morristown

The Halpern Real Estate Group is Marketing Luxury Morristown Townhomes

by Jeffrey Halpern

Welcomd

The Halpern Real Estate Group of Howard Hanna | Rand Realty has been chosen to market four brand new luxury townhomes for rent in sought after Morristown.

“These residential rentals are the epitome of elegance” boasts Realtor, Jeffrey Halpern, team leader of the Group. “The workmanship is impeccable and we are so proud to represent the developer, Walker Street Townhome, LLC”

This structure boasts a crafted stone and clapboard façade, stone patios and off-street parking. As you step into the front entry of either unit, you will be awed by its spacious open floor. On this level you will be welcomed by a large living room, top-of-the-line kitchens including custom cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, dining area with backdoor access to the stone patio, and powder room. Up to the second level of the end units, will be a Primary Bedroom Suite with full bath, two other bedrooms and another bath and a third floor huge bonus room to boot.

The inner townhouses upper levels include a primary bedroom suite with bath and a second bedroom and hall bathroom on the second level and another bedroom and full bath on the third level.

All residences include full basements with washer/dryer with powder room, gleaming hardwood flooring throughout, oak banisters, ample lighting, efficient gas heat and central air conditioning.

When it comes to convenience, it is here. You are moments away from the Morristown Green, featuring magnificent eateries, shops and the well renowned Mayo Arts Center; and Morristown Train Station, with NYC direct trains.

The Halpern Real Estate Group of Howard Hanna | Rand Realty, specializes in the sales, rental, leasing, and marketing of individual and community properties. For more information regarding this property or others; or looking to sell/rent your property please contact Jeffrey Halpern at 201.317.7527 (cell) or 973.532.5727 (ofc); email http://www.jeffrey.halpern@randrealty.com; or visit www.halpernrealestategroup.com.

Why Wait Until the End of the Pandemic? List Now!

by Jeffrey Halpern

We have had “stay-at-home” restrictions during these challenging times, and as many claim, probably considered the worst time to place a home on the market. Or is it? On the contrary, it may be the optimum time.

Of course, it is always a challenge to place a home on the market. The questions you ask yourself are: Is it the right time?, Will I get the best price?, How do I prepare my home to show in its best light?, Is the pandemic a deterrent? etc., etc. Believe it or not, this can be compared to the winter months of January and February, and waiting to list for the Spring selling season. The proverbial Spring season is coming upon us just 3 months late. However, if you have to sell–you have to sell, no matter what the timing and before it is too late, consider placing your home on the market now.

Just knowing what is necessary to sell your home for the time of the year will give you one leg up on your competition. Yes, your competition. There pent up sellers looking to list inventory once go back to normal. Once those houses are placed on the market the supply increases affecting the lowering of prices (Economics 101 at its best). When a home gets on the market plays a big role on how to market that home and the price it will garner.

The bright spot about placing your home on the market now as opposed to the end of this pandemic, is that your competition is not as great (less homes on the market gives less of a choice to buyers). Which also places your home ahead of the upcoming reopening of the market onslaught of homes, including this year’s possibility of those unfortunate souls who may not have jobs waiting for them which could result in another stretch of short sales and foreclosures which will increase supply even and ultimately lower prices even more so. With less competition now, you have a greater chance to get it shown and sold in relatively a very short amount of time.

To make matters more favorable for home sellers, buyers are a-plenty. There are more buyers than homes for sale, especially in “The Burbs” as people are fleeing the cities to social distance by adding space. The absorption rate (time it would take current listing to sell) in Morris County is far below six months – a true seller’s market. (Anything above 6 mths is a buyer’s market.) To add fuel to the buyer fire is the fact that the mortgage interest rates are “crazy” low. In actuality, it is more affordable to own a home today than 10 years ago (interest rates with stabilizing pricing creates a lower monthly payment). FHA mortgages have become more accessible, which creates a higher buyer pool. There are other mitigating factors, including the prospect that realizing that employees can be just, if not more, productive working from home, employers are changing their attitude of work-at-home. This not only costs companies less as the commercial space will be lessened, it also creates a better work/life balance. All these factors, and those not mentioned, have resulted in multiple bidding wars on the homes that are currently on the market.

This higher percentage of buyers are “real buyers” vs. the “lookie-loos” we find during the normal Spring Selling Season. With the Covid19 protocols, home showings have been relegated to virtual first showings followed by a live walk-thru when the buyer is very interested and wants to have their other senses touched. Some purchases now are directly from a virtual showing, including open houses, where the first live visit may be during the home inspection. Although this was in the making, the pandemic has moved up this selling format to today and maybe forever.

With pent-up demand for housing, it is the perfect storm to get a home on the market.

When choosing a Realtor to represent you in selling, especially during these challenging times, the necessity isn’t to choose one that “owns” the town with multiple listings, or who brags about how great they are by spending advertising dollars on self promotion more than on their listings’ marketing. The real estate business is not about them, it is about the home seller and buyer. The choice must be based on their experience, their willingness to do the right things for their client, to be able to collaborate with the seller with counseling on pricing, staging and transaction management; adapting quickly to changes; and most importantly, putting their client first and foremost.

Choose wisely and stay safe.

About the Author: Jeffrey Halpern, Broker-Associate, Realtor, has been a full-time real estate professional since 1985. Team leader of the Halpern Real Estate Group of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, he has successfully been involved with closing thousands of real estate closings through several varying markets with his “No excuses…just a solution” approach. He is also a Real Estate Educator, blogger and has extensive branch management experience, and Rotarian. He lives in Morris County with his family. With the slogan “Opening Doors, one home at a time”, he can be reached 201.317.7527 or Jeffrey.halpern@randrealty.com.

11 Reasons Why You Home Isn’t Selling

by Jeffrey Halpern

Posted on Jun 1 2017 – 12:06pm by Housecall

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 1, 2017. Housecall continues to share this piece due to ongoing requests and reader interest.

By Charles Muotoh

When you first put your house on the market, you might be hopeful for a quick sale—especially if you’ve put a lot of money into improving the house over the years and if the neighborhood is one that has historically attracted a lot of buyers. While you shouldn’t panic if the house doesn’t sell the moment you list it, you should begin to worry if the months start flying by without any real offers. If this is the case, here are 11 reasons why your house may not be selling.

You overvalued your property. If your house is overpriced, it’s simply not going to sell. Compare your property to similar properties that recently sold within your area to get a better idea of its true value. An experienced real estate agent can give you an accurate value of your home. Additionally, don’t make the mistake of tacking on the cost of any renovations you made. You can’t just assume that the cost of a renovation translates to added value.

Your listing is poor. If the listing of your home includes a poorly written description without any images, a lot of buyers are going to skip over it. Make sure you and your REALTOR® put an effort into creating a listing that attracts the attention of buyers. Make sure to add high quality photographs of both the interior and exterior of your home. Don’t forget to highlight unique features as well.

You’re always present at showings. Let your agent handle your showings. Buyers don’t want to have the seller lurking over their shoulder during showings, especially during an open house. This puts unwanted pressure on the buyer, which will make them uncomfortable and likely chase them away.

You’re too attached. If you refuse to negotiate even a penny off your price, then there’s a good chance that you’ve become too attached to your home. If a part of you doesn’t want to sell it, or you think your house is the best house in the world, odds are you’re going to have a lot of difficulties coming to an agreement with a potential buyer.

You haven’t had your home professionally cleaned. A dirty house is going to leave a bad impression on buyers. Make sure you have a professional clean your carpeting and windows before you begin showing your house.

You haven’t staged your home. If you’ve already moved out, then don’t show an empty house. This makes it difficult for buyers to imagine living in it. Stage your house with furniture and decor to give buyers a better idea of how big every room is and how it can be used. You want the buyer to feel at home when they are taking the tour.

You kept up all of your personal décor. Buyers are going to feel uncomfortable touring your house if you keep all of your family portraits up. Take down your personal décor so that buyers can have an easier time imagining themselves living there.

Your home improvements are too personalized. You might think that the comic book mural you painted for your child’s room is absolutely incredible, but that doesn’t mean potential buyers will agree. If your home improvements are too personalized, it can scare off buyers who don’t want to pay for features they don’t want.

Your home is too cluttered. Even if your home is clean, clutter can still be an issue. For example, maybe you simply have too much furniture in one of your rooms. This can make the house feel smaller than it is.

Your home is in need of too many repairs. The more repairs that are needed, the less likely a buyer will want your house. Many buyers simply don’t want to deal with the cost or effort of doing repair work, even if it’s just a bunch of small repairs, such as tightening a handrail or replacing a broken tile.

You chose the wrong real estate agent. In my opinion, choosing the right real estate is simply the most important decision you make in selling your home. A good REALTOR® makes all the difference in selling your home within a reasonable time.

All these things can be fixed once you realize your mistake; however, the longer your property stays on the market, the less likely it will sell at listing price. One of the best ways to avoid making these common mistakes is by working with a professional real estate agent.

Charles Muotoh is the owner of dcrealestateguru.com, a full service real estate firm focused on leveraging digital marketing strategies to serve buyers and sellers of real estate in the Washington D.C. area.

FREE HOME SELLER SEMINAR – APRIL 3, 2019

by Jeffrey Halpern

Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, Northern New Jersey’s premier real estate broker, will be hosting a FREE Home Seller Seminar on Wednesday, April 3, from 6:30-8:30 at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Library located at 449 Halsey Road, Parsippany.

“There is nothing better than hearing it from the experts.” states Jeffrey Halpern, 34 year real estate professional and moderator of the seminar “The knowledge, the insights, the experience, and that fact that that is what they do for a living, is to the advantage of those who can hear them speak. They say that even if you can get one tip to help you better what you are doing is worth the time spent.”

Specific for home sellers (and buyers, too) now, or in the future, this free seminar will give sellers multiple tips, whether owner occupants, “For Sale By Owners”, those who’s listings have expired with other brokers, investors, and/or flippers, on how to sell their home. The topics include: staging/detailing; pricing; marketing for today’s buyers, negotiating, transactional management to the closing, while avoiding the pitfalls.

The speakers that have been assembled are well known in their respected fields.

Keith Rice, Licensed Home Inspector, Nuts and Bolts Home Inspection. Member of ASHI (American Society of Home Imspectors), Keith is also a Licensed Radon Measurement Technician and has been inspecting homes for several years. He will be covering what a home inspector looks for when selling a home, and how to avoid running into issues related to the same.

Matt Keane, SVP for Guaranteed Rate. Matt is continually recognized for his high level of production and exceptional customer service. In addition to being a member of the President’s Club at Guaranteed Rate for the past 5 years, Matt has been named a “Top 1% Originator in America” by Mortgage Executive Magazine for the last 6 consecutive years. He will cover what it takes to qualify a buyer.

Robert Wianecki, Esq., noted Morris County real estate attorney with offices in Boonton. Practicing law since 1994, his boutique practice takes pride in extending exceptional levels of customer service and eliminating stress from the real estate transaction while helping clients With years of real estate experience, and thousands of real estate closings to his credit. Robert will cover legal ramifications, and process, as well as avoiding legal pitfalls.

Jeffrey D. Halpern, Broker-Sales Associate of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, Certified Home Stager, and 30+year veteran of residential real estate, has been assisting sellers and buyers in their real estate process. He is also a Certified Real Estate Instructor and trainer. He will moderate and cover the entire home selling process.

All those in attendance will receive a home-sellers kit, and have a chance to win one of several door prizes. Refreshments will be served as well.

The seminar is, Wednesday, April 3, 6:30pm, at Parsippany-Troy Hills Library, 449 Halsey Road, Parsippany Because of limited seating. RSVP is recommended for this informative seminar to Jeffrey.halpern@randrealty.com or by call/text to 201.317.7527. For more information please visit: www.realestateseminars101.com

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

by Jeffrey Halpern

In the past several months I have been involved with several bidding wars on homes, representing both buyers or the seller. Most of the are in the price range of $250-400,000. Is it a good sign – yes? Is it the sign of the times – maybe (at least for the immediate future).

The good news to report is that many (not all) sellers are pricing their homes to sell (or under-pricing their homes to produce bidding wars) and all the owner-occupant buyers on the fence are coming off the fence, as well as investors and flippers. The competition is fierce. They see value in the right priced home as well as finally taking advantage a favorable interest rates, fence-sitters become fence (and house) buyers, whereas, the investors are paying cash. Conversely, inventory is low, driving prices up a tick and multiple offers on the little inventory there is, ticking them even higher.

Getting back to bidding wars, both sellers and buyers need to know what to do if you as a seller is lucky enough to have your house as the subject and the buyer is unlucky enough to be involved in trying to attain the home.

Seller. Without a doubt it is exciting to have your home as the subject of a bidding war. It is obvious that your home was fully marketed to enough of its target market through various Multiple Listing Sites (more than one), a slew of web sites, blogging, social and business networking, mailers, newspapers, etc., as well as pricing either at market value or just below it (yes, just below as it brings about many bids and sell for what market value is).

Because a seller has the upper hand in a bidding war, the seller can control the outcome of the final price and conditions. Seller should beware of the highest bidder. The highest bidder is not always the best of the bids and a seller must use their head and not their pocket to decide which offer to accept.

Multiple offers can come in at anytime during the selling process and actually by law, can be presented to a seller up to the moment they close with a buyer. However, in most cases, multiple bids come in when a property is first listed. When they do occur, the seller with their Realtor (and hopefully one who has had experience with them), should review each offer carefully. Do not get caught up in the hoopla as it is a business decision you must make to take the right offer.

Specifically speaking, with your Realtor, review the conditions of the contract: price; mortgage amount vs. all cash; down payment; closing date; items included in the sale; home inspection time limit; and additional contractual conditions, which may include a house to sell contingency, or the like.

From there go back to the bidders with a counter-offer, or ask them to enhance their offer. Try to avoid asking them to come to their highest and best as in my experience, there really is no such thing. It is better just to come back with a counter. If the offers are at full price, revert back to enhancement or you can actually, come back with a price that is higher than the asking price (just be wary of what it is as it may just turn all your bidders away).

The respondents will either not budge from their price, come up to a price, or just walk away to avoid the hoopla. Some may ask for the other offering prices, and although the Realtor Code of Ethics (if you are using a Realtor), with written approval by the seller, requires that the existence of other offers are present be disclosed, it does not require that the other offering prices are. As a moral and ethical standpoint, I believe that the prices be kept quiet. At that point the counter-offers are presented to the seller.

Once that has been done, revisit the contracts for a second time. If they are close, take the second highest offer – not the highest. In many cases, when the highest bidder wins they will either back out because they believe they may have paid too much, what is known as buyer’s remorse, or they will do what they can to make up the difference of what they wanted to pay, through the home inspection issues. And then there is the issue of the home appraising for that highest price (of which we are finding to be a stopping point for a good number transactions today).

Whereas, by choosing the second highest, the buyer is more apt to stay with the purchase and not ask as much after the home inspection. Giving the seller more control on the buyers requests. It must also be noted to the buyer that they already had an equity increase in the home they went into contract before they even close, as someone was willing to pay more, resulting in a higher value than their purchase price. Plus, the appraisal process becomes more affable.

When the seller has made their choice, I advise that they keep the other offers as back-ups just in case the negotiations fall through.

Buyers. The buyer is most stressed, especially if this is “The House”. Some buyers have to buy 3-4 homes before they actually get a home However, it is a lot simpler. Make your initial offer, look at the seller’s counter-offer, and come back to them with yours. Then do not let the hype take over and make your final price one that is not over your head. be sure to get the assistance of a Realtor who will give you comparables of like homes in the area and in many instances, keeping you grounded. This will give you the information for an intelligent decision. You can ask your Realtor for assistance of a purchase price but keep it in a range instead of a definitive price. (Remember, although they know the market, they are not buying the home, therefore, the value is in the buyers head more than the Realtor).

I suggest you add a letter of praise to the sellers and desire to purchase their home, to be included with your offer. There have been some buyers that have used video to let the seller know they love the home. The video may hurt more than help as the seller may not like what they see in the video. (It sounds wrong but people still do discriminate) If you win the bid, good for you. If you do not, leave your offer as a back-up and keep looking. It may have not been meant for you anyway or the other offer may fall through and therefore, you still have a chance.

Overall, multiple bidding can be stressful for both sides and getting the assistance from a Realtor will keep your emotions in check while giving you a representative that will work hard for you and your real estate goals

The Halpern Real Estate Group is Marketing Luxury Morristown Townhomes

11 Reasons Why You Home Isn’t Selling

FREE HOME SELLER SEMINAR – APRIL 3, 2019

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

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