Wise Investments to Prepare your Edison Home for Sale in New Jersey

If you're thinking of listing your Edison home for sale in New Jersey and know it needs a little sprucing up, here are a few tips on the smartest home improvements you can make to help sell your home faster and for more money.

• Kitchen remodeling stands at the top of any list of most attractive projects for re-sale value. Crisp clean new cabinets, fresh tile and countertops all make for buyer approval and is money well spent.

• Bathroom remodeling is a good bet but not nearly as good as adding additional bathrooms, unless your home already has a lot of them.

• Adding central heat and air to replace floorboard or radiator heat is a huge selling point for any Edison home for sale.

• Installing a deck or patio. This one hovers close to the middle of the do/don't numbers but it is still a nice investment that can make your home feel more comfortable and give it more 'space.'

Items that are less likely to be worth the money include:

• Installing a backyard pool. Some people think a pool is attractive. To many buyers, it's nothing but additional work and expense.

• Converting your basement into a finished living space. Many buyers like a finished basement, but it's the main living space that counts most to them. Your money would be better spent above ground.

It is important to fix up your home to get it ready for buyers. But with money tighter than we've seen it in a long time, you need to focus on those improvements that will give you a good return on your money.

If you are considering selling your home in the area and would like more tips on what works and what doesn't when fixing up your home, I can help. Buyers are back but this is still a challenging market for sellers in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Contact me today, I have people and I get results :)

Cathy Chaudemanche

May YTD Average Condo and Townhouse Prices for Middlesex County Cities (New Jersey)

- Middlesex County Condos and Townhouses prices (do not include single family homes price). Calculated with YTD=05/01/2009

Avenel $240,125
Dunellen $194,000
East Brunswick $244,124
Edison $281,032
Fords $245,000
Helmetta $221,500
Highland Park $346,000
Iselin $203,333
Jamesburg $208,250
Metuchen $291,000
Middlesex $181,967
Milltown $207,000
Monroe $370,000
New Brunswick $219,000
North Brunswick $226,575
Old Bridge $298,913
Perth Amboy $179,000
Piscataway $271,048
Plainsboro $220,496
Sayreville $262,109
South Amboy $396,250
South Brunswick $273,202
South Plainfield$245,000
Spotswood $208,800
Woodbridge $190,438

*Source Data from Middlesex County Multiple Listing System MLS.

Cathy Chaudemanche
http://www.yourhousefast.com/members-only--------.asp

What If A Seller Has A “Counter” Out On An Edison Home For Sale In New Jersey?

Waiting to hear back from a seller on an offer you made on an Edison home for sale can be nerve wracking. Since sellers aren’t obligated to respond immediately, you may spend time waiting anxiously by the phone. When your agent finally calls you, it’s with the news that the seller has a “counter” out on the property already. What does that mean?

Is your offer out the window?

Not exactly. In New Jersey, a seller is allowed to counter or respond to as many offers to buy their home as they want. If the seller has responded to a buyer’s offer with a counter-offer and then receives an offer from a second buyer that is better, the seller does not have to accept the first buyer’s offer. The seller simply takes back the counter-offer and accepts the second buyer’s bid.

Make Your Best Offer

So, how do you make the best offer on an Edison home for sale that has a counter-offer out on it? First of all, if there is another offer on the property, submit an offer for the most money that you would pay for the house. You may not get another chance to negotiate for this dream home, and you don’t want to miss your opportunity.

Get a Pre-approval Letter

A seller will take your offer more seriously if you attach a pre-approval letter from your lender to it. If your offer is similar to the other person’s, you may win out because you have financing already secured. Many sellers are waiting for their old homes to sell before they buy a new one. If your offer will get them into their new home faster, it might be the edge you need to get the home that you want.

Increase Your Earnest Money Deposit

Make a large earnest money deposit on the Edison home for sale. If you’re unable to pay more for the home, you can increase the size of your earnest money check. You don’t lose any of the money because it will go towards your down payment or closing costs.

If you're thinking of buying a home in Edison or Central Jersey, I'd love to help you find your perfect home. Contact me today.

Cathy Chaudemanche

A Great Middlesex County Real Estate Agent Can Help You Find the Best Homes for Sale in New Jersey

Finding a home may seem like a simple ordeal. There are ads all over the internet, and your local newspaper probably has pages of listings. So why bother working with a Middlesex County real estate agent?

Your real agent isn't going to help you just find homes for sale; they're going to help you find the perfect home. So what does a Middlesex County real estate agent knows that you don't know, and how can they find the best homes for sale?

Intimate Knowledge

Finding a Middlesex County real estate agent who specializes in the area where you want to buy is especially helpful because they have intimate knowledge of the homes for sale. The agent also knows the locale and can give you tips about schools, transportation, shopping and other necessities.

MLS Searches

While you can view many listings online, your real estate agent will know exactly how to manipulate the MLS to find the most desired features you want in a New Jersey home.

Negotiation Skills

One of the most important things a good Middlesex County real estate agent can do for you is negotiating your offer. There is a lot more to finding (and getting) a home than just looking through listings. Your agent will make sure all of the proper procedures are being followed, home inspections and title searches are getting done and time schedules are being met.

Legal Know How

Real estate agents go through special training to ensure they know all the real estate laws. Going it alone makes for ample room to slip up and either negate the deal or end up in hot legal water.

Don't take any chances on letting that prized home get away by missing a legal loophole, or just plain not finding it.

If you're looking for a real estate agent who can find your perfect New Jersey home and negotiate to get the best price and terms for you, contact me today.

Cathy Chaudemanche

May YTD Average Home Prices for Middlesex County Cities (New Jersey)

- Middlesex County Single family home (do not include Townhouse/Condo). Calculated with YTD=05/01/2009

Avenel $274,125

Carteret $258,730

Colonia $343,154

Cranbury $680,000

Dunellen $261,125

East Brunswick $376,110

Edison $384,256

Fords $266,017

Helmetta $270,000

Highland Park $308,563

Hopelawn $241,300

Iselin $318,679

Jamesburg $255,286

Keasbey $256,500

Metuchen $390,800

Middlesex $297,305

Milltowm $272,571

Monroe $458,942

New Brunswick $278,158

North Brunswick $338,630

Old Bridge $355,721

Perth Amboy $197,088

Piscataway $325,877

Plainsboro $490,667

Port Read $275,000

Sayreville $293,106

Sewaren $256,250

South Amboy $207,600

South Brunswick $522,499

South Plainfield$302,290

South River $278,500

Spotswood $307,129

Woodbridge $295,857

*Source Data from Middlesex County Multiple Listing System MLS.

Cathy Chaudemanche

Scrounging Up a Down Payment for Your Iselin Real Estate in New Jersey

You've decided to take the plunge and buy a home in New Jersey for your family. You may still be looking for ways to need a more sizeable down payment. So, how do you get the down payment for the Iselin real estate you've always dreamed of?

Get Scrounging

Scour your attic, basement and storage units. Look in every nook and cranny to find items that are in decent shape, but no longer used, and have a garage sale. Sure it's usually pennies on the dollar of what your stuff is worth. But if you're not using it, someone else can, and you get the cash in hand. If you find items that are more valuable, sell them on eBay. Every little bit helps.

Rich Relatives?

Hey, if you have'em use'em. This is no time to feel shy about asking for a gift. Purchasing Iselin real estate in New Jersey is a wise investment. Many relatives who might otherwise be unwilling to give cash for frivolous items are happy to help loved ones buy a home.

Sell Something Big

Having precious jewelry or antiques is a great asset. Consider selling items you've been holding onto as investments, in order to get the home of your dreams.

There are many ways to come up with the down payment and financing you need to buy Iselin real estate.

Cathy Chaudemanche

Rent or Buy a North Brunswick Condo in New Jersey?

With the current economy, it may seem like a better idea to rent a North Brunswick condo in New Jersey instead of buying one. Let's explore some of the reasons why it's still better to buy rather than rent.

Throwing Money Away

When you rent that's basically what you're doing. You give your money away in exchange for a 'perishable' item—one month of living space. Once that month is over, the money is gone and you didn't get anything of long term value in return.

When you buy a North Brunswick condo you still spend money for a month of living space, but in addition, you're building long term equity. It may take longer and property may not increase in value as quickly as it did in the past, at least for now, but the money you spend becomes a back end asset instead of just disappearing.

Tax Breaks

When you buy a home, you can deduct the interest and property taxes that you pay every year on your income taxes. That can be a sizeable amount of money. If you buy your first home in 2009, you get an even bigger tax break of $8,000 as a result of President Obama's stimulus plan.

Saving Money

Yes, you actually end up saving money in the long run if you buy a home rather than rent. According to The New York Times, over a 16-year period you can save as much as $5,000.00 by owning your own home. And, that number doesn't include the $8,000 tax credit first-time home buyers get when they purchase a principle residence in 2009.

The bottom line is that the housing market troubles have nothing to do with the 'evils' of homeownership. They have to do with bad lending practices, and people wanting more than they can afford.

Choose your North Brunswick condo wisely, only buy what you can afford to pay for each month, and pay attention to the loan you are being offered.

Cathy Chaudemanche