ERA JUSTIN REALTY ACHIEVERS THROUGHOUT 2016

ERA JUSTIN REALTY ACHIEVERS THROUGHOUT 2016

 In addition to being the ERA Justin Realty Leadership Circle achievers throughout the third quarter of 2016, Lee Schilare, Danny Simone, Rosemarie Zembryski, Peg McLaughlin, Carol D. Calamari, Jennifer Sullivan, Cathy Vick, Julia Dagistanli and Fara Espandi all  know the secrets to real estate success.  It takes dedication from these sales professionals who are part of the ERA Justin Realty success team.  Simply watch them day after day, month after month, year after year.  They are focused on exceeding the needs of their sellers and buyers, continuing with their success in varied real estate economies.

They have also offered their knowledge to readers on a variety of topics. Throughout the year topics are offered in North Jersey Newspapers, The South Bergenite and The Record, including, Moving And How It Affects Children, How Renters Can Become Buyers, Dollar For Dollar Return On Renovations, Empty Nesters And Returning Children, Avoiding The Money Pit, as well as other timely articles for buyers and sellers.

With over 35 years as an ERA market leader nationwide, ERA Justin Realty continues as a "Top-100" ERA firm serving Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex counties. They continue to grow their firm since opening their doors in 1950.

Although showing and selling real estate is a 365 day and night job for these ERA Justin Realtor professionals, their responsibilities go beyond what the public sees.  The firm has a vast resource library of important topics to share with the public.  These Realtors and their broker-owners Ron Darby and Jennifer Darby Metzger are always busy advising homeowners on topics that aid them in making sound real estate decisions regarding their homes. 

“There is a difference in real estate companies,” stated Ron Darby.  “Attending on-going advanced training, seminars, round-table discussions with industry leaders and focus groups is what we continually do at our firm, much more than many other area real estate firms.  We believe, in order to exceed sellers expectations of what a Realtor professional is about, we don’t learn just the basics.  We want to learn, know and teach much more than is ever expected of us.  In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard.  To prove that, our sellers have put their thoughts in writing. We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of nearly 800 quotes and reviews from our sellers and buyers.  No other area real estate firm can offer that.”

“These ERA Justin Realtor professionals are our best-of-the-best through the third quarter, 2016. They achieved our ‘Leadership Circle’ status for their efforts above and beyond for their sellers and buyers,” concluded Jennifer Darby Metzger.

For more information on these real estate market leaders and on real estate topics, consumers can reach them at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue or at our Hoboken Meet and Greet location at 221 River Street.  By phone at (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD.  Additional real estate information is also available at the firms 1000's of homes websites atwww.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin Provides Pros and Cons of Verbal Real Estate Negotiations

ERA Justin Provides Pros and Cons of Verbal Real Estate Negotiations

Negotiating a home purchase can be an arduous process. Drafting the purchase offer can take hours depending on the situation. After all that, the seller may or may not find it acceptable, and modifications may be necessary. Buyers usually focus on price when they think of striking a deal with the seller. But the purchase offer encompasses all the terms and conditions that will apply if the sale goes forward. It's a complicated legal document. Sellers often don't accept the buyer's first offer in its entirety. For instance, the seller might like the buyer's price, but not the date he wants to close the sale. Or, the buyer could ask for possession of the property when the deal closes, and the sellers might need to rent back for a while. It's common for buyers and sellers to engage in several rounds of counter offering back and forth before they arrive at a contract that's mutually acceptable. This can take days. One way to short-cut the process is through verbal negotiations.

ERA Justin Realtor agent Grace Tirrito said, “For example, sellers of a property received several offers. Two of the offers were close to what they were hoping for. Rather than countering back and forth, they asked their listing agent to talk to the real estate agents who represented the buyers who made the two best offers. The sellers wanted to know if either or both of the buyers would be willing to pay more in order to wrap up the deal. The sellers reached a verbal agreement with one of the buyers, which was promptly solidified in writing.
When house hunting, It's critical to keep in mind that verbal agreements to sell real estate aren't binding. To be legally enforceable, a contract to buy real estate must be agreed to in writing by both buyer and seller. One prospective buyer learned this lesson the hard way. He preferred to negotiate verbally with the seller for the purchase of the property. After several days of verbal negotiations, the buyer and seller reached a verbal agreement on price. The details that make up the entire purchase agreement hadn't been discussed. When the buyer finally sat down with an agent to put his offer is writing, other buyers were expressing interest in making offers. One of the other buyers did step forward with a written offer for a higher price that was presented to the seller along with the offer from the buyer who had initially made the verbal offer. The sellers happily accepted the highest offer, which was much better than the offer made by the buyer who preferred to wait to put his offer in writing.”

Tirrito continued, “Buyers and sellers often feel that negotiations about issues that are less significant than the price can be carried out with less pressure on a more casual verbal basis. But, until you have a fully ratified written contract, out of the attorney review period, you don't have a binding agreement. So, if another offer shows up before you've agreed in writing to all the terms of your purchase contract, the sellers may be under no obligation to sell to you. Even if you're diligent about committing your offer and all counteroffers to writing, both you and the sellers have the right to withdraw a counteroffer before it has been signed by the other party and acceptance has been delivered back to the party that made the counteroffer. Like in baseball it’s not over till it's over, your real estate contract isn't binding until it's signed by all parties.  Be sure to consult a knowledgeable real estate attorney if you have any questions about whether you have a binding contract."

“There is a difference in real estate companies,” continued Tirrito.  “Presenting consumer information, we believe, is in order to exceed sellers expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, and we don’t offer just the basics.  In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard.  Our sellers have put their thoughts in writing. We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of over 800 reviews and testimonials from our sellers and buyers.  No other area real estate firm can offer that,” she concluded.

 

ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide Commitment to Excellence Award, from approximately 3,000 ERA offices. All across the nation, the most sought award that can be achieved in business is the J.D. Power and Associates award.  Outstanding business entities are honored and receive it.  ERA Real Estate was the recipient of the J. D. Power and Associates Highest Satisfaction for First Time Home Buyers Among Full Service Real Estate Firms Award.  For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.

 

 All of the ERA Justin Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue, by office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also view 1000's of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www/ERAJustinRealty.com.

 

ERA Justin Provides Pros and Cons of Verbal Real Estate Negotiations

ERA Justin Provides Pros and Cons of Verbal Real Estate Negotiations

Negotiating a home purchase can be an arduous process. Drafting the purchase offer can take hours depending on the situation. After all that, the seller may or may not find it acceptable, and modifications may be necessary. Buyers usually focus on price when they think of striking a deal with the seller. But the purchase offer encompasses all the terms and conditions that will apply if the sale goes forward. It's a complicated legal document. Sellers often don't accept the buyer's first offer in its entirety. For instance, the seller might like the buyer's price, but not the date he wants to close the sale. Or, the buyer could ask for possession of the property when the deal closes, and the sellers might need to rent back for a while. It's common for buyers and sellers to engage in several rounds of counter offering back and forth before they arrive at a contract that's mutually acceptable. This can take days. One way to short-cut the process is through verbal negotiations.

ERA Justin Realtor agent Grace Tirrito said, “For example, sellers of a property received several offers. Two of the offers were close to what they were hoping for. Rather than countering back and forth, they asked their listing agent to talk to the real estate agents who represented the buyers who made the two best offers. The sellers wanted to know if either or both of the buyers would be willing to pay more in order to wrap up the deal. The sellers reached a verbal agreement with one of the buyers, which was promptly solidified in writing.
When house hunting, It's critical to keep in mind that verbal agreements to sell real estate aren't binding. To be legally enforceable, a contract to buy real estate must be agreed to in writing by both buyer and seller. One prospective buyer learned this lesson the hard way. He preferred to negotiate verbally with the seller for the purchase of the property. After several days of verbal negotiations, the buyer and seller reached a verbal agreement on price. The details that make up the entire purchase agreement hadn't been discussed. When the buyer finally sat down with an agent to put his offer is writing, other buyers were expressing interest in making offers. One of the other buyers did step forward with a written offer for a higher price that was presented to the seller along with the offer from the buyer who had initially made the verbal offer. The sellers happily accepted the highest offer, which was much better than the offer made by the buyer who preferred to wait to put his offer in writing.”

Tirrito continued, “Buyers and sellers often feel that negotiations about issues that are less significant than the price can be carried out with less pressure on a more casual verbal basis. But, until you have a fully ratified written contract, out of the attorney review period, you don't have a binding agreement. So, if another offer shows up before you've agreed in writing to all the terms of your purchase contract, the sellers may be under no obligation to sell to you. Even if you're diligent about committing your offer and all counteroffers to writing, both you and the sellers have the right to withdraw a counteroffer before it has been signed by the other party and acceptance has been delivered back to the party that made the counteroffer. Like in baseball it’s not over till it's over, your real estate contract isn't binding until it's signed by all parties.  Be sure to consult a knowledgeable real estate attorney if you have any questions about whether you have a binding contract."

“There is a difference in real estate companies,” continued Tirrito.  “Presenting consumer information, we believe, is in order to exceed sellers expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, and we don’t offer just the basics.  In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard.  Our sellers have put their thoughts in writing. We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of over 800 reviews and testimonials from our sellers and buyers.  No other area real estate firm can offer that,” she concluded.

 

ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide Commitment to Excellence Award, from approximately 3,000 ERA offices. All across the nation, the most sought award that can be achieved in business is the J.D. Power and Associates award.  Outstanding business entities are honored and receive it.  ERA Real Estate was the recipient of the J. D. Power and Associates Highest Satisfaction for First Time Home Buyers Among Full Service Real Estate Firms Award.  For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.

 

 All of the ERA Justin Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue, by office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also view 1000's of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www/ERAJustinRealty.com.

 

ERA Justin Provides Pros and Cons of Verbal Real Estate Negotiations

ERA Justin Provides Pros and Cons of Verbal Real Estate Negotiations

Negotiating a home purchase can be an arduous process. Drafting the purchase offer can take hours depending on the situation. After all that, the seller may or may not find it acceptable, and modifications may be necessary. Buyers usually focus on price when they think of striking a deal with the seller. But the purchase offer encompasses all the terms and conditions that will apply if the sale goes forward. It's a complicated legal document. Sellers often don't accept the buyer's first offer in its entirety. For instance, the seller might like the buyer's price, but not the date he wants to close the sale. Or, the buyer could ask for possession of the property when the deal closes, and the sellers might need to rent back for a while. It's common for buyers and sellers to engage in several rounds of counter offering back and forth before they arrive at a contract that's mutually acceptable. This can take days. One way to short-cut the process is through verbal negotiations.

ERA Justin Realtor agent Grace Tirrito said, “For example, sellers of a property received several offers. Two of the offers were close to what they were hoping for. Rather than countering back and forth, they asked their listing agent to talk to the real estate agents who represented the buyers who made the two best offers. The sellers wanted to know if either or both of the buyers would be willing to pay more in order to wrap up the deal. The sellers reached a verbal agreement with one of the buyers, which was promptly solidified in writing.
When house hunting, It's critical to keep in mind that verbal agreements to sell real estate aren't binding. To be legally enforceable, a contract to buy real estate must be agreed to in writing by both buyer and seller. One prospective buyer learned this lesson the hard way. He preferred to negotiate verbally with the seller for the purchase of the property. After several days of verbal negotiations, the buyer and seller reached a verbal agreement on price. The details that make up the entire purchase agreement hadn't been discussed. When the buyer finally sat down with an agent to put his offer is writing, other buyers were expressing interest in making offers. One of the other buyers did step forward with a written offer for a higher price that was presented to the seller along with the offer from the buyer who had initially made the verbal offer. The sellers happily accepted the highest offer, which was much better than the offer made by the buyer who preferred to wait to put his offer in writing.”

Tirrito continued, “Buyers and sellers often feel that negotiations about issues that are less significant than the price can be carried out with less pressure on a more casual verbal basis. But, until you have a fully ratified written contract, out of the attorney review period, you don't have a binding agreement. So, if another offer shows up before you've agreed in writing to all the terms of your purchase contract, the sellers may be under no obligation to sell to you. Even if you're diligent about committing your offer and all counteroffers to writing, both you and the sellers have the right to withdraw a counteroffer before it has been signed by the other party and acceptance has been delivered back to the party that made the counteroffer. Like in baseball it’s not over till it's over, your real estate contract isn't binding until it's signed by all parties.  Be sure to consult a knowledgeable real estate attorney if you have any questions about whether you have a binding contract."

“There is a difference in real estate companies,” continued Tirrito.  “Presenting consumer information, we believe, is in order to exceed sellers expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, and we don’t offer just the basics.  In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard.  Our sellers have put their thoughts in writing. We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of over 800 reviews and testimonials from our sellers and buyers.  No other area real estate firm can offer that,” she concluded.

 

ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide Commitment to Excellence Award, from approximately 3,000 ERA offices. All across the nation, the most sought award that can be achieved in business is the J.D. Power and Associates award.  Outstanding business entities are honored and receive it.  ERA Real Estate was the recipient of the J. D. Power and Associates Highest Satisfaction for First Time Home Buyers Among Full Service Real Estate Firms Award.  For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.

 

 All of the ERA Justin Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue, by office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also view 1000's of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www/ERAJustinRealty.com.

 

Increasing Investment Potential 2016, An ERA Justin Realty Overview

Increasing Investment Potential 2016, An ERA Justin Realty Overview

Buying or selling a house is one of the biggest decisions most people will ever make with their finances and their lifestyle. Getting the best bargain in the purchase or making the most profit on the sale give buyers and sellers so much to think about that many may never stop to consider buying another as an income-generating property. The rewards in savings and profits can be high.

Cathy Vick a Realtor agent with ERA Justin Realty for over thirty three years, besides her successful listing and sales career was also selected as Realtor of the Year by the RealSource Association of Realtors with 3,500 members and shared, “One option for buyers who otherwise might consider home prices beyond their reach is a property that helps pay for itself; a house you live in part of and rent the rest of. This offers not only an obvious balance of cost and income, but perhaps lesser-known benefits in taxes and mortgage that you should consider with your tax advisor. The rental units can be depreciated over time and considered to offset the rental income. This may lower your taxes on that income. At the same time, the rents in addition to your finances helps you qualify for a larger mortgage, and investors who occupy their rental properties, under certain conditions, may get interest rates lower than those who do not.

Many mortgage lenders provide varied mortgage programs. Our menu of mortgage lenders will provide updated information when you begin your home search. We can tell you more. Of course you'll want to decide if the demands of being a live-in landlord are for you, and explore if rent-control laws in your area might limit the return on your investment. If being an offsite landlord is more appealing, you could always keep your current home as a rental after you move into the new one. Your long-tern familiarity with the home's features and condition could lend a certain confidence both to yourself and your potential tenants. As with any investment property, you'll first want to calculate whether the rental income will make up for the needed expenses. This is another consideration in which one of our qualified Realtor sales agents can help with his or her knowledge of the local rental market and its prospects over time.

If you are pleased with the prospects, then you may even prefer a fixer-upper to your familiar former home. With a thorough inspection to answer any questions, and a realistic budget and disciplined schedule to handle all improvements, your outlays may prove to be well worth it. Renovations can range from reconfiguring the floor plan to simply replacing now-unfashionable décor.

Owning an income-generating property may not be for everyone, but, from younger buyers offsetting their purchase costs, to seniors easing the expenses of their retirement years it can be for many kinds of people. Talk to a real estate sales professional at ERA Justin Realty to find out if rental property may be two times the success for you personally.”

Vick concluded, “At ERA Justin Realty the words, ‘There is a difference in real estate companies’ is more than a phrase.  We live it every day.  Because of our daily priorities, we proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’ from approximately 30,000 ERA brokers and agents all across the ERA nation."

Vick and all of the ERA Justin Realty full service Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.  By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD.  Additional cutting-edge real estate technology information awaits you at their winning search websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

How Accessibility Features Can Serve Homeowners of All Ages and Abilities in 2016

We all need a helping hand from time to time, but prefer to remain as independent as possible. Accessible features in a home are a way of lending ourselves a hand, and staying in our own house for much longer than we otherwise might.

“As more members of the baby boom generation, which comprises the largest segment of America’s population reach retirement age, many of them show a preference for 'aging in place' in their own homes rather than moving to traditional senior communities and facilities. This trend has created more interest than ever in the designing and retrofitting of homes for maximum ease of use. Heightened awareness of the needs of disabled people of all ages, and increased legislative attention to their rights, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have also helped drive a trend which can benefit all homebuyers,” stated ERA Justin Realtor agent, Julia Dagistanli.

What has come to be called Universal Design is a set of standards for making every house a welcoming home for inhabitants of all ability levels. These include placing light switches and thermostats low enough, and electrical outlets high enough, for anyone to reach; outfitting hallways with railings and showers with grab-bars and stools; replacing doorknobs with levers; offering ramps as well as stairs, and doorways that can accommodate wheelchairs; and minimizing falling risks through secure, low-pile carpeting.  Though there was a time when accessibility was considered an obstacle to resale value and desirability, attitudes and demographics have changed, and Universal Design is now considered a resale advantage. This potential extra salability can be achieved through minimal effort and expense. For instance, in many cases a room can be made wheelchair-accessible simply by changing the direction of a swinging door.

Dagistanli continued, “The simplicity of such measures, and their popularity with potential homebuyers makes it equally desirable to build a new home with these considerations in mind, or to retrofit an existing home with them. No one has to feel they’ve turned their home into a medical facility. You can avoid this with some smart and simple methods that enhance convenience and are common sense for all homeowners, while maintaining the more intangible comforts of home, like independence and familiar communities. In addition to the convenience offered by making these types of upgrades to a home, there are government loan programs that can help subsidize accessibility modifications. Talk to one of  real estate professionals about accessible-home options in any area where you may be interested in buying. He or she can also find out about financing opportunities and other ways to keep your path to satisfying and secure homeownership a clear one.”

ERA Justin Realty, a leading area Realtor serving Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex Counties is part of the international global real estate network which was named the recipient of the  J.D. Power and Associates Award for Highest Overall Satisfaction For First Time Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms.  ERA Real Estate is the only national full service real estate company, receiving this award during that year.

This marks an additional year that ERA Real Estate had received an award from this prestigious organization. Prior, ERA was the recipient of the J.D. Power and Associates Award for Highest Overall Satisfaction For First Time Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms. The home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction Study^SM was based on responses from 4,834 home buyers and sellers surveyed by J.D. Power and Associates.

Dagistanli concluded, “To learn more about ERA Justin Realty, our staff, our Realtor agents and our award-recognized programs and services we provide, call our ERA Justin Realty full service Realtor agents who can be reached at either of our two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.  By phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also view 1000s of homes at our websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com. 

Insights: Rather Than Sitting on the Fence …Why Not Own It?

Insights: Rather Than Sitting on the Fence …Why Not Own It?

ERA Justin Realty, a real estate brokerage serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties since 1950 are market leaders in real estate and are experiencing market conditions stronger now than in years.

Carol D. Calamari, Realtor agent with the firm offers the following insights for consumers considering buying a home.

"Homes are affordable for qualified buyers – New listings of homes come to the market daily. Sellers are active in transferring, upgrading to a larger home or downsizing nearing retirement. The market is strongly active with motivated sellers and buyers wanting to take advantage of this active market.

Mortgage interest rates are low – 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates remain near historical lows, based on an average 30-year fixed mortgage rates, fluctuating under 4%.

Timing is Everything – For qualified buyers, this is the time to buy. According to market trends as we approach the holidays, with current inventory being sold and fewer houses coming to market, your best selection of homes may be now and you'll have an opportunity to move in for the holidays.

Homeownership is  an American Dream – Overwhelming, buyers feel homeownership is an important part of the American Dream, according to the great number of homes sold and closed in 2016 and those currently in the market.

Financing is Available – Today’s borrower needs to have stable employment and sufficient income to cover the monthly mortgage payment and living expenses; adequate savings to make at least a minimal down payment; and an acceptable credit score. If you meet these basic requirements and plan to live in the home, you may be well on your way.  Varied mortgage loan programs are available to qualified buyers including FHA which requires a low down payment, conventional mortgages, and VA mortgages with no down payment. Credit score minimums may be higher or lower depending on loan type, income history, property type and other factors."

“Now may well be the time to make your move,” continued Calamari.  “If a home purchase is in your future plans, I would encourage you to talk to one of our Realtor agents because now may be the time for you to act. There is changing inventory on the market for you to capture that dream home you have always wanted at a possible price and terms you can handle.  But don’t wait too long, because mortgage rates and home prices won’t stay this low forever.  Find your dream home along with a mortgage that meets your needs with the help of our professional Realtor agents."

ERA Justin Realty has received the prestigious 'Commitment to Excellence' Award from all across the ERA nation.  For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.

All of the ERA Justin Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue, by office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also view 1000s of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.