Bergen County NJ Real Estate Blog

Bergen County NJ Real Estate Inspections

PAULA CLARK — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:09:41 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, home inspections are not just for new home purchases! It is extremely important to have your Bergen County NJ real estate inspected professionally on a regular basis – especially if you are using it as an investment or rental property – to ensure you keep up with any necessary maintenance or repairs.

Home inspectors offer many types of inspections to suit Bergen County NJ real estate owners’ needs – some of these include:

  - Pre-Listing Inspections
  - Pre-Purchase Inspections
  - New Construction Inspections
  - HUD/FHA Inspections
  - Multiunit Inspections
  - Annual Maintenance Checkup

A home buyer can save thousands of dollars by having a professional home inspection performed before purchasing a home. Also, in areas with extreme weather circumstances, inspectors can help locate potential problems or damage that may be hidden to the naked eye.

To learn more about Bergen County NJ real estate or for a referral to an experienced home inspector, please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. You may also begin searching for Bergen County NJ real estate here!

Building Wealth Through Bergen County NJ Real Estate

PAULA CLARK — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:37:06 +0000

A wealth of housing data clearly demonstrates that Bergen County NJ real estate is a good long-term investment. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 60 percent of a homeowner’s wealth is from the equity they have built in their home. A Federal Reserve study has shown that the average homeowner’s net worth is 46 times the net worth of the average renter. Not sure how much equity you have built up? Visit HousingMarketFacts.com and click on “Equity Calculator” on the right for an estimate.

“Building Wealth” is a promo from the National Association of Realtors, emphasizing the importance of homeownership in creating long-term wealth, and encouraging buyers who are on the fence about making a home purchase to contact a REALTOR® who can help them make a smart investment in their future.

If you’re ready to invest in your future, please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com for more information about Bergen County NJ real estate. You may also begin searching Bergen County NJ homes here!

Bergen County NJ Real Estate – What Credit Crisis?

PAULA CLARK — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:35:46 +0000

If you’ve turned on the TV or read the news in the last few months, you have certainly heard buzz about the supposed “credit crisis” taking over America. Tales abound of Bergen County NJ real estate buyers being required to put 20% to purchase a home, or first-time buyers unable to find a lender to write them a loan. It seems the press just can’t get enough of all the “misery” in the Bergen County NJ real estate market. But is this what’s really happening? Let’s take a look at the facts:

Indeed, we are in the middle of what might be considered the biggest disservice ever perpetrated on potential home buyers. The truth is that mortgage money is as available today as it was a year ago and loans are being made with little or no money down. Wondering who these lenders are? They may be right down the street – you just have to know where to look!

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are making a huge impact on the mortgage industry; recent estimates show that about one out of five mortgages is an FHA loan. Although FHA loans never “went away,” their re-emergence is a result of the collapse of the sub-prime market. Although the FHA doesn’t technically require a minimum credit score, most lenders will not approve an FHA loan with a credit score below 500. That is still a far cry from the notion that an 800 score is the bare minimum for potential buyers.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of an FHA loan is that it requires only a 3% down payment. You read that correctly – 3%! Moreover, that 3% can come in the form of a gift or grant. FHA borrowers only need to have $500 in a transaction. On top of all this, FHA mortgage rates are as good or better than their conventional counterparts.

Extremely competitive rates, low or no down payment, and easier qualifying. No wonder FHA is moving up the charts!

Please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com if you would like more information about FHA loans, a referral to a reputable local lender, or help getting into your first Bergen County NJ home. You may also begin searching Bergen County NJ real estate here!

Bergen County NJ Real Estate Tip: Watch Out For Termites!

PAULA CLARK — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:20:45 +0000

When we think of termites, most of us think they are only active in the spring and summer months. Although this is not the case, they do tend to swarm and become more active in most parts of the country this part of the year, and it is when most Bergen County NJ real estate owners start thinking about them.

Termites can silently and secretly destroy a home before you even see the first sign of evidence that these hungry home wreckers are even present. And, contrary to popular belief, they don’t just eat wood!

Check out this article to learn more about termites and the kind of damage they can cause. This article is a great resource if you think you might have termites and aren’t sure what to do about them.

To learn more about Bergen County NJ real estate, please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. You may also begin searching Bergen County NJ real estate here.

Sizing Up Bergen County NJ Neighborhoods

PAULA CLARK — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:21:40 +0000

Whether you are a newcomer to the area or just purchasing Bergen County NJ real estate for the first time, it can be difficult to know which neighborhood is right for you and your family. You might find the perfect home only to find out that the property values in the neighborhood have plummeted due to foreclosures or other circumstances.

Realty Trac’s Neighborhood Locator tool is a great place to research Bergen County NJ neighborhoods. You can search for areas with the best bargains or that boast the highest home appreciation rates. You can also find areas that are ideal for first-time homebuyers, or that are similar to the neighborhood you currently live in! The neighborhoods are evaluated based on home costs, crime rates, public school systems, and demographics.

To get more detailed information about Bergen County NJ real estate and neighborhoods, please call me any time at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. You may also begin searching Bergen County NJ real estate here!

Bergen County NJ Real Estate Valuation – How Does It Compare?

PAULA CLARK — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:51:32 +0000

Take the time to look at this website to see how Bergen County NJ real estate valuation compares to other parts of the country. In general, the map and data shows that real estate is valued fairly across most of the nation, making now an excellent time to buy.

To learn more about Bergen County NJ real estate, please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. You may also visit click here to request a complimentary market analysis of your Bergen County NJ home!

Bergen County NJ Real Estate Podcast

PAULA CLARK — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:52:18 +0000

This month’s edition covers New Jersey real estate market activity and then our experts explain how making a few changes in your home’s presentation can make it go from ordinary to extraordinary!

Features special guest Terri Murphy of US Learning.

Program length: approximately 7 1/2 minutes
download podcast mp3 file | subscribe to podcast feed

To learn more about Bergen County NJ real estate, please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. You may also click here to request a complimentary market value analysis of your Bergen County NJ home.

Cool Website Alert! Find Bergen County NJ Gas Prices

PAULA CLARK — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:16:02 +0000

Have you seen the price of gas lately?! As prices continue to soar, you may notice that prices vary widely among different gas stations in the same city. Before you fill up, check out GasBuddy.com and enter your ZIP code to find the very best (and worst) gas prices in Bergen County NJ.

For information about Bergen County NJ real estate, please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. You may also request a complimentary market valuation of your Bergen County NJ home here!

Bergen County Market Trends-April 2008

PAULA CLARK — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:54:24 +0000

Bergen County NJ Real Estate Sales Expected to Stabilize Through Summer

Little change is expected in New Jersey real estate sales of existing homes over the next few months, before notably improving during the second half of the year, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, said the market will come into clearer focus this summer. “Existing home sales could start to show a sustained increase within a few months, unless there are some additional economic problems or excessive inflationary pressure,” he said. “The wider access to affordable credit should increase sales activity notably this summer as pent-up demand begins to be met.”

Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for Bergen County in March 2008 to what is happening locally:

Residential sales in Bergen County dropped by 30 percent in March compared to March 2007, causing the average market time to increase 11 percent, from 99 days to 109 days. The average sale price increased 4 percent to $673,132, while the SP to LP ratio decreased by 2.31%.

Bergen County	Sold Listings	Average Sales Price	SP/LP	Days On Market
March 2008	310	$673,132	89.522%	109.14
March 2007	441	$647,550	91.833%	98.54

Now is a GREAT time to be buying a home in Bergen County. To learn more about Bergen County real estate, please contact me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. To begin searching for Bergen County homes, please use our complimentary MLS search.

Top Ten Reasons To Buy Bergen County NJ Real Estate NOW

PAULA CLARK — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:31:21 +0000

1.    Plenty of inventory to choose from. See for yourself on the Bergen County NJ Real Estate MLS!
2.    Bidding wars are rare in today’s market.
3.    Sellers are much more welcoming of offers.
4.    Homes are on the market for longer, so there is less pressure to make a quick decision.
5.    Inspections are welcomed. Sellers and agents expect you to be cautious.
6.    Lots of brand-new homes with incredible incentives are being offered by builders.
7.    You can actually negotiate with sellers for repairs and help on closing costs.
8.    There are fewer investors pushing prices up.
9.    Good, reliable FHA loans are available. No funny financing!
10. Interest rates are at near record lows. Now’s the time to lock in a mortgage!

If you are ready to begin looking at Bergen County NJ real estate, please call me at 201-930-3070 or visit PaulaClarkRealtor.com. I look forward to helping you find the Bergen County NJ home of your dreams!