New rules about smoke detectors are starting to affect home sales. The big difference is in the lifespan of the batteries. Affecting Home Sales Now, before you start to panic, this is not a catastrophe which will make you unable to sell your home. It’s more of a speed bump in the road. What hasn’t […]
What’s the Point? A Mortgage Point that is
To be more precise, what is a point on your mortgage? Mortgage Points are Fees A mortgage point is a fee which is paid directly to a mortgage lender. These points are paid at the closing, usually by the buyer. However, sometimes the seller agrees to pay the points. In exchange for the lender receiving […]
Unethical Real Estate Behavior
It’s with sadness that I write this blog post about Unethical Real Estate Behavior. This is about a failed transaction we recently were involved in. Purchasing a Home The prospective purchaser had her house in Bergen County which was under contract. The closing date was about 53 days ahead of when we wrote the contract. […]
Energy Bill Hack
Would you like some help to hack your energy bill? No – I don’t mean that you should hack into JCP&Ls computers, just try some simple things to reduce those costs. Summer heats causes high electric bills. You’ll get some relief when the weather cools but then the heating bills rise. Here are a few […]
Families are on the Move, but to where?
It’s not a secret that families move. One of the major national moving companies takes a survey of where their clients are moving to and from. and they do this every year. Are you curious as to where American families are moving to, and coming from? Where are Families Going? Apparently, American families don’t want […]
If You Can, Buy a Home
Are you ready for yet one more blog post about if you can buy a home, you should? Have you read any of my previous posts about the benefits of owning a home versus renting a home? Probably you haven’t, so here it is again. Control Your Future by Owning a Home When you own […]
Seller Pays Closing Costs
This is a relatively rare occurrence. However, two good reasons exist that would convince a seller to pay closing costs. Why Would the Seller Pay Closing Costs Let’s face it, most buyers have to save up for quite some time in order to get the required down payment, whether it be three and a half […]
Home Inspection Issues – And How To Address Them
Have you given any thought as to how to address home inspection issues? In some areas, we’re in a hot housing market. If you’re a buyer, you need to be a little flexible when it comes to minor defects in the home you wish to purchase. And that’s because there are other buyers trying to […]
The True Cost of Having a Realtor Sell Your Home
What does it really cost when you hire a Realtor to sell your home? The answer may surprise you – pleasantly. Because quite often the answer is nothing. Do I have your attention now? Right now you’re thinking that no Realtor will list and sell a home for nothing. And you’re correct in thinking that. […]
Seller’s Disclosure
The seller’s disclosure is a required document in a real estate transaction. Both state and federal laws require the sellers of a home to tell what they know about a home. Why is a Seller’s Disclosure required? The reason behind this is, an inspection may not find everything that’s wrong with a home. After all, […]
