How can I break a lease if I really have to?
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 on earth are you emailing me?
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?
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…
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 use 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’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…
What’s the 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…
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,…
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…
You asked your father for advice? 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…