Buying Your First Piscataway Home in New Jersey

Is this a good time for first time home buyers to consider a Piscataway home in New Jersey? It's a familiar question with the economy in the state it is in. Here are a few reasons why a home is still a great investment for first time home buyers.

Pride of Ownership

This will never go away no matter what the economy is like. Owning your own home is the American dream for a reason. It just feels good to take care of a Piscataway home that's yours and yours alone.

Tax Incentives

Owning your own home is one of the best tax deductions. The new stimulus plan makes that tax incentive better than ever before. Not only can you deduct your interest payments on your tax forms this year and for every year during the life of your mortgage, the stimulus plan allows a huge homebuyer tax credit of $8,000 for homes purchased in 2009 by first time home buyers.

Your property taxes are deductible too. Many first time home buyers understand that they can deduct the mortgage payment interest but don't realize they can declare their property tax as well for an even bigger yearly deduction.

Equity

Yes, even now, you will begin to build equity with each year you're in your new home. Equity improves your credit worthiness and gives you options for loans in the future if you need them.

Take the first step toward buying a new home and contact me. I'll help you find the perfect place for you and your family. And, I'll help you get it at a great price.

Cathy Chaudemanche

When is it Time to List Your Home with a Metuchen Real Estate Agent in New Jersey?

Going it alone and listing your home as for sale by owner can be exciting at first, but there is a turning point where the prospect of losing money makes it necessary to bring in help. There are several reasons to change your plan and list your home with a Metuchen real estate agent in order to facilitate a sale.

Speed

If your property has been languishing on the market for more than three months, it is no longer fresh. People will avoid it simply because it hasn't sold. A Metuchen real estate agent can give your home wider exposure and get traffic moving through it again.

Knowledge

Fresh eyes on a project are helpful in any business endeavor. You can be too close to your home. You love it and see it in a positive light that can often overlook minor items that will kill a sale. Your Metuchen real estate agent can help you see the problems you didn't even know existed.

National Exposure

As a FSBO (for sale by owner) seller, you are not able to list your home on the official MLS (multiple listing service). That exposure alone can get much faster responses and sales. Additionally, a professional real estate agent markets your home on multiple websites which gives your home a virtual Open House 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

An Earthly Advantage

Many FSBOs price their homes way over market for two reasons. First, they love their home and see certain aspects of their home as more valuable than they really are. Second, they don't have extensive knowledge of the real estate market nor do they have the ability to do current home price comparisons. You 'might' know what your neighbor's house sold for 6 months ago, but do you know what it is worth now? And even more important, do you know exactly how comparable your house is to that one? Your Metuchen real estate agent does.

If you would like more information on how a professional real estate agent can help you sell your home, please contact me now.

Cathy Chaudemanche

Can You Afford a New Edison Home in New Jersey? Learn to Budget

Many people go through life one paycheck to the next and never bother to figure out where their money is going. It's important to know where your money is going and what you can afford if you are thinking about buying a new Edison home.

Here's how to start up a monthly budget that will keep you in the know about where your money is running off to each month.

• Find a program you're comfortable using. Your computer probably came with a spreadsheet program. If you are not used to using one open it up and become familiar with the program. It's a great tool to use to create a budget. If by chance your computer doesn't have a spreadsheet program, you can use an online program like Budget Pulse, or other useful online budget systems such as Mvelopes.

• Enter your absolute monthly expenses such as car loans, utilities including cell phone bills, and credit card expenses.

• Enter your monthly bills that can vary such as food, gasoline, entertainment. These expenses can be changed to help improve your bottom line, but make sure you give them fair limits so you don't cut yourself short on necessities such as food or transportation costs.

• Make sure you figure in some savings for vacations and other unexpected expenses that may pop up throughout the year. Trimming your budget so severely that you have no extra money to cover you when something breaks down, or an extra bill comes in is a sure method for disaster and will make you new life in an Edison home miserable instead of the happy time it should be.

Once you realize where your money is going, it's easier to see if you are spending frivolously or strapped to your limits. It is the best way to determine if your dreams of a new Edison home are realistic or not.

If you have any questions about your ability to afford a new home, I can help. Contact me today.

Cathy Chaudemanche

Tips for First Time North Brunswick Home Buyers in New Jersey

Are you considering buying your first home? I'm sure you already know that now's an amazing time to buy your first home. You have the perfect combination of low interest rates, low North Brunswick home prices and President Obama's stimulus plan which gives you additional incentive to buy now.

To help make your first time North Brunswick home buying experience the best it can be, here are some tips:

1) Know What You Can Afford

It is easy to get carried away with what you want versus what you can actually afford. Start with reasonable expectations.

2) Decide Exactly What You Need

Consider your current family status and what your immediate future might hold, then decide on the number of bedrooms you require and the amenities you feel you can't do without. If you love to cook, a well-equipped and spacious kitchen will be important. If you eat out 90% of the time, it is wasted space.

3) Make Good Use of the Internet

If you're like millions of other Americans, you spend a lot of time online. Make use of the many available free programs and calculators to give you a better idea of what you can afford and what your mortgage payments will be. There are mortgage calculators that give you an instant idea of what each home you find will cost you monthly.

4) Don't Hesitate to Ask Questions

Call around to get insurance quotes so that you have a reasonable estimation of what to add to the total cost of your monthly mortgage. Check the information on the North Brunswick home properties you are interested in to find out what the taxes are. Add that amount to your total monthly mortgage cost too.

Buying your first North Brunswick home should be the thrill of a lifetime and with proper planning it can be.

If you'd like to work with a real estate agent who specializes in helping first time home buyers get their dream home at the best price in Middlesex County and Central Jersey contact me today.

Cathy Chaudemanche

Stimulus Isn’t Just for New Woodbridge Real Estate Buyers in New Jersey

All the talk is about how the President's stimulus plan helps out new and first time home buyers. The good news is that it also helps homeowners. You can get stimulus plan benefits from your existing Woodbridge real estate too. Add a little green living to your environment and you'll be pocketing some change at the end of the year from your income tax return.

Under the stimulus plan, both eco friendly new home purchases and eco friendly improvements on existing homes are tax deductible. Now's the time to make your home more energy efficient and get a break at the end of the year for your efforts.

Going green saves money, makes your living environment healthier, and improves the world we live in. To reap the benefits from the stimulus plan, you can make major home improvements such as adding solar power or moderate priced home improvements such as adding low flow water fixtures.

You need to make your home improvements soon to get the stimulus plan benefit. The plan only allows for the tax benefits through the year 2010. Why wait? Use this as motivation to get your projects started (and completed) now.

Here are a few additional eco friendly home improvements to consider for your Woodbridge real estate:

• Re-cover your roof: The color of your roof can make a big difference in how well your attic retains or refracts heat and cold.

• Install an energy efficient Energy Star furnace: Make sure it has a high SEER rating (seasonal energy efficient ratio).

With a little work and a reasonable investment, your Woodbridge real estate will not only pay you back in dividends for years to come, it could get you a great tax break.

Cathy Chaudemanche-

How To Add Value To Your Metuchen Real Estate in New Jersey

You may be wondering how to get the best price for your Metuchen real estate. Good preparation and a little hard work is the key to getting the most money when selling your home. Here are a few tried and true improvements you should make before you list your home.

• Revamp the exterior of your Metuchen real estate. Pretend that you're a potential buyer and take a critical look at the outside of your home. Could it use a new coat of paint? Perhaps the current paint scheme makes it look out-dated and old-fashioned. Painting and adding new light fixtures and railings can immediately improve your home's value.

• Look to the landscaping. Trim any trees or bushes that obscure the view of your home from the curb. Highlight the best view of your New Jersey home, making sure the lawn is mowed and any flowerbeds are neat and tidy.

• Update the home’s interior. A light neutral paint color will make your home look bigger and more inviting to a buyer. Remove unnecessary furniture to help open up the rooms. Take down any personal photos you have up. You want the buyer to be able to picture themselves living there.

• De-clutter and organize. Clear off every flat surface in your Metuchen home. Sort through all of your belongings. Pack away what you don’t use often; consider it pre-moving. Neatly stack and arrange your storage items, buyers prefer clean and orderly homes. You’ll want to remember to include the kitchen and bathrooms in the process. An entire house can be dismissed because of cluttered, out-dated kitchens and bathrooms.

• Do some light remodeling. The number one place that you’ll recoup your investment is the kitchen, followed closely by the bathroom. New kitchen cabinets, fixtures, and appliances can improve the value of your home quickly. In the bathroom, new tiling and fixtures can add a completely new dimension.

You can quickly improve the value of your Metuchen real estate by using these suggestions. Cathy C-

What Can Homeowners Remove From Iselin Real Estate In Foreclosure?

Iselin real estate in foreclosure is sometimes found stripped of all appliances and fixtures after the trustee’s sale. Some New Jersey property owners believe they have the right to remove everything but the walls of the house when they leave. The law states that anything that is not personal property, that is in fact an asset of the property, may not be removed.

Homeowners in foreclosure may be prosecuted for removing the following items:

• Most appliances that are on the property. This includes the stove, dishwasher and garbage disposal.

• The air conditioning unit and the furnace must stay on the property.

• Ceiling fans, light fixtures, and any electrical wiring.

• The plumbing and all the fixtures must stay in place. The sink, shower, toilets, and the cabinets may not be removed from the premises.

• Landscaping and fencing may not be removed before foreclosure. Built in pools and hot tubs must also stay on the property.

Homeowners are allowed to remove any personal property from Iselin real estate in foreclosure. In fact, in most cases they are required to remove any objects they brought into the house when they moved in. This includes the furniture and clothing they own. They are allowed to take dishes, pans and silverware as well as electronics like computers or stereo equipment. The new electronic thermostat they installed has to stay because it is now a fixture of the house.

The refrigerator is the appliance that is the exception to the "everything must stay" rule. Homeowners are allowed to take any portable fans and heaters that are in the house. A good rule of thumb is if homeowners have to use dollies or screwdrivers to take things with them, they may need to double check their right to the objects.

If you're looking to buy Central Jersey real estate, I can help you find your perfect home.

Cathy Chaudemanche