New Jersey Real Estate Digest: Housing Potpourri

Housing sales dive 16.3% in Jersey

The Star Ledger reports housing sales fell in June. It also reported that housing prices fell in Central New Jersey.

Replacing Old Door Hinges

When steel and brass hinges show signs of rust, Tim Carter tells homeowners how to replace the hinge without having to buy expensive tools.

2005 New Jersey School Report Card

It is time for back to school shopping and you can check the report card for your child's school. The New Jersey Department of Education released the 2005 School report card. The 2004 report is also available.

New bill calls for school fees ban

A bill to prevent school districts from assessing activity and sport fees on families. The only school district charging these fees is Washington Township but Assemblyman John Burzichelli
present the bill because he was concerned charging the fees was a wrong direction for school districts.

"Without this (bill), we are allowing such fees to gain momentum in school districts," he said. "It's a bad thing to have and will result in a slippery slope."

Looking to parents to replace funding cuts from the state in public schools does seem a bit of a misnomer but funding must come from somewhere. Washington Township's attempt to keep fund extracurricular activities and sports without looking to property taxes for funding is admirable. If it worked like Assemblyman Burzichelli suggests that only children from families able to pay these fees could participate then yes, it is troubling in public schools because at present property taxes fund public schools.

Growth dilemma for food kitchen

Trenton area soup kitchen will begin an expansion project in September. The 3500 square foot project will allow the soup kitchen to meet the growing number of New Jersey residents it serves to sit and eat their meal. While New Jersey is one of the richest states in the country, 40 percent of families receiving emergency food assistance report having to choose between "buying food and paying utilities, rent and mortgage".

With the wealth to only 10 percent of the population nationally the divide between the rich and the poor is expanding. The gap between the rich and the middle class is also expanding. The Times asks a valid question of New Jersey residents, "Why are we growing soup kitchens?"