Special People Doing Special Things!

ERA Justin Realty in conjunction with Realtor agent and program coordinator Sharon Robie have secured items of necessity for families and children for Christmas 2019. 

N.J. Food & Clothing Rescue started in 2015 as a non profit fundraising organization.   Phil and Renay Stafford started the charity because in 1999 they were flooded  by hurricane Floyd and lost most of their belongings.  When they applied for relief services they were told that they would have to wait for services.  That motivated Phil and Renay as Phil had been helping people most of his life but wanted to take it a step further. N.J. Food & Clothing Rescue was born. 

Phil offered, "We try to help people that are in crisis without having to wait. If someone comes to us for help we can help immediately.  We help people all year long with food, toiletries and essential household items. At this time of year, one of many things we do is adopt a family for Christmas."

Renay added, "Throughout the years we've helped families who are in crisis or are having difficult times. We help single parents, seniors, Veterans and the homeless. We have families who are registered with us who we help with food weekly. During their hard times, we help them with fruits, vegetables and non perishable items. In this way what little money they do have they can use towards bills, rent, medicines, etc. The families for our Adopt A Family program are families that are registered with us.  We also sponsor a domestic violence agency, Never Alone Again.  This organization has families with single moms and children with many of them living in a shelter. We also have families referred to us from people who we know; who know families who are struggling. This is our 4th year that we have done this project. Every year the number of families and children we help increases."

Sharon concluded, "We have single families and companies including ERA Justin Realty sponsoring families for Christmas this year. This is very bitter-sweet and are happy that we are able to help so many families, but its also sad that there are so many in a situation like this. N.J. Food & Clothing Rescue could not do what we do collectively without the help of very generous people. ERA Justin Realty sponsored needy families in 2019. For additional information visit their website www.njfoodclothingrescue.org or email them at njfoodandclothingrescue@aol.com"

ERA Justin has always been there for the community. To find out how Sharon or any our real estate agents can help you with your real estate needs, please call (201) 939-7500 or visit us at one of our 2 Rutherford locations, 118 Jackson Ave and 57 Park Ave.

Selling A Cluttered House

 

Selling A Cluttered House

When you own a home, it is easy to accumulate a lot of items over time. With enough closets, spare bedrooms and a garage or shed, you can easily fill your home to bursting. When trying to sell that home, clutter makes your home seem smaller, ultimately eating equity and killing deals.

According to ERA Justin Sales Associate, Catherine Nimmo, “Getting rid of clutter is the first thing you need to do when you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, and, unless you move frequently, there are very few people who don’t accumulate more than they should”. Unfortunately, all of these items can really get in the way when you decide to sell your house. 

Clutter makes it hard to think. Buyers want and need to see the full potential of your house to picture themselves in it, but that can be difficult to do when it is covered up in your things. You have to make room for a potential buyer to imagine their lives in what might soon be their home. Make separate piles of items to save, donate, and throw away. Less is more! 

You can sell your items online, hold a garage sale, or donate. For the things you're keeping, store your personal items in the attic or basement or consider renting a storage space and temporarily clearing everything out to make the house neutral. 

 

By getting rid of extra seating, paring down the clothes in your closets and throwing out everything in the pantry that’s past its best-before date, you create the illusion of more space. After all, near-empty rooms always look bigger than rooms filled with furniture. Hiring a professional organizer to help with the process is very effective if a seller needs assistance.

 

Nimmo says, “Once you have removed all the clutter, you’ll want to do a deep-clean of your home”. If you do not plan on hiring a professional, go room by room cleaning- dusting, polishing, wiping, etc. If you have carpets, you will want to get them professionally cleaned. Hiring a stager can also help get the home show-ready once you have decluttered. A good real estate agent will have a portfolio of vendors to help you with all aspects of getting your home sales-ready.

 

The last step in the process is to take good professional photos. Most potential buyers these days are going to look at your house and its listing online. Good photos make all the difference, and will draw buyers. The cleaner it is, the less clutter it has, and the better the furniture is staged, the more amazing your photos will look. Spending time at this point of the process makes a big impact later on.

 

Catherine Nimmo and all of the ERA Justin Realty Sales Associates are available to help get your home ready to sell. Call (201) 939-7500 for all of your real estate needs. ERA Justin Realty is conveniently located at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue. Both in Rutherford.

ERA Justin Realty Welcomes Jason Rivera

ERA Justin Realty Welcomes Jason Rivera 

Jason Rivera has recently joined the staff of Realtor agents at ERA Justin Realty. Jason is an East Rutherford resident, where he has lived for 3 years with his wife, Denise and their 2 children, daughter Jaden and son Sebastien and their boxer, Hazel. He is a native to the area having grown up in Passaic Park.

Jason said, "I’ve been through the process of home buying/ownership several times before becoming an ERA Justin Realty agent.  I know the feeling as a buyer and a seller and to be a successful agent, I need to feel more like a confidant rather than a sales person.” 

 “My previous life as a technician had me in and out of all different types of homes and I know the nooks and crannies of a living space. This has given me a good eye for detail. I also like to feel as if I’m visiting with the homeowner rather than having an appointment." Jason, who will be specializing with first time home buyers, continued, "My focus has been to do the right thing not because it benefited me but because it was the right thing to do and I was  recognized for detail of service as a most aesthetically detailed technician .

Jason concluded, "I am an avid guitarist, enjoy playing hockey and I'm a hockey ref with certifications from USA inline, AAU, SIHA and ISCA. I enjoy spending time with the kids and being involved with them at school functions. ERA Justin Realty is the right fit for me. It feels more like a family than a company and has the backing of ERA Real Estate, a well established brand."

 Jason and all of the ERA Justin staff can be reached at (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 and at ERA Justin Realty’s 2 Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Ave and 57 Park Ave.

ERA Justin Welcomes Kaitlyn Baco

Kaitlyn Baco recently joined ERA Justin Realty as Realtor Sales Associate and is excited to continue helping clients. A former executive chef, Kaitlyn understands client satisfaction and wants to bring the utmost attention to the customer service experience. 

Kaitlyn says, "I am committed in operating the best business that few can replicate as I am respectful, outgoing, friendly, competitive, and always willing to help. I am a great communicator and strive for satisfaction. Being able to assist others through business is my passion.” Kaitlyn graduated with high honors from Monmouth University with a degree in Business Administration from Monmouth University, and a concentration in Marketing and Management.

Kaitlyn continues, “I take full pride in hard work and dedication. I productively and efficiently plan my priorities (the guest/client first, always) and make strategic decisions to accomplish goals. I understand a great leader that can plan accordingly without wasting time is extremely important and essential in helping clients find their dream home in the time most comfortable for them.”

When asked why she chose ERA Justin Realty, Kaitlyn immediately boasted “I wanted to join ERA so that I would be treated like family. In my own family, we root for each other to be successful and are always encouraging one another to reach our own personal goals.”

Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker Co-owner added, “We are pleased that Kaitlyn joined our firm for growth in her real estate career. She is dedicated and passionate in all that she does”. A 7 year resident of Rutherford, we are confident that she will give her full time and energy for the success of her buyers and sellers. 

For help with your real estate needs, Kaitlyn and all of the ERA Justin Realty real estate  professionals can be reached by calling (201) 939-7500 or visiting www.ERAJustin.com. We are conveniently located at either of the two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.



 

ERA Justin sponsors a wreath for the 25th Annual Festival of Trees and Wreaths

ERA Justin’s little elves have been very busy decorating for the Kip Center's 25th Annual Festival of Trees and Wreaths. While a favorite tradition in the community, it also serves as a fundraiser for the Kip Center. Beautiful Trees and wreaths are designed by Kip supporters including local merchants, non-profit organizations, artists, and children. 

Trees/Wreaths/Centerpieces will be on display at the Kip Center from now until December 14th at which time they will be raffled off to benefit the 55 Kip Center. Raffle tickets are available for purchase Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Raffle tickets are 25 for $10.00. Please join us for a Kip Open House, as part of the Borough’s Holiday Festivities, from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 30th.

ERA Justin Realty is pleased to help 55 Kip Center, a fun, empowering, and enriching vital resource for older adults and their families. They are Bergen County's ONLY nationally accredited Senior Center of Excellence and have a membership of over 700 members. They offer Health & Wellness, Education, Recreation, Fitness and nutrition programs to area seniors volunteers also provide escort for essential transportation needs including doctor appointments and grocery shopping. Volunteers can also provide food shopping for those unable to shop for themselves. A little of your time can make a BIG difference in the life of a senior in Bergen County! For more information on this program or to become a volunteer, please call Cathy Baviello of 55 Kip Center at 201-460-1600. 

 

ERA Justin Realty Celebrates 35 Years with ERA and Introduces New Vision

ERA Justin Realty Celebrates 35 Years with ERA and Introduces New Vision

Looking back, Ron Darby Broker-Owner never thought he would be completing his 52nd year in the real estate industry. He thanked the community in addition to the lawyers, mortgage brokers, and bankers, along with other business professionals who have always been there for them as they have grown to top 100 ERA success status.

Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker-Owner said, "Time flies when you are doing what you enjoy. I remember when I was studying for my salesperson and then my broker licensing. It seems like yesterday, though it's now thousands of transactions later. We've certainly grown and it's because of the dedication of our wonderful teammates and professionals who focus with us."

“ERA Justin Realty is highly driven by the knowledge and experience of our business platform. Everything we do is designed with the universal goal of expanding that knowledge base through a series of innovative tools, programs, and resources that help deliver true value and make it easier for us to better serve today’s consumers. We are building a smarter business community; we all achieve more when we share knowledge and work together.

Metzger concluded, "All of our firm’s Realtor agents 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 1000’s of homes at our websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com."

Determining your ability to buy a home

 

 

 

Determining your ability to buy a home

The gap between the increase in personal income and residential real estate prices have been used to defend the concept that we are experiencing an affordability crisis in housing today. Home prices and wages are two key elements in any affordability equation. There is, however, an extremely important third component to that equation: Mortgage interest rates
 

Mortgage interest rates have fallen by more than a full percentage point from this time last year. Today’s rate is 3.75%; it was 4.86% at this time last year. This has dramatically increased a purchaser’s ability to afford a home.

Here are three reports validating that purchasing a home is more affordable today than it was a year ago:

CoreLogic’s Typical Mortgage Payment
“Falling mortgage rates and slower home-price growth mean that many buyers this year are committing to lower mortgage payments than they would have faced for the same home last year. After rising at a double-digit annual pace in 2018, the principal-and-interest payment on the nation’s median-priced home – what we call the “typical mortgage payment”– fell year-over-year again.”

The National Association of Realtors’ Affordability Index

“At the national level, housing affordability is up from last month and up from a year ago…All four regions saw an increase in affordability from a year ago. The payment as a percentage of income was down from a year ago.”

First American’s Real House Price Index (RHPI)
“In 2019, the dynamic duo of lower mortgage rates and rising incomes overcame the negative impact of rising house price appreciation on affordability. Indeed, affordability reached its highest point since January 2018. Focusing on nominal house price changes alone as an indication of changing affordability, or even the relationship between nominal house price growth and income growth overlooks what matters more to potential buyers – surging house-buying power-driven by the dynamic duo of mortgage rates and income growth. And, we all know from experience, you buy what you can afford to pay per month.”

Bottom Line
Though the price of homes may still be rising, the cost of purchasing a home is falling. If you’re thinking of buying your first home or moving up to your dream home, let’s connect so you can better understand the difference between the two. To contact any one of our Real Estate Professionals, stop by either of our two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue or by calling 201.939.7500.