westfield real estate: Common Contingencies to Ask For When Buying a Home
- 09/16/22 10:28 AM
Just like much of the rest of the country, the Westfield real estate market appears to be transitioning from a hot seller's market to a more balanced one. We see fewer and fewer bidding wars nowadays. In turn, buyers now seem more comfortable asking for certain conditions (aka contingencies) than they have in a while. Even so, buyers need to temper just how many of these conditions they include in their offer. Otherwise, the seller may decide to refuse it. However, there are a few common contingencies that buyers can feel comfortable including as part of the sale. Common Contingencies to Ask … (1 comments)
westfield real estate: What to Negotiate When Buying a House
- 08/19/22 10:20 AM
Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned veteran, the negotiation part of a real estate transaction can be a little daunting and stressful. However, it is necessary to ensure you are getting the best possible deal for your money. So, what should you negotiate when buying a house? What to Negotiate When Buying a HouseClosing CostsYour closing costs are determined by a variety of factors. According to New Jersey Lenders Corp., you can expect them to be between 2% and 3% of the purchase price. Ask the seller to cover some or all of the closing costs upfront or request … (2 comments)
westfield real estate: Westfield Artist Alley Submissions Accepted Now
- 08/12/22 12:48 PM
Westfield loves the arts in all of its forms. Visit any one of the dozens of galleries in the downtown area to see artwork of all kinds (paintings, pottery, photography, etc.). Sweet Sounds Downtown offers four different live concerts every Tuesday through the end of August. And right now, the Westfield Public Arts Commission is accepting submissions from local artists to create an Artist Alley right in the heart of downtown Westfield. New Westfield Artist AlleyThe WPAC wants to create a permanent public installation in downtown Westfield. But they need talented artists to submit their ideas. Westfield's brand new Artist Alley will … (1 comments)
westfield real estate: Escalation Clause: Help for the Home Buyer in a Competitive Market
- 07/29/22 09:44 AM
Many buyers wonder if they should wait a little bit before actively searching for their next property. Price reductions all over the country leave buyers wondering if the market already reached its peak. If prices are on the decline, it may seem logical to wait. But in hot areas like Westfield, Scotch Plains, Cranford, and many of the surrounding areas, sellers still rule the market. So, you may find yourself in a bidding war with other buyers for a property. That means that you need to make your offer stand out. How? An escalation clause could be just the ticket to … (1 comments)
westfield real estate: Home Appraisal: Does Extra Clean Add Extra Value?
- 07/22/22 11:38 AM
Whenever a buyer finances their purchase with a mortgage loan, the lender requires a home appraisal. If the property's appraised value falls below the agreed-upon price, your sale may fall through. So, as the seller, you want to make sure your property is in tip-top shape before the appraiser comes through. Once you get into the escrow phase of the sale, you need to go through your home once again to ensure it looks great for the appraiser. That includes cleaning it until everything sparkles. Home Appraisal: Does Extra Clean Add Extra Value?Bottom line? No, cleanliness technically does not affect your appraised … (4 comments)
westfield real estate: What to Focus On When Considering a Home Offer
- 04/14/22 01:56 PM
You listed your Westfield area home for sale and received multiple offers for it. Congratulations! Many sellers dream of being in your position. Now, the hard part. You must decide which home offer to accept. (An embarrassment of riches, right?) Sometimes, however, the highest price is not the best offer. Consider these other important factors before making a final decision. What to Focus On When Considering a Home OfferContingenciesMost of the time, buyers include contingencies with their offer. These are conditions that must be satisfied before closing in order to complete the sale. Common ones include an appraisal, home inspection, loan approval, … (8 comments)
westfield real estate: Home Seller Tax Deductions
- 04/01/22 01:30 PM
Do you always find yourself scrambling at the last minute to file your taxes? You only have 17 days until this year's April 18th filing deadline. But do not worry. This year, you might feel fortunate to have procrastinated. Why? Well, if you sold a Westfield area home last year, you still have time to claim these home seller tax deductions. Home Seller Tax DeductionsCosts Associated With the Actual Home SaleStaging fees, escrow fees, agent commissions, etc. You paid somebody to spruce up your curb appeal. Maybe you performed a home inspection before you listed to avoid any unpleasant surprises during escrow. … (2 comments)
westfield real estate: Westfield Area Cities Make Top 20 Best Places to Live in NJ List
- 03/18/22 12:13 PM
What do Short Hills, Westfield, Summit, and Chatham Township all have in common? Great schools. Great homes. Awesome people. Oh, and they all made Niche.com's 2022 Top 20 Best Places to Live in New Jersey List. How did Niche.com determine their rankings and what made these Westfield area cities so special? I'm glad you asked. Westfield Area Cities Named Among Top 20 Best Places to Live in NJHow Niche.com Determined RankingsNiche.com gathers data from various sources, such as the US Census, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the Tax Foundation, the FBI Uniform Crime Report, local surveys, and more. Then, they sort … (0 comments)
westfield real estate: Westfield Area Blood Drives in March 2022
- 03/11/22 01:43 PM
COVID-19. An aging population. Fewer donors. Fewer donation sites. All of these things contributed to our current nationwide blood shortage. But you can help change things. Over the next couple of weeks, make an appointment to donate blood at one of two Westfield area blood drives. Westfield Area Blood Drives - March 2022Westfield Blood DriveThe Westfield blood drive takes place from 2 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, March 16th at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Gallows Hill Rd. You may schedule a donation time by visiting the New York Blood Center's website here. As of the writing of this post, … (1 comments)
westfield real estate: Valentine's Day Contests in Westfield
- 01/27/22 07:25 PM
Valentine's Day is just a couple of weeks away. Downtown Westfield wants to share the love with you and your sweetie. There are two separate Valentine's Day contests waiting for your entry. One provides gift cards to local restaurants and shops. The other helps you tackle your New Year's resolution of better health with a new Peloton bike. Both sound like great prizes to me. Valentine's Day Contests in WestfieldDowntown Westfield Gift CardsThis contest is so easy to enter. Simply visit Downtown Westfield's Facebook post about the contest here. Then, "like" the post. Finally, leave a comment where you tag your Valentine … (2 comments)
westfield real estate: Which Down Payment Strategy is Right for You?
- 01/21/22 11:21 AM
You’ve most likely heard the rule "save for a 20% down payment before you buy a home". The logic behind saving 20% is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders. But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as 3%—rather than parting with so much cash upfront, even if you have the money available. Pros and Cons of a Small Down PaymentThe DownsideThe downsides of a small down payment are pretty well known. You’ll have … (2 comments)
westfield real estate: Westfield Christmas Tree Pick-Up 2021
- 12/17/21 11:16 AM
Christmas Eve takes place exactly one week from tonight. Meanwhile, the holiday spirit fills the air. For instance, Scotch Plains put their tree on display in Alan Augustine Village Green. Westfield and Fanwood's official trees are set up at their respective North Ave train stations. And you absolutely must see the Fanwood Christmas House. But after the celebration dies down and your guests go home, you are left with the clean-up. That includes your Christmas tree. Unfortunately, these trees cannot be disposed of with your weekly trash collection. What do you do? Contact our local high school band and schedule a … (1 comments)
westfield real estate: Westfield Toy Drive 2021
- 12/10/21 01:08 PM
The Christmas holiday season is in full swing in the Westfield area. For most of us, this means spending time with family and exchanging gifts with those we love. Unfortunately, some people dread the holidays. Either they spend it alone or they struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table already. This time of year puts extra pressure on them to make it special for their children. You can help by donating to the Westfield Toy Drive. Westfield Toy Drive 2021Two Downtown Westfield companies (Allstate Insurance at 502 E. Broad St. and Kinderprep at 80 South Ave. W) partnered … (1 comments)
westfield real estate: Addams Family Fun Day 2021
- 10/15/21 01:19 PM
The calendar says "October". In Westfield, that means just one thing: AddamsFest! COVID tempered last year's AddamsFest event. But this year's event promises to be as big and bold as ever. Earlier this month, the Mask-erade Ball kicked off the 2021 AddamsFest festivities. This weekend belongs to Addams Family Fun Day 2021. What: Addams Family Fun Day 2021 Where: Quimby St, Downtown Westfield When: Sunday, October 17th, 10 am to 5 pm Addams Family Fun Day 2021Organizers outdid themselves this year. First, do some pumpkin decorating with the docs at Atlantic Medical on Central from 10 am to 12 pm. Then, once an hour (starting … (2 comments)
westfield real estate: Bike MS NYC 2021 - Help Us Reach Our Fundraising Goal
- 10/06/21 12:05 PM
We are back. Team Guys and Dolls has been participating in Bike MS NYC for two decades now. In the past, we did so in support of my sister-in-law, Diane, who valiantly fought Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for years. Unfortunately, she also fought a battle against COVID last year and lost. So, now we ride to honor her memory. But the good news is that events like this raise much-needed funds to find medication to help treat this debilitating disease. In fact, the medications have been successful enough to warrant advertising on TV. But we need your help to reach our Bike … (0 comments)
westfield real estate: Westfield Area Night of Lights 5K is Back for 2021
- 08/20/21 01:31 PM
After canceling last year due to COVID concerns, the Westfield Area Night of Lights 5K is back for 2021. This fundraiser helps aid local families struck by tragedy. Whether you run, walk, skip, or saunter your way through the 5K, it does not matter. Enjoying yourself along the journey is the goal. What: Westfield Area Night of Lights 5K 2021 Start/Finish: Tamaques Park When: Sunday, September 12th, 6:30 pm Admission: $30 per person through Aug 31st, $35 Sept 1st to 13th Contact: Sam Tooley, The Tooley Legacy Foundation, via email Westfield Area Night of Lights 5K 2021When Sam Tooley's brother Jake died in a house fire back … (0 comments)
westfield real estate: Cranford Blood Drive Is Looking for Donors
- 07/30/21 01:42 PM
According to Cedars-Sinai, patients in hospitals all over the country need a total of 38,000 blood transfusions every single day. Type O-negative blood and Type AB plasma are compatible for all blood types. They are also the most in demand. But donation centers happily accept all blood and plasma types. To help fill in some of the shortage, the Community Center plays host to the Cranford Blood Drive next week and they need donors to sign up as soon as possible. What: Cranford Blood Drive Where: Cranford Community Center (220 Walnut Ave) When: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021, 1 pm to 7 pm Contact: (732) 616-8736 … (0 comments)
westfield real estate: Tips for Buying a Home in the Summertime
- 07/16/21 10:56 AM
Westfield is currently under a Heat Advisory from the National Weather Service. Make sure you stay hydrated, stay out of the sun, and stick to air-conditioned rooms to help keep you cool. Also, check on your elderly family, friends, and neighbors. But the temps outside are not the only thing that heats up during the summer. Our Westfield real estate market is on fire. Keep these tips in mind if you plan on buying a home during the summertime. Tips for Buying a Home in the SummertimeFewer Choices/More CompetitionIn the past, sellers occasionally found themselves in the enviable position of fielding multiple … (0 comments)
westfield real estate: Downtown Westfield Sidewalk Sale 2021
- 07/09/21 12:44 PM
Many of our annual events went "virtual" last year. Girl's Night Out, clothing drives, and even beloved holiday events like Santa Claus Lane included severe restrictions to allow them to take place. Fortunately, we see life returning somewhat back to normal thanks to the percentage of people receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. Our local small businesses bared the brunt of economic hardship last year. It is time to show them some love again. So, grab your checkbooks and head out to the Downtown Westfield Sidewalk Sale 2021 next week. What: Downtown Westfield Sidewalk Sale 2021 Where: Various Shops Downtown When: July 15th to 18th, 2921 Contact: … (1 comments)
westfield real estate: Westfield Area Fireworks and 4th of July 2021 Celebrations
- 07/02/21 11:56 AM
Summertime means that there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy in Westfield right now. The New Jersey Festival Orchestra performed for a live sold-out crowd last weekend. The Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival starts up next week. And this weekend, we celebrate our nation's independence. Here are some of the places you can see Westfield area fireworks this 4th of July weekend. Westfield Area Fireworks and 4th of July CelebrationsCranfordIf you find yourself in Cranford tonight (July 2nd), they plan on an early Independence Day fireworks show at Nomahegan Park (1107 Springfield Ave). On July 4th, they host their annual Firecracker … (1 comments)
Author Bio: Scott Gleason, CRS writes frequently about Westfield Real Estate, and surrounding towns. Scott works with sellers to successfully prepare and present their Westfield
new homes for sale, as well as guiding home buyers and real estate investors.
Just like much of the rest of the country, the Westfield real estate market appears to be transitioning from a hot seller's market to a more balanced one. We see fewer and fewer bidding wars nowadays. In turn, buyers now seem more comfortable asking for certain conditions (aka contingencies) than they have in a while. Even so, buyers need to temper just how many of these conditions they include in their offer. Otherwise, the seller may decide to refuse it. However, there are a few common contingencies that buyers can feel comfortable including as part of the sale.
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