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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.

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.   This year, 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 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

We look forward to working with you.

March 2025 Market Update

Check out the latest real estate market update for March 2025 in two important Jersey Shore markets of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Sale prices continue to rise, but so do days on market (DOM) and inventory, so we will have to see what happens in the coming months. Contact me at www.darren.realtor to discuss home buying or selling in New Jersey. jerseyshorerealestate jerseyshorerealtor monmouthcountynj oceancountynj homebuyer

During the past year, 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.  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 the upcoming year, 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 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

We look forward to working with you.

FSBOs Need a Local Expert

In today’s hot market, selling has never been easier! If you’re thinking about selling your home, this is your sign to call me immediately so I can help you land the deal of your dreams.  Thinking of selling the home on your own as a way to save money on the commission, well think about this…  First, homes listed on the MLS generally sell for more than For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) sales and usually enough more to cover the Realtor’s commission.  Consider this.  the owner of ForSaleByOwner.com used a real estate agent to sell his condo – that’s rich!  Also, don’t underestimate the amount of work that goes into selling a home.  As a licensed NJ Realtor, I have documented over 100 tasks that we perform that go into the sale of a property.  Finally, in today’s real estate market, the sale of a home requires tech & social media savvy that many home owners lack.  Part of this involves and investment of hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in professional photography, video, floor plans and social media platform ads to best market the property.  These are all costs that are paid for by your agent.   So, you use licensed experts for your health (a Doctor), your legal matters (an Attorney) and your finances (an Accountant or Certified Financial Planner).  Why would you then try to sell one of your larger assets without a licensed expert (a Realtor®)?

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

We look forward to working with you.

Keys to a Successful Open House

For our FSBO visitors as well as our fellow Realtor® colleagues, I thought I’d share my favorite tips for conducting a successful open house.  Doing a open house requires significant planning and a considerable investment of time and energy.  Done properly, a good open house will be one of your more important marketing tools as it allows interested buyers the opportunity to evaluate your home at their own pace.

Here are some tips to consider:

#1 Be Well-Prepared.  It may seem obvious, but I can’t tell you how many open houses I’ve visited that just seemed like no thought went into it.  Be sure to have print-outs of the listing, good knowledge of important property facts (ie taxes, HOA fees, schools, etc) and something on which to take notes and capture guest information.  Also, prep the house well before the open house start time.  Lift the shades/curtains, turn on lights and properly cool/heat the house.  These are just a few of the planning things I suggest.

#2 Start Early & End Later.  If your competitive open houses are starting at Noon, consider an 11am start time.  This will give your open house listing an advantage as it will be on the top of many lists and may be the first house the buyer visits.  They will have a fresh perspective and will tend to stay longer at your event instead of rushing to get to open houses later in their day.  You may also want to extend your open house an hour after the competition calls it a day.  Even though this will create a longer day for you, most people (especially agents) can find things to do during the down time.  It’s a great time to catch up on text messages and emails, return calls and even plan your upcoming week.

#3 Don’t Follow Guests Around.  Let your guests explore the house on their own.  If the house is large and you are concerned about security, consider bringing a colleague and having one person on each floor.  Never allow a buyer to enter the house if they are unwilling to give you their name and contact information.  Granted, they may provide false information, but if a visitor gives you a hard time with this request, don’t be afraid to ask them to leave.  Also, I make it a rule of allowing only one party in the house at a time.  Place a sign on the front door letting other visitors know that you are previewing the home with another buyer and ask them to wait until you are finished.  This may not always be practical, but it allows you to have higher quality interactions with your guests.

#4 Point Out Top Features.  It might be a good idea to have a list of the homes top features that you can hand to your open house guests along with the listing details so you can make sure they don’t miss anything while previewing the home.  Stay positive and don’t over-emphasize the negative aspects of the home.  If the home needs a little work, but it is in a great location with a top school system, focus on that instead of pointing out the projects.

#5 Follow Up.  After the open house has concluded, be sure to follow up with your guests to answer any lingering questions and to gauge their interest.  Their feedback may help you make your next open  house even better.  Ask them what they liked and disliked about the house and see what they thought about the asking price.

If you are a For-Sale-By-Owner seller or someone considering selling your home, please use the form on this page to contact us.  We’d love to assist you on this important journey.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help to buy or sell a home.  You can call or text us at 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

January 2025 Market Update

As you can see these market statistics, things remain hot is Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  Even with interest rates stubbornly high, the market continues to chug along.  Are you considering buying, selling or investing in real estate?  Contact me today to discuss the market further.

During the past year, 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.  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 the upcoming year, 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 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

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.

This year, 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 year, 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.  In the coming year, 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 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

We look forward to working with you.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a holiday season full of joy and happiness! 2024 was a very eventful year in the world and certainly in real estate too!

2025 looks to be little changed from 2024 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 high 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 24 years and I have a lot of good ideas to share with you, so please contact me!

This year, 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 year, 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 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

We look forward to working with you.

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.

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 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

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 908.578.3630 or use our contact form.

We look forward to working with you.