Untapped Resource

While the home selling boom is ending, the new trouble spot is home maintenance.
More New Jersey residents are finding home maintenance a challenge according to Beth Fitzgerald in her story:

Dire State of Repairs

Homeowners often allow contractors they don’t know to make repairs without checking there license, checking their references, or even checking to see if there have been complaints lodged again the contractor. Home improvement contractors are required by law to register in New Jersey. Complaints against home improvement contractor have been rising steadily for the last few years.

Source: New Jersey Intstitute for Social Justice

The best way to find a good contractor is to ask the real estate professional from whom you purchased your home. Not just because I am a real estate professional do I recommend this. The truth of the matter is a real estate professional has an interest in you keeping your home in the best condition that has nothing to do with the friendship you developed while looking for your home: future commission. Whether you sell with the same real estate professional or not the potential for commission either as the buyer’s or seller’s agent means that homeowner have a place to look for home contractors that are likely to do a good job. I know I have a list of contractors for all kinds of home repairs even though few homeowners contact me for them. I don’t see why my colleagues would not have them too.

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Technorati: NJ Real Estate News, Real Estate, NJ Real Estate Blogs, NJ Housing, New Jersey, Home Maintenance, Home Repair

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For more information on Real Estate in New Jersey visit here.

Housing News Potpourri

Plan for 270 condos near airport draws criticism

Okay, can somebody explain to me what the Ewing Township planning board was thinking? They are going to put 270 condos less than 1000 feet from a Trenton-Mercer airport runway. The fact that there are complaints from other Ewing residents who live with the noise on record did not seem to matter. People moving into these condos are not expected to put a strain on the school system i.e. singles or empty nesters downsizing after raising their families. I can just see it, you’ve gotten Suzy and Joe Bob Jr. through college, nearing retirement. The kids are beginning their lives and now its time to downsize the homestead. Happy retirement? Not likely with the whine of 280 planes and helicopters taking off or landing each day! Who is going to want to live with that?

Fed finally takes break: Interest rates

After two years of increases, it’s good news about the short-term interest rates from the Fed. They are going to remain at 5.25 percent at least for now. The prime rate (what banks charge their best customers) is 8.25 percent for now. The move will not affect mortgage lending rates yet.

Toll Brothers says home building still sliding

News from Toll Brothers is not good. Orders for new housing fell 47% this quarter for Toll Brothers so it cut its forecast for the number of homes it expects to sell for the fourth time this year.

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Technorati: NJ Real Estate News, Real Estate, NJ Real Estate Blogs, NJ Housing, New Jersey, New Housing, Fed Rate, Interest Rates, New Home Building, Ewing Housing, Airport Condos

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For more information on Real Estate in New Jersey visit here.

Mortgage Repayment: Sooner Is Better

"Paying off the mortgage could keep mom home"

If you can get your hands on a copy of Sunday’s The Times of Trenton business section there is a case worth reading. The Your Money section holds a column: "Get With the Plan" that highlights personal finance concepts using financial information supplied by real people. This week’s column uses 32 year olds Betty and David finances. They have a winfall of $160,000 inheritance. The article discusses the best use of that inheritance with their goal in mind.
The print version details on the couple’s assets and liabilities as well as their monthly expenses. The article makes more sense seeing the breakdown so that is why I am recommending getting your hands on the print version of the column.

"Painful ARM twisting"

Chuck Jaffe of MarketWatch suggests that the after-effects for the market boom will become a cautionary tale for future generations. With the increase in interest rates the popularity of Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) are resetting and in the end may cost some people their homes.

"Mortgage defaults up 67% in California"

Already in California mortgage defaults have increased 67% which is a three year high. As more companies feel the adjust to higher costs and more people face unemployment the expectation is for more people to have difficulty meeting their mortgage commitment.

"Slow Job Growth Could Give Fed Pause"

With job growth slowing there is a real disaster in the brewing for some homeowners. Unemployment rates rising again may encourage the Fed to leave interest rates alone but that probably will not help people with ARM loans that are due to begin resetting over the next few years.

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Technorati: NJ Real Estate News, Real Estate, NJ Real Estate Blogs, New Jersey, Personal Finance, Mortgage, ARM Mortgage, Interest Rate, Unemployment, Job Growth, Finances

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For more information on Real Estate in New Jersey visit here.