Monthly Archives: August 2013

Uncategorized — No Comments
29
Aug 13

Selling a Home in Wyckoff: It Can’t Be a Cut-Rate Affair

When it comes to selling a home in Wyckoff, everyone’s primary objective is, of course, to maximize the final proceeds. It’s not surprising that some sellers assume that a savvy business move would be to ask their real estate agent for a reduced commission. After all, cutting the normal 6% a couple of percentage points still leaves a substantial amount, right?

The reality: since most people haven’t delved into the challenges that always face real estate agents, they are likely to assume that their agent pockets the entire commission. They have no reason to have delved into how much, at the end of the day, an agent actually nets from selling a home. The fact is, the reasons why that 6% is so universally respected as a fair number (and why it makes sense for everyone involved) is a matter of logic.

First, that primary goal of reaching the highest possible price for selling a home will require teaming up with a strong negotiator. If Agent Q from XYZ Realty agrees to cut his commission as soon as you ask, that is a pretty strong indicator of how well he skillfully he will negotiate for you.

Behind the numbers, that 6% for selling a home actually earns 3% for his brokerage – the other 3% goes to the buyer’s agent. Further, of that remaining 3%, the agent usually owes about a third of that to their broker. Subtract necessary transaction fees; and then take out all the other business fees and taxes the agent must pay, and then, like everyone else: income taxes.

In the end, it becomes a question of whether a homeowner is eager to entrust the sale of what is potentially his or her largest asset to a cut-rate vendor. Since selling your home will be marketed at your agent’s expense, the potential cost to you of a cut-rate arrangement is very likely to be…costly (to say the least!)

Selling your home in Wyckoff is my business: it’s why your success is always my success. Let me show you how my marketing plan can net you the most!

Bergen County Homes / Franklin Lakes Real Estate — No Comments
20
Aug 13

When Franklin Lakes is Your New Home, Think ‘Adventure’!

Some wise guy once defined a “mishap” as an “adventure misconstrued.” That wry observation contains a useful lesson for those who find themselves in the process of moving to a new home. The stress of a move — whether to a new home in Franklin Lakes or anywhere else — is universally regarded as one of the peak stress-producing life passages. If the move to your new home happens to coincide with a change of job, schools, or the like, the experience can indeed be daunting.

So how do you start viewing your impending move as an adventure (rather than a slow motion train wreck)? One way is to let me help! In the same way that every Franklin Lakesl agent will have already assisted you in locating and obtaining your new home, the Franklin Lakes area knowledge that went into that process can be brought to bear to ease the way into your new community.

One of the greatest satisfactions our profession provides is the wide range of contacts we make throughout the area. It’s built into our daily routine, and after years of experience, it’s inevitable that we come to meet and know just about everyone and everything that go into making up the community. More than just the locations and thumbnail reviews of the grocery stores, laundries, dining places, shopping and entertainment centers in Franklin Lakes, we are in place to provide contact information for the full range of non-real estate-related resources that help newcomers settle into their new home.

All that is a treasure trove of information I am pleased to offer, and it goes a long way toward eliminating a lot of unnecessary stress when you’re trying to find out what’s where and who’s who in your new home. It can make the move a lot more “adventure” than “mishap” — and it’s an often-overlooked part of the service I offer my real estate clients.

From finding the perfect new home to the closest coffee shop, I’m standing by to offer the area’s least stress-producing real estate service. Give me a call whenever you’re thinking of buying or selling in Franklin Lakes.

Bergen County Homes — No Comments
14
Aug 13

New Home in Ridgewood: Lowering Your Move’s Stress Level

Some wise guy once defined a “mishap” as an “adventure misconstrued.” That wry observation contains a useful lesson for those who find themselves in the process of moving to a new home. The stress of a move — whether to a new home in Ridegewood or anywhere else — is universally regarded as one of the peak stress-producing life passages. If the move to your new home happens to coincide with a change of job, schools, or the like, the experience can indeed be daunting.

So how do you start viewing your impending move as an adventure (rather than a slow motion train wreck)? One way is to let me help! In the same way that every Bergen County Agent agent will have already assisted you in locating and obtaining your new home, the local area knowledge that went into that process can be brought to bear to ease the way into your new community.

One of the greatest satisfactions our profession provides is the wide range of contacts we make throughout the area. It’s built into our daily routine, and after years of experience, it’s inevitable that we come to meet and know just about everyone and everything that go into making up the community. More than just the locations and thumbnail reviews of the grocery stores, laundries, dining places, shopping and entertainment centers in town, we are in place to provide contact information for the full range of non-real estate-related resources that help newcomers settle into their new home.

All that is a treasure trove of information I am pleased to offer, and it goes a long way toward eliminating a lot of unnecessary stress when you’re trying to find out what’s where and who’s who in your new home. It can make the move a lot more “adventure” than “mishap” — and it’s an often-overlooked part of the service I offer my real estate clients.

From finding the perfect new home to the closest coffee shop, I’m standing by to offer the area’s least stress-producing real estate service. Give me a call whenever you’re thinking of buying or selling in our town.

 

Bergen County Homes — No Comments
05
Aug 13

Large Footprints Show Up in Bergen County Real Estate Listings

Last week’s jobs report met familiar disagreement about the progress of the nation’s economic recovery: more new jobs, yes; too many of them part-time: yes; economy improving: sort of; enough? barely– if at all…etc. etc. etc.

What is less controversial is the resumption of the nation’s home-buying preference for ever-larger homes. The price of real estate listings in Bergen County might have risen whether or not that trend surfaced in our area, but it stands to reason that if people are reversing their decision to downsize, that’s at least one reason why average real estate listings prices would register an increase. The tilt toward more square footage isn’t confined to existing homes, either: reports from the Census Bureau show that the median size of new houses is growing as well (about 8% since 2009).

Seen another way: McMansions may be on the way back.

During the recession, most experts opined that the McMansion days were over. As the stability of the economy faltered, young buyers had grown cautious, taking care not to choose more house than they needed. This as baby boomers downsized to match their shrinking nest eggs. Larger houses — especially the new McMansions — fell out of vogue. The popular press leaped in, portraying spacious residences as energy-sucking, less-than-green artifacts of unsustainable prosperity. It’s small wonder how some leading experts concluded that a new housing era was upon us.

But now it is increasingly evident that consumers didn’t actually want less space. Many just couldn’t afford more (or feared a less certain future). The trend toward more multi-generational living arrangements may have something to do with it — but whatever the cause, the character of real estate listings in Bergen County is changing once again. More prospective buyers are looking at bigger homes and demanding more living space. So don’t be surprised if you find more area real estate listings that emphasize their larger square footage. They may not be McMansions, but spacious residences are renewing their popularity. In any case, should you consider buying or selling in town this fall, call me today to talk about the market in your neighborhood of Bergen County