How to Reduce your Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County, NJ Property Taxes Now that I have gotten your attention, let me explain a few assumptions on my part. First, that the property in question is used and zoned as residential.  Second, that the total assessed value is less than $750,000. Third, I assume you think your taxes are excessive due to Little Egg Harbor Township's assessed value.  Finally, that the true market value will be significantly less than the assessed value. If my assumptions are wrong then it is still possible for you to get a reduction on your property taxes and you should visit, download, and read all the preparation guidelines provided at http://www.tax.co.ocean.nj.us under the title "Tax Appeals". And, I strongly recommend that all those reading this blog do the sam... 01/30/2010

Is the School Board Nuts? Maybe it's just me but I was surprised to hear the local school board was in negotiations to purchase land adjacent to the High School. First, I did not know the local school board had the authority to make such large purchases without bringing it to the attention of the local taxpayers for a vote. Second, is this going to be a bond issue to add to our current tax rate, or, is it to be paid for by some secret slush fund the board has been hiding? Now don't get me wrong, I do think the school district would be well served to own an adjacent two and a half acres of land for future growth. I can think of several worthwhile projects that could be accomplished on the site. An indoor pool to provide the district with the facilities to train a swim team while serving ... 01/06/2010

One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty two Days on the Market Yes, that's correct 1752 DOM. And, it gets better. The owner just gave the agent yet another extension. So, please tell me again how wonderful the tax credit has saved our housing market. Better yet, let me know how things are turning around and we have reached the bottom of our housing bubble deflation with new upward growth coming any day now. You have read about it, have you not? Maybe you have even heard the National Association of Realtors head economist had predicted a bright tomorrow during one of the many horse and pony shows. I know the homeowners I have talked to have heard how things are back on track. They are expecting to sell for a profit. Yes, a small profit but still a profit. The owner of the home that has been... 12/27/2009

Can your Planning Board Plan? The Little Egg Harbor Planning Board meets every other week from 7PM to 9PM. The board is made up of seven volunteers (appointed by the township council) along with the paid clerk to take minutes, an attorney, an engineer, and a landscape architect. I have attended several of these meetings and observed the general practice among the town and the council with the interaction between the applicant and their attorney representing the many proposed building projects presented to this group of township volunteers. I will say I am always at awe over the planning that has gone into our cities, transportation systems, and the water and sewer systems we all take for granted today. Planning is a very important function of overall comfort and should not be taken ligh... 12/09/2009

 I just read Liz Moras' blog titled: You Think Your House is Worth WHAT?? Pricing Your Home to Sell. It had some very good comments by various agents from all over the country. So, this is not just a Little Egg Harbor/Tuckerton area phenomenon. I posted the following comment to her blog:   I do NOT get the listings. Why? I tell them the truth right from the start. But, I do get a very rewarding self satisfaction in watching the list and sale unfold. No disrespect to those agents who know how to "work" it. It must take a lot of marketing ability to take and hold on to such listings. I just watched a house go to closing after 885 days on the market. The owner stayed with the same agent the whole time. She started at $850,000 when nothing was selling over $500,000. Worked him down to $740,... 11/16/2009

Buying Real Estate is like buying a suit I was inspired to post this blog after reading "Know your value, and tailor your business for your client's needs." with emphasis on tailor and the other blog titled "The Elusiveness of the Exclusive MLS" which begs the question; IS all real estate local?  So, I retell (original author = unknown) this old story hoping to get your thoughts on what it means to service the client. A guy walks into a haberdasher's shop and says, "I want a custom suit off the rack." The salesman tells the customer that they don't have any custom made suits on the rack. The guy walks out of the store angry and goes up town to a large retail store that sells men's clothing. There he finds a suit he likes but no one in the store can make the necessary adjustments.  He bu... 11/15/2009

The day started out like any other...but the howling wind and pounding rain reminded me the Jersey Shore was still in the middle of some strange weather confluence. Sounds like the beginning of a bad novel, but this was my morning.  It didn't stop there!  I drove through flooded streets to make it to a termite inspection, only to find the copy of the key that was provided by the listing office hadn't been tested and didn't work! I wasn't looking forward to it, but then I made the hour drive an hour to my next appointment.  So, I recite affirmations and I continue on.  Appointment done. Arriving at my home office, I check my email.  It's a habit.  In my inbox, I read the following...  Laura, You have really impressed me throughout this process.  Thank you for looking out for the small de... 11/13/2009

The Bell Tolls for thee    In my recent post, The Death of a Weblog, I received a great number of responses. The post was meant to be a kind of warning to somebody. A warning to whoever would listen, that all this talk of POLITICS and blame of the country's economy on the other party could result in a mass exodus of our most talented contributors here at Active Rain (no, I do not consider myself to be one of those talents).  And, when I wrote the piece, I was not even sure whom I intended the warning to be directed at, or, what I expected them to do about it. So, when I hit the post button and went off to sleep, I never expected such a collection of heartfelt communication from both sides of the political fence. Unfortunately, I was unable to respond to each and every one who left a com... 10/14/2009

Why I didn't call YOU!  Yes, I'm still selling real estate. Yes, I know your house is on the market. Yes, of course, if I have a buyer looking for a house like yours I will bring them over. And, that's the way our brief conversation went the other day. We both smiled, but we could see each others' uneasiness. We both know you knew I was still in the real estate business, but what difference does it make. I don't hold you to use my services. There are hundreds of agents floating around our neighborhood and I am sure you are friends with many of them. Why would you pick me to sell your home? You may have even been one of the many I provided a Comparative Marketing Analysis telling you what your house was worth in today's market. It may have even been I who sold you the home, worked in you... 10/07/2009

Buying a home at the Jersey Shore – What You Should Know…The Contract and Contractual Provisions.You’ve been out looking at homes with the real estate agent you selected, you’ve got your mortgage lender in place, and you’ve found the perfect home in the perfect community.  It’s time to make an offer!  While some agents representing bank owned properties, or builders of new construction homes require their own contracts for a home purchase, most contracts to purchase homes in New Jersey are standard, fill in the blank contracts, approved and supplied by the New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR). I usually give my buyer clients a blank copy of the NJAR Standard Form of Real Estate Contract when we start looking at homes.  If your agent doesn’t do this, ask!  This will give you time t... 08/24/2009

What an outstanding opportunity to buy a home! Congress has enacted legislation by providing a tax credit of up to $8,000 for any first time home buyer (a first time homebuyer is considered any buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to purchase).  The home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. This tax credit does not have to be repaid!! The tax credit is equal to 10% of the homes purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.  Wow!  02/18/2009

Getting your home ready for sale today takes a little more work than it did just a year ago, or even a few months ago!  You've got to look at things from the home buyer’s perspective and stay up to date on pricing in your local housing market.  Home buyers can pick and choose from a wide variety of homes on the market.  They are a lot more thorough with their searches, so as a home seller be prepared for that. Home buyers can get a great house at a great price right now, so the home seller must differentiate themselves from the competition.Here are some techniques you, as a homeowner, can use to change the way a buyer views your home. Set a realistic price.  Keep in mind, the value of your home is what the buyer will pay.  Some of the factors which affect their perspective are local cha... 01/17/2009

Customer w/Gallery    R3027999 Active 24 N BINNACLE , Little Egg Harbor, NJ  08087   List Price: $349,900     County: Ocean Municipality: Little Egg Harbor Section: Mystic Island Subdiv:   Block: 325.48 Zoning: R-50 Lot: 14 Tax Year: 2007 Qual. Code:   Taxes: $3900 Addl. Lot #s:   Assmnt Land: $241,500 Lot Dim: 36 ft x 130x137 Improvments: $151,700 Apx. Acres: 0 Tot. Assd. Value: $393,200 Liv. Area SqFt: 1100 Year. Built:   Tot. Rooms: 6 Bedrooms: 2 Baths: 2 Half-Baths: 0   Prop. Type: Single Family Model:   Primary Loc: Lagoon   HOA: No Waterfront: Yes Basement: No Pool: No HOA $/Mo: $ Wtr Frnt Ft: 137 Fireplace: No New Const: No Initial Fee: $ Waterview: Yes Air Cond: No HOA Phone: () - Flood Plain: U Garage: No Furnished: No HOA Name:   Comm. Opp:   Spaces:   Furnishings:     Elem: ... 09/08/2008

While all the news reports in New Jersey speak of the growing divide between the uppers and lowers..Habitat For Humanity is bridging the gap... Yes, we have a BUILD going on... The roof is on....and the porch is up... Remember, there's always something to do...we have wonderful people of all ages helping Habitat for Humanity in Southern Ocean County! If you want information for donations or to help us build..email me at Laura-G@KW.com As REALTORS our mission is to make houses homes!  Come Help!   08/27/2008

08/21/2008

Listing Agent:  Anthony Galfo,Realtor Assoc.- Performance Realty Group R3017467 Active92 BRIARWOOD , Little Egg Harbor, NJ  08087List Price: $279,500 County:OceanMunicipality:Little Egg HarborSection:Greater Little EggSubdiv:Cranberry CreekBlock:282Zoning:PRCLot:6.137Tax Year:2006Qual. Code: Taxes:$3100Addl. Lot #s: Assmnt Land:$99,200Lot Dim:56 ft x 96 ftImprovments:$183,700Apx. Acres:.12Tot. Assd. Value:$282,900Liv. Area SqFt:1708Year. Built: Tot. Rooms:6Bedrooms:2Baths:2Half-Baths:0Prop. Type:Adult CommunityModel: Primary Loc: HOA:YesWaterfront:NoBasement:NoPool:NoHOA $/Mo:$129Wtr Frnt Ft: Fireplace:YesNew Const:NoInitial Fee:$650Waterview: Air Cond:YesHOA Phone:(609) 296-2473Flood Plain:NGarage:YesFurnished:NoHOA Name:Cranberry Creek HOAComm. Opp: Spaces:1Furnishings: Elem: Middle: ... 10/05/2007

Customer w/Gallery R3015646 Closed7 SPRUCE , Little Egg Harbor, NJ  08087List Price: $232,000  Sales Price: Call today to find out what it sold for and find out how yours could be next! County:OceanMunicipality:Little Egg HarborSection:Greater Little EggSubdiv: Block:291.2Zoning:R-75Lot:17Tax Year:2007Qual. Code: Taxes:$2905.43Addl. Lot #s: Assmnt Land:$111,500Lot Dim:90 ft x 119 ftImprovments:$105,000Apx. Acres:.25Tot. Assd. Value:$216,500Liv. Area SqFt:1300Year. Built:1973Tot. Rooms:6Bedrooms:3Baths:1Half-Baths:1Prop. Type:Single FamilyModel: Primary Loc: HOA:NoWaterfront:NoBasement:NoPool:NoHOA $/Mo:$Wtr Frnt Ft: Fireplace:NoNew Const:NoInitial Fee:$Waterview: Air Cond:YesHOA Phone:() -Flood Plain:UGarage:YesFurnished:NoHOA Name: Comm. Opp: Spaces:1Furnishings: Elem: Middle: High: Li... 10/02/2007

Customer w/Gallery R3014636 Active2 Vincent Ct , Little Egg Harbor, NJ  08087List Price: $187,500 County:OceanMunicipality:Little Egg HarborSection:Greater Little EggSubdiv: Block:285.11Zoning:MFLot:2.1Tax Year:2007Qual. Code: Taxes:$2308Addl. Lot #s: Assmnt Land:$59,600Lot Dim:18 ft x 46 ftImprovments:$112,400Apx. Acres:.02Tot. Assd. Value:$172,000Liv. Area SqFt:1458Year. Built: Tot. Rooms:5Bedrooms:2Baths:2Half-Baths:1Prop. Type:CondoModel: Primary Loc: HOA:YesWaterfront:NoBasement:NoPool:YesHOA $/Mo:$158Wtr Frnt Ft: Fireplace:NoNew Const:NoInitial Fee:$0Waterview: Air Cond:YesHOA Phone:(609) 597-8848Flood Plain:UGarage:NoFurnished:NoHOA Name:Walnut EstatesComm. Opp: Spaces: Furnishings: Elem: Middle: High: List Type:Exclusive RightAgency Rel:Dual DisclosedROOMDIMENSIONSFLOOR ROOMDIME... 09/29/2007

Looks like waterfront homes have gone way down.  Handyman specials are cropping up here in Mystic Island for way under $250k.  Investors need to come back and do some shopping quick! 07/20/2007

Whether you are planning to buy your first or second home or refinancing your current mortgage, making the right choices now can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Understanding the past practices of other people will help you make the right choices for your future.  I present the 14 most common mistakes when applying for a mortgage.  1.       Not knowing your loan officer.Not taking the time to get to know your loan officer will affect the relationship that you should be having. This person will assist you in analyzing your situation and placing you into the right loan. In addition, the loan officer should always follow-up with his/her client's. This keeps you well informed and able to make choices about your loan.  A loan officer should help you make those choic... 07/11/2007