Guide Me Home to North Jersey

In my first blog in this series, I talked about how homes and sellers are competing with each other in this buyer’s market in three ways. In the last segment, I talked about price.

Presentation is the second competitive factor. Today, buyers are less willing to forgive anything negative in their eyes since there may be another home that does not have that negative!

Roofs that need repair, water in the basement, or neglected landscaping are powerful deterrents to buyers, even if you have the perfect floor plan! Before closing, the buyer will schedule a home inspection. The results will point out any issues and the seller will have to either fix them or negotiate. The ultimate closing price will fare better if any problems are taken care of up front.

Other negatives might also include strong decorating styles, messy housekeeping, wood work in need of paint, smells, or difficulty viewing a property. The main rules here are to simplify and make your home spacious and neutral. You will end up throwing away lots of unnecessary things before you move, so why not do it now? Buyers need to imagine things such as where their furniture will go, where will the TV go, and how can their lifestyle fit in to your home. Don’t make it complicated! If you are a seller, your agent will be able to tell you what needs to be done.

What is the third way in which homes and sellers are competing with each other? Check back here soon for Segment Three of this series!

Posted by: Mary Jane Benedetto

In my last blog, I talked about how homes and sellers are competing with each other in this buyer’s market in three ways. In this segment, I’ll talk about price.

Price is the most obvious competitive factor. The value of a home is not in the seller’s eye, it is in the buyer’s. As a former retailer, let me put this in other terms. When a retailer (seller) purchases and prices a sweater, the seller is, in effect, valuing it. However, if the buyer disagrees with the price for styling, color, or fit reasons, the seller must reduce the price of the sweater so that it will sell. In effect, the buyer has now told the seller the value of the sweater. This is exactly what is happening in today’s Real Estate market.

The result is that the buyer can buy more house for the money, and the seller must be realistic in pricing the house so the buyer agrees with the value. The seller must approach the sale as a business decision, not an emotional decision. The seller wins with proper pricing because they are now able to sell the house.

Research shows that homes priced too high will not only take longer to sell, but usually achieve a lower sale price than similar homes that are priced more realistically. I like to tell clients to price their house where they honestly think it will sell, and be prepared to reduce the price, as previously agreed, if there is no interest or activity.

What is the second way in which homes and sellers are competing with each other? Check back on this blog for Segment Two of this series!

Posted by: Mary Jane Benedetto

In a previous blog, I promised to tell you about the Harding Township Library. This is a major effort to build a free-standing structure next to Kirby Hall on Blue Mill Road in New Vernon. The current library is located in a small corner of Kirby Hall and has completely outgrown its available space. Books have no shelves and readers have no seats!

The Library Executive Board has campaigned diligently for private funds. The aggressive goal of $6 million dollars is almost achieved! The realization of this vibrant entity will benefit many segments of the residents of Harding Township.

One of these beneficiaries will be Harding’s children. They will be able to participate in activities, story groups, and other events. These will not only help children appreciate books, but to meet other children from other schools and to offer a meaningful alternative to the Internet in research projects.

Another segment of the population which will benefit will be Harding’s seniors. This will become a gathering place in which many events can take place. The library will offer a place to read, socialize, and make friends. The sense of community, stability and camaraderie cannot be beat!

Click here to learn more, and bookmark this site for more Harding information!

Posted by: Mary Jane Benedetto

In these dicey economic times, there are buyers who truly want to buy a new home. They have a mortgage pre-approval, a good idea of where they want to live and are looking faithfully at homes with a buying mindset. They are perfect buyers except for one small detail: they don’t want to own two homes because they aren’t sure they can sell their current home quickly!

These circumstances are really no different than normal times. It’s strictly a matter of confidence: buying and selling a house concurrently used to be the rule, as all involved had confidence it would all work out. But today, different buying strategies and selling strategies must be used. In effect, two hats must be worn following one rule: It’s a buyer’s market!

The serious buyer or seller will find a market and an inventory very different than a few years ago. All are to the buyer’s advantage while some are to the seller’s advantage! Some of these differences are a more leisurely pace of viewing homes, longer “Days on Market” than previously seen, more homes to be seen and judged, quicker and bigger price reductions, and buyers and sellers who are either realistic or idealistic. Homes and sellers, instead of buyers, are now competing with each other!

How do they compete? Bookmark this website and check back often!

Posted by: Mary Jane Benedetto

There are still some “best-kept secrets” in today’s real estate world, and one of them is Harding Township, NJ. If you are looking for acreage, beautiful country roads, small-town atmosphere, and unique homes, Harding is your answer. If you are looking for proximity to great shopping, a large, fully stocked grocery store that’s 10 minutes away, and a reasonable commute to NYC, Harding is your answer.

Harding has been able to preserve the best of living in Morris County due to its aggressive zoning laws (most areas have a 3-acre minimum lot size requirement) and a population dedicated to preserving its bucolic, yet vibrant, nature. This 20 square mile township lies between 2 national preserves: Jockey Hollow Park and the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. These set the tone for some of the private and public organizations in Harding, such as the Harding Township/Green Village Bridle Path Association, the Great Swamp Watershed Association, the Historic Preservation Committee, the Shade Tree Advisory Committee, and The Harding Township Library, a small public library with big plans. Click here for updates on these plans.

Commuting from Harding is relatively easy. By car quick access to Route 287 is available from 2 entrances (off James Street or North Maple Avenue). By train the Convent Station, Morristown, or Basking Ridge stations service the Midtown Direct Line into NYC.

Most homes in Harding, NJ have their own well and septic system and must arrange for private refuse and recycle pick-up. There is no high school, but the Harding Township Public School accommodates K-8. High school students go to Madison High in nearby Madison, NJ.

As a result, Harding residents enjoy low taxes. Home prices currently range from $425,000 to $16,650,000. If you would like to experience this unique setting, please click here and come visit!

Posted by: Mary Jane Benedetto