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DON'T DO AS I DO DO AS I SAY!!!!!!!!!!

This is the ultimate; I am not of sound mind I mentor and teach my agents everything I can to stay safe while trying to do their best to move this real estate. I tell them do not, I repeat do not do Open Houses alone. If they don’t listen I have no idea.

Well I got a call the other day from someone I never met saw my website it goes all over the world! Anyhow, he said he grew up in the house I live in. It is about 40 years old so I figured it had to be true I only live in this house 4 years. He just got married and had his first son he lives in Okinawa, Japan. He would be visiting family in New Jersey area and just wanted to know if he could come to see this house that he grew up in.

I said call when you get here. Forgot all about it, he didn't! So he called this morning, I arranged to be home (all I was going to do was to go Broker’s Open to Broker’s Open and eat that’s on Tuesday) He called and said I will be a little late; (cutting into my me time with the agents) I said ok and hung up.

I then thought I am letting a stranger in my house worse of all the door is wide open with the storm door all glass. Anyone could see there was only one car in the driveway. So it was too late, the dog is of no value she is afraid of the mailman. Zoey is a big fat chocolate lab who sleeps all day. Who would she scare? I looked towards my neighbors house she is home, good, no she just pulled out.

I am on my own I didn’t dare tell anybody I did this. I tell them not to do open houses and I invite them into my home. Well let me tell you I was so surprised, the bell rang I had one of my friends on the phone until I answered it. All I could see was a blue uniform a beautiful young woman and the most adorable baby boy.

To make my story a little shorter, don’t do as I do, he is a Doctor in the Air Force and lives in Japan. New prospect for the future. He grew up here and wanted to see his school and the very house he was a baby in. His wife is from Japan and his son was born in Japan. So he wanted to show off his old neighborhood and look for old friends. But I did a bad thing and I know it. Anyone can come to my house but please let me know who you are and where you come from first from now on…………………………thanks for listening………….the agents aren’t going to listen to me anymore when they read this……………….I am going to the Brokers' Open for desert..................................................................

SCHOOL DAYS-KEEP THEM SAFE

SmileThis was New Jersey's week to send our children and grandchildren and friends and loved ones back on the big Yellow Buses. I just want to say thank you to the caring bus drivers and the school personal in their quest to keep these children safe. I hope they all have a wonderful progressive year.....................I took pictures again of my granddaughter (although she didn't want this happening any longer.) she is in the 5th grade and wears funny clothes and sneakers next year Middle School, I haven't missed one since pre-school. It seemed to take a long time to get to be the big shots in school, but in my heart it is going too fast. We can all help keep these children safe, lets try this year.Right Hug

Back to what I do, sell and list Real Estate, I have noticed a great push in the Adult Communities over the past year. Many newer communities have popped up overnight. Please I know they are wonderful and beautiful, you will be among your own boomer's', play golf, clubhouse, all year around pools etc. Check them out thoroughly, ahead of time. They are expensive, you can not negotiate most of them, all the extras some do not cooperate with Realtors so you should always have your attorney check your contract before. The maintenance is high, the taxes are based on new construction always check with the township what there rate is so you can judge, new construction is based on 100% of the value of the home. You do not get any breaks, maybe $50.00 for VA  they know you have deep pockets, you have sold your home and are still out in the working force and most likely an empty nester. Check it all out ahead of time, consider a resale or an older community, lower price, some have it all for a lot less. They also have clauses that a percentage have to be 48, I even know of one that is 42, you cannot have small children but they are very lovely. These homes are very enticing with all the new furniture and the upgrades that you cannot resist buying they add up tremendously. You should think of your future and how you want to spend your time. That's why I am telling you to call me or call your agent or email me and I will send you everything there is to know of the sometimes hidden costs involved. I can send you every county in New Jersey. They are also a little more difficult for us to sell when they are in the $400000-500000 also higher range, because they only appeal to a limited amount of buyers in any market.

So when you see "Retire Whatever County", check it out first with a Realtor ask for the advantages of doing this and the disadvantages, and the alternatives. You don't have to leave New Jersey to enjoy life WE CAN HELP!!!

BE BACK SOONBig Smile

JUST AN LITTLE INFORMATION TO PASS ON

I am doing my inventory for the summer in my market which expands through most of the State of New Jersey. I am not an expert like some may think but here goes;

  • We are not dealing with as many foreclosures as you may think
  • What surprises me is the subprime lenders are attached to some of our biggest, wealthiest builders who have these terrible problems.
  • Buyers' are still able to get mortgages, quickly with big name banks and Mortgage Companies
  • They meaning the mortgage people confuse the buyers' by telling them about their ltv (loan to value) they do not understand this.
  • This comes directly from the Agents who have been out there for many years, the buyers' are excited and want to buy in these areas but however they look at many homes and then they want to come back next week. Pretty soon guys there won't be a next week for our homes. They will be all scooped up. Believe me I saw this happen and by the Holidays we had no inventory and had to winter out.
  • This created a housing shortage in our areas and then the prices started moving up again. Thus the bubble.
  • I have been selling and listing for 20 years, I have received two calls this week from relocation buyers who have settled in Florida within the last 5 years, both want back and know now they can come back and afford to live here again.
  • As I said in my last blog the taxes are the taxes, but I was told by a recent buyer from New York, the homeowners insurance and even the car insurance now is better then he was paying.
  • Our Commercial market is moving very well. That was my expertise at one time and I am going to hit it hard this month. I like the challenge, not "The Donald" style but I have done my fair share. I just take my Jersey Shore attitude away and put on my suit and my cosmotpolitan look and back out I will go. I have never been a very patient person as far as waiting on big business to happen and that is what it requires. Well now I have past that milestone I know the "Secret" 
  • So I will be opening up a new website for Commercial soon, the listings will be on http://www.iselluahome.biz
  • I once sold a funeral parlor and had to do all the inspections, it was gross, but interesting; also a Donkin Donuts which was easy and a assisted living facility, these took forever, they are going to close they are not it is a gamble.
  • I almost forget for our area this was a first another very prominent agent and myself (at that time we were selling Million dollar homes) sold a mobile home, held the closing at a Country Club and handed the title to the buyer and told her to go to the Motor Vehicle Bureau down the road to register her new home.  
  • I will keep you posted on Commercial opportunities in all our areas by the middle of the month.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS

Yes36 WICKATUNK RD., MANALAPAN, NJ IS NOW UNDER CONTRACT-AND WILL CLOSE IN 2 WEEKS--I WANT TO THANK THE TRIPLE DIGITS OF AGENTS WHO SHOWED THIS HOUSE ALL YEAR. GREAT WORK WE ARE MOVING......................I WILL MISS THIS HOUSE IT IS ACTUALLY PART OF MY FAMILY AND PART OF MY LIFE FOR 35 YEARS, WHERE DID THEY GO MY BEST TO MY JOE AND LINDA, I WILL BE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY AND A SPECIAL GOOD LUCK EDDY YOU WILL BE FROM JERSEY NOW I WILL ALSO BE THERE FOR YOU...................BIG PARTY COMING..STAY TUNED..............Party!!!MusicDrinks . 

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAD A HEART TO HEART MY FRIENDS'

MoonJuly was a flash as a month not to remember; August is mostly over; what now  As far as I have experienced we started doing our job as Realtors' and brining prices down to what this market is allowing.This is the most horrific year yet!  Twenty years, market crash and all. When you think it is picking up they make more announcements on the News regarding the default of the mortgage companies going into bankruptcy and all the foreclosures that will be coming and are here. There go the buyers' again.  The buyers' have their own pipeline, they all offer at least 40,000 to 50,000 less than the asking price. Zillow or Trulia or whatever told them to do this and they said that is what the neighborhood is bringing. You know Realtors had it fairly easy for 9 years, now I feel like a referee when I bring the buyers' agent to the seller. They are not happy with this market.

Guys, if you are going to live in the house for at least 10 years to raise the kids and perhaps retire from your job you are going to be very happy with your long range profit. They are coming down on a daily basis. Right after these dumb conversations, the stock market took a dive again and again this week, our market has a haze on it all year, so what are we to do? Live off the millions the sellers' and buyers' think we made during the past 9 years (bubble time). We have houses and townhouses and stocks that have also taken a downward turn, we are only human and most of us had to give up commission money in order for you to get your home!!!!

The homes that I have listed for sale this year, have finally sold but it was the longest amout of time on the market ever in my career. Our homes were over-priced for the past few years and had to come down. These folks are not leaving this State for anywhere else they just want to move to the newer Adult Communities so they can continue to work and be able to play Golf out their front door, live close enough to see their grandchildren achieve what they gave their children. They are the "Boomer's" like myself, I am a native of Brooklyn, NY my husband a native of Jersey City, NJ. When we moved to out first house we lived in Old Bridge, seems everyone there came from Brooklyn and Jersey City, we had an appointed Mayor no full time Police, it was called Madison Township, it has turned into a 56 square mile township, the first elected Mayor was from Jersey City, the Police Department is well over 100 Officers' most are boys and girls who grew up there. It borders, Boro of Sayreville, Township of East Brunswick, Township of Monroe, Township of Manalapan and the Township of Marlboro. We lived there for 33 years I am just 10 miles exactly to the south in Freehold Township now still a right off of Rt. 9. The taxes are the taxes, but excuse me do you not still get credit on you income tax for the real estate tax, so what is the big deal. If you are going to live in a mansion then you will pay that privilege and not care. I was looking yesterday in some of the further away Ocean County towns the taxes are very reasonable. I would say cut the state in half and as you go south even west they get better. You do get more property, it is family oriented, kid friendly, are well rounded and ready for the world. Speaking of friendly also Horse friendly lots of horses. The message is stop putting New Jersey down, we have a great Governor Jon Corzine give him a chance to make us proud again! I thought enough of this State to move here and raise my children and now so far my only granddaughter here, no where else. 

Congratulations to the sellers' for listening and come on buyers' let's think about not waiting for all the foreclosures. There will not be as many as you think in New Jersey, and if they do come, they will be very expensive homes that the bank will do anything for the owners' to keep. THE BANKS DON'T WANT YOUR HOME, THERE ARE TOO MANY ON THE MARKET NOW  make a deal, they will work it out. I want you to take advantage of the interest rates that are out there now, they are still low...................

Who knows in 6 months, where they will be, we are coming back, my opinion is we are now bottoming out and by the spring next year we may see lots of new buyers' in the market ready to roll. New money out there, people are afraid to make the move from rental to home. I see a slight shortage of rentals. People do not want to spend the money that they may have saved until they are sure the homes are as low as they go. We will run the comps on all properties for both buyers' and sellers', most of us know our areas and probably like myself we were there when the 20 year old house was brand new and sold for less then ######## the 50 year old house was even old then. So come on you will like the adventure of buying your first home and getting a perfect deal from a positive agent who got the listing from a stellar seller who is leaving not leaving just merely going on with their lives.

I had my own personal dilemma this summer in a flash it was going into September, school opens in two weeks take advantage of the best schools and the most dedicated teachers you can get for your children. It is our hope that  "Who Said You Can't Come Home" sung by Bon Jovi, a Sayreville, NJ I think 08872.  By the way when he comes off the road this is his home, among other movie stars and celebrities.

The good things about New Jersey are, we are the wealthiest, the most educated, the Rutgers Football team is doing fabulous and Rutgers Woman Basketball team are leaders...........................Great place to live.................If you have other ideas let me know..................................