JoAnna and Gail's Real Estate Thoughts

I'm big-time networking on Facebook.  Mixing it up with my old friends, staying in touch with neighbors or parents of my children's friends.  They see my blog posts and get a friendly, non-pushy reminder that I'm in the real estate business.

Another quote by Bob Burg...

These days I'm increasing my networking focus.  I'm emphasizing the "give."  I'm partnering with local businesses through a formal lead exchange group, Monmouth County Leadz.

We're just getting the group off the ground.  We meet the first three Thursday's of the month from 7:00 am - 8:15 am.  That's not a typo... yes, I said 7:00 am!!!  The idea is to get together, talk about our ourselves and work toward helping each other grow our businesses through referrals.  There's the "give"!  Assuming we do it right, there should be plenty of "take" to follow!

Businesses are "category exclusive," meaning only one of each category allowed!  Who are we looking for?  Attorney's, plumbers, electricians, contractors, designers, stagers, personal chefs, just to name a few!

If you have a business in the Monmouth County area and are looking for this type of committed networking, please reach out to me for more information.

$550,000

Go ahead and judge this book by its cover! Top of the line EVERYTHING in this expanded, custom ranch with curb appeal that doesn’t stop at the curb! 155’ long, double wide, concrete driveway provides privacy and functionality. One acre of immaculately maintained property with 16 zone “Rainbird” sprinkler system!

3 season enclosed Victorian porch with dramatic mahogany flooring, ceiling fans and plexi-glass windows which easily convert to screens for enjoyment in almost any weather, tung and groove knee wall, custom molding and two-way access from both inside and outside the home.

Chef’s delight in the designer Kitchen with deluxe Wood-Mode cabinetry, chock full of custom features. Not to be overlooked are the Silestone countertops, huge center island, Sub Zero refrigerator and breakfast area offering breathtaking views of scenic yard through the floor to ceiling windows. Two, 6’ Pella sliding doors in the kitchen and another in the dining room, all with self-storing screens, open to the 1825 square foot wraparound, 3 tier, deck leading to the fully-fenced backyard that is an entertainer’s dream!

Detailed landscaping surrounds 20 x 40 inground pool with newer liner and DE filter with auto-chlorinator, Polaris self cleaning system and electric pool cover to keep you safe and the pool in sparkling condition! Retractable Durasol Awning provides poolside ambience and comforting shade. 12 x 24 Dutch Colonial Shed with two lofts for all your outdoor storage needs. Master bedroom complete with full bath and walk-in closet, as well as Anderson 12 ‘ sliding glass doors to outside deck/pool area. Resort living right in your own home!

2000 square foot fully finished basement with full bath, 4 separate and private rooms, family room with wet bar and woodburning stove and a full kitchen.

Other outstanding features include: Intercom system, french doors, advanced truss roof with Lifetime GAF 5-layer Grand Canyon roof shingles, Amtrol hot water system means you will never run out of hot water! Upgraded “3 tier” septic system, Culligan water conditioner, 4 zone HWBB heating, 2 zone air conditioning (2006), newer above-ground oil tank, Leafguards No-Clogging gutter system, Sunbrella fabric throughout!

A fine home with a fine location on the Wall/Howell border. Country living at its best and just 6 miles to the ocean!

Manalapan's Finest!!

Priced to Sell at $459,000

HUGE 4 Bedroom, 3 full bath "SUPER Split" in Manalapan's Holiday Park Development!

Updated kitchen offers porcelain tile backsplash and newer appliances.  Magnificent breakfast room addition with picture windows, overlooking private, fully-fenced, flat yard with maintenance-free deck, pool & swingset!

Upper level has been extended to provide larger Master Bedroom, including  walk-in closet and HUGE master bath with skylight, shower AND soaking tub!

23 x 17 Family room and a finished basement ensure plenty of space for entertaining!

I recently came across this article from the Associated Press explaining Short Sales.  I think they did a fabulous job and wanted to share this information. We as realtors are asked daily about them and this is a concise response to those folks seeking explanation.

For a homeowner who needs to sell but has a mortgage balance higher than the property value, one option is something called a "short sale."

And don't let the name fool you. This type of sale is complicated and can drag on for months.

So what exactly is a short sale? Here are some questions and answers.

Q: What is a short sale?

A: A short sale happens when a lender allows a borrower to sell his home for less than what's owed on the mortgage. The lender usually forgives the difference and considers the debt repaid.

Q: How often do short sales occur?

A: Short sales now make up about one in every 10 home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors. That's a lot more than you usually see when the housing market isn't distressed - in fact, the NAR doesn't have historical records on short sales before the current downturn because they were such an insignificant segment of the sales market.

Falling home prices have eroded home equity at a rapid place, making short sales more commonplace. About 16 million homeowners owe more than their homes are worth and would have to seek a short sale if they were forced to sell their homes now.

Q: What's in it for the lenders?

A: Lenders minimize their losses. If the borrower defaults and the bank has to foreclose, there are extra costs to auction the property and maintain it while it's vacant. Foreclosed homes also typically sell for much less than short sales.

Q: What are the drawbacks for the borrower?

A: While not as bad as a foreclosure, a short sale will still blemish a borrower's credit report. A short sale would knock an "A" borrower down to a "B" borrower, while the same borrower would fall to "D+" after a foreclosure, said Ritch Workman, co-owner of Workman Mortgage in Melbourne, Fla.

The extent of the damage also depends on the borrower's credit history before the short sale. A borrower with good credit won't get hit as hard, while a borrower with tarnished credit will feel more pain.

Normally, a borrower would have to pay taxes on the forgiven part of the balance, though the Bush Administration granted homeowners a reprieve that applies to debt forgiven through 2012.

Q: Why is the process so complicated and why does it take so long?

A: Short sales are plagued with snags on both sides. Desperate sellers or inexperienced real estate agents often send in the wrong paperwork, only to get it kicked back. It's an easy mistake to make because each lender requires different documents.

For their part, lenders don't have enough staff to handle the flood of short sale applications. It can take months before a lender will get back to a seller about an offer from a potential buyer. Some deals take more than year to finish.

And approvals from third parties - such as private mortgage insurers, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and lenders who hold a second mortgage on the house - also can slow a short sale.

In May, the Obama Administration promised to standardize documents and offer incentives to mortgage servicers, borrowers and second mortgage holders to encourage timely short sales. The Treasury Department has yet to release specific guidelines to lenders, which will take months to implement.

Q: What should I do if I'm interested in a short sale?

A: Most lenders will approve a short sale only if the borrower is behind on his mortgage, but some are now considering non-delinquent borrowers because they don't want them to walk away from their mortgages, said Pava Leyrer, president of Heritage National Mortgage in Michigan.

Ask a trusted mortgage or real estate professional to recommend a real estate agent, attorney or company to help with the short sale. Or, contact a local nonprofit housing counseling service. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains a list of government-sponsored housing agencies at www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm.

And don't pay any upfront fees.

"Be cautious when choosing someone," Leyrer said. "Make sure they have the experience necessary to facilitate the sale and not hinder it."

The Associated Press

I started blogging less than a year ago and haven't looked back.  In fact, it's been very disappointing to not have enough hours in the day lately to post or comment as often as I would like. 

The good news is, in my opinion, my lack of time to blog is a direct result of my blogging!! 

When I joined Active Rain, I gave serious consideration to the message I wanted to send with the majority of my postings.

I saw this forum as an opportunity to position myself as the Manalapan New Jersey Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!  I've lived in Manalapan almost 17 years and have been raising 2 daughters through the school system.  I'm a Girl Scout Leader and community volunteer.   What better place in which to specialize?

I started posting about community, school and local area events.  I'd post my Manalapan listings.  I'd write about market trends in Manalapan Real Estate.  Working with my Weichert colleague and fellow Manalapan resident, Gail Szeluga, we've been working toward buidling a focus toward reporting on the different communities that make up Manalapan Township.  Soon thereafter we expanded our Manalapan presence via Facebook, Twitter and other Social Networking forums.  Join us (and the 286 other Manalapan residents) on Facebook at the Manalapan Residents Group.

Almost immediately, the phone starting ringing. 

Buyers would find me via posts on Manalapan homes for sale.  Sellers started to stumble upon me when searching for information on Manalapan Township.

I've been thrilled with the response and felt I was making great strides toward my goal of being seen as the source for Manalapan Real Estate information.

Recently, I received a phone call from Ms. Jill Capuzzo.  That's when I KNEW the plan was working!

Jill is a reporter with the New York Times!  She was writing an article on "Living in Manalapan" and needed a local professional to show her around town and fill her on on the local market.  She found MY blog which then led her to my website and finally to my listings!  Don't you just love when a plan comes together??

About a week later, Gail and I had the pleasure of meeting Jill and touring her around Manalapan! 

We visited neighborhoods throughout Southern and Northern Manalapan, as well as East and West of the Route 9 corridor. 

We talked about the award winning Manalapan-Englishtown and Freehold Regional High School Districts.  We covered the newly expanded Manalapan Recreation Center and the recently rejuvenated Thompson Grove Park.  We toured many Manalapan landmarks, including the municipal building, 9/11 memorial, Old Tenennt Church, Holiday Park Duck Pond, Millhurst Mills, historic Englishtown and Pine Brook Golf Course.  We talked about the attraction Manalapan holds for New York City transplants looking for a little extra elbow room while still enjoying a reasonable commute.  Good schools, affordable homes, reasonable taxes... what's not to like?  The time flew by!  Once you start a realtor talking about real estate, good luck getting them to shut up!  We had a blast!

What a thrill it was tonight when I felt my blackberry buzz and looked down to see my most recent Google Alert...

REAL ESTATE   | June 28, 2009
Living In | Manalapan, N.J.:  High Marks for Space, Schools and Location
By JILL P. CAPUZZO

I scanned the article quickly.  As promised, Jill highlighted my Manalapan listing at 9 Old Queens Boulevard.  What I didn't expect was that she would give mention to both myself and Gail!  What a treat!  A great afternoon showing off all our real estate know how, talking about the town we love AND a mention in the New York Times! 

Me!!  In the New York Times!!  Excuse me while I go call my Mommy!! :-)

I know the title is kind of irrelevant to our traditional Wordless Wednesday or Speechless Sunday... but these pics left me Speechless! 

I stumbled across this album while catching up on Facebook.

It is a collection of photo's taken by my 14 year old daughter, Danielle.  She's had no training and is using a regular, common digital camera she got for Christmas.  I love that I "found" them and that she wasn't taking them for any special reason.

I was blown away by her knack.

I tell you... it is amazing what you are born with! 

A proud Mom...

"Thank you very much. Hey a realtor who gets back to you. I like it.  LOL"

That quote was taken directly from an email I just received from a prospect.

Of course I smiled.  I was happy that he seems happy.  We are off on the right foot.

Then I thought about it a little while.

Why is he so impressed that I got right back to him?

Do most realtors not get right back to their clients and prospects?

He sent me an email last night and I replied with the information this morning.  Is that special?

As realtors, we pull out our hair trying to figure out ways to make ourselves stand out from the competition.  But maybe, just maybe, all we have to do is get back to basics!

When a home inspector is hired to inspect a property for which I am the buyer's agent OR the seller's agent, I expect and hope for the same things from the inspector...

• Knowledge: 
  
  Know what you are talking about.  Stick to the facts.  Don't speculate about things that may or may not have happened in the past.  If you don't know the answer, tell the client you don't know the answer.  If you prefer, tell them you will find out and call them with the answer.  But for heaven's sake... be careful if you are going to take that stab in the dark.  Suggesting that a system is broken because you can't find the switch is irresponsible.
  
  
  
  
  
• Common Sense:
  
  
  • Avoid telling horror stories about past inspections.  It unsettles both buyers and sellers.  Don't talk about homes that were condemned, pools that have collapsed, or horrible, deadly mold that grew behind the seemingly good walls.  In fact, unless you see some sign or indication that there is a remote possibility for mold to be present, how about we don't use the "m" word at all?  Oh and save the graphic descriptions of septic systems that have backed up!
    
    
  • Be thoughtful about the words and phrases you choose.  Can you please refrain from suggesting "Monkey's could've done a better job installing this" or saying things like "This is shoddy craftsmanship.  They would've been better off using scotch tape to hold this together." 
    
    

  

• Thoroughness: 
  
  At a recent inspection the inspector said, "I'm going to call for a termite job." "Oh, did you find evidence of termites?" I asked.

  "No, but I couldn't see everything clearly.  I just might have, maybe, possibly, seen something in the far distance that could maybe be a termite tube and with these moist conditions in this area I'm going to err on the side of caution and call for a termite treatment."

  Just maybe you should go the extra mile and come up with a shred of evidence to support your claim.  See this recent post by Jack Feldmann to see what I mean by an inspector going the extra mile to do a thorough job.

Most often, it isn't WHAT is discovered in a home inspection that kills a deal, as much as, HOW it is presented. 

I'm a huge fan of honesty and integrity, in fact I base MY business model on those traits.  I would never expect (or want) a professional to compromise, but I do expect professionals to act responsibly.

Disclaimer:  This post was written in response to one very irresponsible home inspection.  The majority of home inspectors I've had the opportunity (pleasure) to work with have been top notch professionals.

Jo

JoAnna Siminerio
Weichert Realtors - Marlboro / Manalapan
732-598-6823 cell 732-536-4400 x152 (office)
JoSiminerio@optonline.net
www.JoTheRealtor.com

This Southern Colonial home is the most sought after model in Manalapan's Yorktowne Community!

$399,999

I don't just sell homes in Manalapan's Yorktowne, I lived there for over 16 years!  Yorktowne Development is a family neighborhood, of single family homes, approximately 40 years old. The community is situated between Gordon's Corner, Pease and Pinebrook Roads.

In 2008, the average sale price for a home in Yorktowne was $403,125. 

The Southern Colonial, as built, was the largest model offered when Yorktowne was built, making it a very popular choice for buyers today.

I'm very happy to offer this home for sale.

Buy with confidence as this home has been lovingly maintained! Clean as a whistle!

Sun shines brightly through entry door with glass window and sidelights.

Spacious living room with new carpet.

Formal dining room with classic carpet and decorative molding.

Eat-in kitchen with plenty of like-new, 42" oak cabinets and pristine corian counters.

Kitchen conveniently opens to large family room with sliders to fully-fenced, serene, park-like backyard with natural gas grill.

Four bedrooms upstairs, including, master bedroom with two double closets and full bath. Hardwood flooring under carpets in all bedrooms.

Main bath and master shower recently refinished.  Furnace replaced in February!  

All this AND an award winning Manalapan, New Jersey School District!  Why wait?

___________________________________________________________________________________

If you would like more information on this home or one of the many other fine homes for sale in Manalapan's Yorktowne Community, call on me, YOUR Yorktowne Neighborhood Specialist!

Click to Search the Monmouth County Multiple Listing Service.

Click to Sign Up For My Homefinder Service to receive automated emails when new homes come on the market that match YOUR criteria.

Jo

JoAnna Siminerio
Weichert Realtors - Marlboro / Manalapan
732-598-6823 cell 732-536-4400 x152 (office)
JoSiminerio@optonline.net
www.JoTheRealtor.com

As I was considering what to write for this contest, I looked back at my life to figure out what I am really passionate about.  Of course, it would be easy to say I'm passionate about my family, that's a given.

Family aside, I realized that over the years I've had many passions and often they come and go.

It seems I find "something" and I get a little obsessive... ok maybe alot obsessive.

Whatever that "something" has been, I take it on, full force and I stay with it until I reach my maximum potential and I move on to the next challenge.

I don't understand failure.

I don't do mediocre, or I try not to at least.

I thrive on good, healthy competition.

What are some of the things I've been passionate about?

Here's a few:

• Weight loss/getting in shape - A few years ago, I finally committed to losing a few pounds.  I lost 40 pounds!  Next thing you know I was a moderator in a weight loss forum; I never worked out a day in my life, but suddenly I was considering a career as a personal trainer; I didn't know a gram a protein from a gram of fiber, but I became the local nutritional expert.  The photo on the right is when I won my President's Challenge Gold Medal!  Woo Hoo!
  
  
• Budding Videographer - Before digital was "cool" I was on the cutting edge of digital photography.  I was obsessive about creating perfectly timed slideshows, finding the perfect song, looking for the perfect graphic.  I would spend hours and hours and hours creating slideshow videos and giving them as gifts to my family.  I see some of the same obsessiveness in my blogging.
  
  
• Internet and Video Gaming - The day the computer became affordable to the general public, I've had one.  And thus, my passion for gaming began... anyone remember Larry the Lounge Lizard?  The more interactive the gaming has gotten, the more obsessed I've gotten.  I've compulsed over Texas Hold 'Em, Spades, Hearts, Mah Jongg, Neopets and most recently, Facebook's Mafia Wars (just ask Don Cecily!).  As for Video Games, I remember many, many red-eyed late nights trying to get Mario to jump over the mushroom or trying to save Zelda!
  
  
• Bowling - Been doing it a looooooooong time.  Now it's a hobby, but in my younger days... a passion for sure.
  Tournaments, leagues, Sunday morning high stakes
  games with the old men in Brooklyn. 
  

Here's the best part... 

My most recent passion/obsession is, you guessed it, Blogging!  Ok, not just blogging, but more appropriate would be to say creating and improving my professional internet presence.  Talk about a productive hobby!