new jersey: The Battle of the Appraiser, the Assessor & Me! - 02/19/15 11:43 PM
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 … (9 comments)

new jersey: Realtors Give Back --- Don't Forget to Help Those In Need! - 08/14/14 04:03 AM
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 … (0 comments)

new jersey: 2015 Bergen County Real Estate Market - 08/05/14 02:19 AM
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 … (0 comments)

new jersey: THE NEW SCOURGE THREATENING NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS - 03/25/14 11:46 PM
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 … (0 comments)

new jersey: Sold Stats for 13 NW Bergen County Towns, 1/1/13 - 5/1/13. WE'RE BACK!! - 05/01/13 03:20 AM
… (0 comments)

new jersey: Franklin Lakes, NJ Achieves Sustainable Status - 03/12/13 01:05 AM
After forming a Green Team in town, including an Environmental Commission, and taking on several tasks required by the State (upgrades in the municipal buildings, adopting a land-use pledge, and several other repairs/replacements). Health and wellness programs, including Mayor Bivona's Wellness Campaign, were put in place, and members of the community, including students, jumped on the bandwagon to meet ther requirements of the State.  Only 100 of the State's 566 municipalities have been given Sustainable Jersey. Bravo, Franklin Lakes! Energy Audits for all Municipal Buildings Energy Tracking and Management (Formerly Energy STAR Portfolio Manager) Fleet Inventory Municipal Carbon Footprint Natural Resource … (2 comments)

new jersey: Franklin Lakes Sold Listings 9/1/12 to 3/10/13. 21 Homes over $800k sold. - 03/10/13 01:09 AM
… (1 comments)

new jersey: Franklin Lakes, New Jersey Home Sales - 01/30/13 05:08 AM
Those of us who have worked in real estate for more than 20 years know that markets are somewhat cyclical --- prices skyrocket, and they crash --- but there seems to be something very different going on in this market.  I just read an article that talked about a new phenomenon --- sellers selling their homes, and deciding to take some time off from home ownership. They're renting and keeping their eyes on what happens, perhaps over the course of years.  I remember when an investor built a condo/apartment complex, off Franklin Avenue, in Franklin Lakes.  Initially, it was his plan … (4 comments)

new jersey: FROM an NAR post about why more homes aren't selling... - 01/23/13 12:29 AM
Here’s a breakdown of why inventory has continued to drop this year:
Many homeowners are underwater: More than 10 million homeowners owe more on their mortgage than their homes are worth, according to CoreLogic Inc. CLGX -1.27% That pencils out to around 22% of homeowners with a mortgage, or 15% of all homeowners (since not every homeowner has a mortgage). Underwater owners aren’t likely to sell unless they need to move due to changing life (marriage, divorce) or financial circumstances, and they’ll take a hit on their credit for pursuing a short sale, where the bank allows the home to sell … (2 comments)

new jersey: Hurricane Sandy Devastates My Home State of New Jersey - 11/06/12 03:13 AM
I grew up at the Jersey Shore --- Avon, Bradley Beach, Asbury Park and Wanamassa --- in the 50s, 60s & 70s.  Not once did we ever lose power, and certainly not heat.  The closest we came was (and I'm guessing) in the mid-50s when we were told a hurrican was coming our way.  We all descended into the dirty, rat-infested basement to hide until the threat had passed.  I remember peeking out the Bilco door to see if I could see the hurricane, but alas it missed us.
As I watched Sandy beat the hell out of my old stompiny … (2 comments)

new jersey: Mold --- It's Baaack! - 10/25/12 04:46 AM
   Although I'm not in favor of the government getting involved in every area of our lives, the issue of mold remediation is quickly becoming a problem in New Jersey, at least in some of the homes I've listed in NW Bergen County.  Now, I'm not talking about serious mold --- the kind you can see AND feel when you breathe in.  I'm talking about what looks to the human eye like mildew --- the product of damp basements.  I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in the Northeast, we have hunidity problems that require dehumidifiers.  You … (0 comments)

new jersey: The Appraisal Process: The Fix is In, At Least In Bergen County, NJ - 10/20/12 03:23 AM
  I can't speak for the entire country, or even the entire state of New Jersey, but I can speak for NW Bergen County, and here's what I'd say : 
 If there’s one thing that throws a monkey wrench in a real estate transaction more than the physical inspection, it’s the appraisal, and we all have the banks to thank for that.  Banks have made it clear to their chosen appraisers they want them to err on the low side of home values.  When that happens, often the banks tell the buyers they’ll either have to increase their down-payment, or renegotiate the price … (2 comments)

new jersey: Realtor Inspections: Days of Wine & Roses (or cheese) - 10/11/12 04:08 AM
When I first started my career in real estate, in the late 80s, many of us did more extravagent Realtor inspections that included wine and appetizers.  I must admit we got a whole lot more agents attending than we do now, and it was a lot more fun.  Then came the laws that said if someone got into an accident after they had too much to drink, the person serving them the booze would be held liable.  Suddenly, Realtor inspections became what I suppose they were always intended to be: a time for Realtors to see homes that they might have … (2 comments)

new jersey: "Pet Deposits" --- are they legal in your area? Not in New Jersey! - 09/20/12 04:08 AM
Most of us know it's not easy to find nice apartment/home listings for rent whose landlords will allow pets.  I'm a dog person, but even I understand why.  If I were a landlord, I wouldn't allow them either because I don't want to deal with the probability that if carpets exist, they'll smell (or worse); if hardwood floors exist, they'll probably get scratched; and when and if I want to sell the house, I'll have to put more work into it than I would have were there no pets there.  But, I digress.
It is becoming more and more common for … (8 comments)

new jersey: Housing Market Getting Better, or is it just wishful thinking? - 09/20/12 01:25 AM
http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-09-19/economy/33938852_1_distressed-sales-homes-surge-home-sales Recent articles in publications from the NY Times to the Wall Street Journal are telling the public that the housing market is heating up. While I certainly agree that more homes are listing, and more buyers are making offers, I still have to defer a bit on the enthusiasm. Sellers, for the most part, still want to believe the market isn't just brisk, but that prices have gone up! They haven't, but let's skip that. While it's true homes are selling in less time than a year ago (when many homes had been on the market for a year or … (4 comments)

new jersey: Townhouses, Cable TV, and Other Bullies - 08/24/12 03:52 AM
Maybe it's just that I don't like to be told what to do, especially in my own home, but I think I'm ready to dust off my soapbox and stand up to bullies.
As I previously blogged, after more than a year of calling, emailing, and sending registered letters regarding hideous, dead shrubs in the rear of my townhouse, I decided to replace them myself.  While I understand that residents are not permitted to change the landscape on "common property," I also understand that no one should be required to pay a monthly fee for maintenance while having their reasonable request … (0 comments)

new jersey: Tax Appeals - 08/17/12 06:00 AM
I get a lot of calls from people who are angry that their homes have dropped in value yet their taxes don't reflect that.  It's ironic that homeowners usually think their homes are worth far more than Realtors are telling them, yet when they see their assessments, they want them reduced by 25%.  The problem with that is if every homeowner had his assessment reduced, towns could no longer fund the services promised to them.  Then what happens?  The tax rate has to be increased.
I've also gotten calls from tax assessors because people have been waving my market analyses in their faces, … (1 comments)

new jersey: NW Bergen County's Hot Towns - 08/11/12 02:12 AM
School systems in New Jersey vary greatly, but it's pretty much accepted that Bergen County schools stand out as some of the best in the state --- even in the country.  Northwest Bergen County is the hub of many of those schools, starting with Allendale. 
Allendale is what we refer to as a "train town" that draws many buyers who commute to NYC. It's a relatively small town with a lot to say for itself --- bustling downtown, great schools and a quiet stateliness.  Norther Highlands Regional High School draws students from Allendale, HoHoKus, Saddle River and Upper Saddle River. Many … (0 comments)

new jersey: Living in New York City --- or any city - 08/09/12 06:17 AM
Except for my childhood --- when I lived in Asbury Park which is technically a city, but not a city like NYC --- I've lived in the suburbs. The suburbs at the Jersey Shore are nothing like they are in NW Bergen County which is where I've lived for the better part of my life, but it's still quiet and sedate which is how I'd describe most suburbs.
As I get older, I feel the call of the city.  I have a friend who's a doc and has lived in NJ for most of his life.  About 6 years ago, he decided … (0 comments)

new jersey: Real Estate Prices Continue to Drop According to the Wall Street Journal - 07/16/12 04:47 AM
Sunday's Journal showed a graph exhibiting how various incvestments are doing --- NASDAQ, S&Ps, Treasurys, Gold, Real Estate and others.  Real Estate landed toward the bottom of the list with another 6% drop in prices (for April).  I continue to be confused by all the so-called experts who give daily opinions on where real estate values are at and where they're going. 
In Northwest Bergen County, NJ, it's not so much that prices continue to come down as much as Sellers are finally listening to their Realtors.  Unfortunately, it's taken them months, sometimes years, to get the message which ended up … (2 comments)