Shop the World Right From Your Family Room

If you haven't discovered One King's Lane -- a virtual daily tag sale don't wait another minute. It has become a passion for interior designers and consumers alike. It is One Kings Lane's unique ability to obtain merchandise from all over the world that spans the range from one-of-a-kind finds, authentic antiques, and great contemporary furnishings from top designers that has made them all the rage. They email their subscribers daily with the details on current and upcoming sales. This gives you the oppportunity to preview the merchandise. But act fast. Once the sale starts it is pretty competitive to get items in your cart. These are some of the great things they had today.

The perfect painted chest, turned candle stick lamp,
oval photo in guilded frame



Authentic Antique Sideboard



Every item in this vignette is available for sale. Just roll over and click to put them in your cart.

Please share the treausres you discover here at "What's The Buzz?".

What's The Buzz?: Here Comes Some Sun

What's The Buzz?: Here Comes Some Sun

Here Comes Some Sun

Maybe, just maybe, there is an economic statistic that may be cause for being somewhat optimistic. Each month the Case-Schiller Price Index is released by the folks at Standard & Poors. Even though we have seen Standard & Poors in a less favorable light since it downgraded the US debt, it is stil one of the most reliable resources we have for tracking home prices.

According to the index, July was the fourth month in a row to show prices trending up. Not exactly a call for dancing in the streets--but cautious optimism may be more appropriate. I highlighted the tiny uptick in red so you can see how it compares to the preceeding trends.You can read the full article here Housing Prices Trending Up!

Let's Elevate the Real Estate Sales Profession

Last Sunday afternoon in a secluded neighborhood three Realtors were preparing for their respective Public Open Houses. Coincidentally, the properties were located across the street from each other. Each of them was busy setting up their marketing materials, turning on lights, fluffing couch pillows and strategically placing directional street signs so buyers could easily find the homes in the remote part of this particular town.

As one of the Realtors, I was genuinely looking forward to the close proximity of the 3 open houses.  Typically, buyers find it most effective to come out to a neighbohood if they can preview quite a few houses in the same day. I saw it as an opportunity to make the area a real destination for potential buyers.

All three of the homes are luxurious center hall colonials with many updates that make them pretty much move-in ready. Though similar in style, they each have their own distinctive characteristics and varying price points. Knowing that and knowing we had each flexed our marketing muscle to advertise and promote the three open houses, I was feeling optimistic and looking forward to high buyer attendance which can translate into SALES.

Unfortunately, my optimism was not shared by all. Apparently, we had differing views on the proximity of our sellers' properties. Surprisingly, the Realtor with the the # 1 market share, the biggest brand name and the highest productivity in the area was unnerved. She felt compelled to make her open house the first one buyers would attend. Driven by a seemingly competitive spirit she compromised her level of professionalism, her brand equity and ethics to make hers the first stop.

She and her colleague went so far as to make signs on paper (in black marker) telling buyers to go to hers first. She taped them over their company directional signs - pictured above. They also parked their respective SUV's in front of the property and taped the same hand written signs on their rear windshields. Even more egregious, they personally approached guests as they drove up in their cars and offered to personally escort them to their property.

In the client/agent relationship the agent's sole fiduciary responsibility is to the client-- it is not meant to be a stage for self promotion. The agent is an extension of the seller representing their property out in the marketplace. None of this agent's behavior was in her client's best interest. In fact it may have had just the opposite effect. Being too aggressive can often put people off. And that is exactly what the guests were buzzing about as they left.

For high quality residential real estate information in NJ please visit my website. For more information on specific communities please visit this page.

Keep Your Neighbors Close

Do you have or belong to a neighborhood association? With life's many demands, making time to get acquainted can boil down to a quick wave while jumping into your car on your way to work. Yet, we all know when you buy a home the neighborhood it is in is one of the most important criteria for making the decision to live there.

So when your neighborhood reaches out to its residents think twice before putting that flier or phone call on hold. Residents have much to gain from knowing their neighbors. Beyond sharing names of the best dry cleaner in town, where to food shop, best drug store--it is also a great resource for identifying reliable contractors for maintenance of your home.

Another very important benefit is for neighbors to watch out for each other. So when you take the next needed vacation someone keeps an eye out for you and may even take the newspaper in so your house does not look unoccupied.

Neighborhood association supported events can help neighbors with forming car pools, sharing school information, and creating true friendships that can last for many years to come.

Something else an active neighborhood association can offer is some stability during the current residential real estate market. The more positive communication your neighborhood has the more word of mouth can fuel buyers to keep it on their radar.

Personally, The Newstead Neighborhood Association is hosting its Fall Picnic on Sunday, September 18 from 12-3PM and I am excited to meet more neighbors and possibly make a new friend. or two.

 Please contact me if you need advice for creating one in your neighborhood. Cell# (917) 327-0701





Where Classic Charm Meets the Modern Lifestyle

  Most home buyers cringe at the thought of purshasing an older home because due to maitainence costs. To insure buyers go into transactions eyes wide open, most contracts include a contingency for passing the inspection. It's a crtical part of the process and provides total protection to the buyer should expensive reparations be needed and the seller has not divulge previously.

But most home owners of older home enjoy the process of lovingly maintaining them. Beyond good plumbing, updated electrical, wiring for cable, and a good roof there are many other ways to make classic homes more efficient and reduce their carbon footprint.

What To Look For; Age and condition of the windows, air coming down from the chimney, efficiency of heating and air conditioning systems, exterior and interior paint, stains on the ceilings, quality of floor and sub floor etc.This Classic Center Hall Colonial is a great example of updating an older home to adapt to today's lifestyle.  

  To add light to the living spaces more and newer, bigger and thermal windows were added to most rooms. 





The sliding doors in the Dining Room lead to the deck
 making it feel panoramic

       

There is always the benefit of mature perennial plantings that only age can buy. 

This magnificent home just came on the market a few days ago. It is now an exclusive listing priced at $789,000 in South Orange, NJ. Let me know if you have a home similar to this in terms of updates and we can add yours as another example. Don't forget to post on my blog, call, email or text me should you have questions, comments or ant to discuss.

Music is Alive and Well

For music lovers summer is a one of the best times to see great bands in venues that are as beautiful as the music. Each festival offers a cross section of music from national headliners to local bands, and everything in between. Some are 2-3days long and others may just be a day.


Each festival showcases a wide variety of music including folk rock, hard rock, metal, soul and jazz. 

This past weekend I attended two and each was great in it own way. The first was the Pleasantville Music Festival in Pleasantville (Westchester) NY.



Great big Celebration with 4 stages, a beer garden and wine bar -cost of entry = $40,00 per person (children free).

 

Headliner Marc Cohn - performing his hit "Walking in Memphis."

Maplewoodstock in Maplewood, NJ. A more homey atmosphere with 1 stage, local bands and local vendors from the Maplewood, Village Cost of Entry - FREE for Everyone!
Headliner "The Smithereens."

Maplewoodstock - Very Pet Friendly

A Natural Beauty Right in Your Own Backyard

Yesterday I was treated to a tour of Greenwood Gardens - 28 acres of private gardens in Short Hills, NJ (35 minutes from Manhattan). It is on the National Registry of Historic Places and is significant for its beauty, history and design. 

While it looks much like a Carnation it is actually a type of Rose



Century old rock walls and pots



It combines the very best of formal gardens, open meadows, woodlands and pasture. Because it backs up to the South Mountain Reservation (2,000 acres of preserved land) the setting is incredibly tranquil.

Featured statues, carvings, cement and tiled  gazebos abound

The gardens are centuries old and were originally part of an estate. In 2003 the owners donated it to the public. Through grants and private funding the entire place is undergoing a transformation to revitalize the gardens, preserve them for future generations and become a vibrant cultural center for the New York Metropolitan area.

                                                  Tile inlay in one of the many gazebos.  

I didn't find out what type of plant this is, but it sure is beautiful

Once a multi level water fall and pond.



My Colleagues and friends

  

A variety of Hydrangea

To find out more or to schedule a tour visit their website at Greenwood Gardens

What's The Buzz? Find out What Makes These Towns So Special...

Downtown Millburn

Click here to learn more about Short Hills Real Estate: http://www.amyharrisonline.com/short-hills-homes-s6884.html

A Distinctive Home in Short Hills

  


Distinctive Home in S. Orange



Why it Might Just Be A Very Good Time to Buy a Home

In a recent article from the Wall Street Journal titled "Why its Time to Buy,"they used some great visuals to show the trends in the current residential market.  

The first graph shows how homes have become far more affordable now since home prices are more in line  with buyer's income levels.

The second graph demonstrates that home prices are now basically back to their values prior to the 2006 bubble. 

What's The Buzz?: How To Make Sure Your Offer is Accepted

What's The Buzz?: How To Make Sure Your Offer is Accepted

How To Make Sure Your Offer is Accepted

You have finally found the house of your dreams. It is priced right and is receiving a lot of attention from other buyers. You don’t want to miss this opportunity so you are ready to put in an offer with the real estate agent immediately. What can you do to guarantee your offer is the one accepted? Financially there are 3 main categories;

1.) An All-Cash Offer - A cash purchaser is always favored by any seller. In today’s real estate market, an all-cash offer is even more enticing. Last month, one in four real estate transactions were impacted by a low appraisal. An all-cash buyer eliminates the need for the bank appraisal.

2.) A Non-Contingency Offer - If you don’t have the cash reserves for an all-cash purchase, the next best thing would be to make a non-contingency offer. To do this you should be already pre-approved for a mortgage and have your current house already in contract. This gives the seller the confidence that you are already a qualified buyer who will be able to complete the purchase.

3.) A Contingency Offer - Some buyers start the process of looking for a new home before their current home is sold. This could be a big mistake. If you find the home you were hoping for (perfect for your family AND priced right), it will be very difficult to get your offer accepted because you are not actually qualified to buy.

Asking a seller to wait for your home to sell is somewhat unreasonable in today’s environment. One of the reasons you would want the home is because the seller priced the home at a value to sell it NOW. They want to know it is sold when they accept an offer. They normally will not even entertain a contingency offer.

Bottom Line

Unless you have the ability to purchase with cash, the best thing to do is to be pre-approved for a mortgage and have your current house already in contract before looking for the home of your dreams. That guarantees you will get the home you love at a price that makes sense.

How Fun is That South Orange?

The community of South Orange, NJ just gets more and more active. As one of the oldest surban towns near NYC (30 minute commute by Midtown Direct train line) it has some of the most exquisite housing inventory in the area. It spans four centuries from the 1700's - 2000's and includes an array of styles  with traditional Tudors, every type of Colonial possible, grand Manors Homes and real Mansions. With it's signature and quaint gaslamps that light the streets to an authentic downtown featuring a gourmet food market, 3 ecclectic boutiques for women,  a fresh bakery, multiple coffe spots,  a real "Jersey Diner,"  a Brewery, and many fine restaurants and eateries it is truly a special place to live.
Last weekend the town had a community wide gargae sale. Particiapnts were able to get in the program, including a map of the particiapting home addresses. Personally, I collect antique and retro jewelry and did quite well.

This weekend is the historial house tour called the "Gems of South Orange". It will feature 7 homes that span 4 centuries. For more info and to buy tickets follow this link.http://sohps.org/

Put a Little Light on the Subject

Every spring I can hardly wait to sink my hands into the earth in the hopes of expanding the lush gardens that surround my center hall colonial home. I love shopping the garden supply center and carefully choosing the perfect annuals to plant in the pots that drink up the sun on my deck.

In years past, no matter what I tried, my front landscaping never looked as lush as I'd like. But as May started unfolding, so too did the brilliantly purple flowers on my gracious Azaleas, the grass seemed more vivid and the Barberry bushes were brilliant. The second week I noticed the flowers were even more hardy on the Dogwood, the Box Woods seemed to stand stronger, the Japanese Maple seemed sturdier. Why was my yard blooming better than ever?

And then it dawned on me. After the very last winter storm we had a specialist examine the trees around our property. After testing them they recommended taking down 2 large Oaks, 20-30 feet each in the front yard. The results showed they were no longer healthy and could potentially come down during another storm. For protection measures we had them removed. I never gave it a second thought. However, in their absence the plantings are now bathed in sun light and they are all much happier than they have ever been.

Lessons Learned-
1. Make sure the plants that flower are getting the necessary sunlight they need.

2. Get your trees checked every year or 2- especially those that stand close to your home.

6 Furniture Arranging Tips

I just read this article and thought it was truly inspirational. I hope you do too. It is written by Mark McCauley - member of ASID and author of Color Therapy at Home and Interior Design for Idiots.

6 Tips to Take your Design Dilemmas into Successful Arrangements
1. Take Measurements - To effectively arrange a space you need to know its size. Take a tape measure and measure length, width and if possible height (or estimate it). Also take measurements of halls, stairways etc. leading to the space to make sure your purchases will be able to get in the room.
2. Estimate Volume- Every object has a width, height, and depth. For added visual interest in any space, add varying furniture with varying characteristics. If you are going for a serene look, or a restful room keep the furnishing volumes in the room similar.
3. Its All A Matter of Scale - The size of the pieces in relation to one another and to the space of the room  is their scale. Objects of similar scale used together will make the room more serene whereas -a nice balance of pieces creates a harmonious atmosphere, utilizing the differing physical qualities in height, depth and width throughout the room.When furnishings are out of scale it won't feel right.
4. Create a Healthy Relationship - The relationship of items to one another to form a pleasing whole is called scale. There are 2 forms of balance - symmetrical and asymmetrical. The best way to remember this is think of the human body- there are two of everything. Asymmetry refers to an imbalance such as two candles of differing sizes next to each other. Asymmetry offers visual motion and excitement.
5. Paint Your Room - Look at your room as a painter would a canvass. There are visual tricks you can use to create the appearance of depth in the space. The first trick painters use is "Triangulation." A good example is the placement of a couch with 2 end tables and a painting behind the couch. If you imagine this scene, the end tables create the baseline and the top of the painting creates the apex of a triangle.  
The second trick painters uses in the creation of depth in an artwork, which is a 2 dimensional medium. Paintings often have a foreground, mid ground, background and a vanishing point. Stand at the threshold of your space. Place a chair at the foreground closest to you on an angle, cocktail tables provide a mid-ground and the sofa with the wall behind it provides the background. The vanishing point can be a work of art on the wall above the sofa or a window behind it.
6. Think Gestalt - All furniture arrangements have a totality or a form. A Long narrow living space for instance can be split in two creating zones for function. Say, one side has the sofa for a conversational space and the other half has a dining set for the function of dining.
  

What's The Buzz?: Mortgages: Is What You Believe Actually True?

What's The Buzz?: Mortgages: Is What You Believe Actually True?

Mortgages: Is What You Believe Actually True?

To my followers; sorry to have ben MIA for a while. I am back now and hope to provide my followers with the newest real estate related trends and discussions.

The current real estate market challenges conventional wisdom, especially when it comes to mortgages.
For generations, people have been told that when buying a home they should:

• Make a big downpayment
• Obtain a fixed-rate-mortgage;15 years whenever possible
• Make additional princible payments whenever possible
• Pay off your loan as quickly as possible.

People see a mortgage as a "necessary evil" - one they should be afraid of and try to eliminate as soon as they can. While this was a good tact to take in the past, things have changed so much from the preceeding generations that this is no longer a relevant strategy. Unlike previous generations we no longer:

• Will have the same job for life. Most people will have 5-6 different careers and therefor won't have a company pension as part of their retirement strategy
• We cannot realistically count on Social Security to make up the difference
• We won't have "Mortgage Burning Parties."

With these changes you need to take a second look at these strategies. For instance; Paying off the princible as fast as posible is no longer a good strategy. When you pay down the mortgage the BANK is in a less risky situation. Whose risk is increasing? YOURS!

Additionally, owners have been told to put money towards their 5% tax deductible mortgage, while carrying 18% non-deductible credit cards. In this case you would be far better off to forget the mortgage princible and pay off the credit cards.

These examples are just a small part of how you should adjust your buying strategy to better meet market conditions. Can you think of others?  Feel free to comment!

So What's Next?

One of the best barometers for reporting on trends in the residential real estate market are the attitudes and actions of The First Time Home Buyer (FTHB). They are so important because they can have an impact on the entire market. That's what happened last year when we experienced so much activity due to the Federal First Time Home Buyers' Tax credit. It is based on a "Trickle Up Theory." The FTHB brings buyers into the market, the homes they buy enable those owners to sell and buy a bigger home. As a result the available  inventory is reduced, prices stabilize or start to increase and the market is fueled.

Understanding the FTHB's attitudes toward home ownership is critical for all home owners and home buyers. A recent poll by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate surveyed FTHBs and found their attitudes about the process very positive, during a fluctuating market :
67% said the market allowed them to buy a home sooner than expected
50% said they found a home in a more desirable neighborhood than expected
61% were able to get the home at a better price than expected
40% got more space than expected
43% locked in a lower interest rate than expected
No one can say with unequivocal certainty what the future holds. That said, we know that interest rates have begun to creep up in 2011. This trend also effects the market as well. The buyers who have been on the sidelines waiting for "the bottom" may feel energized to rush the field.

Optimism in the New Year

At this time of year we typically take a moment to reflect on the year past as well as look forward to the year ahead. With that in mind, I did a bit of research using well respected real resources to predict (as best we can) what's in store for the real estate market on a national and local basis in 2011. And the result is we can begin to see a gradual recovery and therefore feel optimistic.


Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors' chief economist, said historically high housing affordability boosts sales activity. "In addition to exceptional housing affordability conditions, steady improvements in the economy overall are helping to bring clients into the market, he said. "But further gains are needed to reach normal levels of activity."
The Pending Home Sales Index in the Northeast increased 1.8% to 72.6% in November of 2010 which is a good sign, but it remains 6.2% below November 2009. The key thing is it is moving in the right direction which we haven't seen in the past few years. The 30 year fixed mortgage rate is for casted to rise gradually to 5.3% by the end of 2011. unemployment should drop to 9.2%. "All the indicator trends are pointing to a gradual recovery," said Yun. Home price prospects will vary depending largely upon local job market conditions (which is great for towns conveniently located to the Midtown Direct train line). "As we gradually work off the excess housing inventory, the supply levels will eventually come in-line with historic averages and could allow home prices to rise modestly in the range of 2 - 3% in 2012," Yun said.

What do you think? Tell me what you are seeing in your market?

Three Questions You Must Answer Before Buying a Home

If you are thinking of purchasing a home right now you are surely getting a lot of advice. And most of that advice is probably negative. Why buy now when the prices are falling? Is Real Estate still a good investment? Lets look at whether or not now is actually the perfect time to buy a home.

There are three questions you should ask yourself before purchasing in today's market:

1. Why should I buy if the house prices are still depreciating?
In most parts on the country prices will in fact soften in 2011.  Price is the major concern for anyone selling a home. When you are buying, COST should be a primary concern. Your monthly  payment (cost) is definitely impacted by the price of the home your purchase. The other major component is the interest rate. Waiting for prices to bottom out while rates are increasing can end up costing you more over the life of the mortgage.

Over the last seven weeks, rates have increased over 1/2 a point going from 4.17 to 4.86. Waiting for prices to bottom out seems to make perfect sense. Yet, at a time when rates are increasing it might NOT make sense. Make sure you have a mortgage professional do the math before making a decision.

In an article on CNN Money reported:
"You can kiss those record lows goodbye," said Greg McBride, chief economist at Bankrate.com.

2. When will I begin to see appreciation if I buy now?
This is a great question. Macros Markets, LLC is a company that studies housing prices. They started their Home Price Expectation Survey in 2010. They ask 100+ housing industry experts to project housing through 2015. The most current survey shows that the experts are predicting prices to soften until 2012.

The experts then predict prices to rise reaching a cumulative appreciation of over 10% by 2015. Purchasing a home today makes great sense from a financial standpoint. Think of the old axiom, "Buy low and sell high." We just may be at the low point regarding the COST of a home. But this decision should  not be only a financial one.

3. Why am I buying a home in the first place?This truly is the most important question to answer. Forget the financials for a minute.  Why did you even  begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with finances. The Fannie Mae National National Housing Survey shows that the four major reasons for buying a home has nothing to do with the money:
A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
A place you can you and your family feel safe
More space for you and your family
Control of the space

What non-financial benefits will you and your family derive form owning a home? The answer to that question should be the reason you decide whether to purchase or not.

Bottom Line 
The COST of a home will probably remain relatively unchanged even if  prices continue to depreciate. Don't  allow money to get in the way of  you making the right decision for you and your family. In the long run, the finances will work in your favor anyway.