Crystal Ball Real Estate

Economics, 100 and learning!

NJBIZ  - a publication  devoted to business in NJ - has an interesting chart, ranking by numbers the largest employers in the state. ( for all the information, go to: http://www.njbiz.com/lists ) The State of NJ, ( established in 1776) has 66,166 employees: http://www.state.nj.us  Number 2 is Wakefern Food Corp, 32,856, http://www.shoprite.com:Number 3 is The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co, 21,277, http-//www.aptea.com; Number 4, Saint Barnabas Health  Care system, 20,000 , http://www.saintbarnabas.com   ...and on it goes - including Johnson and Johnson, Harrah's, Rutgers , Home Depot down to number 25, Bristol-Meyers - check the NJ Biz site - http://www.njbiz.comThe article also has a ranking of the top NJ Public companies  - with Johnsons and Johnson as number 1: 2008 fiscal year revenue at $63,70 billion  to number 25,Hovanian Enterprizes, at $ 3.31 billion - again, for full lists go to: http://www.njbiz.com/lists  Fun to read!!!!

Real Estate today!

National Association of Realtors reports a decline in Realtors in the business - from about 1.130 to 1.257 -since June 2008 in all 50 states- and a modestincrease in homes sales for the 4th consecutive month. (Realtor numbers increased in California, Nevada and New Hampshire - a little over 1% in each state)  What does that mean?   There are optimists around  - and California and Nevada certainly have a lot of houses to sell. I'm not sure what that means in New Hampshire - it might be related to an increase in retirees moving there - and taking the test and going into the business there - I'll be able to check on some of these numbers after attending a meeting in Denver later this month and then the annual convention in San Diego in November. But we anticipate an increase in business in our area so that buyers can take advantage of the Tax Credit available if ownership occurs prior to Nov. 30 of this year. ( income dependent too-) but first time home-buyers can get up to $8,000, non-refundable tax credit - and also buyers who have not owned a house for the past 3  years.

See the Parade!

Just go to www.Baristanet.com  to see the parade, and some good photos - that's how I saw the part that I was not in that is also a great site to find out what is going on - if there are fireworks, when school is closed etc.

July 4, 2009 Parade

Gorgeous day for a parade and was in with the UNICO Montclair group - new banner and my UNICO sun and rain umbrella - did not see much of the parade, but  heard it was great - 1.6 miles and saw lots of old friends - people always go to the same spot to see the parade - and after about 30 years of parade - being- in ( used to be on the committee and served as parade marshals )  it is a great way to see the whole town. Looked at Macy's fireworks on TV tho -

Livability!

That's the best description for this great home on Highland Avenue! Quality features in the renovations that include a hot tub - low maintenance grounds, and spacious family room - modern kitchen that opens to the bright dining area and living room - Manhattan view - and hillside privacy  ( a few deer too once in a while) Central air, 2 car garage and ample storage, Open house July 12, but can be seen with an appointment - see details at: http://www.AdrianaOtooleHomes.com and click on the listings  

Real Estate Activity

I don't need  a crystal ball to tell me that there is activity in a price range, and not in others - 'up to $500,000' a buyer tells me - and will look in MOntlciair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield and West Orange - it IS a buyer's market - which means there are a lot of houses to choose from -it does not mean that the buyers have a choice of houses - and they can offer what they want for them! The real estate 'gurus' Zillow and Otteau, use un documented statistics for their 'spread sheets' and come up with a universal prediction -the mid-west is not the north east - A house in Missouri at $275,000 would cost $600,000 for a comparable prop erty in this state - The interest rate is still under 6% and the tax credit is a big lure for buyers at this time - to close before November 30 is the aim to benefit from this credit - there are income limits - but to many buyers this will be a huge benefit.

Houses in the higher price range are having fewer showings - but it just takes one relo to see a property - and that could be the sale! That's why sellers have to be prepared at all times to let agents show their properties - even if there is a barbecue or birthday party going on - they might like that too!

Happy Birthday NJ - 345 years old today! 6/24/2009

New Jersey Day today in celebration of the 345th anniversary of New Jersey's founding as a British proprietary colony. This was the date  in 1664 that the name New Jersey first appeared as a designation for the territory - A birthday cake, tours of the State Museum, and recognition of the students as winners for the largest number of participants in the National Student Mock Election this past Fall. Governor Jon S Corzine was there, as was Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells and commissioner of Education Lucille Davy. ( I had a tap on my arm from the Governor as he walked by!) We all sang ' Happy Birthday' - there was red, white and blue cake and cupcakes - and I visited the Gift Shop (very nice) The New Jersey State Museum at 205 WEst State Street is a great building - on display was an original copy of the Declaration of Independence - http://www.newjerseystatemuseum.org  - Plan a visit -

Coldwell Banker and Burgdorff

Interesting events in our little world or Real Estate- news that Coldwell Banker has merged/taken over/bought/ the Burgdorff offices in the area - Burgdorff has been a respected name in New Jersey since Jean Burgdorff started the company -then sold it, then repurchased it and then sold it to NRT or whatever all the changes were - ( after I left so not sure of what's what) Real Estate has slowed down, or up - again, whatever the expression is - but changes are made every day. Advertising has changed - with buyers going to the Internet for information ( sellers still looking in the local papers for the ads of their homes) - international buyers coming and going - depending on the dollar and the pound.  We're still a small and independent company  - getting pretty good results with our efforts . Solving the problems and addressing those that come up about  oil tanks, asbestos, moisture, mold, termites, and other aspects of concern - There are Real Estate analysts and predictors all over - we see buyers still calling and coming to look at properties ( even tho the pictures are great - they still want to 'see' and 'feel' the product.)

 

The tax credit, to be applied to purchases before Nov 3 =available to first-time-home buyer - up to $8,000 and depending on income - is a great incentive - so I think we will see activity during August and September to get the deal done before that! That's not a crystal ball prediction -that's just what I think will occur.

The merger will also be watched - will agents change offices? (difficult for ' old timers' to do ) We'll see. I could use another crystal ball for that!

www.MerkinConcertHall.org

Dr. Inez Bull and Philip field, played duo piano at a concert Sunday at Merkin Concert Hall - as part of the 56th Anniversary of the Ole Bull Music Festival Winners -DR Bull, a Julliard graduate,with a Masters and Doctorate degrees from NYU, a Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the St. Olav Medal from King Harald V of Norway in 1999 - is the founder of the Ole Bull School of Music, Festival and the Ole Bull Museum in Pennsylvania - now named a national Historic Site. A Montclair resident, she has recently written a history of Glenmont, the home of Thomas A. Edison, in Llewellyn Park in West Orange. Good concert  - heard a young Jessie Smith, with the cello, that I'm sure we'll hear again.

Dresden Plate Quilt - 40 years in the making

Picked up the completed quilt today at the Brookdale Park Annual Craft show from Gail Alverson, quilter - whom I met last year at the Anderson Park Show. She completed the Dresden Plate quilt I had appliqued and pieced together since Mrs. Ilsley gave me the pieces her mother had cut out. ( in the 30's) I can't remember Mrs. Ilsley's first name  - Irving Ilsely's family came from Vermont  - and we met them when we lived on Walnut Street in Montclair - (we were on the 3rd floor apartment and they were on the first -) The quilt is lovely - Gail Alverson will make quilts for you from your fabrics, your favorite clothes, baby clothes etc. even from your collection of T shirts - http://www.quintessentialquiltsnj.com