What are closing costs and how much are they?
Buying a home is an expensive proposition. In the Greater Princeton area one can get a condo for $200,000 or a huge colonial for $1,000,000 or something higher or in-between.…
Sorry Russians, but you really are drunk.
According to the market and consumer data purveyor Statista, 80% of Russians polled in March 2022 “approve of the activities of Vladimir Putin as the president…of Russia.” As any reasonable…
Is Putin a warning lesson for real estate agents?
Egotism. Lies. Corruption. Fear. Four words that succinctly describe how a once-mighty leader of a world power really screwed the pooch. It’s no secret that the gestalt of Russia’s leadership…
Dare we read between President Zelensky’s lines?
Posted 22 days into the Russo-Ukrainian war President Zelensky clearly is an intelligent man. He’s proven this, and his ability to effectively communicate with the citizens of Ukraine, world leaders…
“Do you accept Section 8?”
As a real estate agent I represent buyers and sellers as well as tenants and landlords. Frequently a prospective tenant will contact me about an available rental they saw on…
Did you really think 2021 was gone?
Is your head still spinning from 2021? Are you unsure if you’re in a COVID fog, or in denial over what last year’s real estate market did to your very…
Why is my 5% down payment not enough?
The Dream You’re ready to buy a house. You worked hard to improve your credit score, saved money for a down payment and closing costs, found a property that’s perfect…
Is your home worth more than a banana?
Spoiler alert: It probably is. But only if you live in something considerably larger than a one-bedroom condo. By now anyone trying desperately to buy a house in 2021, listing…
“Why does your site look like something out of Myst? “
Hey, that’s a bit harsh! Maybe not so much. OK, I can see your point. Myst, my spirit animal First things first: what the heck is Myst? For you youngsters…
Is buying a home really a good investment?
You’ve done well saving money, and you now have a substantial amount to invest in—something. You can purchase certificates of deposit or dip your toe in the stock market, but…
Pets stinking up your home? Here’s the solution.
Guest post by Greg Wiszniewski from Busy Bee Cleaning Services Have you seen those “nose-blind” commercials? I have too, and I think it’s true: some pet owners really just live…
Can I really evaluate a home’s HVAC in thirty seconds?
That’s what I tell my buyer clients as well as sellers who are preparing to put their homes on the market. “Impossible!” you say. “You’re not even a home inspector!”…
Is the house you’re selling a Shiny Penny?
This has been a strange year for real estate. The selling season began early and with full force, with homes being offered and sold at a healthy clip. But then…
Is there a best time to buy or sell a home?
Whether you’re a buyer or seller, sometimes you don’t have the luxury of deciding when you need to move. A job relocation or school change may dictate when you must…
Looking for new construction for under $600,000? Are you serious?
I get this over and over. And over. Buyers want a recently built, large, immaculate, pimped-out house with a finished basement in South Brunswick or Plainsboro or West Windsor, all…
Interested in three home products that really work?
We all get swept up in advertising, buying things because they promise to be the best or at least better than everything else out there. Most of the time our…
What homework should I do before contacting a Realtor?
Guest post by Natalie Jones from Homeownerbliss.info Buying or selling a home is a daunting prospect, even if it isn’t your first venture into the real estate market. There’s long…
Do you clean your dryer’s lint filter only on February 29?
Some of us are conscientious about cleaning our clothes dryer lint filter, while others not so much. After all, ignoring it after one cycle can’t be too bad, right? We’ll…
Which school serves the street where I want to live?
Let’s face it, most people consider school districts when they look for a home to buy or rent. A good elementary school and high school for your kids will guarantee…
Can I break a lease without upsetting anyone too much?
Before I begin, let’s make one thing clear: a lease is a contract, and it obligates a landlord to allow tenants to live on a property in exchange for rent…
Why is emailing me such a horrible idea?
It’s not always a bad idea; let’s not get drastic. Let me explain. In the beginning there were telephones. They were big and heavy and clunky and attached to a…
Are two-year home leases a good deal or not?
I hear this question every now and again, and the reason behind it is obvious: landlords prefer stable renters and don’t want to pay a commission every year to find…
Do you act your age? Stop, now.
An acquaintance recently turned 55 and was bemoaning his advanced age. Trying to cheer him up, I asked, “But how old do you feel?” I expected something like, “Oh, about…
Is my daughter in your way? Move over.
Yes, that definitely sounds strange. Let me explain. My daughter is an ultra runner, one of those silly types who run races of 100 miles or more over mountainous terrain.…
A new train station is coming! But when?
Many of you know that already. A new train station in North Brunswick along the Northeast Corridor Line, in a new urban village off Route 1 across from the Regal…
What the heck is NIXLE, and why should you absolutely definitely get it?
Ah, NIXLE. Amidst the vast sea of cell phone features, you are one of my most treasured. Not because you’re cute or clever or fun or the latest fad. But…
No, really—why are the sellers moving?
I hear that often. A lot, actually. OK, every blessed time I show a home. “Are these the original owners, and why are they moving?” I sigh. Mainly because the…
Are additional pet security deposits legal in New Jersey?
I see it all too often: a landlord is willing to allow a pet in a rental property, but asks for a pet security deposit in the listing. The logic…
Making a lowball all-cash offer on a home? Forget it.
All-cash offers to purchase a home are great, except when they’re not. Sure, they sound wonderful—No underwriters! No appraisal! Fast closing! But then the second shoe drops: it’s a lowball…
What is a French drain? What’s a sump pump?
First-time home buyers, and even folks who’ve only lived in apartments or condos, frequently see something while touring a home that is unfamiliar. Often they’re curious and ask; sometimes they…
What Are 7 Reasons Why I Hate Numbered Lists?
You see them everywhere. “6 Best Places to Eat in New York.” “8 Clever Gifts for Teens.” “18 Worst Cars Ever Made.” In print media. On the Web. Even on…
Can you do just one push-up?
Like millions of people everywhere, I struggle with a debilitating anchor that holds back my productivity and causes me no end of distress. As I’ve confirmed to myself and confided…
Should we take the “Christ” out of Christmas?
Ask any average American, at any time of the year, what the word “Christmas” brings to mind. An honest answer will include snow, Christmas trees, lights, gifts, Santa Claus, reindeer,…
What’s the difference between a colonial, split, bi-level, ranch and cape?
First-time home buyers and those new to the South Brunswick area frequently hear houses described as colonials or splits or whatever. If you are confused about those terms and are…
What is a short sale, and why does it never take a short time?
No doubt many buyers have heard the term “short sale” in the last few years. Most of them know that it has something to do with the owners not being…
Does a landlord have to clean the home before you move in?
Here’s a question virtually every prospective tenant asks me when I show a rental property: “Will the landlord clean the home before we move in?” That’s a fair question that…
When is a bedroom not a bedroom?
One would think that calling a room a bedroom is a formality, and a family can sleep anywhere it can fit a bed, futon or sleeping bag. True, you can…
Should I rent and throw my money away, or buy and be house-poor?
This is a question that many home seekers are asking themselves. They may be getting advice from others around them—family, friends and coworkers, but it has to be a decision…
Finishing your basement without permits? Huge mistake!
The single biggest sigh-inducing issue I have when listing a home for sale is finding out that a major renovation—usually a finished basement—was done without township permits. Is it a…
Is there a difference between a condo and a townhouse?
For many buyers, this seems hardly a question to ask—everybody knows what a condo is. And a townhouse. Or is it a townhome? Or town house? OK… maybe an explanation…
What are idiosyncrasy credits and why should you collect them?
You’ve probably never heard of idiosyncrasy credits and have no clue how important they are. Sure, you can Google them and get a fairly thorough Wikipedia definition that will leave…
Want to stage your home like a Broadway producer?
You want to sell your house. Or maybe you just have judgmental company coming over whom you’d like to impress—perhaps a snooty acquaintance from your deep past or a mother-in-law.…
Can you do a better job painting your walls than a toddler with ketchup?
Ever see a six-pack house? I have. As a real estate agent I’ve had the pleasure of visiting and showing hundreds of homes, and one in particular made my day,…
Are you using all your crayons? Every day?
In kindergarten I was given a box of eight crayons, large ones with one flat side to keep them from rolling off the table. I had little problem making the…
Does it really take a (Peddler’s) Village?
Less than an hour’s drive west of Princeton, not far from the Delaware River on the Pennsylvania side, sits a most quaint and welcoming destination spot for young and old…
Is the Virtual Key to Success on your keychain?
I had the pleasure of tackling a fairly Major project recently, one involving a good amount of research, organization, the shuffling of papers and filling out of tedious forms. As…
Do you ever feel sorry for a coffee stirrer?
I was stirring my morning coffee, that deliberate motion that is part necessity and part subconscious effort to delay the start of another arduous day, if only by a few…
Have you ever asked your father for advice, and how did that work out for you?
Fathers are men, and men have an extra advice chromosome that women lack. Oh, I know, mothers are the ones always offering advice and opinions: Wear a sweater, it’s cold…
Remember the marketing geniuses who cleaned car windows in New York?
Every product or service worth shilling has a hook, a punch line to draw you in and separate you from your hard-earned scratch. Marketing is definitely the Word on Wall…
Trigger warning: Read this post and you’ll never play the lottery again.
We all have a bit of Walter Mitty in us. It’s human nature, irresistible. And nothing brings out the dreamer in us more than playing the lottery, be it scratch-off…
Did you know that helium balloons are made of puppies?
In the course of my real estate business, I have developed an intimate knowledge of helium balloons. They’re an integral part of our marketing after all, those things we tie…
Did you just call me a dog owner?
The “D” word is not allowed in our home. We have two puppies, as the fur on our furniture attests, and they’ve witnessed their share of changing seasons: Archie is…
Subway Wars: Those Within and Those Without
A boy stands on an elevated subway platform in New York City. At the Castle Hill Avenue station in the Bronx, to be precise. He’s about 15 years old, young…
Are you still stuck on the overrated grammar of the 19th Century?
Three bottles of Châteaux Lafite-Rothschild 1869 were sold at auction by Sotheby’s in 2010 for a staggering $232,692 each. What completely boggles my mind is not the price—much more is…
Blog? Me? Really? Why?
“You have to blog,” They said. “Everyone who’s anyone does it!” Besides, I’m a real estate agent—having a real estate blog is simply presumed, like having a snappy professional website…