Bergen County Homes
07
Jun 15
Homes For Sale in Alpine, New Jersey’s Wealthiest Zip Code
People talk about California & Beverly Hills Real Estate, did you know that New Jersey boasts one of the Wealthiest zip codes around? Welcome to Alpine New Jersey.
Alpine is a very private community of wealthy estates and the residents put great value on their privacy. Most lots are very large (with no neighbor in view) and local mail is delivered in the town center. Although there are very few public transportation options, Alpine is conveniently located just 12 miles from New York City. Read more about Homes & Real Estate in Alpine New Jersey
04
Nov 14
Wyckoff Real Estate & Homes For Sale in Wyckoff, Northern NJ Homes
Wyckoff Real Estate & Homes For Sale in Wyckoff, Northern NJ Homes
Thinking About Buying A Home in Wyckoff NJ (Bergen County)
Wyckoff Real Estate & Homes in Wyckoff New Jersey
As soon as you are offered a great new job or promotion – even if it’s in a new town — your natural response is, “Absolutely, yes!” After all, you landed the opportunity because you are a go-getter — someone who solves problems!
Finding Luxury Homes in New Jersey, Experience teaches that seamless relocation to Wyckoff (or anywhere) takes some determined preparation. Even after you’ve identified your new house, there are a few significant hurdles to clear before happily settling into a new community.
Here are four common mistakes new buyers in Wyckoff have made in the past…and how you can avoid them:
1) Not Getting Loan Pre-Approval – Once you pack the cartons and load the truck, locating all those documents the bank requests can become next to impossible. Get it done before the relocation begins!
2) Not using the right moving company. Moving companies have a wide variety of costs and guarantees. Some give you a fixed price; others leave the final costs up in the air. Promised dates can also make or break a move (speaking of breaking, equally important is having insurance to cover damaged items).
3) Not using licensed local professionals. In relocation, it is terrifically important to hire experienced Wyckoff appraisers and Realtors®. Also, an absolute must is a thorough inspection by a licensed member of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
4) Canceling an existing lease too soon. Not every deal closes on time, and if you have given a current landlord notice to vacate the day your purchase transaction is scheduled to close, a week’s delay can create moving mayhem!
There are many avoidable pitfalls when planning relocation to Wyckoff, but having the right pros by your side will help you avoid them. If you are relocating to Wyckoff, I’m here to help every step of the way to find that Luxury Home in NJ.
29
Sep 14
Suburban, Urban or Rural or Bergen County: Which is Right for You?
Thinking About Buying A Home in Bergen County NJ?
If you’re unfettered by a particular job in a particular locale , deciding where to live isn’t as easy as it may seem. Often, a battle ensues between our heads and our hearts. And the real estate mantra of “location, location, location” does nothing to help us decide which location we might prefer – the city, suburbs or a rural setting.
Whether you think that life on a farm is right for you or a penthouse view may be more to your liking, let’s take a look at suburban, urban and rural environments to see if we can shake loose a decision.
Suburban
Ah, the ‘burbs. Although Cicero referred to the hillside homes of Rome’s wealthy residents as “suburbani,” the suburban boom exploded in the U.S. during the 1950s, a by-product of both World War II and the baby boomer generation.
Returning soldiers, waving their G.I. Bill authorizations (now known as the VA loan), were met by more-than accommodating land developers, such as William Levitt, creator of the so-called Levittowns on the East Coast. Since these developments were located just outside the city, they were typically less expensive for veterans than renting a home inside city limits – thus their popularity.
By the 1960s suburbanites made up one-third of the nation’s population, according to the History Channel. Today, the trend is reversed, or so says Time’s Leigh Gallagher. She cites the “endless sprawl” of suburbia as one of the reasons “more and more Americans don’t want to live there anymore.”
The most significant characteristics of the suburbs are:
Subdivisions.
Shopping malls.
A greater population density and fewer agricultural acres than rural areas.
Examples of suburbs include Canoga Park in Los Angeles, Bayside in New York and Oak Park in Illinois. Smaller cities have suburbs as well, such as the many outlying areas of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
The suburbs are ideal for those who want a small-town vibe with big-city amenities, a quick commute to work in the nearby city, and a yard of their own.
Urban
Urban is a word that connotes different things to different people. It can mean grunge, crime and congestion, or it can bring up images of energy, camaraderie and anonymity.
Urban areas are crowded. In fact, that’s part of the definition of a city: An increased density of humans and their structures make up the urban jungle. The 2010 census tells us that 82 percent of the country’s population lives in urban areas. (READ MORE)
25
Aug 14
Riding the Ups & Downs of Your Home’s Value Online
The Internet has certainly provided consumers with a wide array of tools used throughout real estate transactions that provide more information and more utility than ever before. One of the tools that has grown in popularity of late is the home value calculators that uses your location and historical data of sales in your area to compare your home against those to determine a value.
This value can change over time as new sales are continuously added to the program’s database, giving you a visual demonstration of the way your value has ebbed and flowed over time. Many consumers have used this tool as a way to uncover what kind of equity they have built up in their home and perhaps to decide whether the time is right to sell a particular piece of real estate.
However, because there are so many outlets offering this type of service, there is the capacity to get five wildly different estimates from five different sites, perhaps confusing a home owner more than before by offering such a diverse set of data. The key in accuracy sometimes lies in what the site is trying to accomplish by providing you its service.
For example, if you go to a home valuation site that does not nail down a specific price but rather provides a range and then prompts you to call a local realtor for a more accurate estimate, the credibility of that site as a home valuation site decreases dramatically. Instead of using the data it has to provide a rough estimate, the site offers a broad range that perhaps prompts more questions than answers.
This is all, it seems, a ploy to get you to call a local realtor that will pay the company for the referral. Obviously, there is a certain amount of bias to remain vague in this situation, making the site less useful for home valuation purposes. Take real estate valuations from sites like these with a substantial grain of salt.
Unfortunately, the bulk of sites used to peg a home value online employ some kind of agent tie-in to prompt contact with a real estate agent. For some sites, that means that you have to input personal data before a full value will be given and in some you have to call the realtor to get the actual value after putting in data for the process online. Either way, these tactics turn off many home buyers that might have an actual need for a home valuation.
There are other sites out there, Zillow being the most prominent, that offer home valuation services without all of the catches. Zillow, in fact, asks only for an address to determine the approximate value of a property and while there will certainly be disparities in a Zillow value and the actual value of a piece of real estate, its interface is easy to use and requires the input of no personal information, giving it a great deal of utility to simply get a rough estimate of a property’s value.
Of course, the best way to get a home valuation is to contact a professional home appraiser. While online sites use market data to formulate a price, nothing can beat an in-home appraisal that takes into account all of the features and amenities of your home when determining a value.
However, for those that want a simple valuation without the cost of a professional appraiser or the bait-and-switch tactics of many of the agent-driven sites out there, Zillow is a great site to get a quick and dirty estimate that can be used as a rough estimate for discussions on the future of a particular piece of real estate.
This is another original article by Joe Lane, co-owner of The Lane Real Estate Team at http://www.joelane.com/. Are you looking for an experienced Tri City WA Real Estate agency? With 20 years of service based, business experience, Joe and Colleen Lane work hard to serve home buyers and sellers for the Tri Cities of Washington’s Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and surrounding areas.
17
Jun 14
Waiting to buy a house in Bergen County NJ ? It’ll cost you
Timing is everything when it comes to a lot of things – baking a soufflé, fertilizing your lawn, and buying a home. Not so sure about that last one? With interest rates going up and housing prices on the rise, you may think that it might not be the best time to purchase a home or even refinance the one you’ve got. But experts disagree.
“It is a big deal to buy a house. But if you do your homework and have the right documentation ready, this could be a great time to buy a home for many reasons,” says Jay Plum, executive vice president of Huntington National Bank, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Read on for the five major reasons why mortgage experts believe that there is no better time than the present to get that dream house you’ve always wanted.
Reason #1: Interest rates won’t stay this low forever
“A reason to look now into buying a home or refinancing is because these rates won’t stay [put] forever. That’s what rates do – they go up,” says Plum.
In fact, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is expected to go up to 5 percent by the fourth quarter of this year and 5.3 percent by the end of 2015, according to a recent forecast by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
Why are rates rising? Well, one huge factor is that the feds will start raising rates about six months after they stop buying mortgage bonds, which is projected to happen sometime in 2015, says Plum.
“[Rates] probably won’t start shooting up quickly. But a quarter of a point on an interest rate can mean about $100 more each month on [a homeowner’s] loan. For a lot of families, that can make a big difference,” he says.
Reason #2: Credit score requirements are lowering
Is your credit score lower than you’d like to admit? Well, good news: Credit score requirements for borrowers taking out mortgages are easing.
In March, credit scores on purchase mortgages stood at 755, down from 761 in the previous year, according to data from Ellie Mae, a mortgage-software provider. Credit scores for FHA loans dropped even lower to 684, compared to 696 a year earlier.
What brought on this change? The 2014 market is expected to be a more purchase-focused market, says Vickee Adams, vice president of external communications for Wells Fargo Home Lending.
“Having a broader credit score range will serve to attract more borrowers into the market,” she explains.
But why is there a need to attract more borrowers? Well, the demand for refinancing has dropped considerably. Refinance applications are about 70 percent slower than a year ago and are expected to continue to decline, according to a statement by the MBA in April 2014. As a result, banks are trying to find ways to boost lending to homeowners, including lowering credit score minimums.
Reason #3: Spring and summer are the best times to buy a home
It has been a brutal winter, and people who wanted to sell their house just didn’t want to bother with all the snow and cold weather, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors in Washington, D.C. The same goes for people wanting to buy a home – they just stayed put, he adds.
“Many people who were forced to delay putting their house up for sale are doing so now. But spring has always been an important time in the real estate business,” Yun says. In fact, warmer seasons like spring and summer have always been a popular time to buy a home.
People think about moving during summer vacation, because their kids will be out of school then, which helps makes things easier, says Yun. Buying a new home in the summer gives families enough time for the closing and moving before school starts again.
No kids? Summer is still a popular time to sell or buy even for people without children. And it’s not just because the weather is nicer.
“People just know that there are more listings coming in the spring and more buyers,” Yun says. “But from a buyer’s perspective, there will be more competition from other buyers.”
Reason #4: Buying is still cheaper than renting
Buying a house is a significant purchase, but in most parts of the country, it’s cheaper than renting. If that seems counterintuitive, let’s look at recent research by Trulia, an online residential real estate site for home buyers, sellers, renters and real estate professionals.
According to Trulia, homeownership compared to renting continues to be the less expensive way to live in all of the 100 largest metro areas researched. The study compared the costs of renting and owning assuming homebuyers get a 4.5 percent mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed term loan with 20 percent down.
So why should people buy a home now? The gap is getting smaller between the two choices because of rising mortgage rates and home prices, says Jed Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist and author of the report.
“Now, at a 30-year fixed rate of 4.5 percent, buying is 38 percent cheaper than renting nationally, versus being 44 percent cheaper one year ago,” Kolko says in the report. “Some markets might tip in favor of renting this year as prices continue to rise faster than rents, and if – as most economists expect – mortgage rates rise, due both to the strengthening of the economy and Fed tapering.”
However, the percentage is different in every housing market. In Honolulu, buying is only 5 percent cheaper than renting, while in Detroit, buying is 65 percent cheaper than renting.
Reason #5: Home values are still competitive
Are you looking for a bungalow with a white picket fence, a modern metropolitan penthouse, or a cabin in the woods? Well, it might be time to buy your dream abode before prices go too high.
The good news is that that the prices of homes have gone up but haven’t skyrocketed, so they’re still within reach of many buyers. The median existing home price for all housing types in February 2014 was $189,000, which is up 9.1 percent from last February, according to recent press release by the National Association of Realtors (NRA).
Plus, the housing inventory rose 6.4 percent to 2 million existing homes available for sale, reports the association. So there are more homes to choose from during your search depending on where you live.
“Property values are still very competitive in most markets, but there is a tremendous amount of competition by buyers,” Plum says. “If you are looking at buying a home, be prepared to offer quickly, and get preapproved by a lender which will make things go easier.”
08
Jun 14
Low NJ Mortgage Rates Help Buyers Afford Dream Home in Bergen County
Lower mortgage rates in Bergen County help home owners buy a bigger home in Wyckoff
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both conforming and jumbo balances fell again last week in Bergen County NJ. Interest rates on 15-year fixed-rate and FHA-backed loans also declined. Average mortgage rates have been dropping recently and have now reached their lowest level in close to a year. Despite favorable rates, however, demand for mortgage applications was down last week. The Market Composite Index, which measures total mortgage application volume, was down 3.1 percent from the week before. The Purchase Index was down 4 percent and the Refinance Index dropped 3 percent. Still, the refinance share of total mortgage activity ticked up to 53 percent, which continues a gradual trend upward after falling below 50 percent last month. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.
08
Feb 14
6 Tips for Buying a Home in a Short Sale in Bergen County NJ
6 Tips for Buying a Home in a Short Sale in Bergen County NJ
By preparing for a real estate short sale in Bergen County NJ, you can emerge with a great home at a favorable price.
1. Get help from a short sale expert
A real estate agent experienced in short sales in Bergen County NJ can identify which homes are being offered as short sales, help you determine a purchase price, and advise you on what to include in your offer to make the lender view it favorably. Ask agents how many buyers they’ve represented in short sales and, of those, how many successfully closed the transaction.
2. Build a team
Ask agents to recommend real estate attorneys knowledgeable in short sales and title experts in Bergen County NJ. A title officer can do a title search to identify all the liens attached to a property you’re interested in. Because each lienholder must consent to a short sale, a property with multiple liens, like first and second mortgages, mechanic’s and condominium liens, or homeowners association liens, will be harder to purchase.
A title search may cost $250 to $300 up front, but it can help weed out less desirable properties requiring multiple approvals.
3. Know the home’s fair market value
By agreeing to a short sale in Bergen County NJ, lenders are consenting to lose money on the loan they made to the sellers to purchase the home. Their goal is to keep those losses as low as possible. If your offer is dramatically less than the home’s fair market value, it may be rejected. Your agent can help you identify the price that’s good for you. The lender will determine whether approval is in its best interest.
4. Expect delays
There are two stages to a short sale. First, the sellers must consent to your purchase offer. Then they must submit it to their lender, along with documentation to convince the lender to agree to the sale.
The lender approval process can take weeks or months, even longer if the lender counteroffers. Expect bigger delays if several lienholders are involved; each can make a counteroffer or reject your offer.
5. Firm up your financing
Lenders will weigh your ability to close the transaction. If you’re preapproved for a mortgage, have a large downpayment, and can close at any time, they’ll consider your offer stronger than that of a buyer whose financing is less secure.
6. Avoid contingencies
If you must sell your current home in Bergen County before you can close on the short-sale property, or you need to close by a firm deadline, your offer may present too many moving parts for a lender to approve it.
Also, consider ordering an inspection so you’re fully informed about the home. Keep in mind that lenders are unlikely to approve an offer seeking repairs or credits for such work. You’ll probably have to purchase the home “as is,” which means in its present condition.
So when looking for a Short Sale in Bergen County NJ Call Matthew DeFede
15
Nov 13
Things To Take into Consideration When Buying A Bergen County Home
The last thing a buyer wants to happen after signing a mortgage is to find the their new dream home in Bergen County has foundation issues or another costly repair that derails their move-in plans. These issues can be largely avoided if buyers are prepared to address potential property problems before they buy a home. Shoppers who are interested in a property can hire an inspector to pinpoint problems, and may be able to have the seller fix these issues before moving in or negotiate a better price for the home.
Whichever option a home buyer chooses, it’s important to be aware of repair needs before signing a contract. There are several areas adults should look for when shopping for their dream home.
Check for Foundation & Water Damage
The foundation of a home is one of the first areas home buyers should examine, primarily because this type of repair can be costly. My husband and I ended up walking away from a great home in Bergen County this year because it had so many vertical cracks in the foundation and our counsel advised us against making the purchase.
During the home staging, home buyers should examine the basement and exterior of the house carefully for cracks in the stone or drywall, especially around windows and doors. In addition to foundation problems, shoppers should also check the home carefully for water damage. Individuals may be able to spot this type of damage in basements, especially if there was a leak, as well as bathrooms and kitchen. A musty odor in a basement can also indicate water damage.
Adults should check under sinks and behind toilets. Buyers are looking for brown or white stains on the walls or near pipes that may suggest mold, which can be potentially toxic.
Examine Electric and HVAC Systems
Older homes in Bergen County can be beautiful and grandiose, but the electric wiring inside the house may be old or out of date, which can cause safety and fire issues. Buyers should consider hiring an electrician to determine what type of wiring older homes have, according to MSN. For instance, some older properties built in the early 1900s may come with knob-and-tube wires, which can pose safety problems if they were tampered with by previous homeowners, the news source explains.
In addition, buyers should also inspect the property’s HVAC systems to determine if they look outdated or appear to be functioning at a poor pace. Buyers should examine vents as well to see if they are properly connected and hire a professional if needed.
03
Nov 13
Making Offers that Appeal to Home Sellers in Mahwah NJ
Making Offers that Appeal to Home Sellers in Mahwah NJ
Both the concrete details and manner in which an offer is made can have a substantial impact on how a seller responds to it. While there is no way to ensure that a seller will accept a given offer, using knowledge of their situation and the advice of a real estate agent in Mahwah can make offers more compelling and negotiations yield better results.
Sentimental sellers
Buying a home in Mahwah from a seller who cares a great deal about a prospective property can be tricky. The person or people living there may have a strong attachment to the home despite their plans to move out, and letting it go can be difficult for them. In these cases, the seller may be swayed not by the price or financial terms, but rather by the home buyers’ attitude toward their new residence.
While home purchases are transactions, typically with large financial implications for those involved, the personal element cannot always be removed. Even for buyers who can approach negotiations objectively, they should keep in mind that there is no guarantee the property’s sellers can do the same.
If the current residents of a home are emotionally attached, then the key to closing the deal may be in how the buyers treat it. The perception that they will care for the property may be the missing element needed. Such intangible factors are difficult to account for when discussing home sale negotiations, because they vary so much from case to case and are difficult to predict. In some cases, a seller’s opinion of their home may cause them to overcharge, which buyers should watch for.
Should you have the opportunity to speak with the seller be sure to focus on a few elements of the home that you really enjoy rather than discussing your plans to change decor, design or landscaping.
Motivating factors
Home sellers may also be driven by other causes, such as past experience. If a seller has had a potential deal called off at the last minute, then certainty can be more valuable than money. Real estate agents in Mahwah NJ are often able to help buyers to read the reactions of the home seller and develop a negotiating strategy appropriate to the situation.
Another possibility is that a home seller could be preoccupied with other concerns. Moving out of an old home often coincides with other major events, such as settling in to a new job. When that is the case, home sellers are often inclined to make a deal more quickly so they can focus their attention. This may play into buyers’ hands and allow them to close a slightly better deal.
Looking for more advice on buying a home? Check out our Mahwah home buyer resources.