Ray Hohman's (rayhohman) Blog

FALLING HOME VALUES

Ray Hohman (Crossroads Realty Inc.) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:53:33 -0700

Recently, Suze Orman wrote the following in the Summer 2008 Oprah Magazine article entitled: Suze Orman, Six Money Matters to Stop Worrying about Now: "FALLING HOME VALUES. Soaring oil prices. Sputtering stock markets. A declining dollar. It's enough to try even the most optimistic souls. My advice for coping: Ignore it all." Regarding your home value, she went on to say the most damaging assaults on our psyche over the past few years has been the creation and operation of web sites where the site provides instanteously a value for your home. Just point in some data and answer the few questions and presto, you got your current home value. She recommends you get a grip on what really matters - the long term performance of the housing market. In my opinion, of all your personal assets, it is clear that your home is generally the longest term investment in your personal portfolio with an expected useful life of a minimum of 5 years and in most cases considerably longer. Only the equity in a closely held business tends to be a longer investment. Accordingly, I would echo Suze Orman's advise of ignoring the short term swings in the housing market. When it is your time to truly evaluate your home's worth, see the services of a qualified real estate professional; such as myself, and secure a complimentary CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) for getting the real picture of your local market.

LAWN SIGNS & INTERNET PRESENCE

Ray Hohman (Crossroads Realty Inc.) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:19:16 -0700

The following appealed in the Daily News - July 18, 2008 in the section entitled - Your Home - Your Home Advice - Ask Barbara - Barbara Coccoran, leading real-estate expert: Q - What are the best ways to publicize a home for sale in such a down market? A - The lawn sign still generates more buyer leads than any other medium. Two out of three home buyers start their search online, so make sure your home is listed on all of the major home sale Web sites: they include realtor.com, trulia, zillow, terabitz, craigslist.org, as well as your leading newspaper's own Web site. Buyers online shop with their eyes, so spend a few bucks to either rent or buy a camera with a wide angle lens, and be sure to take the house pictures on a sunny day. First, based on my Open Houses in the past two years, I would definitely agree that Lawn Signs attract as many potential buyers, if not more, as my real estate firm's, Crossroads Realty's media and web site advertising about the same Open House. Second, with that being said, it is extremely important to echo Barbara's comments which confirms the industry's statistics that suggest that most potential buyers start their real estate home buying utilizing the internet. While she says that 2 out of 3 home buyers start with the Internet, I would refine those stats based on my experience indicating that age is a major factor. Probably 80 to 90% plus of the first time home owner buyers are starting utilizing the Internet; whereas, the Adult Community potential buyer group is maybe 50%, but steadily growing in percentage. Suffice it to say, having a presence on all of the most popular web sites which includes many of the sites noted above is simply a prerequisite to top exposure on the Internet. In addition to our award winning web sites at Crossroads, we place all our listings on all the major web sites plus our local MLS and more than 700 web sites of our affiliated real estate firms in accordance with our Real Estate Companies of the World network. It is important to reiterate Barbara observation - "BUYERS ONLINE SHOP WITH THEIR EYES!"

The Importance of CURB Appeal

Ray Hohman (Crossroads Realty Inc.) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:28:56 -0700

The following is from an article written by Barbara Corcoran, who is a leading real-estate expert, as she answers questions in her section of the Daily News - YOUR HOME ADVICE - July 18, 2008 - Ask Barbara Q - My husband and I plan to sell our beautiful three-bedroom home next year. We keep arguing about the importance of curb appeal. How much effort do you think we should put in? A - Every buyer decides if they want to purchase a home within the first eight seconds of seeing it. So get yourself a stop watch, set it for eight seconds, drive up to your house, get out of the car, and make a note of everything you see within those seconds. Chances are good your lawn needs edging, your flower beds need mulching, your sidewalk is cracked, and your front door is begging for a fresh cost of paint. If you still have a few seconds left, open your front door and you'll probably be looking at furniture and clutter getting in the way of seeing your actual house. Spend your money wisely fixing up the flaws that jump out in those first eight seconds. While I might dispute the time line, eight seconds, I would be first to agree that the POWER of the FIRST IMPRESSION is generally overwhelming.

New Jersey Shore - Beach Passes Article

Ray Hohman (Crossroads Realty Inc.) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:55:18 -0700

The following article of The Daily Journal.Com appeared in The Asbury Park Press on-line affiliate's web site - APP.COM Beach by beach, fees vary wildly in New Jersey Sat Jul 5, 2008 TRENTON -- Consider on this holiday weekend that the economics behind the cost of Jersey Shore beach tags amount to voodoo. Few argue, at least along the shore, that beach tags are unjust or unnece... more...

New Jersey Shore - Daily Badge Beach Passes & Amenities

Ray Hohman (Crossroads Realty Inc.) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:42:35 -0700

Below you will find the link to the state of New Jersey - Public Advocate's web site. This link will give you access to the report on the 2008 Jersey Shore Beaches Daily Passes AT A GLANCE as well as certain key amenities and features of the related beach, which is also below the link: www.state.nj.us/publicadvocateMunicipality/Lifeguards/Restrooms/Showers/Changing Rooms/Food Permitted/Daily Badge Prices Allenhurst Yes Yes Yes No Yes $7 Asbury Park Yes Yes Yes No Yes $5 Atlantic City Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Free Avalon Yes Yes No No Yes $6 Avon By the Sea Yes Yes Yes No Yes $8 Barnegat Light Yes Yes No No No $5 Bay Head Yes No No No No $6 Beach Haven Yes Yes Yes No Yes $5 Belmar Yes Yes Yes No Yes $7 Berkeley (On Barnegat Bay) Yes Yes Yes No No $5/ $6* Bradley Beach Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $7 Brick Yes Yes Yes No Yes $5 Brigantine Yes Yes Yes No Yes $7 Cape May Yes Yes Yes No Yes $4 Cape May Point Yes No No No Yes $6 Deal Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $6/ $7* Harvey Cedars Yes Yes Yes No No $6 Highlands (On Raritan Bay) Yes Yes No No Yes Free Keansburg(On Raritan Bay) No Yes Yes No Yes Free Lavallette Yes No No No No $6 Loch Arbour Yes Yes Yes No Yes $5/ $6* Long Beach Yes Yes Yes No No $5 Long Branch Yes Yes Yes No Yes $5 Longport Yes Yes Yes No Yes $10** Lower Township No Public Ocean Beaches Manasquan Yes Yes Yes No Yes $6/ $7* Mantoloking No No No No No $12** Margate City Yes Yes No No Yes $10** Middletown (On Raritan Bay) Yes Yes Yes No Yes Free Monmouth Beach Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $8 Neptune (Ocean Grove) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $7 Ocean City Yes Yes No No No $5 Pt. Pleasant (River Beach) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $1 Pt. Pleasant Beach**** Yes Yes No No Yes $6/ 7* Sea Bright Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $8 Sea Girt Yes Yes Yes No No $7 Sea Isle City Yes Yes No No No $5 Seaside Heights Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $5 Seaside Park Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $8 Ship Bottom Yes Yes No No No $7 Spring Lake Yes Yes Yes No No $8 Stone Harbor Yes Yes No No No $6 Surf City Yes Yes No No Yes $8 Toms River (fka Dover) Yes Yes Yes No Yes $4 Upper Township Yes Yes No No Yes Free Ventnor Yes Yes No No Yes $5** Wildwood Yes Yes No No Yes Free Wildwood Crest Yes Yes No No Yes Free *Two separate prices indicate that the weekday rate differs from the weekend/holiday rate. **Municipal beach does not charge a daily rate and, therefore, a visitor must pay either a seasonal or weekly rate for the day. ***This chart lists only the services that are included within the cost of a daily badge. ****Most of the beach within the borough is operated by private entities. The municipal beach is located at the south end of the boro.

Adult Community Associations' - Financial Positions

Ray Hohman (Crossroads Realty Inc.) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:30:51 -0700

It is extremely important that the potential BUYER of an Adult Community LIVING UNIT - HOME/CONDO - needs to understand the legal structure of the association as well as its financial position BEFORE buying. CO-OP Associations makes all its homeowners as owners of the association as well as all homes within the community. As a result, the homeowner could some day find that a mis-managed Community Association puts that homeowner at financial risk. Thus, the potential homeowner needs to assess that risk in advance of purchase. Normally, an expert opinion maybe advisable if the homeowner lacks legal and/or financial expertise. Similar risk could exist for CONDO Associations, which take on larger responsibilites. Home Owner Associations (HOA's) which allow the homeowner to buy the property in fee-simple minimize the role of the Adult Community Association within the community which should minimize the financial risk. Bottom line, the potential homeowner needs to secure appropriate advice from his/her advisors - legal and accounting - to assess any potential financial risk in the near term as well as determine if the community is currently well managed. Adult Community legal and financial information should be available for such review at nominal copying costs. In the event that you like more information about these matters or advice as to who you should discuss these matters with, I would welcome the opportunity to be of service and/or make suggestions. FYI - working with Ocean County College, NJ - I formulated the Adult Community Leadership Certificate Program and teach several of the core and elective courses as an Adjunct Professor.

GREENBRIAR 1 - Just Listed - 31 Blake Circle

Ray Hohman (Crossroads Realty Inc.) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:30:43 -0700

CROSSROADS REALTY, INC. - Raymond (Ray) Hohman - Realtor/Associate - Phones: Office (732) 528-6800 Ext 231 & Cell (732) 500-4461

Click Photo for Additional Media and Enlargement


Status:	Active (6/9/2008) Cat:AC	MLS#:	20823214m
Type:		Price:	$169,900
County:	Ocean	ApxYrBlt:	1975
Muni:	BRICK	ApxSqFt:	1,134 SqFt
Postal	31 BLAKE CIR	Rooms:	8
Address:	BRICK, NJ 08724	Baths	1.5
Area/Sec:	GREENBRIAR	HalfBaths:	1
Cmplx/Sub:	GREENBRIAR I	Bedrooms:	2
ParcelID:	01192-0001-00016-	Lvls:	1
LotSz/Acr:	/0.186	Bsmt:	N
ElemSch:		FP:	N/
MiddleSch:		Garage:	Y/1 Car(s)
HighSch:		WF:	N
OthElem:		WV:	N
OthHigh:		WtrType:
BldgNum:		Handicap:	N:StallShower
Model:	DOGWOOD-RANCH	Owner:	Individuals
Pool:	Y	LsePurch:
Zoning:	Planned	Parking/#:	/
Min Age:	55	LnkdML#:
Directions:	Burnt Tavern Road to Greenbriar 1 - Boulevard - to 1st Corner - Blake Circle - Rt - 1st Home on Left - Corner Lot - Boulevard & Blake Circle (SW Side)

Remarks:

Corner property - walking distance to clubhouse & pool, etc. 5th home in community on Boulevard, nicely nestled among mature trees with good vista's. Dining Room/Den, EIK & Florida Room. Value Priced - Great Potential.

TaxYr:	2007	LandAsmt:	20,000	NewCnstr:	DeedRestr:	Y
Taxes:	$2,715	ImprAsmt:	55,900	Farm:	FarmAssd:
SpecAsmt:	N	TotAsmt:	75,900	AsmtSta:

Room Type

Lvl

Dimnsns

Room Type

Lvl

Dimnsns

Room Type

Lvl

Dimnsns

#BsmtBth:

Foyer

5'8"x5'6"

Living

26'x12'

Dining

13'4"x9

#Lvl1Bths:

1.5

Bath:Master

15'6"x11'

Bedroom

12'x10'

Kitchen

12'x9'

#Lvl2Bths:

Utility

6'6"x5'6"

Florida

13'8"x9'9"

#Lvl3Bths:

Assoc:	Y	AssocFee:	$130/MO	Assoc/Mgmt:	GREENBRIAR ASSOCIATION	MgmtPhone:	732-458-3700
MgmtType:	ProfOnsite	Ownership Type:		AppEscrowReq:		FeeIncludes:	Common Area, Exter Maint, Pool Outdoor, Snow Removal, Trash Removl, Mgmt Fees, Rec Facility, Lawn Maint, Golf Course, CommntyBus, Other/SeeRmks

Interior:
CommonEle:	Associat, Sec Guar, Golf Cou, Exercise, Clubhous, Shuffleb, Communit, Common A, Landscap, Other, Swimming	Lot:	Corner
Kitchen:	Eat-in, FLR-LinVynl	MstrBR:	FLR-W/wCarp	MstrBath:	FLR-Ceram	Dining:	FLR-W/wCarp
Living:	FLR-W/w Carp	Foyer:	FLR-Wood	Sewer:	Pub Sewr, Pub Watr	WaterHtr:	Electric
FamRoom:				Garage:	Attached	Fuel:	Electric
Floor:	Wood, W/w Carp	Bsmt:	None	HVAC:	Cent Air, Elec Bb
Exterior:	Porch/en, Storm Dr, SeeRmrks
Style:	Ranch	Parking:	Drive	Siding:	Clapboar	Roof:	Shingled
Included:	Dishwash, Refriger, Elec Ckg, Stove, Washer, Dryer, Wdw Trmt, Screens, Stove Ho
Excluded:	PERSONAL ITEMS
Allowable:	Pets

--Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed--Copyright: 2008 by the Monmouth County Association of REALTORS®