The US Senate and House of Representatives have both voted to extend the deadline for closing on houses bought by April 30 from June 30 to September 30 in the hopes of allowing around 180,000 home buyers to complete their transactions and still qualify for the tax credit. While this does not extend the period in which home buyers could [...]
By this point most of us have heard about the Russian spy ring exposed by the federal government, and starring a pretend-couple who lived in Montclair. Montclair has since become a popular one-liner for those looking to poke fun at the rather ineffectual [...]
Many first-time home buyers are intent on getting the best deal possible - not a bad strategy at all. But many buyers forget that "the best deal" depends both on house price and mortgage rate (unless you're one of the lucky few who intend to pay all cash). Remember this handy little equation: [...]
The NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection has begun a new program in which old refrigerators or freezers that are not energy-efficient can be traded in for a $50 rebate. NJ residents must meet the criteria (listed [...]
If you are reading this, you are probably one of the 90% of buyers who searched for a home online this year. According to the National Association of Realtors only 37% performed this activity 10 years ago. Here are 7 stats that have changed - or not changed over the past [...]
I'm a big fan of the rating website, www.walkscore.com, but its algorithm relies mostly on the proximity of a house to stores and community resources. But to find walkability rating, it's not just about distance -- it's also about the quality and ease of the [...]
We have a saying among real estate agents that "Kitchens sell houses." At the mere mention of the words "granite" or "stainless steel," buyers flock to a new listing, imagining themselves preparing home-cooked meals for the family or having friends gather around the "island" while the host prepares a gourmet meal and offers a little kitchen [...]
Anthropologie--the big retailer with modern urban style clothing and home goods--has opened its doors in Montclair in time for the holiday shopping season. I'm sure there is some grumbling as people roll their eyes at $200 corduroy pants and worry that chain stores will threaten the character of our very indie town. Me, I welcome [...]
Well, it's Black Friday and many brave souls are trying to get a jump on their Christmas shopping, but I'd guess that today quite a few folks are shopping not for a new Blu-ray but for a new house. November and December are typically the quietest months in real estate because housing inventory drops and people put their home-buying efforts [...]
Both the House and the Senate have passed an unemployment insurance bill, which includes an amendment that expands and extends the tax credit. That bill will be sent to President Obama for his signature in the next day or so. This is a major victory for consumers and the housing [...]
