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Key differences in mortgage terms

While these two terms sound interchangeable, they are very different. Understanding the differences and when to complete each step is essential but can also be confusing. But don’t fret; I can help you every step of the way. I’m only a message away! #thehelpfulagent #home #houseexpert #house #listreports #homeowner #happyhomeowners #househunting #realestate #realtor #realestateagent


My experience spans multiple decades or buying, selling and investing as well as real estate development and restoration.  I also have almost 30 years of sales experience, so when it comes to finding an agent who can best represent sellers as well as know how to be a tough negotiator for buyers, look no further.  Please contact me today at 908.912.4441.

I have donated thousands of dollars to a variety of deserving pet rescue charities as part of my commitment to giving back a portion of my commissions to pets in need.  Recently, I also helped an upstart rescue in New Jersey launch their website.  Check out Faith Haven Rescue @ www.faithhavenrescue.org and consider a donation of your own.  During 2022, my commitment continues, so if you are a pet-lover, let’s talk.

You’re browsing New Jersey open houses using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Tips for Smart-Home Devices

Tips for Transferring Smart Home Devices to Your New Home

Moving into a new home doesn’t mean you cannot take certain parts of your old home with you, and this includes your smart home devices. Thanks to advances in technology, there are ways you can transfer some of these smart appliances that play an important role in your life with you.

Get organized. Before you move, make a plan for packing. Label each box with the specific smart devices and which room they should go in. For instance, if you have a smart speaker in the living room, make sure you put it in a marked box so you know where to find it. Consider making a map of where all your smart devices will go in the new home; completing this step can expedite your unpacking process.

Determine what stays and what goes. After you’ve taken inventory, decide which smart devices are worth moving to the new home. While it’s easy enough to move smart speakers and plug-in models, it’s not as convenient to move smart thermostats or other hard-wired electrical devices. For devices that you leave, make sure you reset them so they’re no longer connected to your personal information.

Try to keep your router and network name the same. You might be dreading all the smart devices you need to pack and unpack, but keeping the router and network the same can make the moving-in process smoother. All your smart devices will recognize the router and automatically connect themselves.

Install the smart hubs first. Once you move, make sure to reconnect any hub-type devices first. After you complete this step, all your lights, plugs, and everything else can connect to the smart hub. This step eliminates the need to set everything up individually.

Set up each room. After you set up the hub, go back to your smart device map to determine which device goes where. Go through your boxes and locate all the devices you need to set up.

With just a little planning and preparation, you can turn your new home into the same type of smart home you had before. Using a smart hub and speaker can make your new residence feel familiar and provide automation to make your life easier.

Sources: Makeuseof.com, Safewise.com, Blog.ezlo.com, Sinopetech.com

My experience spans multiple decades or buying, selling and investing as well as real estate development and restoration.  I also have almost 30 years of sales experience, so when it comes to finding an agent who can best represent sellers as well as know how to be a tough negotiator for buyers, look no further.  Please contact me today at 908.912.4441.

I have donated thousands of dollars to a variety of deserving pet rescue charities as part of my commitment to giving back a portion of my commissions to pets in need.  Recently, I also helped an upstart rescue in New Jersey launch their website.  Check out Faith Haven Rescue @ www.faithhavenrescue.org and consider a donation of your own.  During 2022, my commitment continues, so if you are a pet-lover, let’s talk.

You’re browsing New Jersey open houses using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Spring is Here! Need help?

Whether you’re in the market to buy a new house or in need of selling your current house, I’m here to help you every step of the way.  Spring traditionally marks the start of the selling season, but in today’s market, you can throw tradition out the window.  With rates now coming off a bottom and starting to rise quickly, both buyers and sellers are scrambling to take advantage of a historically-hot market while the market conditions are still supportive.  This market will not persist forever.  Rising home prices, overall inflation rates we haven’t seen for over 40 years, rapidly rising rates and fears of a looming recession are going to have an impact on the real estate market and unfortunately, the factors are mostly negative ones for both buyers and sellers.  That all said, we still have an opportunity, but don’t delay.

My experience spans multiple decades or buying, selling and investing as well as real estate development and restoration.  I also have almost 30 years of sales experience, so when it comes to finding an agent who can best represent sellers as well as know how to be a tough negotiator for buyers, look no further.  Please contact me today at 908.912.4441.

I have donated thousands of dollars to a variety of deserving pet rescue charities as part of my commitment to giving back a portion of my commissions to pets in need.  Recently, I also helped an upstart rescue in New Jersey launch their website.  Check out Faith Haven Rescue @ www.faithhavenrescue.org and consider a donation of your own.  During 2022, my commitment continues, so if you are a pet-lover, let’s talk.

You’re browsing New Jersey open houses using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Avoid a Tax Surprise when Selling

When selling real estate, it is critically important to consider the tax implications.  You should always consult with your accountant and/or tax advisor, but here’s also a useful article from CNBC to get you thinking about the topic.  If you are a real estate investor o flipper selling property, you definitely need to consider tax deferral programs such as the 1031 Exchange.  For more information on how to initiate an exchange, please contact me.  I have considerable experience in this area.

My experience spans multiple decades or buying, selling and investing as well as real estate development and restoration.  I also have almost 30 years of sales experience, so when it comes to finding an agent who can best represent sellers as well as know how to be a tough negotiator for buyers, look no further.  Please contact me today at 908.912.4441.

During 2021, I donated thousands of dollars to a variety of deserving pet rescue charities as part of my commitment to giving back a portion of my commissions to pets in need.  Last Fall, I also helped an upstart rescue in New Jersey launch their website.  Check out Faith Haven Rescue @ www.faithhavenrescue.org and consider a donation of your own.  During 2022, my commitment continues, so if you are a pet-lover, let’s talk.

You’re browsing New Jersey open houses using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Comparables are so important!

I know they say “comparison is the thief of joy”, but when it comes to houses, it’s really useful! Sometimes “comps” are hard to identify, but do your own research and work with a licensed pro for assistance.  We have tools not available to the general public and we can often produce detailed comparable analysis which can be used as part of your negotiation.  If you are looking for open houses in New Jersey, you’ve come to the right place.  Give us a ring and we’d be happy to show you what a professional comparable analysis looks like.  Conversely, if you are selling, knowing what the comps say is equally important.  Contact me with your questions about this topic and I’d be happy to help.

During 2021, I donated thousands of dollars to a variety of deserving pet rescue charities as part of my commitment to giving back a portion of my commissions to pets in need.  Last Fall, I also helped an upstart rescue in New Jersey launch their website.  Check out Faith Haven Rescue @ www.faithhavenrescue.org and consider a donation of your own.  During 2022, my commitment continues, so if you are a pet-lover, let’s talk.

You’re browsing New Jersey open houses using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Watch Those Interest Rates!

Did you know that a small move in mortgage rates can make a big difference in your life-of-loan interest payments?  It’s true, but many do not understand this impact over a 30 year mortgage life.  We just had a BIG move in mortgage rates, so let’s talk about your next move.

During 2021, I donated thousands of dollars to a variety of deserving pet rescue charities as part of my commitment to giving back a portion of my commissions to pets in need.  Last Fall, I also helped an upstart rescue in New Jersey launch their website.  Check out Faith Haven Rescue @ www.faithhavenrescue.org and consider a donation of your own.  During 2022, my commitment continues, so if you are a pet-lover, let’s talk.

You’re browsing New Jersey open houses using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Time = Money!

Ready to sell while the market is in your favor? Send me a message – I’ll use my expertise to make sure you come out on top!

If you’re thinking of going it alone, don’t underestimate how much of your time you are going to sink into selling your home.  From the pre-listing activities all the way through closing, you are going to be investing dozens, perhaps more than 100 hours of your collective time on the sale.  And remember this, not only is it hours of time, but there is also risk involved if you mishandle the transaction.

You’re browsing open houses in Ocean and Monmouth Counties using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a holiday season full of joy and happiness! 2021 was a very eventful year in the world and certainly in real estate too!

2022 looks to be little changed from 2021 as far as real estate trends go, so if you are looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate, I’m your man in the Westfield/Summit and surrounding area as well as coastal Ocean & Monmouth Counties.  I am personally invested in Union, Somerset, Monmouth and Ocean Counties and I would like to help you navigate these complex markets too.  Rates remain low and with the stock market in bubble territory, income investing in quality New Jersey properties is a smart idea.  I have been doing it for over 21 years and I have a lot of good ideas to share with you, so please contact me!

During 2021, I donated thousands of dollars to a variety of deserving pet rescue charities as part of my commitment to giving back a portion of my commissions to pets in need.  This Fall, I also helped an upstart rescue in New Jersey launch their website.  Check out Faith Haven Rescue @ www.faithhavenrescue.org and consider a donation of your own.

You’re browsing New Jersey open houses using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Halloween House “Haunting”

Halloween is a great time of year to go house “haunting”.  Of course, I mean “hunting”.  LOL.  People are under the misconception that the Fall/Winter season is a bad time to be selling or buying a home.  Not true.  These cooler months are a great time to be in the market!

If you’re a buyer, you’ll be you’ll be competing with fewer, albeit much more motivated buyers.  Also, if you like the way a home looks in the Fall and Winter months, you will likely love it in the Spring and Summer!

If you’re on the sell side, you’ll be in a market with fewer homes for sale, so if you believe in the laws of supply and demand, you should be able to command a higher price.  In addition, you’ll find that the Fall/Winter buyers are also highly motivated buyers who are out in the market when there are so many holiday and weather distractions.

You’re browsing open houses in Ocean and Monmouth Counties using this website, but did you know we also have some other websites and our own Real Estate App to help you with your search.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.

Fall Maintenance Tips!

Fall home maintenance is very important for homeowners.  Protecting your house during the Fall/Winter months is critical to protecting your home!  Most of the tasks are simple and can be completed by yourself or a handyman at little cost.  I’m one of the most handy Realtors® you will ever meet, so if I can provide some guidance on these Fall projects, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Click here to read the full article on the Fall maintenance tips!

Contact us today to discuss how we can help.  You can call or text us at 908.912.4441 or use our contact form on this page.

We look forward to working with you.