Beautiful one bedroom rental in Mahwah Society Hill available ASAP!

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SPARKLING, MODERN, CLASSY AND ELEGANT -THIS COMPLETELY RENOVATED, CORNER RESIDENCE IS WAITING FOR A TENANT WHO WILL ENJOY THE LIFESTYLE THAT SOCIETY HILL/KILLMER II HAS TO OFFER. THE NEARBY CLUB HOUSE, POOL AND TENNIS COURTS OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO EASILY BECOME A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY. THIS IS COSMOPOLITAN LIVING IN A COUNTRY CLUB LIKE SETTING NEARBY DINING, SHOPPING, HIKING, SKIING, AND LOCAL HOT SPOTS. THE RESIDENCE HAS BEEN ENTIRELY RENOVATED. THE SLEEK AND MODERN KITCHEN OFFERS NEW, CEILING HEIGHT CABINETS WITH NEW APPLIANCES, NEW COUNTER TOP AND FLOORING. THE UPDATED BATHROOM INCLUDES A NEW VANITY WITH GRANITE COUNTER TOP, A NEWLY TILED BATH AND NEW TILE FLOOR. THE CARPET IN THE BEDROOM AND FLOORING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNIT IS NEW. A LAUNDRY ROOM OFF THE KITCHEN ALONG WITH FIRST FLOOR LIVING MAKE FOR AN EVEN EASIER LIFESTYLE. THIS UNIT TRULY SHINES AND WON'T LAST.



Annmarie Cristiani
Sales Associate
REMAX Traditions Real Estate
201-815-7861

Why Open Houses Matter

There is a lot of buzz among real estate agents about whether or not open houses  matter.  

They do, when they are done correctly.  The results prove this to be the case.  Personally, I bought my own home at an open house.  I have put in offers for my customers as a result of open houses, so I can tell you first hand- THEY WORK.   

Why and how?

1.  The most activity your home will see is in the first two weeks it hits the market.  EXPOSURE sells.  Why would you limit exposure to your property if your objective is to sell your house?

2.  Today's buyers are different than those from a few years ago who were 'sort of looking around."  There is pent up demand in the market and inventory is low.  Buyers come qualified, and about 30% of them have cash, according to stats on the NJMLS.

3.  An open house is an opportunity for a PREVIEW EXTRAVAGANZA.  Many agents simply don't like to do open houses and don't market them correctly.  It's an opportunity to create a buzz and draw a crowd.

4. We are seeing bidding wars today, and they occur at an open house frenzy.  Your agent will work with you to arrive at a price and spend the week prior to the open house doing everything to market this special day.   Your neighbors are often a fabulous resource and 'in the know' on who is looking to move into your neighborhood.  Did you ever think to ask your neighbor, "hey, how would you like to choose your next neighbor?"  

5.  It's spring!  Have you seen open houses lately?  Many have had dozens of people come through and produce multiple offers!  It's all in the marketing and exposure.   Why miss out on this opportunity?

Allow your agent to do her/his job and prepare a PREVIEW EXTRAVAGANZA to give your home maximum exposure.   Think of it this way- the more people who see your home, the more potential offers you will have.  EXPOSURE matters.

Annmarie Cristiani, Sales Associate
REMAX Traditions Real Estate
     201-815-7861 cell  
     annmarie.cristiani@gmail.com  

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Why your lender matters!!

For buyers, the most important piece of your transaction is your mortgage.  You will shop rate, but let me challenge you by thinking bigger.  Think process and realize your goal is to buy the house.  All things being similar, consider this.

1.  Do you have a loan officer who is licensed as such, specializes in loans and works with your schedule?  Or, do you have the platform person at the bank who sells mortgages and several other products, who is not individually licensed and who does not specialize in lending?

The mortgage  PIECE of the transaction is so important, I will not take a buyer out to see a home UNLESS they are preapproved.  Why would I show them a home I'm not sure they can buy?  It's a disservice to the seller, it's time consuming for me, and it is ultimately not fair to the buyer.   Securing financing is actually the best first step before you house hunt.

A prequal and a preapproval are not the same.  Anyone with a pulse can get a prequal.  It's just a letter that says, "if you provide all your docs and when we eventually  run your credit, if you meet the guidelines you can get a loan".    It means nothing.   Many banks can only issue you a prequal.  They can not review your credit until you have found a home, and their processing staff can't review your information unless you have an application.

However, a preapproval means the buyer has met with a loan officer before the home search, the credit has been reviewed, income and assets were submitted and reviewed, and the lender says, "You qualify.  Go find a house with your agent."   Those are the buyers I work with, and we close on homes successfully because they are truly qualified.

If you were a seller, who would you rather have walking through your door?   When you get an offer, which offer is stronger; the one with the prequal or the one with the actual preapproval?

When considering a loan officer versus a retail bank (or online lender), ask yourself these questions.

1.  How much time do you have?  Gathering your paperwork and following up with a lender can be a part time job.  It is the most paper intensive part of the process of home ownership.  Can you spend time faxing, mailing, driving, sorting through what is required, or do you have a loan officer who will do the leg work for you?

2.  Does the lender allow access to your agent and attorney?  These three advocates work together, as a team, to reach one goal; to get you in into your home.  If the communication is not there, delays are likely to take place. COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

3.  Is the loan processed locally or do you need to send you paperwork to California, on a different time frame, and they work 9-5?  Are the appraisers local?

THINK smart.   A smooth real estate transactions occurs when your advocates (agent, lender, attorney) are able to work well together to reach the ultimate goal.  HOME OWNERSHIP.

It's like the collaborative orchestration of a good basket ball team, as the ball is driven down the court.  It is passed to a team mate, strategically passed again down court, another time, to a team mate by the basket and "BOOM" - in the net.  This play has been practiced by your advocates.  Don't hit the rim for the rebound.  Get the ball in.

HAVE A TEAM DO THE WORK FOR YOU!  Buying a home is stressful enough.  Delegate what you can and allow your trusted advocates to do their job for you.

Annmarie Cristiani
sales associate, REMAX Traditions Real Estate
annmarie.cristiani@gmail.com
201-815-7861
www.househunter99.com

March 2013 real estate report for NJ

Housing trends: According to the NJMLS, there were fewer homes on the market in March of 2013 than March of 2012 (down about 8.5%). 

The number of active listings at the end of March 2013 was down 23% from March, 2012. Values of homes have increased by over 6% since last year at this time. This confirms a trend we hope will continue. 

There are many more buyers than homes to show because there is pent up buyer demand. Mortgage rates remain very low, making home ownership affordable to more people. Conversely, market rent has increased by about 2.5% compared to last March.

All of which means – it’s a great time to buy and a great time to sell. Multiple offers have become routine in this market. Getting in and out of attorney review is nail biting.

If you tried selling a few years ago, but were not successful; now may be the right time.   Call me or send me an email to ask about your home's value.

Annmarie Cristiani
REMAX Traditions Real Estate
201-815-7861
www.househunter99.com
annmarie.cristiani@gmail.com

First-Time Home Buyers: This Spring's 'Wild Card'?

First-Time Home Buyers: This Spring's 'Wild Card'?

Selling on Your Own? Read This First

HOMES SELL FOR TWO REASONS:  PRICE and EXPOSURE.

PRICE:
If you are selling on your own, without using an agent,  you are doing so in order to save on PRICE.   Time is of less concern and the exposure will not be there.

The question is - will you save on price when you lack exposure? 

The answer is NO, in 90% of the cases, according to the National Association of Realtors.  "FSBOs accounted for 10% of home sales in 2011. The typical FSBO home sold for $150,000 compared to $215,000 for agent-assisted home sales." 

Now, let's do the math.  The commission on a $215,000 house (if listed at 5%) is $10,750.    The average home seller actually walks away with MORE money by using a real estate agent.

Further, homes that are priced accurately draw more buyers.  This spring; RIGHT NOW, is a time of multiple bids on homes that are priced correctly.  Multiple bids actually drive the final sales price up, not down.  


EXPOSURE:
Internet
The current stats tell us that 88% of potential home buyers use the Internet for their home search, and 86% also use a real estate agent (according to the National Association of Realtors).   The Internet and use of social media can make your listing viral, but only licensed agents have access to the MLS.  Sites that are available to buyers are not updated, often inaccurate and reach a far smaller audience.   IDX is an option only agents can use.  An Internet Data Exchange (IDX) is a real estate property search site which allows the public to conduct searches of approved Multiple Listing Service properties in a certain area.   It means that, if listed, your home is available for the world to see by cooperating brokers.

Accessibility
Exposure, however, is not limited to the Internet.  Exposure also means your ability, as a seller, to actually show your own home.  Are you home all day, every night and weekend?   How many buyers do you lose because you don't have an agent to expose your home?   If you are limiting your showings   (for example) to Saturday mornings only, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, you are missing out on a very large buyer pool.  Further, the potential buyer does not want you around while they are looking through the house.    To the buyer, the house is not yours - it's potentially theirs.

Here is the reality and conclusion.  Your home is a commodity,  and it is being sold along side other commodities within your neighborhood.  PRICE and EXPOSURE sell commodities.  When you start to think of your home in this way, you begin to see why a real estate agent can help you get more for this asset.

If you are looking to sell or buy in northern NJ, give me a holler.  I'd be happy to help.

Annmarie Cristiani
Sales Associate
RE/MAX Traditions Real Estate
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Dear current home owners,

 
Contratulations if you wanted to sell your house last year but were not able to because there weren't enough buyers.  You made a smart move by waiting.   The market has changed and it is literally smokin hot.

In Paramus, NJ, homes are being listed and sold within hours in  the $450-$550k average price range.  Why?  Paramus has low taxes and a desirable school system.   

Why is the market over all so hot RIGHT NOW?  Because the buyers who were waiting a few years ago are now out looking for homes - and they are serious.  They have waited, they have saved and they are qualified.  The rates are very low.  Inventory is low, too.  This is why housing starts for builders has been on a progressive rise.  Buyers want more homes to see.

I have qualified buyers, with a mortgage waiting for them, who are renting (which means they can move pretty much whenever), and who seek a home in Paramus NJ.   They are looking for something under $600k.  

If you own such a home, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME.  I will preview the home, with your permission, and with no obligation.  My handy dandy IPAD is great for taking pictures or video on the spot.  My buyers can preview your home without walking in the door.   If they like what they see, we take it from there.

I am not looking to list your house.  I am looking to sell it.    
Real estate agents have an agreement we use with FSBOs that gives me the ability to show your house to my one specific buyer,  and that's all.  If the buyer wants to purchase the house, the seller pays the agent a negotiated fee for bringing the buyer.  If no deal is made, the agreement is invalid.  I can send you a copy for your review.  You do want to sell your home, don't you?  You have nothing to lose but potentially more to gain.

DO YOU WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR, HOPING FOR MORE DOLLARS, WHEN THERE ARE BUYERS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WHO WANT TO PAY YOU NOW?   

Please, send me an email or call me,  or shoot me over a  few pics of your house.  Let's see if I can get you even more than you asked for last year, or the year before; when your home did not sell.  You made a smart move by waiting.  Now is the time to try again.

Annmarie Cristiani
Sales Associate
RE/MAX Traditions Real Estate
www.househunter99.com  website
annmarie.cristiani@gmail.com  email
201-815-7861 cell phone

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