Friday, September 15, 2006

Mortgage Rates Still Falling



Nationally for nine of eleven weeks the mortgage rate has fallen according to Holden Lewis at Bankrate.com. In New Jersey mortage rate are also declining. The national rate moved slightly lower after a speech by president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Fed's rate-setting Open Market Committee, Janet Yellen to the Emeryville, Calif., Chamber of Commerce. Read the Mortgage rate fall for 9th week in last 11.



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Thursday, September 14, 2006

The Golden Triangle

Read about the traditional golden triangle in The Times advertising supplement yesterday. Sorry, I could not find it online. No, it is not really a gold triangle, unless you are a designer of kitchens. The three points of the triangle represent to the location of the refrigerator, the stove top or cooking area, and the sink in a kitchen design. The design strategy is allow the chef to pivot to each item for the most efficiency of movement while preparing meal. While there is no standard about the length of the “legs” of the triangle but the rough rule gives designers plenty of leeway. Designers still have to meet the needs of the client. Kitchens are often a gathering area in families. Oftentimes the members assist with preparation. A designer may have to alter the design to accommodate the different needs. Still making a kitchen with efficiency of movement during food preparation a priority can keep the fun in meal preparation.


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

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Tip of the Day: Winterize your Lawn

Well Labor Day has passed, the kids are back in school, the hot hazy days of summer are finally gone for 2006. Fall officially starts on September 23rd. With its coming it is time to get your lawn ready for winter. Here’s a link to DoItYourself.com
While you are preparing the lawn get the gutters cleaned too. Now before the leaves begin falling and as needed all year round. Pay particular attention now to the downspouts (clear clog and flush with the garden hose). Gutters help protect your home investment from soil erosion and water damage. Keep them clear to save on repair and replacement costs of misdirected water damage to your home.


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

Monday, September 11, 2006

Municipality Update

This will be a recurring theme whenever something crosses my desk that fits.
Bernards' Takes on Bash and Build Trend

With many of us still grieving the senseless destruction of September 11, 2001, the story about a trend toward bash and build seemed particularly poignant. Imagine a community with modest Colonial and Cape Cod style houses. Imagine some of the older homes in the neighborhood torn down and replaced a McMansion. The ambiance of the community changes immediately and irrevocably. That is exactly what’s happening in communities in New Jersey. Bernards’ Homestead Village is one place where the mayor and council are going to try to enact codes that will prevent the bash and build trend in their community. Read Cathy Bugman's, Star-Ledger article.


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

FSBO's May Ask: Is An Agent Really Needed?

With the Internet making more tools available to do-it-yourself homeowners and home buyers one might ask if an agent is really necessary. Amy Hoak of MarketWatch wrote:
Indeed, the housing slowdown now unfolding only underscores how crucial of a role that brokers have as property owners brave chilly new headwinds. This past week saw a steady drumbeat of reports highlighting a severe slump taking hold, including industry data showing the number of homes on the market soaring to a 13-year high.
Internet savvy does not sell houses. While it assists the home buyer in communicating the style and area of a future home, getting the best price requires negotiation skill. Companies may promise to charge you less than real estate professionals but if you house sits on the market and doesn’t sell, has few agents actively showing the property, it will not sell. A real estate professional uses staging and targeted marketing to generate interest. The combination, staging and interest, sells houses at full market value or more.



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