Bergen County Short Sales/ Foreclosures

Its been a while since the last foreclosure email blast, but they have been drying up in the past few months.  With the new HARP Program banks have been remodifing mortgages and limiting inventory which in turn is stabilizing the real estate market.  Homes prices are still dropping (.5-.75% a month according to last few appraisal reports) but home SALES are up, its a great time to take advantage of the interest rates which are fluttering just under 5%!!!!  Below are a few foreclosures currently on the market, if interested in some more please feel free to contact me anytime.

Cresskill 3br 1.5 bth $420K
Park Ridge 2br bth 100×150 Lot $374k Bring your builder
River Edge 4br 3.5bth Move in condition colonial $534k
Saddle River 6br 9.5bth Estate $7.5mil

Also please visit my other sites

www.YouTube.com/OurNJhouse
www.OurNJhouse.com
www.SellwithMelNJ.com
www.MyNJblog.com

Bergen County NJ Home Buyer Tips___www.OurNJhouse.com

Tips For Bergen County Home Buyers

Posted by PAULA CLARK @ 8:34 pm, June 12th, 2009

It’s easy for Bergen County home buyers to get overwhelmed. A home is the biggest investment most of us make and the entire process can be a bit scary! Here are Bergen County home buying tips, sure to calm the most timid among us!

1. Research before you look.
Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing.

2. Be realistic.
It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property.

3. Get your finances in order.
Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage. This will save you the heartache later of falling in love with a house you can’t afford.

4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions.
It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own.

5. Decide your moving timeline.
When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move.

6. Think long term.
Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.

7. Insist on a home inspection.
If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year.

8. Get help from a REALTOR®.
Hire a real estate professional who specializes in buyer representation. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. Buyer’s reps are usually paid out of the seller’s commission payment. Give me a call…it won’t cost you a penny!!

After all, the process of selling a home is always complex. For assistance is selling your home in Bergen County, River Edge NJ, Oradell NJ, Paramus NJ, Emerson NJ, Fairlawn NJ. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at www.OurNJhouse.com or www.OurBergenCountyHouse.com or www.SellWithMelNJ.com

NJ First-Time Home Buyers Advice

Advice for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey

• Pre-Qualification: Meet with a mortgage broker and find out how much you can afford to pay for a home.
• Pre-Approval: While knowing how much you can afford is the first step, sellers will be much more receptive to potential buyers who have been pre-approved. You’ll also avoid being disappointed when going after homes that are out of your price range. With Pre-Approval, the buyer actually applies for a mortgage and receives a commitment in writing from a lender. This way, assuming the home you’re interested in is at or under the amount you are pre-qualified for, the seller knows immediately that you are a serious buyer for that property. Costs for pre-approval are generally nominal and lenders will usually permit you to pay them when you close your loan.
• List of Needs & Wants: Make 2 lists. The first should include items you must have (i.e., the number of bedrooms you need for the size of your family, a one-story house if accessibility is a factor, etc.). The second list is your wishes, things you would like to have (pool, den, etc.) but that are not absolutely necessary. Realistically for first-time buyers, you probably will not get everything on your wish list, but it will keep you on track for what you are looking for.
• Representation by a Professional: Consider hiring your own real estate agent, one who is working for you, the buyer, not the seller.
• Focus & Organization: In a convenient location, keep handy the items that will assist you in maximizing your home search efforts. Such items may include:
  1. One or more detailed maps with your areas of interest highlighted.
  2. A file of the properties that your agent has shown to you, along with ads you have cut out from the newspaper.
  3. Paper and pen, for taking notes as you search.
  4. Instant or video camera to help refresh your memory on individual properties, especially if you are attending a series of showings.
  5. Location: Look at a potential property as if you are the seller. Would a prospective buyer find it attractive based on school district, crime rate, proximity to positive (shopping, parks, freeway access) and negative (abandoned properties, garbage dump, source of noise) features of the area?
• Visualize the house empty & with your decor: Are the rooms laid out to fit your needs? Is there enough light?
• Be Objective: Instead of thinking with your heart when you find a home, think with your head. Does this home really meet your needs? There are many houses on the market, so don’t make a hurried decision that you may regret later.
• Be Thorough: A few extra dollars well spent now may save you big expenses in the long run. Don’t forget such essentials as:
  1. Include inspection & mortgage contingencies in your written offer.
  2. Have the property inspected by a professional inspector.
  3. Request a second walk-through to take place within 24 hours of closing.
  4. You want to check to see that no changes have been made that were not agreed on (i.e., a nice chandelier that you assumed came with the sale having been replaced by a cheap ceiling light).
• All the above may seem rather overwhelming. That is why having a professional represent you and keep track of all the details for you is highly recommended. Please email me or call me directly to discuss any of these matters in further detail.

Find Properties and Homes for Sale in Bergen County NJ: River Edge, Oradell, Paramus, Emerson Fairlawn. Search the complete NJ MLS for free. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at http://www.ournjhouse.com

County of Bergen NJ - 2009 Calendar of Events

County of Bergen NJ - Calendar of Events for Bergen County 2009

 04/06/09    Free Oral Cancer Screening
Free comprehensive oral cancer examination by a dental professional. If any problems are detected, follow-up and treatment options will be recommended. Dr. Michelle Bloch, Teaneck. 10am-2pm. Call 201-837-3000 for an appointment. Sponsor: Health Services

04/14/09    ”Best Practice in How to Engage Families”
9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. Individual and family engagement is critical in the helping process for producing and supporting positive change. Participants will be able to identify personal strengths, limitations, self awareness, communication tools. Sponsor: Human Services

04/15/09    HealthEASE Wellness Fair
Free Health Screenings and much more for Bergen County residents age 60+ at the First Presbyterian 150 E. Palisade Ave, Englewood. for info call 201-336-7437 Sponsor: Human Services

04/16/09    Free Oral Cancer Screening
Free comprehensive oral cancer examination by a dental professional. If any problems are detected, follow-up and treatment options will be recommended. Philip Ciarco Learning Center, 355 Main Street, Hackensack. 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. No appointment necessary. For information, call 201-634-2699. Sponsor: Health Services

04/21/09    Free Oral Cancer Screening
Free comprehensive oral cancer examination by a dental professional. If any problems are detected, follow-up and treatment options will be recommended. North Hudson Community Action Corp, 535 Midland Ave, Garfield. 11am-2pm. No appointment necessary. For information, call 201-634-2699. Sponsor: Health Services

04/23/09    Free Oral Cancer Screening
Free comprehensive oral cancer examination by a dental professional. If any problems are detected, follow-up and treatment options will be recommended. Bergen Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic, Paramus. 8:30am-12pm and 1-4pm. Call 201-447-7180 for an appointment. Sponsor: Health Services

04/23/09    ”Social Work Ethics Part 2″
9:30 a.m-12:30p.m. A continuation of the discussion on the ethical principles that social workers face. This workshop will cover additional material related to addressing social work practice dilemmas. Sponsor: Human Services

05/07/09    Division of Senior Services Public Hearing
The Division of Senior Services will hold their Annual Public Hearing on Thursday, May 7th at 9:00 a.m. in Freeholders’s Public Meeting Room, One Bergen County Plaza, 5th Floor., Hackensack, NJ. Sponsor: Human Services

05/14/09    ”Effective Tips to Improve Your Writing”
9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. Do you want to write clearly? Write e-mails, reports, and memoranda with style and confidence! Learn the basics of effective writing. Sponsor: Human Services

05/19/09    “Crisis-Intervention and De-escalation”
9:30a.m-12:30p.m. Crisis Intervention is a technique used to address behavior that may escalate into disruptive or even violent incidents. This workshop will address the issue in a way which provides for the care, welfare, safety, and security of all involved. Sponsor: Human Services

06/23/09    “Fundraising for Non-Profits”
9:30 a.m.-12:30p.m. This workshop will focus on the needs of small non-profits with little or no development staff. It will provide practical plans for utilizing agency resources and creatively accessing free or low-cost options for expanding fundraising initiatives. Sponsor: Human Services

09/15/09    Annual Senior Citizens Picnic
County Executive, Dennis McNerney cordially invites you to the Annual Senior Citizens Picnic, at Van Saun County Park, Paramus from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Sept 15th,Rain Date:Tuesday,

Sept. 22. Sponsor: Human Services
10/22/09    HealthEASE Wellness Fair
Free Health Screenings and much more for Bergen County residents age 60+ at Adler Aphasia Center, 60 W. Hunter Ave., Maywood. For information call 201-336-7437 Sponsor: Human Services

Visit Bergen County web site for details on events

Find Properties and Homes for Sale in Bergen County NJ: River Edge, Oradell, Paramus, Emerson Fairlawn. Search the complete NJ MLS for free. Contact Carmelo Oliveri, Coldwell Banker Realtor at (201) 618-2854. Visit our web site at http://www.ournjhouse.com