Welcome to My Blog! Please feel free to email me @ karinaabadnj@gmail.com

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hoboken Film Festival Returns This June!!

Hoboken International Film Festival Returns This June!!

Cedar Lane Cinemas- Teaneck NJ June 3rd - 9th

Now in its sixth year, the 2011 Hoboken International Film Festival will showcase numerous film and TV stars, and the world's most cutting edge films. The festival continues to grow – in 2011 they had over 1,500 film submissions from all over the world, and accepted just over 90 films (the competition is fierce). Festival attendance has eclipsed 15,000 people in each of the past few years. A star-filled event, it has had several Academy Award and Emmy winners and nominees, and numerous other fan-favorite celebrities at screenings, award ceremonies and special events.


Visit the official website to learn more and attend this wonderful cultural event!  Make sure to check out the event schedule for 2011. Film tickets start at just $11!! Don't miss it.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Hoboken Real Estate Condo Market Update

Hoboken Real Estate Condo Market Update

Week of May 16th, 2011

Condominium Sales:
For the week there were 11 sales reported in Hoboken. From the lowest, a 700 sq ft 1 bedroom on 4th and Madison priced at $209,900 and sold for $202,500; to the highest, a Hudson Tea condo, three bedroom three bath with partial NY views and parking, 1640 sq ft and a list price of $825,000 sold for $810,000.

Median list price for the week was $475,000 and median sale price was $472,500. Average days on market was 67 days.

Condominiums Pending:
There are 10 units that reported under contract for the week. From the lowest price, a small one bedroom on 2nd and Monroe with a list price of $229,000 to the highest price, a 1000 sq ft one bedroom with parking at the Hudson Tea with a list price of $500,000.

Median list price for the week was $399,450. Avg days on market 110 days.

So far this month there are a total of 45 units that went under contract. 44 have sold so far this month, and there are about 400 active.

We will see how many units close and go pending in the next week to see how May we did for the month.


Brownstones and Single Family Sales
Two homes reported sold for the week.
22 Willow Terrace - a three bed, 1 full bath two half bath triplex with a list price of $619,000 sold for $618,000.
1211 Garden - a true brownstone, a four bedroom four bathroom triplex with a list price of $1.795Million sold for $1.740Million

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Maxwell Place Luxury Homes - Sells 2 Bedroom Condo For $1.638Million

Maxwell Place Luxury Homes - Sells 2 Bedroom Condo For $1.638 Million

April 15th, 2011, Maxwell Place reported on the Hudson County MLS that a 1622 square foot unit, two bedrooms plus den, two baths and parking, sold for $1.638 Million. That is impressive you have to admit, at almost a whopping $940 per square foot this side of the Hudson River.

The unit boasts panoramic NYC views, the kind you dream about or only see in the movies and it's not the first of such high price tag sales at the exclusive Maxwell Place residences. In January, a 2006 square foot 3 bedroom, two and a half bath with terrace and parking sold for $1.6Million, (those buyers seem to have made the better buy, but nevertheless how do you put a price tag on such an incredible view?).

Good news: Once we see the luxury real estate buyers start to throw around big numbers, it's a good health indicator for the rest of the market.


Another huge sale was recently reported at the W Hotel. Unit 2501, a 1900 sq foot 2 bed 2 and a half bath with balcony just went under contract. It's asking price is $1.995 Million and it sounds like this sale will close at nearly $1000 a square foot.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Hoboken Brownstone For Sale

Hoboken Brownstones For Sale

If you live in Hoboken, you probably day dream of owning a Hoboken Brownstone. I dream of owning one on Hudson Street. So gorgeous.

The Hoboken Brownstone market is almost always limited and there are many buyers on the prowl just waiting for that perfect house to become available.


  • Today there are 17 for sale, from $799,000 to $2.495 Million.
  • Five have sold since January 1 (3 since February).
  • 9 are under contract (6 of those went into contract in April alone)
  • Bidding wars are not uncommon with brownstones
Check out the 17 for sale by clicking here. 


Which is your favorite?




If you'd like to see any of these contact me at karinaa@remax.net (24 hour notice required).

Monday, May 9, 2011

5 Tips For A Successful Move

5 Tips For A Successful Move



Moving can be a difficult task. Don’t make it more work than necessary by moving furniture, clothing, art or other belongings that you don’t actually want or need anymore. Look for opportunities to de-clutter your life and get rid of excess possessions. 

Hand it Down: Tell your friends and family you're paring down possessions. You'll feel better, and it'll be easier giving up that expensive couch or antique bureau if you know your best friend will make good use of it.

Yard Sale: The tried and true yard sale can help you get rid of things you don't use and avoid paying to move them. As a bonus, you'll make some extra cash that you can spend on new things in your next home.

Donate: Consider donating unwanted or unsold items to charity. Many charitable causes have free pickup services for donations that make giving your unwanted furniture and items as easy as picking up the phone and scheduling a pickup time.

Packing—

The thought of organizing and packing up a house’s worth of clothing, kitchenware, and other items can be daunting to say the least. Even if you are using professional movers, you likely will want to pack and organize certain items yourself. By having a packing strategy, you can make it through the first stage of the move with your sanity intact and avoid last minute panic as the moving trucks pull up. 

Inventory: Taking a rough inventory of your stuff will give you a general idea of how many moving boxes you will need. If you will be using a moving company, it’s not a bad idea to make a written or photographic inventory to make sure you don’t lose anything during the move.

Box Right: Make use of suitcases and plastic storage tubs you already own before searching out moving boxes. You can re-use old cardboard moving boxes, but make sure the cardboard is still in good shape rather than risk damaging any of your items. Purchase frame boxes to protect your pictures and mirrors.

Other Supplies: Purchase high-quality packing tape and plenty of bubble wrap to help safeguard your belongings during the move. Specialty packingff paper or packing fill can be used for box fill instead of newspaper to remove the risk of scratching fragile items.
If you will be moving on your own, you should rent furniture pads, straps and furniture dollies from the rental truck company.

Have a Packing Plan: Begin by packing the items you use least often. Pack one room at a time, making sure to clearly label the contents and which room they are intended for. You can also use a numbering or color coded system to help indicate which boxes have the most frequently used items.

Pack Smart: Large boxes should be filled with lighter items such as clothing. Save heavy items like books and dishes for smaller boxes that will allow for easy lifting. Make sure each box is packed full, but also check the weight of packed boxes before sealing.
“Essentials” Box: Pack one box to keep close at hand (i.e., not buried in the back of the moving truck). The idea is to have easy access to items you may need during the move or immediately after your arrival at the new home.

  • ID
  • Your wallet, checkbook and/or ATM card
  • Bottled water
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste and soap
  • Any prescription medications
  • Aspirin
  • Snacks that don't require refrigeration or cooking (granola bars, nuts, bread, PB, etc)
  • Paper cups, paper plates and plastic utensils
  • Towels
  • Sheets
  • Scissors and tape
  • Closing documents if you're buying a new home
  • Important files
  • Medical records
  • Pet food and pet littler, if applicable 

Before Moving Day —

Keep People Updated: Contact or visit your local Post Office to obtain a Change of Address form. You can also obtain this form online at http://www.usps.com. Give a change of address to the following: banks, schools, friends & family, insurance companies, doctors and specialists, cell phone providers, credit card companies and magazine and newspaper subscriptions.
Clean in Waves: Trying to clean your whole house at once (either before or after moving day) can be an overwhelming prospect. Instead, begin cleaning any rooms in your house that have been emptied such as closets, basements or attics.

Get Help—

One of the most important moving tips: you don’t have to do it alone.

Move with the Pros: A professional moving company can take the care of all the hard work, leaving you to kick back and supervise. If you feel like avoiding the packing stage as well, most companies will pack your items for an additional fee. Prices and reliability can vary widely between companies, so compare quotes from at least three local companies before choosing a moving company. Don’t rely on over-the-phone price quotes from the moving company you select: make sure the moving company comes to your home to accurately assess the space and approximate weight of your shipment. Make sure to check their history with the Better Business Bureau or American Moving & Storage Association.
Rental trucks: Renting a box truck can be a cost-effective alternative to hiring a moving company -- as long as you plan ahead. A 10-foot moving truck will generally hold an apartment's worth of stuff; while a 24-foot truck can accommodate a three-bedroom house. It’s best to choose a larger truck; you won’t have to cram items into a smaller space, and for cross-town moves you will avoid wasting time on multiple trips. Read the fine print about mileage allowances and fuel surcharges, and make sure you know the rules regarding when and where you can return the truck. Depending on the size of the truck and length of the move, you may consider adding supplemental insurance through the rental company in the event of dings or dents to the truck.

Friends and family: Free labor is great, but you’ll likely still need to rent a moving truck (unless everyone in your family has a super duty pickup). Make sure you have every possible detail taken care of before your volunteer labor force shows up; the last thing you want is to leave your friends and family waiting while you pack the last boxes or run to go pick up the rental truck. Ask friends and family to help with packing and loading to a reasonable degree, and expect to return the favor when it's their turn to move. And common courtesy calls for you to provide lunch and refreshments for your friendly work crew.


After the Truck is Loaded--


Once you have everything packed away into the trucks, you’ll want to pass through your house and check off a few final items before getting on to your new home.

Damage Control: Check for any damages to walls, doors or frames caused by furniture being moved. The last hassle you need is to lose part of your security deposit or have any issues with the homebuyers because your furniture dinged a door frame or left a scratch in the wall.

Leave Behinds: Re-check the house for anything you might have accidently forgotten. Look through the attic, all closets, the garage, any crawl spaces, the medicine cabinet, and the drawer under your oven.