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Pictured is the ERA Justin Realty team of Realtor Associates and management whose focus on the needs of buyers and sellers in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex counties brought forth strong results. The firm has released its report of over 700 testimonials from those who have completed real estate transactions with the firm.
ERA JUSTIN REALTY REPORT: REAL ESTATE RESULTS IN WRITING
ERA Justin Realty, a real estate market leader serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties recently announced its comprehensive report Real Estate Results In Writing containing over 700 written testimonials from the firm’s satisfied buyers and sellers. The report consists of letters and postcards received after the closing of real estate transactions and sent to the ERA Justin Realtor Associates who served each buyer and seller.
Ron Darby, Broker Co-owner stated, “We are extremely pleased to offer our report for review to all prospective buyers and sellers who are considering engaging ERA Justin as their Realtor of choice. It has always been the philosophy of our team of sales professionals and management team to not only meet buyer and seller expectations, but to exceed their expectations. In that way all at our firm know that our focus to details have been successful. Much of our business is by referral from our past buyers and sellers and we attribute that to our constant growth, even in the current modifying real estate market. 2007 has been a banner year for our firm. My business associates Jennifer Darby and Carol Darby work diligently each day with our team of Realtor Associates so customer satisfaction continues each day throughout each year.”
Cathy Vick who has been with ERA Justin Realty for over twenty-five years continued, “It takes determination to be up and out to a continuing education seminar with other ERA offices early in the morning, complete the course study and then begin your day of selling homes. We continually attend such seminars. Speaking for our staff of over 35 Realtor Associates, we attend, study, learn and take the state-of-the-art industry information back to our buyers and sellers to make their real estate journey easier in the purchase and sale of their home.
We urged our Broker to make our Real Estate Results In Writing report available to the public when we had received 500 testimonials but it was determined to make the report really outstanding and release it now. Since publication, we have additional testimonials that will be updated in the next edition. We are striving to reach over 1,000 in the near future. For that we will all be extremely proud!”
Ron Darby concluded, “There is a difference in real estate companies. No other individual area real estate firm offers this valuable over 700 testimonial information to its buyers and sellers to assist them in making their choice of Realtor. We strive to have buyers and sellers hold us in the highest regard and to be their Realtor of choice. When we are selected we are extremely proud. Call us today, tomorrow or in the future and we'll roll up our sleeves and be ready to work for you.”
Terry Mertens, ERA Justin Realtor Associate and pet lover shares interesting tips and hints for your move with an important family member, your pet. Terry is an ERA award-winning sales professional with the firm, recently being cited with the ERA Going The Extra Distance Award within her firm for her focus toward buyers, sellers and charitable events for area communities.
ERA Justin Realty Report: Moving With Less Stress For Your Pets
Everyone buying and selling real estate in 2007 may know the major real estate topics of housing concerns, interest rates, negotiations and the seemingly million and one tasks to remember, from selecting a moving company to switching off utilities. All of the adjustments and changes involved in moving are challenging and more so when you have a pet. But there are ways to prepare to minimize the stress to your furred, feathered and finned friends, according to ERA Justin Realtor Associate, Terry Mertens.
The preparation process can be as crucial a stage as the move itself – familiar settings are disrupted as furniture gets moved and belongings packed away. A cat or dog will wonder who all these strangers are (potential buyers, inspectors, movers, etc.) and what's happening to the pet's familiar “territory” (changed location of litter boxes, favorite sleeping places, etc.) – which is how an animal sees your home.
For that reason, it’s actually a good idea to change the “landscape” a little more – on the animal’s behalf. Designate a room to remain just for your pet while the move proceeds around them, with their familiar toys, food and water bowls, sandbox (for cats), and so forth. This way they'll have a reassuring (if rearranged) space to spend the moving process in. It will also minimize the chance of escape by anxious animals while people are coming and going from your house more than usual.
Such precautions help calm your pet for the developments ahead – the move itself is stressful for pets and people alike, though this too can be minimized. If you're flying, check ahead to see which airlines allow pets as “carry-ons.”
If you drive, make sure you know where to find hotels that allow pets rather than leaving them in the vehicle (never a good idea in terms of safety or exposure to changing temperatures), and, especially with a dog, schedule frequent “rest stops” for both animal and owner. For birds, rodents and fish, “homes away from home” can work well – transport your bird or hamster in its cage, and your fish in a plastic container of water, roomy enough for the number of fish and changed regularly for long trips.
It’s always a useful idea to consult a veterinarian for all the fine points, and a qualified real estate professional to help with all the questions a house-move poses; pet-compatible services are one of many matters an ERA Justin Realtor Associate can look into for you. With some advance planning and help from local experts, Fido’s longest walk can have a happy destination.
Terry said, “It’s always a relief to leave the complex real estate selling process to the experts, and our Realtors/Agents are focused in measures that can also help put your mind at rest. It may be the way you want to go for both state-of-the-art service and a helping sense of comfort.”
“There is a difference in real estate companies,” added Ron Darby, ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner. “Attending ongoing advanced training, seminars, roundtable discussions with industry leaders and focus groups aids in providing valued information that we pass on to our readers. We believe, in order to exceed seller’s expectations of what a real estate professionals are about, we don’t learn just the basics. We want to learn, know and teach much more than is ever expected of us. In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard. Additionally, ask to review our ‘Real Estate Results In Writing’ report of over 700 testimonials from our satisfied buyers and sellers about our fine services. It’s an ERA Justin Realty exclusive that no other area real estate firm has to offer.
Michelle Korosy ERA Justin Realtor Associate shares security measures with homesellers. Her attention to detail brings interest to the topic of home security. Michelle is a full time listing and sales professional with the firm.
ERA Justin Realty Offers Security Measures for Homesellers
Today we’re all more conscious of security, and while we can all get impatient at its inconveniences from time to time, we are often thankful for the greater worries it helps us avoid. Selling a home is one area in which security concerns are nothing new; opening your home to potential buyers is a natural part of the process – and so should be your own safety considerations. It’s about taking a few common-sense precautions. Michelle Korosy, a career Realtor/Agent with ERA Justin Realty brings these security measures to area readers.
Whether or not you are using a Realtor®, you can make sure the sale stays an occasion for business and not an opportunity for crime. Remove any valuables or lock them away before an open house or other showing of your home. Never leave an answering-machine message telling when you aren’t home, and never divulge sensitive personal details like your work hours – it might seem like a selling point to tell prospective buyers how quickly you can get to your job from this location, but it can also clue would-be burglars in on when to return. Though the safeguards are simple, there are many of them to remember, and that is one area in which using a Realtor® can strongly help. The businesslike approach of ERA Justin Realty sales professionals – limiting showings to certain hours, obtaining initial information on potential buyers, etc. – might be more acceptable to customers coming from a professional. And in this day and age, Realtors® themselves have to take precautions which make them all the more alert and sensitive to your own security.
Michelle stated “ERA Justin Realty sales professionals, for example, take care to show the home to only one group of families at a time. The set number accentuates the feeling of the Realtor® giving personal attention to your potential buyers, and also allows him or her to keep track of their whereabouts.”
Ron Darby, Broker, added, “Some of these procedures can even help expedite your sale: A good agent will introduce him or herself to the neighborhood, let your neighbors know that you have a house for sale, and may ask them to report any suspicious activity. This not only helps protect your property, but also helps spreads the word of its availability to more possible customers. In addition, a common practice of full-services at our firm is pre-approval for mortgage financing. Such a process not only enables a background check on the prospective buyer, but also helps determine their seriousness as buyers and saves you time, in knowing that if they like your house, they can obtain the needed financing.”
It’s always a relief to leave the complex real estate selling process to the experts, and ERA Justin Realtors/Agents are focused in safety measures that can also put your mind at rest. It may be the way you want to go for both state-of-the-art service and a sense of security.
“There is a difference in real estate companies,” added Darby. “Attending on-going advanced training, seminars, discussions with industry leaders and focus groups aids in providing valued information that we pass on to our readers. We believe, in order to exceed seller’s expectations of what a real estate consultant is about, we don’t learn just the basics. We want to learn, know and teach much more than is ever expected of us. In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard.”
Carol Calamari is a dedicated ERA Justin Realtor Associate whose focus is serving buyers and sellers throughout Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Her certification from the National Trust for Historic Preservation qualifies her to assist those seeking historic homes. Carol is also an Emmy winner for outstanding program achievement, coming from a 17 year television career. Working with various television personalities has given her a vast knowledge of abilities for working with people and a sense of service; attributes naturally related to the real estate industry.
ERA Justin Realty Offers The Joys of Historic Homes
Most of us appreciate the aesthetic value of historic homes and have even been known to fall in love with them from time to time.
Carol Calamari of ERA Justin Realty Co. has partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to increase her educational outreach centering on the preservation of historic properties. Having this designation makes her familiar with architecture that spans more than three centuries of history, highlighting both high-style and vernacular buildings ranging from stately Federal mansions and handsome Italianate rowhouses to modest Queen Anne cottages and mail-order bungalows.
Studying the work of authentic geniuses such as Henry Hobson Richardson, offbeat eccentrics such as Orson Squire Howler and Italian architects such as Andrea Palladio, Carol focused on the Old World roots of American design. This knowledge helps her to understand how the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe are reflected in a "gingerbread" house in Maine, how Thomas Jefferson's "love affair" with a Roman temple helped spark a national mania for Greek buildings and how the flat Midwestern landscape shaped Frank Lloyd Wright's bold Prairie Style. This in-depth knowledge gives Jennifer the ability to characterize Old World features of a home that properly positions a historic home in today’s marketplace.
Real estate professionals like to offer as many kinds of properties to prospective customers as there are different personalities of buyers. And few real estate properties have more personality than a historic home. By the standards of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, any structure at least 50 years old may qualify for historic-landmark status. This is determined by a home or other building's demonstration of particularly significant architectural features or now-rare styles, or its role in important past activities or events such as famous inventions, once-pivotal industries, presidential birthplaces or visits, etc.
Such homes, although wonderful, present challenges. The older the house, the more likely certain asbestos and lead paint will be present that aren't in newer homes; these will have to be dealt with. And restoring the historic character to a possibly neglected house can be a costly and time-consuming effort.
But there's much to be said for the personal satisfaction of remaking a house by your own effort, and restoring an example of America's past that can help keep us mindful and proud of our heritage. Also, where there are historic homes there are likely to be whole historic neighborhoods, which preserve and offer to the homebuyer just the kind of old-fashioned community qualities that today's home-seekers are craving and today's developers are trying to re-create.
If your home is on or considered eligible for local, state or national registers of historic places, various rules will be in effect for building materials, renovations, and uses of the structure which most fit the historical period in which it was built. Although these requirements can be an inconvenience, many states offer tax and other incentives for owning and rehabilitating historic homes found to meet historic-preservation officials' criteria. And owners of homes on government registers of historic places still have broad latitude in selling, altering and using their property.
Before buying such a home, you'll want to check into several factors to determine whether the investment you're making in history is the right one for you: What laws apply to local historic buildings and districts, how much restoration does the house require, and what contractors are available who are knowledgeable about handling historic homes are a few of the major questions you'll want answered before making a commitment.
Carol is a qualified real estate professional who can help guide you through this rewarding but complicated area. She has a special edge through an association with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She has been certified in recognizing and appreciating the diverse styles of historic homes, and understanding the challenges faced and advantages available to customers wishing to buy and sell such properties.
Kristen Davis, Realtor Associate with ERA Justin Realty brings focus to the area real estate industry. Her dedication to buyers and sellers is evident as she works to exceed their expectations. Her tips on more value for home improvement dollars gives area readers a starting point before beginning home renovations.
ERA JUSTIN REALTY TIPS:
VALUE FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT DOLLARS
ERA Justin Realty, a real estate leader throughout Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties deals with homes each day. Some are pristine and some call for improvements. Kristen Davis, a full-time sales producer with the firm shares her knowledge with these tips. “When you decide to undertake a major renovation or some minor home improvements, you may want to consider those improvements which could attract buyers and increase your price if and when you sell your home. Should you put in a new kitchen or bathroom? Add a pool or new landscaping? Which improvements matter most and give the biggest return?
It is estimated that the average American family stays in a home for approximately seven years. Considering that your home is probably your most expensive asset, it makes sense to consult a home professional to identify those improvements that will appeal to more buyers and help it sell faster, and possibly for a higher price. Before taking on major home improvements, it is best to first take care of minor maintenance needs, such as fixing leaky faucets, grouting around tubs, cleaning gutters and so on. Buyers are more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is maintained, it is more likely that what they cannot see has also probably been maintained.”
Kristen continued, “Once basic maintenance needs are cared for, a real estate professional can be helpful in recommending home improvements that will increase the value of your home. For example, if you have extra funds to spend on one project in your home, and you are choosing between renovating your kitchen or adding a new in-ground pool, which do you think would increase the value of your home more? Installing a new kitchen will generate a greater return when selling than a pool. Not all buyers want a pool, however, they all want an updated kitchen.
Of all the rooms inside your home, pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. They should look modern, bright and as fresh as possible. According to a national survey of real estate professionals, the majority recommend kitchen and bath upgrades to bring a greater return.
Minor upgrades can also enhance the value of your property, according to the survey. Cleaning and de-cluttering go a long way to improving the sale of your home, and are recommended. Agents also recommend adding light and brightness to a home with new lighting fixtures. Landscape improvements, fresh interior paint in a neutral color and removing old carpeting (to expose wood floors or to replace with new carpet) are also recommended. Other home improvements that will attract buyers include an additional bathroom or a finished basement.”
“For a survey of what improvements you are considering as well as a comparative market price opinion as to your home’s current 2007 value, one of our ERA Justin Realty sales professionals will be glad to give you a comprehensive overview and written report, at no obligation.
At ERA Justin Realty the words, ‘There is a difference in real estate companies’ is more than a phrase. We live it every day. Because of our daily priorities, we proudly received the prestigious ERA worldwide 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’ one of 14 firms from 3,000. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty has been selected by thousands of buyers and sellers as their Realtor of choice during our 57 years of operation,” concluded Kristen.
Cathy Vick, one of ERA Justin Realty's most successful Realtors has been responsible for generating hundreds of successful sales and listings sold throughout Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex Counties during her post with ERA Justin Realty over more than two decades. She has achieved the Lifetime Membership Award with the New Jersey Association of Realtors as well as prestigious awards from ERA Real Estate. She reports with tips to dress your house for a good showing.
ERA Justin Realty 2007 Tips on Dressing Your House For a Good Showing
As important a landmark as buying a home is in people's lives, you'd be surprised at how much of it can turn on quick decisions. If you're selling a house you'll have to put careful thought into customers’ first impressions, because many sales will be made or lost before they reach the front door – or as soon as they walk through it.
ERA Justin Realty’s Cathy Vick offers a menu of possible ‘first impression’ areas that an owner may want to consider. “First consider curb appeal – the feeling customers get from the upkeep of the house and grounds, and how comfortable this makes them imagining themselves as a resident. You want to do everything you can to make them see your house as their house, both outside and in. A new paint job is an investment that should more than pay for itself, and neat landscaping – trimmed shrubs, new flowers – puts your prospective buyers in just the right frame of mind. Inside, kitchens and bathrooms should be in sparkling condition – these rooms are known to be what makes up many home-seekers’ minds. Removal of odors like pet smells and smoke will lessen distractions for customers you want focusing on your home’s possibilities, and clearing of clutter is crucial.
The less belongings you have crowding your rooms and closets, the bigger the home will appear, and the easier it will be for potential buyers to envision placing their own possessions there. Put some things in storage if you need to, or hold a garage sale to help cut down on some of the buildup you were going to clear out for moving anyway. For buyers picturing themselves in your home, it’s also good to present the house in as general taste as possible – personal memorabilia, collectibles, and eccentric wall colors and furnishings should go out with the clutter. Repainting rooms in a neutral white also helps convey the sense of spaciousness. Clean windows, fresh flowers, and other small details with big impact – they’re what you want to remember. From major improvements to subtle touches that tip the scales in your favor, the features of a house that we often take for granted could be the ones that determine your home selling success. According to the National Association of Realtors®, curb appeal alone accounts for a strong part of all home sales.”
Cathy continued, “A little effort now saves you a lengthy process later. First impressions will expedite the sale, and securing the services of a qualified Realtor® will make it all the surer. One of our ERA Justin Realty real estate professionals can guide you in all the above matters and more, from supplying a checklist of presentation tips, to recommending affordable painting contractors from his or her industry connections, to helping you rearrange the furniture. Whatever it takes, we can give you confidence that, for some buyer soon, the showing of your home will be love at first sight.
We also will provide a fall 2007 home market analysis (CMA) with information determining the true value of a house and the right asking price in this modifying real estate market. In the end, however, the homeowner should decide on a price that he or she feels is competitive and consistent with the price at which other houses in the area have sold.
Our CMA report for Sellers is truly comprehensive in all aspects. Complete with color photos and detailed information, it makes pricing easier for those planning a sale. Truly, there is a difference in real estate companies, and our details will make the difference. We ask Buyers and Sellers to compare. We believe that in order to exceed expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, we don’t offer just real estate basics; we try to be as comprehensive as possible. In that way, we know that our Buyers and Sellers will hold us all in the highest regard.”
ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner Jennifer Darby suggests important options for sellers in the current modifying real estate market. As real estate trends change ERA Justin Realty brings timely information to sellers and buyers. The firm is celebrating its 57th anniversary in serving real estate needs throughout Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex Counties.
2007 PRIORITIES: ARE DISCOUNT REAL ESTATE BROKERS REALLY A BARGAIN?
Full Services Brokerage valuable in the current modifying real estate market
Everybody wants a bargain. We all want to pay less for food, airfare and clothes so we go to shopping clubs, on-line and to shopping outlets, respectively, to buy discounted products and services. These are true bargains because we get the same brand name products for a lower price. But have you ever considered going to a discount dentist, doctor or lawyer? Probably not. When it comes to professional services, most of us feel that you get what you pay for especially during the current modifying real estate market where each seller needs a comprehensive marketing program including a strong outreach via the Internet via a full service real estate brokerage firm.
Jennifer Darby, Broker Co-owner of ERA Justin Realty suggests, “Let's take real estate services, for example. If you consider that the most costly purchase in your life is going to be your house, it makes the most sense to use the best real estate professional you can find to buy or sell it. Sometimes Sellers may be attracted to a discount broker whereby sellers pay a lower commission to sell their home. While most discount brokers advertise that they provide the same level of service as a traditional real estate broker, they do so only to some extent, and many a much higher commission rate than advertised. For the lowest commission being advertised, sellers get little more than their house being listed with some photos on the discount broker's Internet sites. This rate may not include listings with the local Multiple Listing Service, nor on Realtor.com®, both of which facilitate greater exposure to buyers. Sellers may also be instructed to show their own home to potential buyers (who are perfect strangers) because, at this discounted commission rate, an agent usually does not accompany the buyer.”
Jennifer added, “By contrast, when you hire a full service real estate agent to sell your home, you get a professional with experience and extensive skills in local value, marketing, financial advisory, sales, negotiations and overseeing the many tasks from the sale through title closing. Add therapist (to help with clients' anxiety) and gopher (finding local contractors, attending inspections, helping to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy) to the list, and you get the picture that real estate services go well beyond providing customers with just a listing or an online virtual tour of homes for sale.”
While the discount broker concept relies on eliminating local real estate agents and offices in favor of the Internet and toll-free telephone "consultants" in order to offer lower commissions, in reality, the lack of local people and offices translate into inexperienced agents with no firsthand knowledge of the local community. This has proven to be true with a large regional discount brokerage firm that recently ceased serving the communities and have closed their firm.
Jennifer continued “Internet-based discount brokers, in particular, fail to attract buyers who need a Realtor® with a local presence. The greatest flaw in the discount broker concept is that they alone cannot attract buyers, which is the primary reason for selling your home through a Realtor® in the first place. From the buyers point of view, there is absolutely no advantage to using a discount real estate broker since the seller, not the buyer, pays the commission. Why not take advantage of all the services we offer to them, free of charge, such as previewing properties, visiting neighborhoods and homes together, helping them obtain mortgages from local banks, finding good contractors and services in the local community and much more and marketing each home on nearly two dozen national websites including the new Wall Street Journal real estate website. Your local real estate professional is often the first person a buyer knows in the neighborhood, and is an invaluable resource to new homeowners. In addition, full service real estate professionals rely solely on commissions for their compensation, similar to an attorney who takes a case on contingency. The Realtor® has great incentive to work hard for their clients. By contrast, discount brokers generally pay their "consultants" a salary and a very small commission. Once again, you get what you pay for.”
A decade of successful real estate sales in South Bergen County proves successful for Rosemarie Zembryski each month as she exceeds the needs of her buyers and sellers. Her career path takes her through Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties in listing and selling residential real estate. Her report on buying a home before the current one sells is informative and gives varied options for our readers.
ERA Justin Realty Report:
Best Way To Buy A Home Before Current One Sells
Some homebuyers are resistant to selling their current home before they already have another one lined up. This means buying before selling. In the alternative there is a way for those who first want to sell their home. One way to approach such a move, if market conditions permit, is to make an offer on the new home that is contingent upon the sale of your current home.
Rosemarie Zembryski, ERA Justin Realtor Associate stated, “Dian Hymer author of ‘House Hunting, The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers’ and ‘Starting Out’ says, although you avoid the risk of owning two homes, you also may have to offer an over-market price to entice the seller into accepting your less-than-certain offer. There is also the risk of losing the house to another buyer who can close without having his or her home sold. Sellers who accept a contingent sale offer usually want a release clause in the contract.
A release clause allows the seller to continue marketing the property until the contingent-sale buyers remove their sale contingency. If the seller accepts another offer in backup position, he notifies the first buyers that they need to remove their sale contingency within the time period specified in the contract, and show that they are financially able to perform, or they risk losing the property to the backup buyer.
Another drawback of the contingent-sale approach is that it doesn't work in all markets. In a balanced or slower market where listings are not selling quickly, a contingent sale offer stands a chance of being accepted. But in a seller's market, where inventory is low, contingent-sale offers are rarely accepted.”
Rosemarie concluded, “In a strong market, you'll need to step forward with an offer that is not contingent on another property selling. You will also need to provide financial verification that you don't need to sell in order to generate the cash you need to close. In all cases you’ll be asked to provide a written mortgage pre-approval from a qualified mortgage lender.”
In an effort to bring the most current listings and buying opportunities to area buyers, ERA Justin Realty watches market trends and remains at the cutting edge of buyer and seller demands in marketing area homes. The firms cutting edge website at www.ERAJustin.com has been enhanced to meet the strong demands of buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of real estate.
Market conditions are excellent for buyers to purchase now, during the fall of 2007. Interest rates and home prices are inviting. Home sale markets are cyclical. There are up markets, down markets, and stable or balanced markets. In an ideal world, one would buy at the end of a down cycle, just before the housing market picks up again. But, it's impossible to time the real estate market. You know that the bottom of a cycle has passed only when the market is moving upwards again. Within marketing areas, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties, fall 2007 is an excellent time to buy. Home sellers recognizing the recent changes in the real estate market are pricing their homes to current conditions giving buyers value in their purchase. Properly priced homes are selling.
You can view the enhanced ERA Justin Realty Buyer/Seller website at www.ERAJustin.com. It features all area homes with color photos as well as video virtual tours. You can select an agent and receive email updates to fit your home buying requirements. Because of the focus for buyers and sellers, ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’ for four consecutive years, one of 14 premier ERA real estate firms from 3,000 ERA offices.
ERA Justin Realtor Peggy McLaughlin puts emphasis on moving with children in this ERA Justin Report for our readers. Peggy has been an active and successful Realtor throughout our area communities in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex counties for many years. Her long-term relationships with buyers and sellers brings her repeat business which began with the parents and today with their children and grandchildren. A veteran Realtor, Peggy is an expert in her field.
ERA Justin Realty Report: New Kid On The Block
Autumn 2007 is a strong time for buying and selling. There is a vast inventory of available homes to fit most budgets, interest rates are historically low, especially with the recent move by the federal government in reducing several key interest rates by one-half percent.
Moving is a major change for all members of a family. Adult responsibilities weigh heavily when keeping track of all the tasks needed to make a move go smoothly. If you have children, this may be a difficult time to focus on their problems, too, but its also one of the most crucial times to keep their concerns in mind.
Sometimes what seems like a major disruption to grownups is viewed as an adventure to the kids. Still, changing homes can also upset feelings of stability (in the case of younger children) and belonging (in the case of teens). These are special concerns for these age groups.
According to ERA Justin Realtor, Peggy McLaughlin, “The most important thing a parent can do is maintain normal routines as much as possible, and when it isn't possible, to let the kids know that apprehension about a big life change is normal, too. Try to keep calm about the move yourself, and your children will be more likely to follow your lead. It is advisable to be open about what's happening and how everyone feels about it.
This means keeping your kids in the loop at each stage of the move. They don’t have to get a vote, but it helps everyone for them to get increasingly use to the idea of this change. Bring them along when you look at houses, make them familiar with the new area you're moving to, and investigate its attractions (including the athletic or extracurricular offerings that appeal to your kids). Exploring some of this on our state-of-the-art website at www.erajustin.com is a good way to relate your relocation to an activity they already enjoy.
Encourage your children to express any worries, and do what you can to reassure them. If you went through similar experiences as a child, you can share how you dealt with it, if it was easy, so much the better, and if it was hard, your children will know they're not the only ones who have ever had to deal with change.
Other neighborhood kids may grow distant when they know a friend is leaving. This is hurtful to your own children, but try and explain that some kids aren't yet mature enough to handle it another way, and that it isn't your kids, or even the others, fault.
Try and arrange visits to the new school and meetings with the new teachers before the school year or semester starts. When you have more than one child, make bedroom assignments in the new house as soon as possible to avoid sibling strife (comfort, privacy and age seniority are all issues of kid politics that it is sometimes easy for grownups to forget).
Above all, be open and patient. If you pay the right attention, you will be letting your children know that, move or no move, the most important people in their lives aren't going anywhere.”
“There is a difference in real estate companies,” continued Peggy. “Presenting consumer information, we believe, is in order to exceed sellers expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, and we don’t offer just the basics. In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard. Our sellers have put their thoughts in writing. We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of over 500 quotes and testimonials from our sellers and buyers. No other area real estate firm can offer that. Are we proud? Absolutely!”
ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner Ron Darby recently celebrated his 40th anniversary as a real estate business leader. With his business associates, Jennifer Darby, Carol Darby and a team of real estate professionals, the firm keeps focus on market trends and continues to modify its business model to enhance buyer and seller opportunities.
ERA Justin Realty Enhanced Website: Now Is The Time To Buy A Home
The real estate industry is ever changing. The Internet is dominant for buyers seeking their dream homes.
ERA Justin Realty watches market trends and remains at the cutting edge of buyer and seller demands in marketing area homes. The firms cutting edge website at www.ERAJustin.com has been enhanced to meet the strong demands of buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of real estate. Market conditions are excellent for buyers to purchase now, during the Fall of 2007. Interest rates and home prices are inviting.
Last year the home sale market began to slow causing many buyers to postpone buying, hoping that prices would drop. In fact, in some areas and in some segments of the market, prices have declined.
Mass psychology influences home-buying patterns. For example, when buyers decide that it is not a good time to buy due to fear of falling prices or rising interest rates, this notion tends to become a self-fulfilling prophesy. When the volumes of home sales drop, buyers tend to hold back. When sales heat up, buyers perceive this as a good sign. They feel they must buy immediately before home prices rise and they are priced out of the market.
Buyers tend to follow the herd, which is counterintuitive. It would seem that the best time to buy would be when there isn't an abundance of competition from other buyers -- that it, in a slower market. However, most buyers feel more comfortable buying when all their friends are buying. The comfort of the crowd validates that their decision is a good one.
Ron Darby, ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner said, “Home sale markets are cyclical. There are up markets, down markets, and stable or balanced markets. In an ideal world, one would buy at the end of a down cycle, just before the housing market picks up again. But, it's impossible to time the real estate market. You know that the bottom of a cycle has passed only when the market is moving upwards again.
Within our marketing areas, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties, Fall 2007 is an excellent time to buy. Home sellers recognizing the recent changes in the real estate market are pricing their homes to current conditions giving buyers value in their purchase. Properly priced homes are selling. In fact, 2007 is a banner buying and selling year at our firm.
Good candidates for buying in a slower market are buyers who are ready to put down roots and stay put for a while. This not only means that you aren't planning on moving out of the area soon, but it also means that you can afford to buy a home that will suit your long-term needs.”
Dian Hymer on Inman News and author of "House Hunting, the Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers" and "Starting Out, the Complete Home Buyers Guide", stated, “A purchase decision should involve a consideration of the dynamics at play in your local market. Prices might or might not drop in your area. In many places, sales volume is off, but not prices. When inventories are reduced and buyers are back in droves, prices could go up."
You can view the enhanced ERA Justin Realty Buyer/Seller website at www.ERAJustin.com. It features all area homes with color photos as well as video virtual tours. You can select an agent and receive email updates to fit your home buying requirements.
Darby concluded, “Because of our focus for our buyers and sellers, we proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’ for four consecutive years, one of 14 premier ERA real estate firms from 3,000 ERA offices."
The NASDAQ closing bell ceremonies for MDA and Jerry's Kids on August 30, 2007. Dedicated business owners were invited by NASDAQ to join the 4:00 PM bell activity. Pictured in the group is Ron Darby and Carol Darby of ERA Justin Realty. The event was broadcast throughout the world on the major financial television networks and the giant Times Square television screens.
ERA Justin Realty invited to
NASDAQ closing bell ceremonies
The NASDAQ, always ready to assist and kickoff the Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Telethon for Jerry Lewis and his kids invited a group of dedicated business owners to attend and take part in the closing bell ceremonies on August 30, 2007.
Ron Darby, Carol Darby and Jennifer Darby Co-owners of ERA Justin Realty were invited to the NASDAQ platform to take part with other business owners in ringing the closing bell. The ceremony was broadcast live throughout the world on all major financial television networks and projected on the giant Times Square screens.
Ron Darby is the chairman for all ERA New Jersey real estate offices representing the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Jerry’s Kids. In coordination with all ERA offices statewide, Darby coordinated fundraising activities with the final check presented on the MDA Labor Day Telethon by ERA Justin Realtor Associate, Kristen Davis. Darby has held this post for the past six years.
Plans have already begun for 2008 with a commitment to send a large group of youngsters to MDA Summer Camp and to fund wheelchairs and equipment needed for the kids.
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