Congratulations to Our NJ REALTORS Circle of Excellence Winners

Jennifer Darby Metzger and Ron Darby, Broker/Owners of ERA Justin Realty Co in Rutherford are proud to congratulate eighteen of its agents for being named the New Jersey Association of Realtors (NJAR) 2019 Circle of Excellence Sales Award winners. NJAR recognizes top producing real estate members who have demonstrated excellence in the field of salesmanship. 

“It is very exciting to have and recognize 18 outstanding recipients under one roof”, boasts Darby. “One Gold, Two Silver and Fifteen Bronze is an amazing accomplishment and we couldn’t be more proud of them. These agents are passionately committed and extremely dedicated to achieving the ultimate goal for their clients.  They demonstrate outstanding sales ability and a vast knowledge of the real estate market.  Their service and dedication are what epitomize our values for over 50+ years.”

This year’s Gold Level Award winner is Libera “Lee” Schilare. 

Silver Level Award winners are: Carol Calamari and Fara Espandi

The Bronze Level Award winners are: Beth Albanese, Julia Dagistanli, Jessica Davidson, Kristen Davis, Glenn Elliot, Joana Iliescu, Michelle Korosy, Margaret “Peggy” McLaughlin, Catherine Nimmo, Sharon Robie, Danielle Sette, Jennifer Sullivan, Grace Tirrito, Catherine “Cathy” Vick, and Rosemarie Zembryski.

In addition to recognizing these agents, Jennifer Darby Metzger and Ron Darby are delighted to announce that its highly professional and knowledgeable agents sold 3 times more homes in Rutherford than the nearest competitor, based on statistics from NJMLS, once again establishing itself as the #1 Brokerage in the Rutherford, NJ area for the 19th year in a row. “We are thrilled to be able to say we achieved this position in the marketplace once again,” Darby says. “We will continue to bring value to our clients, providing the highest level of customer experience. It is our absolute honor to service our community.”

ERA Justin Realty Announces Five Star Professionals Award Recipients

Real estate is a hyper local business and what matters most isn’t the volume of transactions one accomplishes, but rather it’s each client’s experience with their own transaction.  ERA Justin’s transaction growth continues to be fueled by satisfied clients who refer their friends and family and return for help with their real estate needs. The positive consumer experience has led to nine of our agents being recognized with the prestigious Five Star Professionals award for 2020: (pictured left to right) Rosemarie Zembryski, Julia Dagistanli, Jessica “Jessi” Davidson, Libera “Lee” Schilare, Beth Albanese, Carol Calamari, Fara Espandi, Catherine “Cathy” Vick, and Michelle Korosy (not pictured).

About Five Star Professionals

Five Star Professional has partnered with New Jersey Monthly Magazine to recognize the top real estate professionals based on consumer feedback and experience. The Five Star Real Estate Agent award program is the largest and most widely published real estate agent award program in North America, covering more than 40 major markets.

The 5 Star Award process starts with a 3rd party nomination. Winners are determined by a series of factors, the most important of which are results of client and industry peer evaluations on key criteria critical for an excellent client experience. Thousands of homebuyers and sellers are contacted to rate their real estate agent on various points, including customer service, integrity, Market knowledge, communications, negotiation, closing preparation, post-sale service, finding the right home, marketing of home, and overall satisfaction

Likewise, real estate industry peers are asked to evaluate real estate agents on four criteria: Industry expertise, customer service skills, Market knowledge, and negotiation skills.

Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker/Owner at ERA Justin Realty states, “We are grateful for every referral and every returning client, as each represents proof that our highly professional agents are succeeding in delivering on our promise of 5-star customer service.”

ERA JUSTIN REALTY RECOGNIZES ITS 2019 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE WINNERS

ERA Justin Realty, the top residential real estate brokerage in the Rutherford area, recognized itstop producing agents for 2019 and sets its goals for another successful year in 2020.

ERA Justin Realty Broker/Owners Jennifer Darby Metzger and Ron Darby offered, "As we kick off 2020 and hit the ground running, we want to celebrate some of our key accomplishments in 2019 and recognize some of our top agents who have helped set us up for success in the new year, through our Leadership Circle Awards.”

The Leadership Circle Awards at ERA Justin is an internal awards program designed to recognize those agents that meet and exceed their goals and the company’s goals on a monthly basis. The 2019 Leadership Circle winners are (as pictured, left to right, standing): Lee Schilare, Cathy Vick, Kristen Davis, Glenn Elliot, Julia Dagistanli, and (seated) Carol Calamari, Fara Espandi, and Joana Iliescu.

“We are inspired by our hardworking agents every day, not just in their sales and volume numbers, but also in their dedication to their customers and giving back to the community. All of our agents deliver an extraordinary real estate experience to their clients.” Darby boasts. 

Because of all our tremendous agents, and stellar management staff, ERA Justin is the top selling real estate brokerage in Rutherford for the 19th consecutive year in a row, based on Closed Sales Volume, according to statistics available from the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service (NJMLS). “ERA Justin Realty has sold 3 times more homes in Rutherford than the nearest competitor,” Darby adds.

Darby credits his company’s success to his team’s dedication to customer service and leveraging the latest real estate technology and tools to extend its listing reach, improve lead generation and enhance the consumer experience. “We’re excited about the road ahead and look forward to providing top quality service to our customers,” states Darby Metzger.

To reach any of our Real Estate Professionals, call (201) 939-7500.  ERA Justin Realty Co is conveniently located at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue, in Rutherford, NJ.

Understanding Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

Understanding Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

There’s plenty of real estate terms used in transactions. Needless to say it can be confusing for buyers and sellers trying to navigate the process. Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson of Team Sette Davidson at ERA Justin Realty understand. “The home loan process might feel overwhelming and difficult to understand. You’ve probably heard that you should pre-qualify or be pre-approved for a mortgage if you’re looking to buy a property. These are two key steps in the mortgage application process. Some people use these terms interchangeably, but there are differences that every homebuyer should understand,” states Sette. Danielle and Jessi break down the difference between the two.

Pre-Qualification

The first step in obtaining a home loan is to meet with a lender and get pre-qualified. Davidson says, “The pre-qualification process is based on consumer-submitted data. The lender will review with the buyer their financial situation and discuss income, job stability, debt and credit.” Pre-qualification can be done over the phone or online, and there’s usually no cost involved. Once they have performed a basic review of the qualifications and run credit, they will issue a Pre-Qualification Letter to the potential buyer, which will identify how much you can expect to borrow, the maximum sales price, any down payment requirements and basic terms of the loan, such as interest rate.

 

The Pre-Qualification letter is used to provide evidence that the buyer has been reviewed by a lender who is vouching for their ability to obtain a loan.

 

Your pre-qualified amount isn’t a sure thing, because it’s based only on the information you’ve provided. It’s just the amount for which you might be approved. A pre-qualified buyer doesn’t carry the same weight as a pre-approved buyer, who has been more thoroughly investigated.

Pre-Approval

Getting pre-approved is the next step, and it’s much more involved. You must complete an official mortgage application to be pre-approved, and you must supply the lender with all the necessary documentation, such as pay stubs, bank statements, assets, etc, to perform an extensive check on your financial background and current credit rating. The lender can pre-approve you for a mortgage up to a specified amount after reviewing your finances. You’ll also have a better idea of the interest rate you’ll be charged on the loan at this point, because this is often based in part on your credit score, and you might even be able to lock in an interest rate.

 

You’ll receive a conditional commitment in writing for an exact loan amount, allowing you to look for a home at or below that price level. A Pre-Approval letter is almost like shopping with cash; the only remaining piece of the puzzle is the property you are buying.

 

Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson are REALTOR Sales Associates with ERA Justin Realty, both ready to discuss your home-buying questions and needs. To reach either of them, or any of our experienced Sales Professionals, call 201.939.7500 or stop by our office located at 118 Jackson Avenue in Rutherford.

Have You Outgrown Your Home?

Have You Outgrown Your Home?

It may seem hard to imagine that the home you’re in today – whether it’s your starter home or just one you’ve fallen in love with along the way – might not be your forever home. Ilene Harpuder, Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty, understands a homeowner’s needs for selling when the home no long fits their needs. “Many homeowners are surprised when they suddenly realize that ‘perfect’ home of just a few years ago is no longer adequate for their lifestyle. From an expanding family to the empty nest to financial reasons, it’s common for a home to no longer be the right fit,” Ilene states.


If you’re unsure if you’ve reached the point where a move is warranted, Ilene share a few signs you’ve outgrown your home:


• More Kids than Rooms or More Rooms than Kids – Life changes and our homes must change also.


• Clutter or Lack of Storage – Do you need more closet or storage space? A home with more space could be the answer.


• Home Office – More and more companies are opting for telecommuting or home office workers. If your kitchen is your office, it might be time to look for a new home with extra room for a home office.


• Outdoor Entertaining – Home design trends over the last couple decades has seen a rise in outdoor living and entertaining areas. You might have simply outgrown your yard if you crave space for an outdoor living or dining area.


• Lifestyle – The square footage might be fine, but you would prefer a different floorplan; more open, single story, more windows, etc.


Your reasons for moving will be as unique as you are, but these are just a few considerations which indicate you might have outgrown your current home. Make sure your home still meets your needs and wants, then you’ll be able to decide if it’s time to move.


When you’ve decided to move on — whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, accepting a fantastic job offer in another city, or simply want a change, contact Ilene or any of our experience ERA Justin Realty Sales Associates at 201-939-7500. ERA Justin Realty has sold 3 times more homes in Rutherford than the nearest competitor, based on statistics from NJMLS. We are located at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue in Rutherford.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH YOUR HOME INSPECTION

A proper home inspection is the best way to purchase a property that’s not a home improvement nightmare. Before you purchase a home, hire an inspector to make sure the structure is sound and there aren’t any major defects.

An inspection helps buyers identify serious issues with a house, condo, townhouse or other type of home. Some lenders require home inspections before they’ll approve closing on a mortgage loan. ERA Justin Realty Sales Associate, Jennifer Sullivan, offers a few tips on preparing for a home inspection:

Get Multiple Recommendations

Make sure you get a few recommendations of qualified inspectors from your real estate agent, attorney, friends, family, neighbors or the American Society of Home Inspectors. Interview the inspector to find out how they work, what their training is, if they are licensed and insured and how they communicate with their customers.

Attend the Inspection 

After the inspection is complete, buyers will get a report from the inspector. Many people don’t realize they can be at the inspection or think they will “leave it up to the professional” to make recommendations. Make sure you are present for the home inspection and be prepared to ask questions and point out specific problems you’d like to check out further. Although he is the expert, this will be the first time your home inspector has been at the property, so any knowledge of potential issues you have will be invaluable to point out.

 

Ask Questions

The reason you hired a home inspector is because this person has the necessary knowledge to evaluate whether or not this property has any issues that would make purchasing the property a bad decision. If you don’t understand what the inspector just told you, ask for clarification. A good inspector will answer all of your questions and should explain what s/he is doing as they are walking through the property. It’s better to ask a question now than have an issue arise after you’ve purchased the property.

Don’t Focus on Small Issues

Whether the home is new construction or 70 years old, there is a strong likelihood that the inspector will find items to list on their report. Each home will have things that an inspector feels could be updated or modified, but that does not mean it is a pending problem or you should kill the deal. The main point of the report is to learn if the home has any major structural problems or if any of the major systems are in need of extensive repair (think plumbing, electrical or HVAC). It is not a wise idea to ask a seller to replace every burned-out light bulb or cracked electrical outlet cover, remove all the wallpaper or credit you for these items.

Determine which battles are worth fighting and which items can be handled at a later date and take your concerns to your real estate agent for negotiation. Sullivan states, “Making unnecessary home inspection repair requests can lead the seller to look at other offers that may be on the table”. 

Jennifer Sullivan is a Realtor Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty. Jennifer or any of our full time agents can be reached at 201.939.7500 to discuss any of your real estate needs.

ERA Justin Realty and It’s Agents Helped to Make the Holidays Special

 

ERA Justin Realty and It’s Agents Help Make the Holidays Special

 

ERA Justin Realty spent the holiday season giving back to the community that they serve. Beginning with Giving Tuesday, the office started collecting food for the food pantry. Thanks to the generosity of the agents and local residents who contributed food, ERA Justin was able to help fill the Rutherford Food Pantry with food for the holidays. The Rutherford Community Pantry, Inc. is a volunteer non-profit organization which meets emergency and ongoing needs for food and personal hygiene items for citizens of Rutherford and members of Rutherford religious institutions who are referred by an approved agency throughout the year. It is a joint effort of concerned citizens, community faith congregations and civic organizations.

 

The second charity ERA Justin Realty helped is Toys For Tots. In conjunction with the ERA Real Estate network, the ERA Justin Realty agents contributed new toys to the program which is run by the US Marine Corps Reserve. Their mission is to bring the joy of Christmas to less fortunate children. The entire ERA Real Estate network had 253 participating offices in the drive with over 7,500 agents who collected more than 8,300 toys this holiday season. For more information on the Marine Toys for Tots program visit toysfortots.org.

 

The third charity that ERA Justin helped this holiday season is NJ Food & Clothing Rescue. The staff of ERA Justin contributed items on wish lists of needy families in the area that were provided by the charity to help make their Christmas happy. NJ Food & Clothing Rescue have been helping local families since 2015. This is the 4th year that ERA Justin has adopted families through the program.

 

ERA Justin has always been there for the community but during the holiday season they especially work hard to make it special. For more information about these charities or for help with your real estate needs, please call (201) 939-7500 or visit us at one of our two Rutherford locations, 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.