 years with little hope of selling. Even with the deluge of reports on how little clamor there is for "mega-mansions," sellers don't seem to be getting the message, or think theirs is the home that will prove all the naysayers wrong. As I've been saying, young people/millenials/GenXers don't want a huge home. They'd prefer a 3500-4000 sq. ft. home and a summer home, or more vacations.

Flood Insurance & FEMA --- or, How I Lost My Shirt at the Shore

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 02:41:46 -0700

Occasionally, I get questions about flood insurance, particularly from buyers looking for a second home at the shore. I usually send them to FEMA’s website. But, I do know one thing: premiums on flood insurance have gone up exponentially, particularly since Hurricane Sandy. One friend has a home at the Jersey Shore where he’s been paying about $3,000/year for flood insurance. His insurer told him to prepare for that to go over $30,000 unless he gets his home out of flood plain --- something that could be extremely costly. That made me start thinking about whether insurance practices are regulated in ways other than other businesses. It turns out that, like most government programs, there’s a great deal of red tape, and a whole lot of mismanagement. Before 1950, flood insurance was included in all homeowners’ insurance policies. It wasn’t until companies began getting slammed with payouts that they decided to charge separately for flood insurance. But, by the ‘60s, flood insurance became a liability to insurers, so they stopped providing it. Property owners were then their own. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by Congress, in 1968, and overseen by the GAO --- the U.S. Government Accountability Office (sounds like an oxymoron, no?). The idea was to make flood insurance available to homes designated in 100 or 500-year flood plain at a cost that was supposed to be far less than what disaster relief would cost. Unfortunately, since the late ‘80s, NFIP has paid almost $40 billion in claims (with more than 40% going to Louisiana alone). From 1978- the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, amendment after amendment sought to stem the outpouring of money to victims of floods. In 2012, a law called the Biggert-Waters Act proposed an end to federal subsidies to insure properties in flood prone areas. Hurricanes over the last decade drove federal aid programs into a $24 billion ditch. Homeowners were getting financially gutted by soaring insurance premiums ten times the amount they had previously paid. Meanwhile, they watched their homes continue to lose value as the economy struggled for stability. As far as rebuilding or elevating a home to remove it from flood plain status, FEMA offers the following advice: * Get all the information available about local and state codes. Local jurisdictions can be more restrictive than the National Flood Insurance Program.* Elevating a home can be an enormous and expensive undertaking: it means raising the lowest floor above the flood protection elevation (FPE), a level at which the chance of flooding is diminished or eliminated. The house is separated from its foundation, raised on hydraulic jacks and held up by temporary supports while the new foundation is built below. Depending on the size of the home, the ease of getting equipment on the property, and the extent of raising the elevation, the cost can be anywhere from $70k to hundreds of thousands. The cost/benefit analysis will determine your next steps.

Luxury Homes in Bergen County, NJ

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 01:33:35 -0700

For much of my 25-yr career, I've worked in the Luxury Market --- towns like Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Ridgewood, Ho-Ho-Kus and Allendale. We used to refer to 3,000 square foot, $950,000 homes luxury homes. Then came the roaring 1990s, and we started seeing homes built the size of the local municipal building. Five thousand square foot homes became the norm, but in time we saw homes over 8,000 square feet going up, and that's when I began to worry. It's one thing to build an 8,000 sf home on a 2 acre lot (Saddle River, for the most part), but squeezing it onto a little over an acre seemed a bad idea. I remember taking a buyer to look at homes in Wyckoff where most properties are a half-acre or a little more. He really wanted a luxury home, in Wyckoff (great schools), but when he saw a 6,000 sf home built on a .58 acre lot, he cracked, "It looks like an overpriced Levittown! (a town on Long Island built by Abraham Levitt --- the beginning of tract housing at affordable prices). When we bounced back from the 1987 market crash, in the late '90s, we started seeing spec homes of 6,000+ sf homes going up, and selling like they were giving them away. I kept saying, "We've been through this before. I don't think it's safe to be building homes that only appeal to 25% of the buying pool." But, they kept selling From 2004-2007, we watched as banks gave loans that our clients were marginally qualified for, but we didn't say anything. What can you really say to couples who are thrilled to be buying the homes of their dreams? "Wait! What if you lose your job??" I've never made it a practice to involve myself with the financing end of buying a home. My feeling is most people only want to talk to their banker/lender about such personal information. But, I always call the lender to be certain they can "comfortably afford" the home they want to buy. But, of course, what do I expect the lender to say ---"no, they can't, but I don't want to lose the deal.?" As I always say, if you don't want to pay for a new roof, don't call a roofer. Prices of luxury homes are still down at least 10-20% over the 2004-2008 market, but we're starting to see more of them come on the market. It's helping the sellers to know they're probably not going to see what they paid for the home in 2005. Good luck with that!

Beautiful 4 Bedroom Home in Wyckoff, NJ

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 01:16:55 -0700

http://postlets.com/s/354-drake-rd-wyckoff-nj-07481/11535312 This updated and meticulously maintained 4 Bedroom home, in everyone's favorite town, Wyckoff, NJ, sits perfectly on a lushly landscaped .69 acre lot. Baths and Kitchen have been updated, a wonderful Great Room is surrounded by glass and adjoins the charming Garden Room, a new Laundry Room, gleaming hardwood floors, new furnace and central A/C, and so much more make this not just a beautiful place to live, but a solid investment. It is Wyckoff, after all. Call Kate for more information: (201) 264-4417.

Franklin Lakes, NJ --- from Pot to Heroin: a gruesome journey

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 04:19:39 -0700

I moved to Franklin Lakes from Asbury Park, in the early 70s, and was instantly hit with cultural shock --- single family homes the size of an apartment building, no public transportation, and women wearing tennis skirts to go shopping. But, it was beautiful, and I soon got over my reverse snobism, and enjoyed such new experiences as The Market Basket (if you don't like to cook dinner, Tony does it for you), the Shadow Lake Club (swim & tennis club), and starting a Democratic Club (little did I know I was only one of a few Dems in town. My kids went to Ramapo High School, in the mid-to-late 80s. Unknown to me at the time was something called "The Wall." It was a gathering place where kids could buy/deal pot. Now, although I didn't try pot until I was in my 20s (ugh), I was well aware that kids are going to experiment with a lot of things parents don't necessarily approve of. Although I was always worried about how drugs might affect my kids --- peer pressure, getting in with the wrong crowd --- I felt secure that while they might try pot, they wouldn't "use" it. Today is an entirely different world --- one I would come to find out when my dear friends' daughter passed away very suddenly. I was stunned (and so out of touch) to learn that heroin had replaced pot as today's high school students' drug of choice. I learned that somehow heroin is cheaper and easier to get than pot, and provides a longer-lasting high. As I write this, I still can't believe it. The people who sell this drug apparently "cut it" with something that makes it more dangerous to the user, but more profitable for the distributor. And teenagers think, as they always have, that they are invulnerable --- that they know how to use drugs carefully, and in doing so they won't get hooked. Even in the 60s, we were petrified of drugs like heroin. All we knew was people we idolized, like Jimi Hendrix and Janice Joplin, were rich and smart, and they died using heroin. How is it today's kids don't seem to have those fears? And what are the schools, towns, counties and states doing about it? I read almost everyday about NJ Governor Christie's escapades, but not once have I heard him talk about the epidemic that is killing our children. I don't give a damn about his bridge scandal; that isn't killing anyone. Where is the outrage?

Beautiful Expanded and Renovated Wyckoff, NJ Split Level 354 Drake Rd

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Sat, 31 May 2014 02:58:28 -0700

http://354drakerd.agentmarketing.com/ You'll Fall in Love with 354 Drake Rd in Wyckoff NJ. This beautiful expanded and renovated split level in the hottest town in New Jersey --- Wyckoff! --- offers a spacious 4 BR, 3 Bath home on a beautifully landscaped .69 acre lot. 354 Drake Rd offers a Newer Kitchen, Baths and Laundry Room, newer furnace, C/AC and a brand new septic system being installed. This is a dream come true!! 354 Drake Rd has Newer Baths, a beautiful Paver Driveway & Walkways, Hardiplank Siding, A Sundrenched Deck, Gleaming Hardwood Floors and a Truly Modern Kitchen! 354 Drake Rd in Wyckoff is located newar Schools, Transportation and the McFaul Wildlife Center. You'll love the Contemporary Feel Balanced with Tradition. For more information visit 354 Drake Rd in Wyckoff here. For more information on homes for sale in Wyckoff NJ, visit www.kateconover.com or call me today!

The Luxury Home Market in Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes New Jersey

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Fri, 23 May 2014 02:03:24 -0700

While I was showing an agent and her clients through my beautiful $1,979,000 home, in Wyckoff, I heard something I haven't heard in a while --- "This home is underpriced." While I was confident the home was well-priced, I don't often hear that from buyers or their agents. But this home is magnificent, and the seller and I worked hard to get the price right. The luxury market in both Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff --- two of the towns I've lived and specialized in --- is seeing a strong resurgence. In part, this is due to sellers being more diligent about pricing their homes at or under real market value. If Realtors learned one thing from the economic debacle we experienced it's that it is very easy to overprice a home, and when you do it's not easy to recover from it. I should also say that the words "luxury market" can mean anything from $900,000 to $50 mil so it's important to note that there are still homes on the market that were initially listed in 2012. It amazes me how long sellers are willing to have their homes on the market before they bite the bullet and reduce it to where it should have been when they listed it. Unfortunately, we who have been in this business for decades know there's little chance a home that's been on the market for more than a year at the same price can rebound and sell at a price the sellers will accept. The bidding wars everyone is talking about in this market are precipitated by pricing the home right the first go-round. I always tell my sellers that most of us want to know that other people want what we want, and bidding wars accomplish that. You may be one of 10 offers on a home that you really liked, but until you found out 9 other buyers want it, you didn't know just how much you loved it! Although our Spring market started a bit late, and sellers had to swallow hard to price their homes, this market has proven to be very rewarding for all involved.

Another Household Hazard

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Thu, 08 May 2014 02:06:03 -0700

Recently, my townhouse complex sent a letter telling us we are now required to have our dryer vents cleaned at least every 3 years. I had mine done about 2.5 years ago, but figured I'd do it while I was thinking about it. I'm only one person so I didn't think there would be much to clean, so it was surprising, to say the least, when my plumber called and said, "Kate, are you taking in laundry?" It seems my vent was so clogged it looked like a family of 6 lived there. Apparently, the vent stretches out about 15' from the dryer, and with rain and humidity the lint clings to the sides of the vent pipe until it's completely clogged. Ah, so that's why my clothes were taking forever to dry. You may wonder why I'd waste time writing about lint, so I'll tell you. Several years ago, a woman in Franklin Lakes, NJ put clothes in her dryer, turned it on, and went shopping. When she got home, the house had burned to the ground --- with her dog in it. I can't imagine anything more devastating. It appeared the dryer had a short, and the spark started a fire in the duct. The lesson is this: clean out the duct at least once/year (in 2.5 yrs, I could fill a 25-gal bucket with the lint from mine); and never leave your home with anything running.

THE NEW SCOURGE THREATENING NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 23:46:18 -0700

In the 1980s, when my kids attended Ramapo High School, in Franklin Lakes, NJ, the things parents most feared were pot and alcohol. Ramapo had a notorious structure known as "The Wall," which was the place they went to buy, sell and smoke pot (years later I would learn some also indulged in mushrooms and LSD). In fact, a janitor was caught and arrested for selling to the students during breaks.I moved to Franklin Lakes, in 1973, from Asbury Park. Asbury Park High School had its share of racial slugfests, smoking and drinking, but no drugs (at least while I was there in the 60s). Much of that was probably due to the lack of quick cash. Unless you lived in Deal, Loch Arbor or Interlaken, your family probably weren't wealthy. In fact, most of us worked summers to get spending money so we could have nicer clothes or a beat up 20 year old car. Moving to Franklin Lakes was a huge cultural shock for me, but it gave my kids the chance to go to better schools so I joined the PTO and prayed the rules and regs I set down for my kids would keep them safe.By the grace of God, none of my kids got into drugs, but there seemed to be a serious lack of concern on the part of the administration about how widespread this problem had become with many students. There was an organization parents joined that promised any parties at their homes would be attended by the parents, and there would be no drinking or drugging. I came to find out that one family had parties where they had the kids put their keys in a bowl, and promise not to take them if they had been drinking! Hey --- what happened to no drinking and drugging??Well, these days kids have found another drug to experiment with, and this one kills. When I heard that heroin use had, in the words of the Franklin Lakes' and Wyckoff Police Departments, "was reaching epidemic proportions." They urged parents to partner with them to search for solutions to get the kids help and the drugs out of schools.I no longer have kids in school, but this scourge has reached even me. Recently, a family I love very much had their lives devastated by heroin. Their beautiful 19 year old daughter died from a heroin overdose after she went into the typical downward spiral the drug promises. She left behind her parents, her twin sister, and her younger sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who are left wondering how this could have happened to such a spirited young woman.Heroin doesn't discriminate --- we comfort ourselves with the thought that it's inner city kids who use it --- kids whose parents don't care where they are or what they're doing --- kids whose parents are incarcerated or were never around. It's not just those kids, I promise you. It's your kids, too.

Beautiful Designer's Townhouse, Wyckoff, NJ $735,000

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Thu, 30 May 2013 01:44:11 -0700

http://www.postlets.com/repb/9265015 Stunning 3 bedroom, 2.5 Bath townhouse in Cedar Hills --- Country Club living in beautiful Wyckoff, NJ. Designer's own home with a lovely open floor plan, beautiful design, built in 1994. Spacious rooms, lots of storage, 2-car garage, Clubhouse, Swimming Pool, Tennis. Amazing price!

Sold Stats for 13 NW Bergen County Towns, 1/1/13 - 5/1/13. WE'RE BACK!!

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:20:25 -0700

STATISTICS REPORT

< Back

Kate Conover	5/1/2013 1:16:03 PM
STATISTICS REPORT

Statistics for: Entire MLS	As of: 5/1/2013 1:16:03 PM
Prop Type: Residential	County Locale: 600
Status: S	Price: 500000 to 1000000
Beginning: 1/1/2013	Ending: 5/1/2013

Listing Status	Total	Total List/Sale Dollars	Average ListPrice	Average SoldPrice	Median SoldPrice	Sale Price/List Price*	Avg DOM
Sold	185	$ 129,153,487	$ 744,338	$ 698,127	$ 667,500	93.792	87
Co-Broker	151	$ 103,970,987	$ 730,763	$ 688,550	$ 660,000	94.223	85
List/Sold	34	$ 25,182,500	$ 804,626	$ 740,662	$ 733,750	92.050	100
New
Under Contract
Withdrawn
Expired
Back on Market
Extended
Current Active
Lease/Rent
Historical Actives are not available prior to 1/1/2004 or for future dates

To calculate Total Sold for agent / office / or company results: add the SOLD + Co-broker.

--- Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 5/1/2013 1:16:03 PM ---

Now the Insurance Guy Wants to do a Walk-through??

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:06:02 -0700

When did it become necessary to allow the home insurer to do a walk-through before closing? Are insurance companies becoming as paranoid as lenders? I expect to have a bank appraiser call, days before closing, to let me know the bank is requiring another appraisal, but the insurer came as a surprise, After all, the buyers will probably make changes to the home, perhaps enlarge it, and when they do the requested walk-through, the buyers belongings --- furniture, etc --- won't be in the house so what is it they want to determine?

NW Bergen County Home Sales in 2013...

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:17:53 -0700

Statistics for: Entire MLS	As of: 4/22/2013 1:15:44 PM
Prop Type:	County: BERGEN
County Locale: 600	Status: S
Beginning: 1/1/2013	Ending: 4/22/2013

Listing Status	Total	Total List/Sale Dollars	Average ListPrice	Average SoldPrice	Median SoldPrice	Sale Price/List Price*	Avg DOM
Sold	410	$ 264,697,649	$ 696,556	$ 645,604	$ 541,250	92.685	91
Co-Broker	328	$ 213,665,548	$ 705,271	$ 651,419	$ 557,450	92.364	88
List/Sold	82	$ 51,032,101	$ 661,694	$ 622,343	$ 512,500	94.053	103
New
Under Contract
Withdrawn
Expired
Back on Market
Extended
Current Active
Lease/Rent
Historical Actives are not available prior to 1/1/2004 or for future dates

To calculate Total Sold for agent / office / or company results: add the SOLD + Co-broker.

--- Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 4/22/2013 1:15:44 PM ---

Green Building in the Midwest

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:48:50 -0700

John Hofferber, who spends about $79 a month for gas and electric at his 5,543-square foot Neenah home, says that green building has passed its interest peak. The owner of Berhoff homes, he is probably the most advanced green building in Northeast Wisconsin. He starts with the construction itself, using advanced framing techniques which use less lumber for framing. “You walk into my houses when they are in the rough state and you think there is no material.” On a house project three years ago, he recorded each time the framers cut a 2x4 or 2x6 and looked for ways to eliminate that waste. “In a traditional home project, you probably have 15 percent waste. I am well under 10 percent. By cutting down on the waste that goes into the dumpster, I can put that money into the house instead. I have taken so much cost out of the home in the way I am constructing it that clients have money they can put where they want it. I am absolutely swamped right not and a lot of it goes back to my green practice.” His sweet spot is $300,000 to $350,000 -- once you get over $400,000 the pool of potential clients shrinks -- he said, although he is just starting work on a home with a budget of $820,000. “I just love big houses. They are more complicated and more challenging.” Cindi MacSwain, of Vanney-MacSwain Home Planning in Appleton, said advanced framing techniques avoid the use of heavy headers where they aren’t needed. “That’s more expensive and doesn’t make sense,” said MacSwain, a certified Green Building Professional. Green builders like Hofferber put studs 24 inches apart and design corners to accommodate insulation. “Advanced framing techniques have been around for more than 20 years,” she added. “They increase the amount of space for insulation, reduce the use of materials and reduce energy costs.” Good builders also use foam sheathing and extensive sealing on the exterior to keep air from moving in and out of the house. Hofferber figures he puts 15 to 18 more feet of insulation into a home that the average building because his framing gives him the space. To get energy costs below $100 a month on a large house requires some extensive photovoltaic panels on the roof, LED lighting, and highly efficiency appliances, said Hofferber, who has installed all sorts of energy saving devices on his home to see which ones are worth the investment. He recently added more cellulose insulation in his attic, taking it from R60 to R100 to see if that would pay for itself. Windows are a great place to save energy, and slated to get much better in the next five years, but the very best aren’t cost effective, he added. “Will it change my $79 utility bill by 50 cents or a dollar? It gets to a point where it doesn’t pay to chase energy efficiency any more.” For example, he has a heat exchanger which captures the 105 degree water from his shower and uses it to warm the cold water for his water heater. “It has a 1,100-year payback,” he admitted. His new interest is healthy homes. For a client in Wausau who is highly allergic, he is building a home with as little in the way of toxic materials as he can find, including nontoxic paint and siding that won’t throw off gases in the summer. Moisture goes from hot areas to cold, so when air conditioning is on in the summer, gases from outside seep into the house and sensitive people get sick without knowing why. A healthy house requires custom cabinets made without toxic adhesives. “This is bucking the entire industry, so everything is custom, and it adds about 30 percent to the cost of a house.” It tends to appeal to clients who, like Hofferber, have lost a spouse to cancer or know someone who has. He admits to some disappointment in visiting some houses he has built to be healthy only to find a an array of toxic chemical cleaners under the sink. Safe cleaning products could be his next project.

Escalation Clauses in Real Estate Contracts

Kate Conover (RE/MAX Properties) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 03:19:15 -0700

The first thing I remember learning in real estate licensing school was that no matter who an agent works for --- buyer or seller --- all parties to the contract must be treated fairly. We don't think much of that on the face of it because most of us think we always treat clients fairly. But very recently I was confronted with a practice I've never encountered in my almost-25 years in real estate: the Escalation Clause. An escalation clause says something like "my clients will beat all offers by $2,000 up to $750,000." It might be worded more gracefully, but the impact is the same: in a bidding war, no one but this client has a chance, particularly since these clauses aren't disclosed to the other potential buyers. I'm left wondering how this could possibly be construed as "fair treatment." Since the Bergen County, NJ market has heated up, and there is very little in the way of inventory on the market (I'm not talking about homes that have been overpriced and on the market for more than a year), some companies have told their agents to insert an escalation clause to avoid losing in a potential bidding war. While I'm pretty sure sellers are jumping up and down with joy, this is an unfair practice and the Real Estate Commission should come down on it with all the power they have (but don't often use). It is difficult enough for buyers to lose a home they love when all is done fairly, but how do we explain this kind of business to them?