JoAnna and Gail's Real Estate Thoughts

The 2010 Final/2011 Preliminary Tax Bills have been mailed.  Due to the late mailing, the third quarter grace period has been extended to August 25^th.  Please note that all payments received after this date are subject to interest charges calculated from the original due date of August 1^st.

• If your bill is marked “For Advice Only” and you are a responsible to pay your own taxes or you pay off your mortgage, use the advice copy to make tax payments on time.  Please notify the tax office so they can update their records.
• If you have received an actual tax bill (stubs attached) and a mortgage company/bank is responsible for paying taxes, please forward the bill to them to ensure timely payment and notify the tax office as to where future bills should be sent.

According to the Manalapan Township Committee, as reported in last week's News Transcript, Manalapan’s total tax rate (all taxing entities accounted for) in 2010 will be $2.03 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Simply put, divide your NEW assessed value by 100 (on the green card you received in January) and multiply by $2.03 to receive a pretty close indication of your proposed taxes. For example, if your assessed value is 425,000, you multiply 4250 by 2.03 and find your taxes for 2010 would be... $8,627.50.

Hopefully you will find the difference from 2009 to 2010 to be equivalent to the normal year to year change.

If you don't have your green card, drop me a note and I will look up your assessed value in the tax records.

- JoAnna Siminerio

News Transcript Article on Manalapan Township Proposed Budget

Manalapan Day was a blast right from the start!! (See my original post about the event:  Manalapan Under the Stars).

The weather threatened but in the end the sun won!!  It might have been a little warm at times, but we'll take it as opposed to the wash-out the event was last year!!!

For myself, Gail and the rest of the Weichert Team, the fun started long before the official event!  Overcoming the hostile wind and setting up our tent was challenging!!  We heaved and we ho'd and we finally got it up and secured!  It seemed each one of us were able to contribute something to get the job done.  Yeah Team!! Unfortunately some of the other vendors weren't quite so lucky!!  Tents were rolling, signs were falling, folks were scurrying! 

Thankfully, the wind calmed down in time for kickoff at 4:00!  Folks started pouring in!!  Everyone was having a great time!  Lots of vendors selling, cooking and teaching!  Kids were having a blast on the blow up rides and pony rides!  Lot's of entertainment on the main stage (sponsored by Elite Fitness of Manalapan and Freehold).

As a Manalapan resident for almost 20 years, I always enjoy the chance to catch up with so many old friends and past customers... for a few clients this was their first time at Manalapan Day!! 

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the Manalapan township photo contest submissions!  This year's theme was "Fur & Feathers."  Of course, I was biased as my daughter entered... Go Danni!!!

Gail and I were happy to see so many other members of our new networking group, Monmouth County Leadz!  Doctor Joffe (Chiropractor), Doctor Max (Pediatric Dentist) and Jim Scott (Bridge Financial Group) were all there!  We were also very happy to meet some new potential members!

As the sun just started to go down it was time for the main event, Tommy James and the Shondells!  Young and old were singing and swaying!

Top it all off with an amazing fireworks display and the day was a roaring success!  Thanks again to Danni for some great fireworks photo's!

Can't wait for next year's event!!

57 Nautilus Drive
Middletown, NJ

$589,900

HUGE 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath custom home with a private apartment. Perfect to be used for mother/daughter, families looking for Nanny quarters, blended families, a true guest suite or maybe just a little private space for Mom or Dad. Excellent location for commuters!
Walk to NYC bus!

Gourmet Kitchen - Granite counters, stainless steel appliances, HUGE center island, light and bright separate breakfast area overlooking deck and pool area. Entertainer’s will delight in the sliders leading to the 500 square foot deck which takes you to the country club back yard.

Living room - Vaulted ceiling, stone, wood burning fireplace, hardwood flooring, palladium windows and another set of sliders to the deck and yard.

Dining room - Hardwood floors and french doors.

Master bedroom – Private respite awaits after a long day. Enjoy relaxing on the balcony and enjoying views of the backyard. Like-new master bath, walk-in closet and hardwood flooring complete the picture.

Family room - Wood burning stove, ceramic tile and sliders to paver patio leading to pool area.

Back yard – Feels like heaven, thanks to the newer in-ground, heated pool with self cleaning robot, which is surrounded by concrete and paver patio. Perfect for enjoying snacks poolside.

Apartment - Through the family room is the entrance to the apartment. Gourmet kitchen with beautiful cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances & ceramic tile flooring. Also offers living room, master bedroom and master bath. It doesn’t stop there! Private entrance allows guests to come and go independent of the main home. PLUS access to the backyard which is very convenient for entertaining! All this and their own zone for heat and central air!


Outstanding Features:

· Newer siding and roof
· Paver walkways
· Three paver patio’s
· Unique architectural features including portico over the front door
· Andersen windows and doors
· Balcony off master bedroom
· Stone-front, wood burning fireplace
· Two gourmet kitchens!
· Newer baths
· Walking distance to NYC bus!
· Middletown South High School
· 500 square foot deck accessed from kitchen and living room
· Newer in-ground, heated pool
· Fully fenced back yard
· Yard backs to wooded area

It's all my fault!  I take the blame!

Before I went to bed last night...

• I had my pajamas on backwards and inside out
  
  
• Toothpaste on my nose
  
  
• I put a lemon on a spoon and put
  it under my pillow
  
  
• I flushed the toilet 3 times
  
  
• I spun around 5 times
  
  
• Threw a dash of salt out the window
  

And then I went to sleep.

It worked!!

I needed a day off... a chance to catch up!  And catch up I did!!

• I cleaned out and organized my Outlook - sheesh I let that go too long!  Lovin' all my new Rules!!  Nothing better than being automated!
  
  
• Made some progress on my e-pro certification.  Good thing they give you 8 months to finish this program!!
  
  
• Took 1 of 3 webinars I needed to complete my short sale/foreclosure specialist certification. 
  
  
• Wrote a contract!  Not presenting til the snow clears, but it's ready!
  
  
• Wrote this blog post!!  Yeah... that took 1/2 the day!
  
  
• 3 loads of laundry
  
  
• and a pot of chicken soup too!
  

It's almost 24 hours later and it is STILL snowing.... Excuse me while I go turn my pajamas around... wait a sec... I'm STILL in my pajamas!!!  SNOW DAY, SNOW DAY, SNOW DAY!!!

Special thanks to Jackie and Summer who shared their secrets to ensuring a snow day!!

$399,900

21 Dogwood Lane, Freehold, New Jersey

This stunning 4 bedroom, 3 full bath colonial is truly move-in condition!

Outstanding features include 10 foot ceilings in Living room, Dining room and Kitchen. Beautifully decorated with custom moldings, tasteful carpets and gleaming hardwood floors! Many items recently replaced including windows, doors, siding, roof, furnace, garage door, hot water heater, PVC fence, main bathroom, paver patio and paver walkway!

Award winning Freehold Boro High School!

To my Manalapan Township neighbors,

You'll soon be getting a letter with your new tax assessment.  

You need to understand that these were "across the board" reductions in value to stop the rush of homeowners filing for (and winning) tax appeals.

Our assessment values were originally calculated in 2007.  Since that time, as you know, home values have dropped considerably.  The purpose of this reassessment is to bring the assessed value of your home closer to true market value. It isn't an exact science and won't precisely indicate the current market value of your home.  It is just a measure by which the township will calculate your taxes.

I know some of you were probably excited to see the lower assessment values thinking your taxes would be lowered and others were probably disturbed to consider this number might be reflective of the true market value of your homes!  Again, the only reason this reassessment took place was to curb the number of tax appeals being filed by township residents. 

THE TAXES YOU ARE PAYING SHOULD NOT CHANGE DRAMATICALLY!! 

The Township is lowering the assessed value on your home and will be raising the tax rate... so you should be paying approximately the same amount (not counting any normal annual tax increase). Make sense? Drop me a note or give me a call if you would like further clarification.

Now... having said this... if you believe your new assessed value is NOT indicative of your home's market value, you could qualify for a tax appeal. To win an appeal, you need to provide 3 - 5 comparable CLOSED sales that defend your position. I've helped my clients on more than a few tax appeals and would be happy to help you evaluate your situation.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin... "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."

In the words of JoAnna Siminerio... "In this world nothing is certain but death and increasing taxes... oh, and gaining weight during the holidays!"

Best wishes to my family, friends and neighbors for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day!

Credit to my daughter Danielle
for another great photo and kudos
to my sister Cathy for a
fabulously fun and healthy
Thanksgiving Turkey Treat!!

This extended and expanded custom home will surpass your expectations! 

Mother/Daughter, In-Law Suite, Large or Blended Families... This home does it all!!

$459,900 - 10 Old Queens Boulevard, Manalapan, New Jersey

I don't just sell homes in Manalapan's Yorktowne, I lived here 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.  Often a favorite for New York City Commuters due to the convenient proximity to the Gordon's Corner Road New Jersey Transit (Midtown) and Academy Lines (Downtown/Wall Street Area) bus stops.

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

I'm very happy and excited to represent this special home for sale.  This extended and expanded, custom home, set on almost ¾ acre of Manalapan property, is the perfect choice for large families looking for extra space.  Blended families or those in need of a true mother/daughter can find it here.  With 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths, this home far exceeds the boundaries of the typical Yorktowne home!  

Outstanding features include 2 separate eat-in kitchens, each with updated stainless appliances, upper level master bedroom with full bath, walk-in closet, 2 double closets, and private balcony, second master/guest suite has 12x9 walk-in closet with custom organization system and laundry hookups ready to go, large dining room has laminate flooring and vaulted ceiling, hardwood flooring under most carpeted areas, painted in today’s colors and finished with decorative moldings and new doors.

As it is currently being used, the lower level is a fully-functional in-law suite with separate entrance.  This space can easily be used and enjoyed by the single family.  Living/family room with stone fireplace, master-sized bedroom, full bath, sizable laundry room, dining room (can be converted to additional bedroom) and recently renovated recreation room (with separate staircase to the upstairs).   Tremendous 31x14 kitchen  offers maple cabinetry, ceramic tile flooring and comes in handy when entertaining in the huge, fully fenced, flat backyard, with plenty of room for a pool!

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