Sights, sounds and living at the Jersey Shore. From Mansions to sand castles, waterfront or waterviews, condos or town houses. This blog is created as an interactive resource for all your real estate needs and concerns and as a venue for sharing stories about the Jersey Shore and its towns, a place I love. Feel free to add your voice to this forum. I want you to be heard.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Market Watch for Monmouth County NJ
The under contract properties of this January are down 48% from January 2005; however New Jersey's actual foreclosure rate in January was .02% ranking it 32nd in the nation. By comparison the national average rate is .05% more than double that in New Jersey.
ON the other hand with mortgage rates dropping in the last couple of weeks,there may be a gentle 'Spring Surge' in home sales as long as mortgage rates fall and remain below 4.75% by the end of March.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Speeding in New Jersey....
the latest NJ State Police Initiative (Radio Station 101.5 FM
confirmed this info).
Starting today, New Jersey will launch a 30-day speeding ticket
frenzy. The state estimates that 9 million dollars will be generated
in speeding tickets. One million dollars will go to pay state troopers
over-time.
There will be 50 state troopers on duty at all times patrolling the 9
main intersections and highways as follows:
I-295 North and South,
I-95 Jersey Turnpike North and South
I-80 East and West
I-287 North and South
I-78 East and West
I-195 East and West
I-280 East and West
Route 130 - North and South
Garden State Parkway - North and South
5 MPH above the limit can justify a ticket and every state trooper is
supposed to pull a car over and
write a ticket every 10 to 20 minutes.
They have issued 30 brand new unmarked Crown Victoria cruisers and are
bringing in all of their part-timers on full time. If you work in NJ,
NY, DE or CT, you will probably be on one of these highways.. So,
please be on guard and drive safely!
Starting August 15 , the price of a violation to show your driver's
license, registration or insurance card at the time you are stopped ,
increased from $44.00 to $173.00. (Keep these documents in your car) ..
And the fine for not having all three documents is $519.00!
The fine for hand-held cell phone use while driving will be going up
to $180..00.
Please forward this to people in N.J. and let them know of this latest
Police & n bsp; Initiative
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Save Energy and Tax Dollars Too! New Federal Tax Incentives for Energy-Efficiency Home Improvements
Save Energy and Tax Dollars Too!
New Federal Tax Incentives for Energy-Efficiency
Home Improvements
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed a stimulus bill, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, that made significant changes to the energy-efficiency tax credits. Tax credits that were previously effective for 2009 have been extended to 2010 and raised from 10 percent to 30 percent. The maximum credit was also raised from $500 to $1500 for the two years (2009-2010).*
Home improvements eligible under this act include:
Roofs
Insulation
Replacement windows and doors
High-efficiency heating and cooling systems
High-efficiency water heaters
Biomass stoves
There are also tax credits for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, windmills and fuel cells at 30 percent of the cost, without any upper limit. Click here for details and complete eligibility requirements.
So as spring approaches, remember those energy-saving home improvement projects can not only lower your energy bills and help conserve our natural resources, but also save you valuable tax dollars.
Tax credits for builders of new energy-efficient homes and designers of energy-efficient commercial buildings were also extended. Click here and scroll down to view the details.
*Additional incentives are available through New Jersey's Clean Energy Program.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Amazing Race from the Jersey Shore
This past Sunday I was walking the boards in Long Branch NJ takng advantage fo the wonderful weather I came across a group of girls gathered around 2 girls who were wearing only their bright pink tshirts. Curious I stopped to see what was going on on as one of the group was videoing these girls. Come to find out these two girsl from the Long Branch area presumably are applying to be on the amazing race.
So if you see them on the next season's show . YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST
2009-02-22-1018-44 |
From 2009-02-22-1018-44 |
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Weekly Real EstateTalk Show Launched this weekend...
Beginning on February 14, satellite radio subscribers can hear Real Estate Today on America's Talk, XM Channel 158, Saturdays 5-7 p.m. EST; Talk Radio, XM Channel 165, Saturdays 1-3 p.m. EST; and Stars, Sirius-XM Channel 102, Saturdays 6-8 a.m. and Sundays 9-11 a.m. EST.
Real Estate Today will help build consumer confidence in the market and in the long-term value of real estate to help bring buyers back into the market. Real Estate Today will air online at www.RETRadio.com – visit the site anytime after the premiere to listen to current or past programs.
Friday, February 06, 2009
BREAKING NEWS Home Buyers Tax Credit Bill
Here are some of the things that this bill will do:
Provide a direct tax credit to any one who purchases any home!
Amount of the tax credit would equal 10% of the purchase price or $15,000, whichever is less
Purchses must be made within one year of this legislation being enacted
This tax credit would not to be repaid unlike the current tax credit
Taxpayers would be able to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return
This will only apply to the purchase of a principal residence
The Credit would be recaptured if the home sold within two years of purchase
This would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment
Check with your preferred mortgage specialist to find out what information they have on this exciting possibility.
Will Keep you posted
Monday, February 02, 2009
Fair Market Value of the White House...
Think your home value is down since 2005? Per estimates, this 16BR/35BA, 55,000 sqft home on 18 acres dropped a not-so-cool $23 million the past year, to a still not-to-be-sneezed-at $308,058,000. Think of the monthly payments! Since you mentioned it… With 20% down and a 30-year 5% mortgage, your monthly payment would run you $1,323,000/month. You might even have to take a second job.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Hope for Homeowners
Part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, passed in July 2008, includes provisions to help struggling homeowners replace their mortgages with 30-year fixed-rate loans backed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). Available from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2011, the Hope for Homeowners program is designed to help homeowners who can no longer afford their monthly mortgage payments and have mortgages that exceed the market value of their homes.
Find Out More
More information about the Hope for Homeowners program is available online at www.HUD.gov (type “Hope for Homeowners” in the search window) or by calling (800) 225-5342. Both resources also offer information about the FHASecure program -- a program designed to help qualified homeowners who may be facing foreclosure due to an interest rate increase on their mortgage.
Real Estate is Local
Grants To Help States Stabilize Housing Areas
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 provided $3.92 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant Funds to help states mitigate the harmful effects of foreclosures -- declining home values, increased crime, significant loss of investment -- in very hard-hit communities
For more information on how these neighborhood stabilization grants may affect your area, browse online to www.SaveAmericasNeighborhoods.org/fact_sheets.asp.
Be sure to check with your state and local governments to find out about any local programs set up to help homeowners, buyers and sellers.
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