Five Things You Should Bring To Your Home Inspection | Hoboken Jersey City Home Inspectors & Inspections

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You then got recommendations for a licensed home inspector from your real estate agent, your friends or family that had a great experience in town, or you searched for one through the American Society of Home Inspectors.


So you scheduled your Hoboken or Jersey City home inspection! (Read my post about what to expect at your actual home inspection.)

Most buyer's don't know that typically once you are in contract, you are not able to go back to the property besides the home inspection, and not again until the day of your close and final walk thru.

So, being the home buyer pro that you are (YEAH!) here are 4 things 5 that you will bring to your home inspection.

1. The Home Inspector - OK, sorry this one is obvious but I needed five it just sounds better ;)


2. Friends and Family! Do your parents want to see the apt to make sure you didn't buy a dump? Are your friends dying to see if there is enough space for them to crash? Bring them to the inspection!!


3. Measuring Tape - Yes, get those measurements so you can plan for furniture and DON'T forget to measure the doorways of the unit, the entrance to building, any narrow corridors, and the elevator just. in. case.


4. Camera - What color was the bathroom again? Were there blinds in the kitchen window?? Take a picture and hashtag it


5. Contractor - If you are planning on installing, removing, fixing or painting anything -- schedule your contractor to show up at your home inspection, but, please be sure to let the agent know in advance. Also try to have them show up at the beginning of the inspection, this way you don't have to keep anyone longer than the length of the inspection.


There is nothing better than being well prepared and organized during a home purchase or sale for that matter. It will minimize the stress in an already stressful and unnerving process for some!!

Check out my 10 Red Flags for home buyers. Like my list? Anything missing? Leave a comment below!

Downtown Jersey City Market Snapshot | Condo Real Estate Sales Recap

For the month of May, downtown Jersey City closed a total of 44 condominium units. Their total Median List Price was $642,444 and their Median Sold Price was $651,500. Their total time on market - Median Days on Market - was just 15 days.

In April, DTJC closed 46 units by comparison and a Median Sold Price of $715,500 - with more luxury sales reported than the month of May.

There are a total of just 92 units available for sale, leaving downtown Jersey City with a current absorption rate of a little over 2 months.

This indicates a sellers market, as at the current pace of sales and low level of inventory, it would just take 2.5 months for all of the units to sell if no other units became available.

Any questions? Email me! And don't forget to leave a comment below!

Hoboken Condo Market Statistics April 2015

For the month of April, Hoboken saw a total of 88 condo sell.

Their Median List Price was $568,388 and the Median Sold Price was higher, at $577,388. This is continuing with the trend in March, where the Median List Price was $549,000 and the Median Sold Price was also higher, at $565,000.

The Median Days on Market was 12 days in April for Hoboken condos.

For the same month of April, there were another 115 units change their status to either DABO or UNDER CONTRACT - which both means they were taken off the market and an offer accepted by the seller. The Median List Price for these pending, are sharply higher than the Median Sold Price of April - at $619,000. We'll know next month the SOLD PRICE stats for these pending.


In a market like this it is important to have a knowledgeable real estate agent working for you. They can get the inside scoop to find properties for sale, make the appointment to get you in on time, and help you develop a strategy for an offer.

Happy house hunting!

Downtown Jersey City Real Estate Market Update - 1st Quarter

Downtown Jersey City Real Estate Market Update - 1st Quarter

Reporting From My Office!

We are full force into the Spring Real Estate Market and downtown Jersey City has made a nice rebound in sales. Let's start with the first quarter of 2013 below.

January:
Jersey City reported 40 condo sales. Their Median List Price was $460,450 and their Median Sold Price was $454,000. Median Days on Market was 27 days.

58 units were reported as pending for January.

February:
Jersey City reported a total of 28 condo sales. Their Median List Price was $499,000 and their Median Sold Price was $472,500. Median Days on Market was 25 days.

49 units were reported as pending for February.

March:
Jersey City reported a total of 54 units sold for the month. Their Median List Price was $499,000 and their Median Sold Price was $479,400. Median Days on Market was 28 days.

56 units were reported as pending for March.

First Quarter Sales Totals
122 Condo Sales
Median List Price for all was $498,944
Median Sold Price was $477,000
Median Days on Market was 28 days.

VS

First Quarter Sales in 2012
81 Condo Sales
Median List Price for all was $420,000
Median Sold Price was $414,000
Median Days on Market was 60 days.

First Quarter Condo Sales in Downtown Jersey City are up approximately 13% from the same time last year.

Thank you for reading my downtown Jersey City real estate market update! If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach me! And remember you can search on my website for condos for sale at www.karinaabad.com
Check back soon for more updates!

Information gathered from the Hudson County MLS, deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 

Hoboken Real Estate Market Update - Q1 Report

Hoboken Real Estate Market Update - Q1 Report

Happy Spring!

It's no secret our real estate market has turned around. Buzz is out that our market is hot. And that's for many reasons.
Let's review briefly the factors that got us here.

• Low housing starts (builders stopped building when the market was soft)
• Scared buyers turned to renting (rental prices went way up turning those renters into buyers late 2012&2013)
• Inventory was low (sellers stayed in their homes longer than they would have because of low sale prices)
  
• Low mortgage rates (buyers and sellers are taking advantage by locking in low rates)
• Buyers continue to enter our real estate market 
• Seller's took advantage of high rents and decided to rent instead of sell

So, with all of this, it's easier to make some sense out of why the current market is so competitive. Add to that -- it's Spring! Traditionally this is the best time of year to sell and it's when most people look to buy.

First quarter real estate condo sales in Hoboken broken down by month:

January: There were a total of 44 condo sales in Hoboken. Their Median List price was $559,500 and their Median Sale price was $558,000. Median Days on Market - 30 days.

65 condo units changed their status to pending the same month of January.

February: There were a total of 35 condo sales in Hoboken. Their Median List price was $549,000 and their Median Sale price was $516,000. Median Days on Market 14 days.

70 condo units changed their status to pending the same month of February.

March: There were a total of 60 condo sales in Hoboken. Their Median List price was $549,000 and their Median Sale price was $530,000. Median Days on Market was 28 days.

112 condo units changed their status to pending the same month of March.

First Quarter Condo Sales in Hoboken

139 Sales  

$539,000 Median List Price

$530,000 Median Sale Price ----------- up from The Median Sale Price of 4th QR 2012 $485,000

Median Days on Market 24 days. 

Compared with First Quarter Condo Sales in 2012

137 Sales

$459,000 Median List Price

$437,000 Median Sold Price

Median Days on Market 48 days.

Check back often for the Hoboken Real Estate Market Condo Update on my blog every month! And you can search for homes on my website at www.karinaabad.com

Information collected from the Hudson County MLS, deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Basic House Hunting Tips!

Basic House Hunting Tips

Allow Plenty of Time - While it may be tempting to try and visit as many properties as possible on a single day, "overbooking" won't give you enough time to linger and fully tour each individual home. If you find a house you truly like, you will probably spend more time reviewing each room in greater detail. Assume that each house you view will hold your interest enough for a lengthy exploration.

Dress Comfortably - House hunting isn't a job interview, so dress casually and comfortably for the season. Wear slip-on shoes and adequate socks - homes with new carpet or flooring will often include "please remove shoes" signs. You will be doing a lot of walking and taking trips up and down stairs, so supportive footwear is a must. Clothing should fit comfortably enough to accommodate reaching up or bending/crouching down to examine cupboards both high and low.

Carpool - Taking just one car is particularly convenient when viewing multiple properties on the same day. A one vehicle approach ensures that no one gets separated or lost. Also, by moving over to the passenger seat you're free to consider the merits of each last house and pay attention to the neighborhood near each property, rather than focus your energy on squinting at street signs.

Pay Attention to the Surroundings - Speaking of the neighborhood; make sure you pay attention to the area close by each home on the way in. What kind of shopping opportunities and facilities are within a short distance? Are there appealing destinations within walking distance? What are the schools like nearby? How far will your commute be? Are many other homes for sale in the immediate area?
The idea is to have some feeling of whether or not the neighborhood is right for you before you ever set foot in the actual home. If you're lucky enough to fall in love with the house itself, knowing the lay of the land ahead of time can give you the confidence to make an immediate offer.

Use Your Nose - Generally speaking, a bad (or unidentifiable) smell inside or outside the home is not a good sign. Likewise, be somewhat suspicious if the home is overpowered by the smell of potpourri or intense candles in every room, as this can be an attempt by the seller to mask problematic odors. Mildew and mold smells indicate much larger problems - mold removal can cost thousands of dollars, and locating/fixing moisture leaks can be a difficult task. Pet smells or smoke smells can be minimized with cleaning, but will likely take time to fully dissipate. If you are interested in a home with a strong smell, hire a qualified and experienced home inspector who will unmask the cause of the odor.

Want to work with me? Send me a message!